SUCH a picky eater

xBrittanymaceachern · January 2016

"New Year New Me" AKA I'm tired of feeling drained and as if I have no energy. Myfitnesspal has recommended that I consume around 1200 calories a day. The issue? I'm such a picky eater. Pizza, snacks, chips, and carbs are my comfort foods. What do you guys recommend to help kick someones butt into gear when they're so accustomed to such a horrible diet. What are your favorite recipes that you feel replaces or helps to curb this cravings?

melsinct · January 2016

Start browsing through websites geared towards lower calorie (but tasty!) recipes. Skinnytaste is a good place to start. Eating Well is another good website where you can find lower calorie riffs on comfort foods.

samanthaglassey7 · January 2016

I'm in a similar boat, I was sick off feeling sluggish all the time which I knew was down to my poor diet and lack of exercising. So far I've just cut down on my portions such as having spaghetti bolognase and having rice with fried(1kcal spray) and chicken and adding different sauces and flavours such as bbq seasoning, soy sauce, sweet chilli sauce etc. Also found cooking my food different helps you a lot, oven cook instead of frying such as chips or potato waffles. Jacket potatoes with different toppings such as beans, tuna & sweet corn to even adding curry sauce. I've swapped some high calorie to lower calories aswell go change my mindset such as chocolate if feel in a major craving(Google is your friend with finding the lowest one). It's about balance as well though, you've got to do the exercise to balance out food intake.

Good luck and send me a message or add me if you need anymore support.x

maroonmango211 · January 2016

Two things have helped me overcome my family members picky eating (I've never been a picky eater, I love all foods :P )
1. Add healthy/low calorie foods to or with my favorites so we can still fill up and feel satiated. Like using a food grater to add vegetables to our favorite spaghetti meat sauce or adding broccoli and grilled chicken to our classic mac and cheese casserole.
2. Try and try again. If you don't like leafy green salad, try adding spinach or kale to soups. If you don't like a grilled tuna steak, try making a tuna salad spread or casserole. Sometimes it takes finding the right way to prepare something for your tastes or even just trying something different a couple times and learning to like it.

Of course there will be some things you just can't stand and some meals you'll probably have to toss or give away but it's worth it. In the end if you try, at least from what I've found you soon adjust your tastes and like the healthier options and the feeling more energized and happy will help you keep motivated to eat the healthy stuff when you may not want to.

dklibert · January 2016

Do you eat any veggies? There is a hummus recipe that is Pizza flavored you could eat it with carrot or cucumber slices. foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchens/pizza-hummus-recipe.html

Or try making your own pizza that way you know exactly what is going on it. I use a small tortilla, sauce, a little cheese and turkey pepperoni. Sometimes I use just veggies, sauce and cheese. Bake in a 450 oven, on a hot sheet pan for 8 to 10 min. I put the sheet pan in when I preheat the oven.

I like Pop Chips or you can make those too. My sister bought a silicone microwave chip maker from pampered chef. They turn out pretty good, no fat and you control the salt and seasoning.

RachelElser · January 2016

Also, just be aware that for one to two weeks you will WANT those foods SO BAD. When I stopped eating such processed crap craving would hit me outta no where! When that happens have a small portion- I am a McD fan so when I really want some I will get a kids meal.
And if you don't like something try it a few times. It takes a while to re-train your brain.

davert123 · January 2016

Its up to you. Change your diet and change you or eat the same crap and stay the same. Your choice, don't make excuses for your decision either. You can either do it or not :-)

TeaBea · January 2016

davert123 wrote: »

Its up to you. Change your diet and change you or eat the same crap and stay the same. Your choice, don't make excuses for your decision either. You can either do it or not :-)

This^

I've never been a picky eater, but don't look to change your eating habits 180°

Maintaining the weight you lose will be about changes you are willing to make for a lifetime. I won't give up pizza forever. I won't give up snacks or carbs forever. So I am looking to make some improvements. I'm not looking for 100% all "healthy" meals, all the time.

When I eat pizza out - it's thin crust and 1 meat (veggies too).....then I eat it with a side salad. Pizza is not the only thing on my plate. When I make pizza (I like REAL crust) ....I make my own crust, use turkey pepperoni and 2% cheese. It's pretty reasonable....again a side salad.

Instead of chips, I like microwave popcorn. I use a microwave bowl and use just a little oil, so the salt sticks. Crunchy, salty and lots of fiber.

