Old style vegetables

Pee

Despite bringing me up not to be fussy and to eat my vegetables it turns out my parents "have never liked" most vegetables and are now using the excuse that they are too expensive to buy as justification for having something like tinned salmon sandwiches for tea. Dad is diabetic and all of the info from the doctor said half a plate of vegetables yet this clearly isn't happening. Whilst I would feel sorry for them if this was a lack of money, it is not, it's just very frugal behaviour. Anyway, any suggestions of how to cook vegetables in an interesting, but not too interesting manner, and where to buy them would be appreciated. There are no markets near and they used to grow a lot but no longer can grow anything which obviously they are finding hard.

dorothyjeffery

roasted veggies are the best. parsnips, carrots, spuds, onions, celeriac. maybe a couple of garlic cloves. lovely rich gravy. and a couple of tiny yorkies. best dinner in the world.

i am diabetic too, and i love to have this dinner.

RAS

So what vegetables do they like?

Pee

Dad has some heart drugs so mum said he couldn't eat broccoli and green veg because of the vitamin K but reading the packet, this would be fine in moderation and they do eat vegetables in moderation. They do like mashed carrot... and they do like swede, but won't buy one.

Farway

Hard to know, but if eating tinned salmon then a salad & new spuds would go well

I know a lot of older folk regard salad as "rabbit food" so may not suit

Or even salmon & cucumber sarnies

Are they up for curry? veg curry for instance?

Or a stew? Just bung it in a pot, veg, meat etc, sit back & wait. They will know stews if not curry

Maybe you could order on line for home delivery on their behalf?

Pee

They don't like sweetcorn. And peppers genuinely don't agree with Mum.

Pee

I visit once a week so can take them some. Yes, that's a good idea and might work. Plus roasted would be a good option. Stew is a very good idea.

dorothyjeffery

tinned salmon sandwiches arent too bad for tea....is the bread wholemeal or similar? and maybe add a piece of fruit??and did he have a half decent lunch????

ciderwithrosie_2

I guess if they always used to grow their own veg, then the cost of buying in the supermarket wouldn't be so agreeable to them. I can understand this. My parents still grow a few bits of veg, but are very frugal in some aspects. When helping me clear up after a meal, they'll say 'do you want to put this spoonful of peas in a bowl in the fridge?, you could make some soup with that' and then tut if I put it in the food waste bin.


They won't eat anything oniony, garlicky or with chillies or peppers now as it 'upsets their elderly insides'


Would your parents have room to store some frozen veg? A certain 'Aunt' brand does a nice carrot and swede mash. Or there's individual bags of steamed veg if they have a microwave? Seems less wasteful than buying a whole swede or cauliflower.


I think your dad would have to limit his amounts of kale and spinach if he were planning to eat them everyday but I don't expect this would be the case.

mandco

Is it maybe the prep of fresh veg that they struggle with? I know my nan used to struggle with the cutting/peeling so avoided buying fresh veg

I wouldn't be too worried about the choice of veg rather in making sure they eat some a wide choice is ideal but the same one everyday is better than none

as its veg they will eat I'd look at frozen carrot/swede mix very cheap and cooks in a just few mins no prep needed

would they be willing to try homemade soups? that is maybe something you could prepare for them and freeze in portions so again no prep needed just thaw and heat

Lilyplonk

I make my own Carrot & Swede Mash - have to make sure that it's very well drained. Then I portion it up into freezer tubs and freeze for when I want to use it.

Just be aware that root veggies can have quite a bit of 'natural sugar' in them and are generally 'sweeter' than leafy or pod veg. Double check with dietician about how much root veg is advisable.