How can a picky eater eat more healthy?

CoCoA89
CoCoA89 Posts: 1
in Food and Nutrition
I have a very stressful job and don't get alot of time to cook at home, so a lot of what I am eating it either fast food or frozen food. And when I get stressed I eat nothing but junk food. I know this is terrible for me and I want to start eating healthy but I'm not sure where to start. Also I am very petite and don't want to loose weight but I want to be healthy and feel better than I do when eat terrible food.

Advice? Where do I start?

Replies

  • jeagogo
    jeagogo Posts: 179 Member
    I am a super picky eater! Trying new foods is literally my biggest fear, but taking a bit of extra time to cook fresher foods can make a huge difference in how you feel. I'm bad at portion control with junk foods so my safest bet is to not buy them at all. When I want to spoil myself I'll buy single servings of junk food, like a small bag of chips instead of the bag with 10+ servings in it.

    For healthier foods try focusing on which veggies, fruits, and lean proteins you enjoy first. Stock up on those. Buy them fresh or frozen. For fast, easy meals try making your favorite protein and some veggies wrapped in a foil packet and baked in the oven for 20 minutes. It's fast, and both prep and clean up are easy. It takes longer then a frozen meal in the microwave, obviously, but the fresher ingredients will make a world of difference with taste. I also make a ton of meals in my little rice cooker - you can make a lot more than rice in a rice cooker! I love meals that you can prep and then forget about until the meal is cooked. I'm too busy for flipping things or stirring!

    One of the beauties of being a picky eater is that I'm not bored or bothered by repetitive meals so I can easily prep several servings at once and eat the leftovers for my lunches at work. Most people I know would get sick of having the same thing over and over, but for me it's rather comforting.

    Try to find some time in your schedule to help with stress relief, too. Whether it's meditation, massage, yoga, or just going for a walk. You have to take care of your mental health as well as your physical health!
  • MelodyandBarbells
    MelodyandBarbells Posts: 7,724 Member
    I am fairly lazy, so from that perspective I would say try a small change, then when you've acclimated to that, try another small change.

    Do you like any fruit at all? If so, buy them. I believe most fruit keep well in the fridge. You can eat them at home, or pack them for work to eat with lunch or as a snack and they won't require any cooking.

    Easy change #2, boil eggs. Easy to "cook" and great for you. Submerge eggs in a pot of water. Cook on high 15 minutes. Drain water, add cold water to cool the eggs which also makes them easy to peel. Enjoy! Some people make a bunch in advance and reheat when they feel like eating them. I make mine when I want them since they're so easy , and I've been involved in one or two microwave egg exploding incidents :grumble: :ohwell:
  • illuvatree
    illuvatree Posts: 185 Member
    You might find people on here telling you, "Stop being a picky eater!" But we picky eaters know it's not that easy, haha.

    I'd say, find the healthy stuff you DO like, like whole grains and veggies that actually appeal to you, and introduce them into your diet more. I sauté my veggies to add flavor (and it doesn't take very long) because I really don't like them boiled that much.
  • peachybum21
    peachybum21 Posts: 22 Member
    I am too a picky eater, and asked the lovely MFP's on here for help not so long ago!
    I found making a big batch of soup was great for easy meals and for sneaking in vegetables that i didn't like. I made chicken and bacon soup with carrots, potatoes, swede, onion, parsnip etc but blended the vegetables i didn't like. Now i've frozen the soup for when i fancy it!
    I also keep stock of cereal bars with chocolate for a quick low cal but sweet snack.
    Then i just experiment with things like fajitas where i only add the ingredients i like but theyre quick and easy to do!
    Home made burgers are easy to make in bulk and freeze too. Learn to love your freezer!

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