Some foods are packed with nutrients but taste absolutely awful, to be honest.
Whether they’re bitter, slimy, or just plain weird, certain foods aren’t all that appealing, despite the fact that you know they’re really good for you. While you might think there’s no chance you’d even consider incorporating them into your diet, there are ways to prepare them in slightly tastier ways. And once you recognise the positive impacts they can have on your overall health, you might be willing to try (or not).
1. Brussels sprouts are tiny, bitter cabbages of health.
Brussels sprouts have a reputation for tasting like boiled sadness, but they’re actually packed with vitamins and fibre. Their slightly sulphurous taste isn’t exactly inviting, especially when overcooked, but roasting them with olive oil and seasoning makes them far more tolerable. They’re full of antioxidants, great for digestion, and support heart health—basically, they’re a nutritional goldmine disguised as a tiny, bitter vegetable. If you can get past their initial punch to the taste buds, they might just grow on you.
2. Kale tastes like grass but is basically a superfood.
Kale is one of the healthiest greens you can eat, but it has the unfortunate downside of tasting like you just took a bite out of a houseplant. Its tough, bitter leaves make it hard to love, yet it’s loaded with vitamins A, C, and K, as well as iron and antioxidants. Blending it into smoothies or massaging it with dressing makes it slightly more bearable, but let’s be honest—it’ll never taste as good as a cheeseburger. Still, it’s one of the few greens that genuinely deserves its “superfood” status.
3. Liver is an iron-packed nutritional powerhouse with a questionable texture.
Liver is one of the most nutrient-dense foods you can eat, but the taste is… a lot. It has a strong, metallic flavour and a texture that’s somehow both mushy and chewy at the same time. Not exactly an easy sell. But if you can stomach it, liver is packed with iron, vitamin A, and protein. It supports brain function, boosts energy levels, and is great for your skin. The trick is disguising it—pâté, liver sausage, or mixing it into dishes makes it far more palatable.
4. Beets taste like sweet dirt, but they’re amazing for your body.
Beets are one of those foods that people either love or absolutely despise. They have a strong earthy taste, often compared to eating soil, which makes them a tough sell for picky eaters. Their intense red colour doesn’t help, making them look suspiciously like something from a horror film. Despite this, beets are fantastic for your heart, improve circulation, and even enhance athletic performance. If the dirt flavour is too much, roasting them or blending them into smoothies helps mask it. Or just drown them in balsamic vinegar and pretend they’re something else.
5. Sardines are salty, fishy, and full of omega-3s.
Sardines smell like the ocean and taste just as intense, which is why many people avoid them at all costs. They have a strong, oily flavour that lingers, and their tiny bones don’t exactly add to the appeal. But if you can get past the fishiness, they’re one of the best sources of omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin D, and protein. They’re great for your brain, heart, and bones, and they even contain more calcium than a glass of milk. Try them on toast with lemon juice, or mix them into pasta to distract yourself from their overwhelming flavour.
6. Apple cider vinegar burns going down but is great for digestion.
Apple cider vinegar isn’t technically a food, but plenty of people swear by drinking it daily. The downside? It tastes like liquid regret. It’s sour, acidic, and makes your throat feel like it’s on fire. Yet it’s praised for its ability to aid digestion, lower blood sugar, and even help with weight management. Mixing it with honey and water makes it slightly more tolerable, but let’s be real—no one is drinking this for fun.
7. Tofu tastes like nothing (until you do something about it).
Tofu is one of the most nutritious plant-based proteins, but it’s also one of the most flavourless foods out there. On its own, it has all the excitement of a damp sponge, which is why it gets such a bad reputation. However, tofu absorbs flavour like a champ, making it incredibly versatile. When seasoned properly, it’s a protein-packed, cholesterol-free alternative to meat that works in everything from stir-fries to smoothies. The key is to season aggressively—no one wants to eat bland tofu.
8. Celery tastes like crunchy water but has surprising benefits.
Celery is mostly water with a hint of bitterness, making it one of the most underwhelming vegetables in existence. It doesn’t exactly pack a punch in the flavour department, and eating it raw feels like chewing on stringy, slightly bitter hydration. However, celery is packed with antioxidants, helps lower blood pressure, and is great for digestion. It’s also low in calories, making it a staple in many weight-loss diets. Pairing it with peanut butter or dunking it in hummus is the best way to pretend it’s actually enjoyable.
9. Seaweed smells like the ocean and tastes like salty rubber.
Seaweed is one of the healthiest things you can eat, packed with iodine, fibre, and essential minerals. But it also smells exactly like low tide and has a chewy, rubbery texture that isn’t exactly inviting. Still, it’s a superfood that supports thyroid function, boosts energy, and provides a natural source of iodine, which is rare in most diets. If eating it straight is too much, try it in sushi or as a crunchy seaweed snack instead.
10. Blue cheese smells like feet, but is actually good for your gut.
Blue cheese is one of the most divisive cheeses out there—it’s rich, funky, and smells like it’s gone off. The mouldy veins running through it don’t exactly help its case, and for many people, the strong, tangy flavour is just too much. Yet blue cheese is packed with probiotics, great for digestion, and loaded with calcium. It also contains beneficial bacteria that support gut health. If eating it straight is too intense, crumbling it into salads or melting it into sauces helps tone down the funk.
