Learning to like healthy food ...ahhhh

Brandyrhodes40

I'm 40 years old and it amazes me how rating healthy food is still so hard ! Over some time I've learned to like a fee foods like Brussel sprouts , broccoli, protein powder/bars, zucchini, squash I'm still working on sweet potatoes , fish (not fried) , spinach etc. I struggle with cooking / prepping meals . It was my down fall a year ago I lost 50 lbs but became so frustrated with my limit in food and prepping those foods . Does anybody else have this problem ? What do you prep or look toward to help you cook and prepare foods ? I went to the book store to look for low carb/calories recipes books but most that food is not realistic in my mind . Ahhhh

queenliz99

Maybe your problem is identifying what is healthy. I eat EVERYTHING in moderation but just less of it I eat a lot of packaged, canned or frozen foods and have not had any trouble losing or maintaining my weight.

cmriverside

Well, I think you have to eat what you like. Meal prep and cooking doesn't have to be a huge deal, but of course there is a little more work to it than frozen or take away.

I have about ten different meals in rotation. I often cook several days' worth of chicken and refrigerate it and use it in a few different ways - salad, Mexican, sandwiches, pasta.

Just start. Learn as you go. Make small changes as you are able.

minniemoo1972

I eat what I did before but smaller portions that fit in my calorie allowance......

PaytraB

What do you like eating? You've learned to like squash.....that's something I have never been able to do (except spaghetti squash). It will be easier to make suggestions if we know what you like.
Eat what you enjoy but make it fit into your calorie allowance.

cwolfman13

If you don't like something, you don't have to eat it just because it's "healthy"...you can get whatever nutrients you need eating other things that you do like. I like a lot of nutritious healthy foods...and there are many that I don't really care for...so I don't eat those.

I enjoy cooking and I'm pretty much a rock star in the kitchen, so that's not an issue...nutritious, healthy foods can also be delicious...cooking isn't hard, all you have to be able to do is read.

dlcshan

I eat a lot of chicken breasts. I also mainly try to find healthier ways of cooking foods I already like. Using less oil/butter when cooking, using spices instead of sauces. I hate zucchini and won't eat it, brussel sprouts, eggplant, summer squashes, etc. They all taste like grass to me. I also will not eat fish unless it is battered and deep fried. A huge thing for me was portion control of the foods that aren't so healthy. I still eat them, just not as much or as often. I also think is the taste worth the calories. So I've basically stopped eating Kraft mac and cheese even though the rest of the household eats it. Sometimes I just steal a bite and that reminds me that it's not that great tasting to me anymore anyway. I love pasta though so I've started buying the Creamette 150 calorie versions. A bit more expensive but higher in fiber and protein while being lower in calories. It was just be a little more firm than regular.

A typical working day I will eat
Breakfast: Some sort of small leftovers or a couple eggs with cheese
Snack: something small or maybe nothing at all
Lunch: often leftovers or a small sandwich
Eating while at work (grazing food): pint of blueberries, pint of grape tomatoes, 2 protein bars (170 calories each)
Late dinner: whatever my mom made (small amount or focus of the protein if it's not that healthy)
If my calories allow, I'll have a small doughtnut at work (they're free), a few small cookies or something. If not, too bad for me.

If I really really want something, I'll usually have a small amount even if it makes me go over my calories a bit. It will keep me from going off the deep end later. That depends on the person though. Some people, a small amount will just make them go back for more.

When I first started this, I was very strict while I got a handle on what was really bad until I got used to eating less food. The first couple of weeks are the worst! Then once my appetite shrank, I was able to have small treats without having to starve on even less volume of food. It's rough, but the most important thing is to find sustainable changes. It's different for everyone though. Just make sure you don't exclude everything you like. Try to find healthier ways to prepare them or be satisfied with smaller amounts. And if you go off the deep end one day, acknowledge it, accept it and move on the next day. One day doesn't ruin everything.

Brandyrhodes40

I do experiment with foods . I can't eat a little of something I like it's either don't touch it at all or forget staying at my calorie intake . My will power is stronger when I quit cold turkey . I love pasta and pizza of course the two things that can kill the calorie count lol . I am currantly trying to cook way more for more days and learn how to adjust to that . But maybe I think to hard about food and should just keep to weighing my food and staying away from the most dangerous foods for me . I have failed so many times in this weight loss battle I just want to be victorious this time

cmriverside

Many of us (me included) have some foods that cannot be part of our daily rotation.

