Do you ever find yourself in a food rut?
Are you eating on autopilot, having the same breakfast, lunch and dinner every day? You’re not alone. Many people eat the same dozen foods again and again. Expanding your food rotation has many benefits. Variety is the spice of life, after all!
If you always eat lettuce, swap it for arugula. Exchange your spinach for chard, kale or dandelion greens. They’re all delicious sautéed with garlic and olive oil. Are you a fan of red apples? Have a green one next time. Love cheese? There are so many different kinds to tempt your taste buds, one more yummy than the next. Whole wheat varieties of breads and pastas are a great place to arrange a swap. Love ice cream or frozen yogurt? Taste some of the new frozen Greek yogurts. See how simple it is to squid pro quo?
Here are 6 more quick tips for adding more variety to your diet (and no, you don’t have to eat squid):
1. Be Adventurous – If you see something you don’t recognize, buy it. If you’ve never eaten something before, try it. If you’ve never cooked something before, do it. If you haven’t seen a food in awhile, maybe it was out of season and it’s back now. When dining out or ordering in, challenge yourself to choose something new instead of your usual suspects.
2. Get colorful – Different foods contain different nutrients; add a rainbow of veggies and fruits to your shopping cart.
3. Choose Seasonal – What’s in season are the freshest and often most economical options, too. Shopping at Farmers’ Markets is an easy way to get local and seasonal produce. Go early for the best selection.
4. Add Texture – Texture is what makes salads memorable. Combine a variety of textures to make your salads and meals interesting and delicious. Choose foods that are soft (boston lettuce, watercress, fresh herbs such as basil), crunchy (sprouts, romaine lettuce, cabbage, nuts, croutons), creamy (avocado, blue cheese) and chewy (cranberries, raisins).
5. Savor the Flavor – Choose foods that are sweet (fruits, squash, beets, milk), sour (lemons, vinegar, yogurt, pickles), salty (seaweed, nuts, sea salt), bitter (arugula, olives, cabbage, zucchini), pungent (garlic, onions, cayenne pepper, herbs, spices), astringent (broccoli, apples, peanuts, coffee, tea). Different flavors will keep your palette entertained and keeps things interesting!
6. Think Ethnic – A simple way to bring more variety into your daily diet is to use ethnic flavors and ingredients. Consider Mexican, Thai, Indian, Chinese, Japanese, Italian, French or Greek cuisines. If you’re feeling adventurous, seek out ethnic markets where you can find specialty ingredients that may inspire you even more.
Next time you’re shopping at the market or out to dinner, don’t automatically order the same chicken or steak. Why not go squid pro quo and try something new or different for your appetizer or entrée. Grilled calamari, anyone?
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Let us know what new choices you make in the comments below. Who knows, you may even inspire someone else to step out of their culinary box.
