5 Ideas to Bust a Food Rut and Re-energize Your Meals!
If you’re tired of eating the same foods over and over again or you’re feeling uninspired about your meals or cooking, this one’s for you!
Here are 5 ideas to shake up your eating scene.
1. Visit a new grocery store.
Different stores carry all sorts of different products and each market has its own personality. Pop into a different store and look for some fun new-to-you options. I don’t often shop at Trader Joes, but I went there recently and came home with some fun new things to try, including dill pickle hummus, a great salad kit, and ready-made frozen brown rice (which has saved my butt in a last-minute dinner pinch twice already!).
2. Make peace with meal shortcuts.
Let’s be real. Sometimes life is just hectic and cooking doesn’t make it to the top of your daily to-do list. If you plan ahead, you can avoid resorting to takeout every night of the week. Some shortcuts that occasionally come in handy for me are bagged salad kits, pre-washed and chopped veggies, frozen shrimp, frozen tuna or salmon burgers, soups made in store, rotisserie chicken and other proteins from the prepared foods counter—including salmon, meatballs, falafel, bean salads and others—and things like frozen pre-cooked brown rice (yes, I am now slightly obsessed with this!), canned beans, 10-minute grains, and frozen veggies.
3. Buy in-season fruits and veggies.
This is a great time to bring some different fruits and veggies into your rotation. Butternut and other squashes, brussels sprouts, sweet potatoes, kale, chard, cauliflower, cabbage, apples, and pears are all coming into season now. Also, if you've been grilling all summer, soups, stews, casseroles, roasted sheet pan dinners, and pasta dishes are all yummy menu additions this time of year.
4. Make balanced bowl meals.
The cornerstones of a balanced meal that will be satisfying, satiating, and help regulate your blood sugar are carbs, protein, fat, flavor, and color. Bowl meals are perfect for mixing and matching these options. No recipe required. Got a cooked grain or pasta? Start with that. Throw in whatever veggies you have—raw, leftover, or frozen (and reheated) all work. Top it off with a protein, such as shredded pieces of rotisserie chicken, shrimp, fish, shredded pork, eggs, or beans. Add some fat by way of avocado, pesto, olives, hummus, tapenade, nuts, olive oil and vinegar, or salad dressing. If it’s missing something, you can add extra flavor with some fresh herbs, hot sauce, or other sauce you like. Be creative, use what you've got on hand, and don't overthink it. The best part? It’s different every time!
5. Think outside the box with your food choices!
Who says salad is only for lunch or dinner or that eggs are a breakfast food? Mix it up by eating leftovers for breakfast, pancakes for dinner, or riffing off a traditional dish. I recently made zucchini and corn pancakes and served them for dinner with some chicken sausages. I love making breakfast salads. Or—as a friend and I were joking about earlier this week—crack an egg on just about anything and it turns into breakfast! I’ve been known to throw an egg into veggie soups, grain salads, regular salads, or black beans and rice and eat it any time of day.
Choosing foods that are tasty and satisfying is a key cornerstone of Intuitive Eating. After all, eating is meant to be pleasurable—this simple foundation is, in itself, a gentle nod to your overall wellbeing. And so many additional benefits unfold from there.
Have fun shaking up your meals—and happy experimenting!
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