MsBuzzkillington · January 2016

I don't know if that's really being a "picky eater" or if you've just had some bad habits for a really long time. A lot of people here have that same problem and that's why everyone is at the higher weights they are/started at.

When I started I was really nervous. I used to eat an obscene amount of sugar/cookies/chocolate. I was wondering how I was going to drop them. All the delicious cakes and chips and stuff. But it's just about taking it slow. Switching out unhealthy foods for healthier and lower calorie options.

I still have those things sometimes, I am definitely still learning. But you just have to learn how to make better choices. Eventually it's not really worth it to eat that stuff on a regular basis.

It's really about trying new things, googling meal ideas, reading the forums to see what other people are eating, and incorporating more vegetables/fruits/proteins into your diet. I always feel like when you're starting out, go as slow as you need until you work a good routine out.

allyphoe · January 2016

Along with not changing your eating habits 180 degrees, I'd suggest not changing your intake drastically, either. I'm guessing you said "Lose All The Weight!" aka 2 pounds a week to get 1200 as a target. You're going to have an easier adjustment if you start with a less aggressive goal, then cut back further as you get used to eating less.

jaarg1510 · January 2016

I'm in the same situation with being a picky eater. What I've done is measured everything out I was eating. Started making my own pizza with using whole wheat muffins and low fat cheese. Look under fixate recipes on Pinterest or low calorie chicken meals. Good luck

kbooth · January 2016

I am also a picky eater; however, I was able to drop 42 pounds in about 6.6 months by making some adjustments to my diet and adding exercise 5-6 days a week (even walking for 30 minutes a day makes a HUGE difference).

My diet changes were as follows:
- stayed close to 1,200 calories a day (ate back my exercise calories on the days I did larger workouts)
- stayed at 5 grams or less per serving of Total Fat
- stayed at 10 grams or less per serving of Sugar
- increase Protein to stay full (I eat a lot of fish, beans, etc.)
- increase Water to flush out my body and help stay full (I also use sugar-free packets to help vary the flavor)

This helped me be able to eat things I enjoyed or find reasonable substitutions without putting so much emphasis on being a "picky eater". It has also made me more creative (sugar-free, fat-free Jell-O pudding with Almond milk for a dessert; kale chips in place of potato chips; couscous and quinoa in place of traditional pasta/rice side dishes).

Once I felt like I had a little control of my diet, I started adding workouts. I love to trail run with my dogs so I can spend time with them and have a change of scenery as I'm running. I have a new passion for kettlebell, so I added that as my strength training.

Good luck!

jennifer_417 · January 2016

Keep trying new things. Eat what you like, don't eat what you don't.

ribbonstoroses · January 2016

Being picky SUCKS! I used to only eat pizza, crackers, hot dogs, hamburgers, chips, grilled cheese, anything salt and sweet. My friends called me the "connissuer of the grilled cheese sandwich." Every restaurant we would go to, I'd only eat the grilled cheese sandwich.

Last year, I finally became sick of it last year and am working my way out of it. The thing that helped me was adding things I didn't eat before with cheese, since I love cheese. I know it's not the best way, but it helped. I started loving Tuna, Chicken, Ham, Turkey, etc because I started eating it with a slice of cheese.

So, try and mix it in with things that you already like. That's the best advice I was given and I will give to any picky eater. It's a struggle, trust me. I know where you're coming from.

jgnatca · January 2016

I think some of it has got to be habit, routine.

Meal planning might help.

I suggest you adjust your diet slowly, looking at it as ADDING healthier things in to your diet and by consequence, you will slowly squeeze out the old habits.

Pick up a vegetable you have never tried before, Pinterest a recipe, and incorporate it in to your meal plan this week.

Switch out fries with bagged salad.

Generally challenge yourself with new foods and new meals, trying lots of different things. Keep a log of meals that are "winners" and have them regularly. New habit.

I never eat a carb alone. I always pair it with a protein/fat combo like nuts or cheese. They may be higher calorie, but as long as I am measuring and adjusting how many carbs I am eating, I stay balanced. The proteins and fats help stabilize my cravings and give me a broader base to work from.

jennibear22 · January 2016

Continue to eat your favourite foods - cutting out will only make you crave them more. Just have them in smaller portions and make little changes (use low cal oil, grill not fry, make your own sauces)
Keep searching for healthy versions of the foods you love and you will find ones you like. But do force yourself to try and eat some new things too - maybe once a week. You'd be surprised how your taste buds and appetite change when you start to eat healthier.

SUCH a picky eater

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