Trying New Foods = $$$

CBrook04

I'm a very picky eater & I hate that I am. It seems silly to say that because you're probably saying I can change it but it is more than difficult for me.

1. I dislike cooking.
2. I don't exactly know how to pair foods together & make a great meal.
3. I don't even know how to prepare veggies in general.
4. Buying new ingredients for recipes cost money, and lots of it for all those spices.
5. If I try these new things & don't like them I have lots of groceries & money wasted.

Please give me any suggestions. Previous picky eaters feel free to give me hope! I have wanted to get a slow cooker but not sure if it would be a good investment.

jakeVScalories

i was ad picky as a teen and drank soda and candy and chips. that was it, now it's a complete 180. so i can relate,

1. cooking can be mad easy, i hate time consuming meals.
2. i dont really have an answer, veggies and a protein is usually what i stick with, pork chop, chicken breast, shrimps, ground beef, steak
3. veggies are silly easy, get some olive oil, or olive oil pam spray, heat up a pan, throw some veggies in, asparagus, broccoli, mushrooms, bell peppers, or whatevs, pull em out and keep taste testing until theyre to your standard
4. start off with salt and pepper, over time build a spice rack, it doesnt need to be built in a day
5. buy small amounts so you can TRY different things, most people (including me) don't have a lot of money to drop on all new groceries, slowly incorporate what you found to like, and either finish, donate, or throw out the stuff in your house you know you shouldnt be eating.
6. Watch food network. Most of the shows are aimed at healthy eating habits, Chef Robert Irvine is a pimp at making those types of easy cuisines.

Hope any of this helps, good luck!

rsjohnb

This is easy i was brought up by my mum and money was TIGHT! so I learned loads of cheap tasty recipies.

I dont know what you like but for starters try.


Carrot and Coriander soup.

4 big carrots £1
1 small onion 30p
2 veg stock cubes £1/pack
medium/big pan of water with around 3 ltrs of water (about 3/4) of the pan.

dont worry about the quataties as long as your there or there abouts it will be fine.

just chop it all up fling it in and boil it up for 20 mins.

then blitz it

job done.

if your feeling fancy add some cream or milk to give it a velvety texture.

good luck

aimeehaven

I would highly recommend a slow cooker/crockpot. I got mine for $20 at wal-mart and use it all the time! Made oatmeal in it last night and also have an amazing creamy chicken rice and corn recipe that is stupid easy that I use every other week...makes about 10 1 cup servings and the ingredients are inexpensive. As I have been eating healthier, cooking has become a learning experience. I really could not cook very well before (not knowing what to pair together and such) but slowly eased myself into it. I generally do not spend very much on trying new foods. I try to find recipes that include what I already have or maybe have one or two things that I would need to buy. Oh and pinterest is a great place to find recipes! That is my go-to site...don't know what I did before I had it!

JesterMFP

I have always been a picky eater, but it has got better as I've got older. It has got better because I've made an effort to try new things, and to keep trying things I'm not to keen on, to get used to the taste. Maybe start off with things that aren't completely unfamiliar or hated, but things you're just not convinced about. Focus on one thing and try a few ways of cooking it.

I understand the money issue, but you could just try one new thing every week, or even every couple of weeks. You don't have to buy things in such large quantities that you're left with tons of it if you don't like it. If a recipe has 8 different herbs or spices in it, you don't have to use them all - or go to a different recipe. The good thing about herbs and spices is that most of them last for quite a long time too.

A lot of people don't have a clue how to cook and seem to think it's impossible to start. It's actually quite easy to learn simple cooking, and there are tons (tons!) of blogs out there with easy recipes, all for free. Google is your friend - there is loads out there for beginner cooks, for cooking on a budget, and for cooking for various food restrictions. Try searching for student recipes - students are always assumed to be poor and bad at cooking!

I'm not too familiar with slow cooking, but as far as I know, a lot of the food you'd cook in a slow cooker would be of the stew/casserole variety. I believe they are very simple and easy to use, so if you like that kind of food it would probably be a great investment. If you don't, then maybe leave it until you have learned to like that kind of food!

It's hard to know what specific suggestions to make, not having any idea what you like or already know how to make, but some ideas:

-baked potatoes with fillings - you can adapt to make it as low-calorie or high-calorie as you like, and depending on what you have in the house, but you can bake a potato, scoop out the middle, mix it with (for example) cheese, sour cream, yoghurt, spring onions (scallions), bacon pieces, mushrooms etc, sprinkle a little cheese on top and grill (broil) it until the cheese melts.

-baked fish - get a fillet of fish (for example salmon) and wrap it in foil or baking parchment with eg. a little butter, lemon juice, salt & pepper, a clove of garlic, and bake in the oven for about 20 minutes at 350 F / 180 C

-learn to make couscous - very quick and easy, you basically just add hot water (can't remember exact proportions, but you can google) and seasonings, maybe some chopped veggies, or spices, or pine nuts - again, loads of ideas online

I'd start with finding recipes based on things you already like, and then as you get more confident in the kitchen, you can branch out more and discover new things.