Do you force yourself to eat healthy stuff you don't like just to hit your macros?

iowalinda
iowalinda Posts: 357 Member
edited 3:46AM in Food and Nutrition
Or do you just eat stuff you like, as long as it's within your calorie requirement? I've been making myself eat some stuff I don't like, but now am re-thinking this. It seems like a waste of precious calories.
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Replies

  • CoachJen71
    CoachJen71 Posts: 1,200 Member
    edited February 2018
    I find things that I like that meet my macro needs, but truth be told I could do better abt getting more fruits and vegetables in place of grains.
  • goatg
    goatg Posts: 1,399 Member
    Yeah, sometimes. I've literally been thinking, while drinking 150 calories of goop, "this is disgusting."

    But that's the rare casein pre-sleep. Generally, no. I make things I like. What have you been not enjoying? I'm sure there are other ways to get those cals/macros.
  • janejellyroll
    janejellyroll Posts: 25,763 Member
    I don't force myself to eat anything I don't like. Fat, protein, and carbohydrates are in all sorts of foods. If I don't like a particular food, I can find something else that meets those needs.

    I will sometimes try something prepared a couple different ways to ensure that I really dislike it, but I don't force myself to eat anything.

    Life's too short and there are too many wonderful foods out there.
  • aeloine
    aeloine Posts: 2,163 Member
    There are too many tasty things I WANT to eat to eat things that I don't like.
  • kommodevaran
    kommodevaran Posts: 17,890 Member
    edited February 2018
    When I started tracking macros, I aimed for high fat, and I find fat delicious... so I can't remember any forcing. Maybe I just can't remember it :D Anyway, I used to eat "healthy stuff I didn't like" all the time before I found MFP, and before I had even heard about "macros", though. Now... the very idea of eating something I don't like unless that's the only option available and I'm starving... sounds ridiculous, it feels like an attack on my personal space.
  • seska422
    seska422 Posts: 3,217 Member
    edited February 2018
    I don't eat or drink things I don't like. I only have so many calories available and I refuse to waste them. The beauty of macros is that they are found in various distributions in various foods.

    I aim for 80% of my calories from nutrient-dense foods and 20% from treats. That gives me the nutrition I need with complete flexibility in what I eat.
  • apullum
    apullum Posts: 4,838 Member
    Nope. Life is too short to eat food you don't like.
  • SolotoCEO
    SolotoCEO Posts: 293 Member
    I eat what I like! Why would I waste money, time, and calories eating stuff I think is gross? Take a multi-vitamin daily to cover any holes in the diet. (No, it won't makeup for everything - but it's a good start).
  • sardelsa
    sardelsa Posts: 9,812 Member
    Yea.. more often than I should. In a deficit I typically don't like to waste my calories on bland food, but I will choose certain foods I don't love if they are filling or protein rich etc.

    By far the worst is when I am bulking.. I have to cram and force a lot of food in, even when I don't want it.
  • lemurcat12
    lemurcat12 Posts: 30,886 Member
    iowalinda wrote: »
    Or do you just eat stuff you like, as long as it's within your calorie requirement? I've been making myself eat some stuff I don't like, but now am re-thinking this. It seems like a waste of precious calories.

    Yep, I strongly believe it is, but I also think it's easy enough to have a balanced nutrient-dense and sufficient diet without eating things you dislike, for the vast majority of people (however, if someone hates all vegetables I'd say learn to like some vegetables).

    You don't need to hit macros perfectly every day.
  • ritzvin
    ritzvin Posts: 2,860 Member
    iowalinda wrote: »
    Or do you just eat stuff you like, as long as it's within your calorie requirement? I've been making myself eat some stuff I don't like, but now am re-thinking this. It seems like a waste of precious calories.

    There's usually/always something tasty that will meet macros.
  • iowalinda
    iowalinda Posts: 357 Member
    goatg wrote: »
    What have you been not enjoying? I'm sure there are other ways to get those cals/macros.
    Well, today it was black beans. I've been trying to get more protein and I'm not much of a meat eater. I made the black beans into Vegan meatloaf. I forced myself to eat it, but did not enjoy it. Then I was mad at myself for wasting my calories on something I didn't like :( I know I could get protein from dairy (which I love), but it doesn't agree with me.

  • goatg
    goatg Posts: 1,399 Member
    https://www.thespruce.com/how-to-get-protein-vegetarian-diet-3376935

    Random, but did you know that spinach has 9 grams protein/70 calories? Check your green leafy vegetables! :)

    Egg whites are great too (unless you're totally vegan).


    Also, don't beat yourself up over it! There's a learning curve and this is one part of that process. :)
  • VioletRojo
    VioletRojo Posts: 597 Member
    I don't eat food I don't like, ever. It's not necessary when there are so many tasty foods that meet my macros. But truthfully, the only macro I really care about is protein. Everything else just falls wherever.
  • livingleanlivingclean
    livingleanlivingclean Posts: 11,751 Member
    I never eat stuff I don't like, but I very often eat stuff when I'd probably prefer something else. But giving in to every food desire was what made me overweight....
  • jenilla1
    jenilla1 Posts: 11,118 Member
    I eat stuff I like that fits my macros - including a lot of "healthy" stuff. I like a variety of foods. I do also eat "junk," but must of the junk I eat also includes some level of nutrition.
  • zyxst
    zyxst Posts: 9,149 Member
    goatg wrote: »
    https://www.thespruce.com/how-to-get-protein-vegetarian-diet-3376935

    Random, but did you know that spinach has 9 grams protein/70 calories? Check your green leafy vegetables! :)

    That's a lot of spinach (about 350 grams).

