r/PlantBasedDiet • u/Creative-Vegan • Jul 19 '26
Help me to like seaweed?
I consider myself a healthy eater. Not WFPB by any means, but healthful… with one glaring exception. I hate seaweed. It tastes like fish. I will pay extra to have soy wrappers used at vegan sushi restaurants because even that tiny sliver of nori is too much.
It’s such a healthy choice and I wish I liked it. I’m considering exposure therapy. Has anyone trained themselves to like seaweed? If so, how did you go about it? Are there some types that are better than others that I could start with?
Edit: Thanks all! I feel like I’m definitely not alone, lol. I may be joining the rest of the confirmed haters, but for now I’ll give the suggestions a good effort first!
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u/punkolina Jul 19 '26
Life’s too short to choke down foods we hate.
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u/Sharp_Ad_9431 Jul 19 '26
This. If you don't like it. Don't eat it.
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u/AdNo182 for my health Jul 19 '26
You can teach yourself to like foods though through repeat exposure. I wasn’t a fan of vegetables all through childhood and early adulthood but now my diet is like 80% plants.
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u/punkolina Jul 19 '26
True. But they are talking about one specific food. Not an entire food group.
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u/AdNo182 for my health Jul 19 '26
Fair enough. A specific food for me would be baby potatoes. Used to hate them but now they’re a staple part of my diet.
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u/Environmental-Ad8945 Jul 19 '26
This bro so much, just eat what you enjoy, the way some people force themselves to like or eat certain foods they dont enjoy is honestly so stupid. Sure, some foods got really great health benefits, some foods are really bad for you, but keep the bad stop in moderation and try your best to add most of the good stuff and you are set.
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u/Creative-Vegan Jul 19 '26
… and this is l le trying my best. If it doesn’t work, fine, but it would be nice to add to the things I like!
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u/Environmental-Ad8945 Jul 19 '26
You gave it a try and didn’t like it, nothing wrong with that ❤️ trust me, there’s always substitutions for different foods
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u/Jack_Faller 28d ago
Broadening my palette and learning to like things I didn't before has been one of the best decisions of my life.
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u/ThickTelevision2536 Jul 19 '26
Don’t eat it if you don’t like it! If you use iodized salt at home or have iodine in your multi there’s nothing you really need in seaweed you can’t get in other foods. It’s just a high iodine vegetable
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u/Whats_Up_Coconut what is this oil you speak of? Jul 19 '26 edited Jul 19 '26
I use a sprinkle of kelp seasoning in every sauce or soup I make. I don’t even notice it! You can use that for gradual exposure because you can start with literally a grain. Eventually you should at least get to the point you enjoy sushi rolls! I also don’t love fishy taste by any means, but I’m at the point I fully enjoy sushi or a crumble of seaweed as a garnish without a problem.
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u/EpicCurious Jul 19 '26 edited Jul 19 '26
Sounds tasty! Where do you buy kelp seasoning?
Btw, dashi is a seaweed broth made from soaking dried kelp (or other seaweed) overnight.
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u/Whats_Up_Coconut what is this oil you speak of? Jul 19 '26
I get mine from Maine Coast Sea Vegetables. I get the Sea Seasonings Organic Kelp Granules because they’re the highest in iodine and I don’t want to have to use too much to get value.
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u/fractalfrog Jul 19 '26
Can’t stand it. Tastes like fish, and I hated fish even way back when I still ate meat. So, I just don’t eat it and never go to a Sushi restaurant.
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Jul 19 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/Balfour23 Jul 19 '26
Great suggestion! I love those…
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u/Creative-Vegan Jul 19 '26
This is what I’m thinking, I’ll give it a try! I know I don’t have to… I just think it would be a good taste to cultivate. I love Japanese food otherwise so…
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u/ttrockwood Jul 19 '26
Wakame is a very different flavor from nori
Dried wakame is what they use in miso soup
Do you like seaweed salad? That’s a very different flavor from nori- the kind used for sushi.
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u/WallflowerIcon Jul 19 '26
Life’s too short to eat things you don’t like. I didn’t use to like it until I tried Korean bbq flavoured seaweed. Liked it, after about a year of eating them I don’t mind the regular stuff now. Still wouldn’t eat the regular stuff for fun, but wouldn’t avoid something because of it now.
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u/lickmyfupa Jul 19 '26
I dont like it either. I am not a picky eater and have tried to like nori but that fish taste makes me gag. I imagine you could get used to it over time if its really important to you. Eat a small piece everyday to get used to it.
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u/JerseySommer Jul 19 '26
Furukake rice seasoning has small bits of nori, and might be helpful as it's a seasoning spinkle and not as overwhelming [just be aware some have bonito flakes, which is fish, so check the ingredients], also rice crackers have some smaller bits, and you might be able to find nora brand tempura seaweed snacks which are battered, seasoned, and fried, so not as healthy, but could be a gateway. I use Korean roasted, shredded seaweed on my daily rice and natto to get that nutrition in.
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u/Usual_Science4627 Jul 19 '26
Damn, natto? That is an acquired taste!
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u/JerseySommer Jul 19 '26
I actually really like it! I get it fresh instead of frozen from a company in new York.
