If you’re tired of eating the same bland vegetables everyday, here are a few tips to make your veggie dishes more exciting.

1. Some vegetables increase in flavor as they mature and are also much bitter and less tender.  Instead of using mature vegetables, try purchasing baby vegetables.  Baby vegetables like artichokes, turnips, squashes, Brussels sprouts and carrots are much tender, sweeter and take less time to cook.  You can find the babies at larger supermarkets, specialty grocers or farmers markets.

2. Dunk raw slices of veggies in hummus, low-fat dips or your favorite salad dressing for a healthy and low calorie snack.

3. Toss slices of cheese in your favorite green salad.

4. Neutralize the strong flavors of vegetables by steaming them for 30 to 60 seconds then drop them in cold water.

5. Cook onions slower to take away the sharp flavor and strong smells.  Try slow roasting them or wrap them in foil with a little olive oil then toss on the grill.

6. Get hold of the freshest vegetables by shopping at the farmers market because they taste better.

7. If you don’t like the taste of vegetables, try adding them to soups.  The vegetable flavors mellow and weaken while the seasonings become more pronounced.

8. Choose sweeter vegetables like yams, squash, peas and carrots if you are sensitive to the taste of bitter vegetables.