    OT: I don't eat foods I don't like.
  • malibu927
    malibu927 Posts: 17,562 Member
    If I don't like it, I'm not going to eat it
  • RoxieDawn
    RoxieDawn Posts: 15,488 Member
    edited February 2018
    I will not eat food I don't like. I can meet all my nutritional needs eating things I do like, why try to meet those needs by things I don't like?
  • jo_nz
    jo_nz Posts: 548 Member
    Not all the things I eat are things I LOVE, but I don't eat anything I really dislike (well, being the grocery shopper of the house, I just don't buy those things anyway).
  • concordancia
    concordancia Posts: 5,320 Member
    iowalinda wrote: »
    goatg wrote: »
    What have you been not enjoying? I'm sure there are other ways to get those cals/macros.
    Well, today it was black beans. I've been trying to get more protein and I'm not much of a meat eater. I made the black beans into Vegan meatloaf. I forced myself to eat it, but did not enjoy it. Then I was mad at myself for wasting my calories on something I didn't like :( I know I could get protein from dairy (which I love), but it doesn't agree with me.

    Well, I will sometimes eat something that didn't turn out as hoped just to not waste food. But I wouldn't make it again!

    Do you eat fish? Nuts? Eggs?
  • AnnPT77
    AnnPT77 Posts: 34,226 Member
    Nope. Nope. Nope.

    I'm in the "life is too short" camp. I like to try new things, and will finish a serving of something new that isn't awful, maybe even try it 2-3 times to give it a fair shot, but I don't make myself repeatedly eat unpleasant things just because they're good for me.

    Fortunately, I like lots of things, many of which are nutrient dense.

    If you like the black beans' flavor OK on their own, try black beans in a soft taco with chunks of cooked sweet potato, caramelized onions, some kind of hot sauce if you like it (salsa, pico de gallo, barbeque, . . .), a mild cheese if you eat dairy, maybe a little sweet corn (cut off the ear is tastiest, but frozen is . . . adequate.)

    I've been vegetarian for almost 44 years. Veggie "loaves" and "burgers", IME, are often kind of dismal. Not always, but often. If you feel obligated to eat leftover bean loaf, consider slicing and smothering in some kind of flavorful sauce/topping.
  • sardelsa
    sardelsa Posts: 9,812 Member
    crazyravr wrote: »
    iowalinda wrote: »
    Or do you just eat stuff you like, as long as it's within your calorie requirement? I've been making myself eat some stuff I don't like, but now am re-thinking this. It seems like a waste of precious calories.

    I would never EVER eat anything I dont like or I dont want to eat. Thats punishment. Life is too short to do things like this to yourself.

    Hey sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do though! If I don't force myself sometimes, I won't hit my goals. By the end I am so glad I "punished" myself with food :D
  • Secretnotes
    Secretnotes Posts: 46 Member
    crazyravr wrote: »
    iowalinda wrote: »
    Or do you just eat stuff you like, as long as it's within your calorie requirement? I've been making myself eat some stuff I don't like, but now am re-thinking this. It seems like a waste of precious calories.

    I would never EVER eat anything I dont like or I dont want to eat. Thats punishment. Life is too short to do things like this to yourself.

    Word. There is always an alternative that you will like. Experimentation is part of the fun of finding a nutritional balance.
  • amusedmonkey
    amusedmonkey Posts: 10,330 Member
    edited February 2018
    I never force myself to eat it if I don't like it. I don't get to eat however many calories I want, so I'm stingy with my calories and consider it a waste if I spend them on something I don't like. There are plenty of food varieties out there, so you're bound to find something you like that provides you with the macros you want if you look hard enough.

    Even some foods you may not like you may actually like prepared in a different way. I absolutely hate meat when it's just meat, but I love these meat patties my mom makes sometimes that have a lot of things in them and not just meat. I also love meat stuffed crepes and turnovers. I won't eat turkey, but I will eat deli turkey...etc.

    Have you tried vegan substitutes? Some of them actually taste good and I prefer them to meat big time, although sadly I don't always have access to them.
  • RachelElser
    RachelElser Posts: 1,049 Member
    I try to hit the 5 fruits and veg, but other than that no.
  • twinkit
    twinkit Posts: 16 Member
    Part of this journey started with me thinking, hey I do like chicken and veggies why don't i eat more of that instead of doing something so unhealthy. After 5 weeks of being hungry and having to eat all the time I have gone back to a few higher calorie items so I don't feel like I'm eating 5 times a day. All in good time. Some people can live off that stuff but while I have the extra calories I am going to fit in a few things from time to time.
  • Francl27
    Francl27 Posts: 26,371 Member
    Stuff I hate, definitely not. I don't care for veggies though (unless roasted or cooked with sauce, but it defeats the purpose) but will eat them because I hate being hungry more (I still often skip them).
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