The Art of Eating Your Vegetables (Even If You
Hate Them) The Maria Liberati Show

Editor: Eryn Nichols

copyright 2025 Art of Living Prima Media Inc.

In this week’s episode of The Maria Liberati Show, we’re diving into the world of hidden vegetables,
those tricky, sometimes intimidating, and often misunderstood members of the produce aisle. From okra
to radishes, Maria explores what makes these veggies so difficult to love, and how we can learn to
embrace them (or at least sneak them in). Later, we will get into guest author Heidi Herman’s secrets
about how to embrace these grocery store underdogs.
The Infamous Vegetable List:
Let’s be honest: some vegetables just have a bad reputation. Whether it’s the texture, the smell, or just
childhood trauma at the dinner table, some veggies never stood a chance. Maria ran through a lineup of
infamously hard-to-love vegetables:
1. Okra – Slimy but soulful, often fried or stewed in the South. Bonus points: Known for supporting
pregnancy health, as evident from their virality on “Momtok”.
2. Brussels Sprout – Roasted redemption stories only. Olive oil and salt save the day for a crunchy
oven-roasted snack.
3. Kale – The gym coach of greens. Tough love. Literally. Maria recommends adding lemon to
soften their hard exterior.
4. Celery – Crunchy, but forgettable. Great in smoothies and soups, but we all know they are best
served with peanut butter.
5. Eggplant – The drama queen of vegetables, but a staple in cultural dishes around the world.
Maria talks about their temperament while cooking, a notoriously hard-to-tame veggie.
6. Beets – Beautifully messy. Great for carpaccio and turning your cutting board into a murder
scene.
7. Turnips – Maria’s least favorite, and honestly? Fair. Like a potato’s cousin that’s invited to the
reunion and gets “lost in the mail”.
8. Lima Beans – …Let’s just say the silence speaks volumes.
9. Cauliflower – The comeback kid. From pizza crust to rice substitute. But it might leave your
kitchen smelling like something that shouldn’t be mentioned on a recipe blog.
10. Radishes – Spicy surprises. Easy to grow, easy to ignore.
But don’t worry…help is on the way.

Meet Heidi Herman: Author of The Hidden Vegetables
Maria welcomed Heidi Herman, author of The Hidden Vegetables,s, to discuss how to make veggies work
for even the pickiest eaters. Raised on a meat-and-potatoes diet by her Icelandic mother, Heidi didn’t
grow up eating vegetables. Now, she’s turned that struggle into a solution with 90 sneaky recipes for
vegetable-averse adults (and their picky kids, too).
“I hate vegetables,” Heidi admits.
“I’m going to be a carnivore and a carboholic,” She thought, “after a while, that is not very
good for your body.”
And it’s not just about taste. As adults, skipping the salad at a business lunch can feel… well, juvenile.
But, the real consequences show up with age: nutritional gaps, health issues, and missed opportunities to
feel your best. Heidi and Maria urge you to start giving your kids vegetables early to nurture their palate
and their body. But, we understand, sometimes getting kids to love vegetables isn’t easy.
The Secret Is in the Smoothie (and the Brownie)
Heidi’s recipes aren’t your standard steamed broccoli and cheese situation. Her trick? Pureeing vegetables
and slipping them into sauces, batters, and even desserts. Heidi didn’t set out to create a cookbook. She
wanted to share her recipes for vegetable-adverse adults after years of adapting recipes to her non-veggie
conforming taste. Some recipe highlights she mentioned on the podcast include:
1. Spinach blended into ricotta or tomato sauce for lasagna
2. Beets in brownies
3. Zucchini in a chocolate cake
4. Butternut squash cookies
5. Kale coconut cream pie (yes, really)
6. Banana muffins with riced cauliflower (plus ginger to cut the aftertaste!)
It’s all about eliminating waste and maximizing nutrition, without sacrificing flavor, or freaking out your
inner child. Maria mentioned her “secret protein smoothie,” which included kale and celery along with
her fruit for an undercover, delicious, and nutritious treat.
If you want to know more about Heidi’s mouth-watering and health-giving recipes, make sure to pick up
her book; you and your gut won’t regret it!
Where to Get The Hidden Vegetables
The book drops September 16th, and signed copies are available now for preorder at:
? heidihermanauthor.com
? heklapublishing.com
Whether you’re a parent trying to outsmart a picky toddler or an adult looking to level up your diet
without the drama, this cookbook is a must buy.
Next Time on The Maria Liberati Show…
Maria will be joined by Tim Lopez, author of Kickof Kitchen and former chef for the Philadelphia
Eagles. Expect flavor, football, and food that fuels champions.
Don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review if you loved this episode…and maybe go sneak a beet into
your brownie. We won’t tell.

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