Do you often eat the same foods for every meal each day, finding it difficult to break away from your usual cooking and snacking routines? If you’re able to recite your meals by heart and could grocery shop in your sleep, you’ve probably fallen into a food rut. And when a food rut hits, it might seem impossible to change your recurring food ways. Sure, it’s easier, and perhaps less time-consuming, to stick to what we know. But research has shown that varying the foods you eat can be helpful in ensuring that you’re receiving the right amount of nutrients and vitamins. So here are some tips in battling the dreaded food rut.
Begin by making the committed decision to shake your routine. Do you usually eat the same cereal for breakfast and the same peanut butter and jelly sandwich for lunch each day? Commit to not eating the same foods for a meal not more than twice weekly. In addition to providing you with extra nutrition, varying your food choices could help you mentally feel better and more awake.
Spend just a couple hours each week searching for new recipes. Peruse through well-known food web sites, like Recipezaar, Allrecipes.com, Epicurious, and the Food Network, and bookmark or print out any recipes that catch your attention. Or take a trip to your bookstore and check out the cookbooks available there. And don’t just stick to searching the categories with which you’re most familiar. Branch out and take a look at different ethnic food recipes, or recipes for stews or soups if that’s something you don’t normally make.
Be spontaneous by heading to your favorite grocery store or farmer’s market with the intention of trying a new food. A great place to start your search is the produce section. Never cook with asparagus or red peppers? Pick some up, and try a new, delicious recipe that incorporates your new find. Remember that the more color fruits and veggies add to a meal, the more nutrients that meal contains. Look for vegetables and fruits that look interesting, but ones you normally pass up because you’re just not used to cooking with them, or are unsure of what they are or where they originate. Some of the most exotic fruits are also some of the healthiest and nutrient-rich, like Goji berries and pomegranates.
If you usually rush through the supermarket aisles, grabbing your usual ingredients, try a new approach – at least doing so every once in a while. Plan a food shopping trip in which you take your time. Head down aisles you may not normally, and stop to check out foods and ingredients you usually don’t offer a second glance. Buy brown or wild rice instead of white, or pick up some pita bread or tortillas to make your next sandwich. You could discover your new favorite food you may have never otherwise.
Try cooking some of your favorite foods in new and different ways. Whether sautéed, baked, or grilled, many of your favorite meats and veggies can be prepared in a variety of ways. Ask friends and family how they cook certain foods, and you just might be introduced to another approach.
Spice up mealtime with different seasonings and exotic flavorings. Move beyond the simplicity of salt and pepper, and stock your spice rack with basil, thyme, dill, rosemary, saffron, ginger, turmeric, and herb-infused oils to add a whole new flavoring to dishes.
In livening up your daily food menu routine, you’ll learn to enjoy its process more readily, feel more satiated after eating, and discover new ways in which to receive optimum nutrition.
