I was told to eat more fiber, but this broccoli turned a depressing army-green and fell apart the moment my fork touched it — how do I keep it bright?

This is not superficial. It’s human.

Broccoli Is Not the Enemy

If your broccoli keeps turning army-green and falling apart, it’s not because you’re bad at cooking. It’s because you were never taught that vegetables need restraint, not endurance.

Broccoli doesn’t want to be dominated.
It wants to be respected.
Briefly.
At high heat.
With attention.

A Simple Rule You Can Actually Remember

If you take nothing else from this:

Cook broccoli less than you think you should.

Stop early.
Check often.
Accept that it’s okay if it still has resistance.

Crunch is not failure.
Brightness is not undercooking.
Mush is not kindness.

The Redemption of Fiber

When broccoli stays bright, something changes.

You don’t feel like you’re forcing yourself to eat fiber.
You’re just eating food.
Good food.
Food that doesn’t collapse when you look at it.

And suddenly, the advice to “eat more fiber” feels less like a chore and more like a suggestion you can live with.