Before you changed your eating style

I really like all food, I think! 😅 I had never really eaten foods except good ones (like, no processed foods). I am lucky to never have had to clean up my diet. Right now I really like eating over-easy eggs after a workout.

I have learned to like a few things because they are easy to prepare and control my hunger well. I have learned to be pickier when things are high calorie and they are not up to my standards (cold french fries, overcooked steak, etc.). I have also learned to be pickier when something just doesn't work for me anymore. I have learned that I do not like funnel cake anymore.

I mostly eat like I did before but there are a few things that have gone by the wayside. I think that is true of life whether you are trying to be mindful of what you eat or not.. You outgrow some things and find you like others.

It's a really good question. I've totally given up breakfast cereals and now just eat oats, hot or cold.

The only two substantial changes to my diet are that I don't eat out everyday for lunch like I used to (pretty rare now) and I'm way better about getting in my veggies. I always liked them, but my veggie sides were always pretty small, and they're much larger now. I'm also much better with portions/servings...I never used to even think twice about going back for seconds.

I always have eaten relatively well and I like most things and have always been open to trying new foods and whatnot, so there's not really anything that comes to mind that I eat now but didn't really eat then. Really, when it comes down to it, most of my problems weight wise were really a lack of activity...same thing happens now...when my activity drops, my weight starts to creep (like winter)...when I'm active, which I am most of the year, and don't really have much issue managing my weight at all.

Sugary drinks were one of the easiest things for me to "give up." I stopped drinking soda and coffee/tea with sugar in it, switching to plain water, black coffee/tea, and more recently, flavored seltzer (although I don't care for the hard seltzer).

penguinmama87 wrote: »

janejellyroll wrote: »

I would say that I do eat things like bread, rice, and pasta less often because I prioritize other calories. What really changed for me is the mindless munching. I was someone that would almost always take food if it was available in a work or social situation and now that's a much more rare thing for me because I'm pre-logging my days and I'll only adjust if something looks particularly delicious.

Yes, this sounds like me too. And after the first couple of times I opted out I quit feeling weird about it - nobody noticed I didn't eat it and I didn't feel like I was missing out.

I do really like bread, but I am particular about what kind if I'm going to "spend" my calories on it. Rice and pasta take up a much smaller proportion of my meals than they used to, and I've upped other vegetables instead to make up some of that bulk. I think I treat rice and pasta as more functional, structural foods than foods I eat because I like them, if that makes sense.

Yeah, other than some specifically dysfunctional family or social situations, nobody is really paying attention to if or how much other people are eating. 99% of the time you can just say "No thanks" to offered food and it's no big deal.

French fries and potato chips. I mean, I still like them ok, but I'm definitely choosy. I find most french fries are just not that good. During my very first phase of my elimination diet, I actually could have potato chips, as long as they were cooked in sunflower or avocado oil and just had salt. Since I couldn't eat many things at all, I got some and ate some...but just didn't find them all that enjoyable.

Also, I used to think I liked all kinds of chocolate, but now I realize the cheaper chocolates just aren't all that good. I agree about the regular M & M's, but I used to have a hard time controlling myself around the peanut butter ones. I thought I used to love Peanut butter Snickers, but I bought some because they were on clearance and allowed myself to have one. It just wasn't as good as I remembered.

I used to buy those "light" Yoplaits when doing stuff like WW, but never really liked them and would get sick of them. Now, I like my Fage 2% plain with some fruit and maybe a drizzle of honey, or even light Hershey's syrup.

I'm not a low carb eater, but soooo many forms of bread come to mind! I realize I ate bread to be "polite" or because I perceived it as "going with" a meal. I still like (and eat) sandwiches, pizza, etc. But I never eat the bread that comes before/with the meal in a restaurant, breadsticks, etc. I don't really care for most muffins, biscuits, bagels, etc. So I don't eat them anymore.

