If you’re going to spend time and money on your meals, you should enjoy it. Food should make you happy, not miserable. It makes sense that many people abandon their diet plans when they’re not eating what they want.
Some people make the general statement that they just don’t like healthy foods, and that’s relatable. When everyone around you is raving about their salad or green smoothie, and that doesn’t appeal to you, it can be easy to think that healthy eating is not for you. However, there are many options out there besides the trendy health fads, as well as numerous ways to enjoy those foods that you may not have liked in the past.
- Ignore the trendy health foods.
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Just because kale or quinoa is popular, or people are posting pictures of their avocado toast on Instagram, doesn’t mean that you need to like those foods, too. If you don’t grab that green smoothie with your friends at Sunday brunch, it doesn’t mean you’re not healthy.
- Don’t underestimate the power of spices.
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There’s much more you can season your food with besides salt and pepper. Adding spices to your cooking routine can completely transform your meals. As an extra bonus, many spices have health benefits.
- Don’t cut foods—add or substitute.
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When you eliminate foods you like, it often makes you crave them more, and if you cut out too much, it could lead to binge eating sessions. If you love dark chocolate, go ahead and keep eating dark chocolate, but maybe also introduce some vegetables into your dinner. You can cut back on your unhealthy food intake, but removing foods altogether often results in people breaking their eating plan.
- Start with a restaurant.
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Most of the time, restaurants can prepare food better than we can, and they often cook things in unique ways you may not have thought to try before. If there’s a food you’ve been wanting to add to your diet, a restaurant may be a great place to try it. Once you find out what you like, you can replicate that recipe at home.
- Try different preparation methods.
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Not a fan of eggs? They can be scrambled, sunny side up, hard-boiled, poached, or in omelet form. You can add cheese, spinach, onion, avocado, salt, pepper, potatoes, asparagus, sausage, scallions, and more. Not sure about broccoli? Try it steamed, roasted, grilled, or sautéed. Different preparations can completely change how you feel about food.
If you’re still not convinced that you can eat healthily, just remember the most important rule to a good diet—everything in moderation.
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