Some foods trigger me to eat more - especially white bread or tortillas, cereal, crackers, peanut butter, sugary things like cookies or donuts or cake, crispy snack foods like potato chips, pretzels, tortilla chips. Nuts or trail mix. Ice cream. I had to make those "treat" items and only have them once or twice a week. So - from that list I just made, I'll have two of those items a week. Not two half-gallons of ice cream. Two individual ice cream cones. If I buy more I eat more, so I have to practice portion-controlled purchasing.

Yourebeautiful2day

I am a very picky eater. I only like certain foods (like BBQ/grilled meats, OMG, that's my favorite thing ever!), I hate most veggies, I don't eat nuts due to tummy troubles, I can't eat any type of melons, bananas or avocados because I'm allergic and I love, love, love pasta and rice but they shoot my sugar levels into high heaven, so I stay away from them completely. All of this doesn't leave much room for a whole lot of foods, but I have found things I like. Pinto beans are good either whole or refried, cottage cheese works, apples, peaches, pears are my fruits of choice and I stick to wax beans, green beans, a little corn and a little peas and carrots, lettuces of all kinds and potatoes every now and then. My bread of choice is cornbread. I love cornbread! I also eat no sugar added pie from the buffet when I go to champagne brunch and I drink a glass of champagne, too. It's all a matter of balancing proteins with carbs and then getting in some activity to offset calories. It's a challenge at first, but over time it all works out. I agree with what others have said about eating what you like just doing so within your set calorie range.

vegmebuff

Several years ago I started experimenting with different spices. It has really opened up my 'same old boring' food into different tastes.

Spices don't necessarily mean 'hot' - spices add aroma, texture and different tastes using plants, seeds and fruits.

Might even let you start liking that 'sweet potato' lol!

MichelleLaree13

When I am being on my good diet (everyone has their own version of what they consider good), I eat mainly fruit, vegetables, whole grains and protein. I make sure I eat lots of vegetables... they are lower in calories and are filling. Vegetable stir fry with cashews (high in calories so I try not to add too many) and sometimes meat in a homemade light sauce is one of my favorites and probably what I will be making tonight for dinner. I am not a huge fan of rice so I do quinoa. Fruit, smoothies, coffee or tea all make a nice desert for me.

MichelleLaree13

I use pinterest for healthy food pics They have some fantastic looking stuff I have been meaning to try. They have all sorts of frozen yogurt deserts and different ways to prepare fruit.

AnnPT77

Brandyrhodes40 wrote: »

I do experiment with foods . I can't eat a little of something I like it's either don't touch it at all or forget staying at my calorie intake . My will power is stronger when I quit cold turkey . I love pasta and pizza of course the two things that can kill the calorie count lol . I am currantly trying to cook way more for more days and learn how to adjust to that . But maybe I think to hard about food and should just keep to weighing my food and staying away from the most dangerous foods for me . I have failed so many times in this weight loss battle I just want to be victorious this time

A few thoughts from a major veggie-eater:

Have you tried roasting vegetables? It changes & develops the flavor, so they seem richer-tasting. For most, 425F is a good temperature (time depends on the specific veggie - ask the internet), spray or toss with a tiny amount of olive or other healthful oil, the roast, turning once or twice during the roasting time. I make a massive batch, then put them in a bowl in the fridge to warm up, put in salads or sandwiches, mix with scrambled eggs, etc.

If you love pasta & pizza, consider foods that may hit some of those same flavor buttons.

You can make a lasagna-like bake with zucchini, eggplant, or some sturdier thinly-sliced veg instead of the pasta, keep the meat on the lean side, and use reduced-calorie ricotta cheese (though I think the nonfat isn't too tasty) and a light sprinkle of a flavorful cheese like parmesan. Or try it with spaghetti squash, since you like squash.

Sometimes I make myself a veggie with pizza toppings (stuffing winter squash halves with toppings can be good, or eggplant slices). Or I use a small whole wheat tortilla to make pizza-for-one, heaped with mushrooms & veggies & lighter on the cheese.

There are some kinds of pasta now that are higher in protein & fiber, so they bring more nutrition along with the calories, and can be more satiating. I've been getting chickpea pasta, which has substantially more protein for about the same calories.

Just a few thoughts . . . .