When people complain that they don't like the food they're eating -- whether it's on Weight Watchers or any other plan, I ask them: "Well, OK, what do you like to eat? Figure out what that is, and then eat it."
Of course, we should eat healthy foods most of the time; I've said before that many dieticians advocate an 80/20 plan: 80% healthy foods 20% "fun." But a "rest of your life" food plan needs to be one that you enjoy. Otherwise, you are not going to stick with it.
So, here's an idea for you: if you're bored with your food, OR if you think you have to chow down on diet-y "rabbit food" to lose weight, try this exercise. It might expand your food choices and put some pleasure back into your diet.
Get a sheet of paper (or use your computer, I won't tell), and make headings for two columns: "Healthy" and "Not So." Then, under "Healthy," write down the foods you love that are good for you. (I do hope you have a few healthy favorites!) Write down as many as you can, and be specific. List the types of fish you love. List the kinds of fruits. Do NOT list the foods you think you are "supposed" to eat, if you don't like them.
Under "Not So," do the same thing. Try to limit it, though, to maybe a dozen or so of the not-so-healthful foods you really love, and could not imagine (right now, anyway) going through life without.
OK, stick the list on your fridge, or put it somewhere else you can easily refer to it. Now the fun starts!
For the next week or two or three, try to fix your regular meals from foods listed under the "Healthy" column. If you need recipes, there are tons of them available on the Internet. Have you ever done "Google cooking?" All you do is put several ingredients in the search line, plus the word "recipe," and see what comes up.
Also, for the next week or two, try to work in 2 or 3 of your favorite foods. And I don't mean Skinny Cows, if you like ice cream. Instead, consider having a 1/2 cup of Ben & Jerry's Phish Food, if that's your all-time favorite ice cream. Yes, really. Just account for it, and work it into your food plan healthfully. (If some foods are "red light" issues for you, don't keep them in the house, but go have them out, in a controlled portion situation.)
Here are a few foods from my "Healthy" list:
Salmon, tuna, sea bass, bluefish, turkey, chicken, hummus, skim milk, peanut butter, walnuts, almonds, chickpeas, colored peppers of any kind, avocadoes, tomatoes, rice (white or brown), pasta (white or brown) oatmeal, cherries, peaches, bananas, golden kiwi, pears, grapes, broccoli, golden beets.
From my "Unhealthy" list:
Panera orange or cherry scones; Starbucks raspberry or caramel scones, marble pound cake, ice cream, brownies, chocolate chip cookies, cobbler, fried chicken, french fries.
I eat the vast majority of my meals from the first list. But several times a week, I have a scone or ice cream. Less frequently, I'll have a piece of chicken, or some french fries. (Last night I had cherry cobbler a la mode. Yummmm.)
For the most part, I try to eat quality foods; mediocre foods are so not worth it. When I'm at work and working late, I eat my share of tinned sardines and salmon (which I actually like). But when I have the choice, I go for fresh fish, veggies, and the best fried chicken or french fries I can find. No KFC or McDonalds for me . . . life's too short to eat bad food.
Now, if you really want to get fancy, you can set up three lists: (1) foods to eat frequently, (2) foods to eat less often, and (3) foods to eat every once in a while. Examples: (1) salmon, broccoli. (2) full-fat cheese, eggs. (3) cotton candy, pork rinds.
Ready to expand your food horizons? Go grab that piece of paper, and get to work.
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Some good resources for healthy eating:
(Note: I own and have read every one of these books. I don't recommend what I've not read.)
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