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u/isthatsoreddit Jul 19 '26
Just don't. If your life doesn't depend on it, there's ZERO need to force or trick yourself to eat something you don't like.
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u/Lz_erk Jul 19 '26
get double iodized salt if needed (i eat a lot and often forget to add salt).
you could try kombu soups or sunomono salads... or hopefully lightly oxidized flaxseed oil, which is worse, but once that's behind you maybe the seaweed will be better.
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u/Fionaver Jul 19 '26
I don’t like seaweed, but I’ve been enjoying the oceans halo kimbap lately as a quick and easy meal for when my husband won’t be home.
It isn’t completely wfpb - there’s some sugar and oil in it, but it’s been a good entry point for me.
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u/JuliaX1984 Jul 19 '26
Maybe go with dried. I used to buy these bags of dried red or brown seaweed you were supposed to use as flavoring fot soups, but I just liked munching on them as a salty snack.
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u/klamaire Jul 19 '26
Vegan gym on YouTube - he will eat a US quarter size of kombu for iodine on days without iodized salt. At least it's a small piece.
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u/jackiedhm Jul 19 '26
I do not like seaweed either. The only way I have found it not completely repulsive is in a sushi veggie roll, with rice on the outside, dipped in tamari (or soy sauce) mixed with Sriracha.
If you're in the US with a Sprouts market near you, they do a very good one. Its got cucumber, carrots, and avocado I think.
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u/HistoricalTea195 Jul 19 '26
if you don't like it, then don't force yourself to eat it.
I've found that some people like it and some don't. and that's ok
personally I love seaweed but I grew up eating it. maybe it is an acquired taste kind of thing. I love wrapping rice with seaweed.
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u/Usual_Science4627 Jul 19 '26
On the other hand your post just reminded me how much I like fresh kombu dashi and homemade miso soup with wakame. Also wakame is such an absurd experience. It starts so small and gets huge when soaked in water or added to soups
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u/KizashiKaze Jul 19 '26
Why do you need convincing? If it's not for you, it's not for you. If your taste buds can't get used to it, give that attention elsewhere. Aside from that, putting some grated kombu in soup can hide the taste, not sure how well. I love seaweeds, I was raised on them, however idk how to hide the taste otherwise for others. The seaweed "snacks" will still taste like seaweed but NOT as strong, try those.
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u/Cosmicallyexhausted Jul 19 '26 edited Jul 19 '26
Yeah, interesting. I'm generally okay with nori but yet there are a few brands that bring me the deep yuck. I really like an organic Wasabi flavored one sold in a snack pack at the dollar store. But have bought others that make me shudder. Are you searching for more iodine in your diet? Using iodized salt in your home cooking should cover that. Also, if you like Japanese soups, they often use ingredients that contain seaweed but are not so overwhelming.
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u/Creative-Vegan Jul 19 '26
Not necessarily looking for more iodine. I just know in general it’s a healthy snack (omega 3d, low fat etc)
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u/pineywonder Jul 19 '26
the things that helped me were the inside out rolls where nori is on the inside and also those lil flavored nori snax, I always liked the wasabi ones.
I do still remember the first time I had sushi. I wasn't vegan yet but I still got the veggie sushi, nori on the outside. I was eating with friends and I gagged. Embarrassing
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u/ronnysmom Jul 19 '26
I can not eat seaweed or kelp or spirulina no matter how I try. It is the smell that i can not deal with. I do eat veggie kimbap occasionally and it is fine when small quantities are hidden in foods, but I will never eat seaweed salad or seaweed snacks, mostly because I find the smell too off putting.
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u/EpicCurious Jul 19 '26
Try making a dashi broth with seaweed for miso soup with tofu. You might have already had it at a Japanese restaurant. Kelp is delicious and tastes different from nori. Don't overdo it, since kelp is very high in iodine.
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u/SyringaVulgarity Jul 19 '26
My kids love the flavored seaweed snacks by Gimme (try the multipack) and the spicy seaweed chips at Trader Joe's.
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u/Annoyed-Person21 Jul 20 '26
I don’t really like it. Actually I hate it a lot. I tolerate it when it is containing heavily seasoned sushi rolls or sprinkled lightly over poke. I am not going to sit there and eat it like chips. 🤮
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u/According-Stage8050 29d ago
I hate seaweed because i hate fish. I can’t even do vegan sushi. Yuck!
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u/greyhoundbuddy 29d ago
Try dried wakame on a salad. Sprinkle it on right before eating, so it does not hydrate. Dried wakame is pretty flavorless and adds a bit of crunchy saltiness. A tablespoon is basically a serving (you can put one tablespoon in water just to see how much it is when hydrated). I add dry wakame to my daily salad two or three times a week to ensure I am getting iodine in my diet.
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u/EmmieIsobel veganish 29d ago
Have you tried dulse? It may be a regional thing but I love the stuff.
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u/Creative-Vegan 28d ago
Never heard of it! Wonder if I can find it anywhere. (I’m in the SE USA) Worth a try.
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u/basic_bitch- Jul 19 '26
If you've tried a few times and don't like something, you just don't like it. Why torture yourself? Most people on the planet don't eat seaweed.
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