Also not a fan of "healthy" cereals. I used to eat cereal for breakfast most days and chose so many cereals I thought were healthy like shredded wheat, bran flakes, grape nuts and the like. But I never LIKED any of them and basically dreaded eating them at all! Now I actually just eat sugary kid cereal once in awhile (because i like it! And it fits my calories) and the rest of the time for breakfast I'd rather have eggs, oatmeal, fruit, etc.

Lastly, juice. Never cared for it. Would much prefer whole fruit or kombucha.

I now don't waste my calories on sub-par baked goods/sweets. There are too many calories in them to be underwhelmed. Also, I now drink a protein shake or eat greek yogurt every day to help up the protein count which I am now mindful of.

ReenieHJ wrote: »

What foods were you eating then that you realize now you didn't even like that much?

I love carbs so all the carbs - bread, rice, potatoes, - and my portions were HUGE. And salt - crisps, chips, crackers - crunchy and salty is the perfect combination.

ReenieHJ wrote: »

And what foods were never in your diet that you now eat and realize you really enjoy?

I now prioritse protein over carbs. I was never under on my daily requirement of protein but I exceed it now. I design my meal plan by putting my protein macros first and then building my carbs and fat around them. As a plant based eater I used to only eat whole foods now I incorporate high protein mock meats at one meal a day and find that the extra protein keeps me satisfied and less likely to carb overload or binge.

Jthanmyfitnesspal wrote: »

It's a really good question. I've totally given up breakfast cereals and now just eat oats, hot or cold.

Can I ask why? Some of them are really low cal and have added vitamins. Obviously oats are healthy too.

I'm eating way less carbs (rice, pasta, sandwich bread) because I'd rather spend more calories on tastier high protein/high fat things, using an enormous salad or pile of steamed veggies as a replacement base. The thing is, I don't even miss those starches. I feel full and satisfied. I currently limit bread to one slice when I have eggs. I also have pizza once a week, where I limit myself to two slices. When I have a hankering for something sweet, I nibble on squares of good chocolate. Something salty? Nuts, cheese, or in dire circumstances, a small portion of chips or popcorn.

ReenieHJ wrote: »

What foods were you eating then that you realize now you didn't even like that much?

I'd have to say rice. I used to shovel all those carbs in even though that was something I could've easily said no to.

And what foods were never in your diet that you now eat and realize you really enjoy?

Plain non-fat yogurt. I always needed the full fat fruit flavored high calorie yogurts. I do doctor it up with a little sugar free syrup but I eat it every day.
Another would be carrots and hummus. I have that every day as well.

I used to make fun of any plant-based foods, but now I like veggie burgers. Morning Star Farms Grillers Prime is the best one. I allow myself 1 tbsp of A1 on it and I eat it on Arnold whole wheat with flax and chia sandwich thin. Yummy! Even though it's MOSTLY healthy I still call it my cheat meal because of the bread and A1.

Speakeasy76 wrote: »

French fries and potato chips. I mean, I still like them ok, but I'm definitely choosy. I find most french fries are just not that good. During my very first phase of my elimination diet, I actually could have potato chips, as long as they were cooked in sunflower or avocado oil and just had salt. Since I couldn't eat many things at all, I got some and ate some...but just didn't find them all that enjoyable.

Also, I used to think I liked all kinds of chocolate, but now I realize the cheaper chocolates just aren't all that good. I agree about the regular M & M's, but I used to have a hard time controlling myself around the peanut butter ones. I thought I used to love Peanut butter Snickers, but I bought some because they were on clearance and allowed myself to have one. It just wasn't as good as I remembered.

I used to buy those "light" Yoplaits when doing stuff like WW, but never really liked them and would get sick of them. Now, I like my Fage 2% plain with some fruit and maybe a drizzle of honey, or even light Hershey's syrup.

Try Flock chicken chips. You might like that. Or pork rinds. If you need a crunchy snack they both have little to no carbs.