The Case for Taste

Posted by Stephanie Gallagher Jun 4, 2007

If a plate of broccoli is covered with butter or cheese, is it still a plate of broccoli?

Of course it is.

Yet, many of us, Americans especially, act like if we enjoy our vegetables with butter or salt or cream or cheese, we aren't really eating vegetables. It's as if it doesn't count if it tastes good.

This, I believe, is one of the core reasons the French are leaner than we are. (Of course, the lack of a McDonald's on every street corner and the proliferation of smoking in France may have something to do with it, as well.) But the main thing is that vegetables can and should taste good. Just like the French, we should enjoy what we're eating, whether it's a chocolate brownie or a plate of broccoli.

Unless you have serious health issues that severely restrict your salt and fat intake, it's fine to add a tablespoon of butter to your green beans to make them taste better. Or some salt to your roasted cauliflower. After all, if it tastes good, aren't you more likely to eat it?

The fact is when we eat more fruits and vegetables, we are eating healthy, even when those fruits and vegetables are accompanied by cheese or butter or chocolate.

Think about it: When you choose to avoid making those roasted Brussels sprouts with bacon because you don't want your kids to have any saturated fat, what do you think they'll eat instead? Maybe they'll gag down a single bite of steamed broccoli, but chances are, they'll replace the full serving bacon-laced Brussels sprouts with potato chips, ice cream, or something far higher in saturated fat or sugar.

Now obviously, I'm not talking about dousing vegetables with cream sauces and salt. It doesn't take a nutritionist to figure out that a single broccoli floret swimming in a cup of cream sauce isn't really eating healthy. Nor am I talking about giving a triple bypass patient a plate of Mexican dip and chips.

What I'm talking about is adding just enough creamy, cheesy, buttery, salty, chocolately flavor to make your fruits and vegetables taste good.

I'm talking about using fat and salt and sugar to enhance the flavors of these wholesome foods, in the same way professional chefs use fat, salt and sugar to enhance the flavor of a burger or lasagna.

And the real secret is you really don't need to use much fat, salt or sugar to make your healthy foods taste good anyway.

Next time you spend 20 minutes negotiating to get your seven-year-old to eat three bites of steamed broccoli, try these great-tasting recipes instead. No, the kids may not gobble them down the first time they try them, but at least you'll enjoy eating their leftovers!

• Roasted Red Pepper Tapenade -- The capers make it salty, the cheese makes it creamy. Everyone loves this recipe!
• Mexican Dip -- Yup, the popular recipe is chock-full of nutrients!
• Italian Baked Pasta -- Four kinds of cheese make the fresh veggies in this dish taste awesome!
• Butternut Squash Smashed Potatoes -- Creamy, sweet and topped with an amazing brown butter sauce. Can you sauce Yummmeee?
• Oven Roasted Vegetables -- Bacon, olive oil, butter and sea salt make these taste great!
• Vegetarian Meat Loaf -- If you've never tried lentils, this recipe should be your introduction.
• Beet Chips -- They're full of Vitamin C, fiber and iron. Even if you don't like beets, you'll love this recipe.