Did you know that the average family has a rotation of the same old boring 10-14 meals? In addition, people usually have a very limited liking of vegetables. It is quite common for people to become bored and begin to have more cravings for something different which can lead to eating out more, driving through a fast food line or stopping by a convenience store. It can also lead to skipping meals, which can lead to weight gain.
We need a large variety of foods in order to mix things up and prevent boredom. In addition, a wide variety of foods is important for your overall health and gut microbiome.
Here are some ideas to mix things up and bring some spice back in to your meal preparation life!
Try vegetables that you may not like prepared a different way. For instance, I am not a fan of raw broccoli or cauliflower, but I LOVE them roasted! They develop a yummy nutty flavor when you roast them in the oven or in your air frier and I can easily eat half a head of cauliflower this way. You can also toss roasted cauliflower with Frank’s Red Hot or other low fat, low sugar sauces for a healthy and flavorful snack.
Here are some other veggie dishes that you may not have tried: Spaghetti squash instead of pasta, zoodles (zucchini noodles) instead of pasta, asparagus guacamole, cauliflower rice, cauliflower mashed potatoes, cauliflower fritters, cauliflower pizza crust, Rutabaga fries, turnip fries, jicama fries, kohlrabi fries, roasted brussel sprouts, celery root hashbrowns, stuffed peppers, cabbage steaks, stuffed zucchini boats, raw kohlrabi with salt, kale chips in the air fryer, zucchini chips in the air fryer, egg roll in a bowl, etc.
Look at Pinterest, online and in your cookbooks for some new, healthy recipes. Print them out or copy them and try them. If you like the recipe, put it in a 3-ring binder so you always have the recipe at your fingertips. Try to have a goal of trying 1-2 new recipes each week.
Try one of the healthy meal delivery services. These include well known ones like Hello Fresh, Freshly and Sunfare. Many areas also have local meal delivery services where you can customize your meals based on your preferences and dietary needs. This is a great way to save time! People often think that these meal delivery services are expensive but in reality it can save people money in the long run by avoiding eating out as well as a savings in health care costs. Plus…what’s your time worth?
Try experimenting with spices, seasonings and healthy sauces. Chicken, by itself, is pretty boring! But, marinating it in many of the fast and yummy, low sugar, marinades can turn that boring piece of chicken to a mouthwatering dish! There are a variety of amazing seasonings and seasoning blends that can completely change up that boring dish!
Exploring new healthy recipes now will pay off in the long run!
