When asked what helped me stay on track during my contest prep and even now after it, my answer is always my food first. Then my explanation of that is usually something like "very clean" and a HUGE variety. I am just not one of those people that can eat the same thing day in and day out. Nope. Can't do it. Whether that makes/made a difference in my metabolism I'm still not quite sure. But I do know that I rarely eat the same thing two days in a row. I'm sure you've noticed this with my food plan. If you're a little scared to try new things, maybe these little pointers can help you a little.
1)
Try a new food each week. It doesn't have to be any major thing. Maybe try a new grain (kamut, millet, quinoa, etc.) or some new protein (buffalo, ostrich, trout).
2)
Go to a new grocery store. Maybe try an Asian market or a Mexican market. Or even just go to a farmers' market or a different farmers market. Switch it up. You can always find something new if you look hard enough.
3)
Search for new recipes online. This can be for food you already know or if you follow suggestion #1 this is a good place to learn something new all together. Just try a new recipe and see how it tastes. It may and usually does for me even inspire yet another recipe with similar ingredients.
4)
Try a new cooking technique. Make an old protein made in a new way (add new seasonings or pan fry instead of broil). Or maybe a new grain made in an old way (try savory oatmeal instead of sweet). Barbecue, crockpot, broil, bake, blanch, steam. The possibilities are ENDLESS.
5)
Try different oils/fats for flavor. Don't be afraid to try different oils There are so many - avocado, walnut, peanut, canola, sesame, coconut. And nuts - walnuts, pecans, cashews, Brazil nuts, almonds, peanuts, macadamia. And nut butters - almond, walnut, macadamia, NuttZo, peanut, cashew. And there's always avocados.
6)
Try different liquids. Try different milks - cow's milk, goat's milk, almond, rice, soy, coconut, coconut lite. Or even different alcohols - red wine, white wine, sherry, rum, marsala, beer. Stocks - chicken, beef, vegetable, mushroom.
7)
Use different flours. Oh yes, my favorite...and there are sooooo many different flours and all good for something. Amaranth, brown rice, quinoa, oat, kamut, spelt, coconut, peanut, corn, masa harina, soy, buckwheat, flaxseed, black bean, garbanzo bean, graham. I could go on and on. I haven't even used all of these but I can see I have some work to do here!
8)
Find a healthy way to make your old favorite classics. Now, no booing in the crowd! I know...I know. I will forever love my beef stroganoff. It is divine. However, it is made by dredging beef strips in WHITE flour and then cooking it in butter. Now while this is incredibly delicious, I know there's a healthier way to make it. Watch for that recipe coming soon. I'm not saying to always eat things in a "healthy" manner. Sure, I will have my beef stroganoff this winter as a very special treat but in the meantime I can have a lightened and healthier version more often. To me, it is worth it to have it lightened up and still have the ability to have it the "real" way once during winter.
9)
Make a savory food sweet or vice versa. I learned this when I finally stepped out of my box and tried oatmeal savory instead of sweet. Now while I've only made that a couple of times I know I need to make it again because it was delicious. I have made kasha sweet and I really would like to try it savory. These are just two examples.
10)
Always try new herbs and spices. Here is where boring and bland meets flavor and fire!! Just adding an herb or spice can completely change the taste of something. Sweet spices I love are cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, allspice, vanilla. Savory spices/herbs I love are basil, oregano, thyme, cayenne, chipotle, pepper, sea salt, paprika. I could go on and on but definitely try new and interesting herbs and spices. They'll change your life and tinge your foods with flavors.
So as you can see there are so very many ways to add variety to your food. And in the end I really believe it makes a difference in your metabolism since your body has no idea how to digest this "new" food and has to work extra hard just to metabolize it. No, I'm not a scientist but I do have a LOT of common sense and this seems to make so much common sense to me that I don't really feel a need to have science back me up! LOL!
