One of the many struggles that comes from changing an old diet based on processed and fast foods is learning to enjoy the new whole foods that are being introduced. I’m not going to lie and say an apple is anywhere near the same as say a donut. And it’s true, veggies aren’t exactly appealing to most people.
Many cultures value food because of its ability to bring people together. Especially during hard times or famines, food was quite literally life. It connected people, forging bonds, and brought pleasure. Funny how today that many of us have a ‘love-hate’ relationship with food. Whether it had to do with weight, athleticism, fitness, or health reasons, food and society have become complicated. But going back to the beginning, how can a person deal with eating a new diet after coming off of what could be a lifetime of not-so-healthy foods?

One of the ways to make a diet change work is by making it sustainable. And to make it sustainable, you’re going to have to want it. More than that, you’re going to have to LIKE it. How do you do that? Easy. Make your meals taste good.
I know, shocking, right? But think about it. Aside from pure nostalgia, why do you cling to the old foods and drinks you grew up with? The ones you find yourself returning to time and time again? It’s because they tasted good!
The average person attempting a new way of eating oftentimes makes the mistake of not knowing how to cook. He or she assumes that boiled vegetables and steamed meat is the epitome of healthy eating, only to give up after repeating those foods for a short while. And you know what? I wouldn’t blame them for going back to their old ways after living off of those foods!
Whether it’s something like chicken or broccoli, it helps to LEARN how to cook, to make your food pleasurable and not a prison sentence. Your diet shouldn’t be punishment. Food is pleasurable!
Here are some tips to help you get started:

1. Find at least 3 easy-to-make recipes, and stick to them for a few weeks while you transition towards eating healthier foods. Make sure the recipes are completely based on whole, unprocessed foods. (And it doesn’t matter if you’re vegan, paleo, keto, or omnivore; it should be foods from nature, not a factory.)
2. Make a list of the top 3 fruits, veggies, proteins, and nuts/seeds you like the most. It may be hard at first, but I’m sure you can at least come up with a few. For instance, maybe you really like cucumbers and tomatoes. Well then, why not find a way to make them into a delicious salad? Do you hate chicken breasts, but prefer chicken thighs? Cook the thighs! Were you always a fan of roasted almonds? Instead of buying a bunch of oily, processed potato chips, why not have a handful of nuts instead? Work with your taste buds to start. That way, you’re off to a good start when it comes to eating healthy, whole foods.
3. Experiment slowly. Once you’ve established a good rhythm in eating better, commit to doing something different for one meal each week. Experiment with a new recipe or food, and see how that goes. For instance, maybe one week, you’ll try making vegan chili. And the other, you’ll find a delicious eggplant recipe. Maybe mix it up with a staple recipe; mix and match different seasonings and flavors. Have fun with it!
4. Give yourself time. Be realistic. If you’re coming off of eating junk food, then the clean stuff is going to be a shock to your system. Your taste buds will initially be reeling after being introduced to things like grilled veggies or baked salmon. But trust me, give it time (and the right recipes), and you’re taste buds will eventually come around. In fact, you may find yourself actually CRAVING healthy foods just by sticking to a cleaner diet. Again though, it’s going to take time. You didn’t become addicted, or even accustomed to, eating the way you used to eat overnight. And neither will you do the same when eating in a new way. But if you pay attention to how these new foods make you feel- which should be GOOD!-, then you may also want to keep consuming them because of the benefits.
5. Seasonings and Condiments are your friends. Remember my example of boiled meat and vegetables? Yeah, doesn’t sound appetizing, does it? But let’s play around with that. How about Mediterranean grilled steak (or tofu for the vegans out there!) and crispy, garlic broccoli? See how the flavors seem to pop out from that description? Instead of eating those things plainly, why not spice them up a bit (pun intended)? Mustard, chili sauce, herbs and spices (basil, red pepper, mint, dill, jalapeno, etc)- all of these things add flavor to your food, as well as a bit of added nutrients to boot. It’s like my experimenting tip. There’s more than one way to prepare an ingredient. One week, use taco-seasoning. The next, Asian style. Maybe Greek after that. The point is, find different ways to incorporate a variety of flavors into your food.

Those are just a few things to help you get started. And I hope this especially helps those of you who are new to changing their lifestyle.

Share with me your tips for making food pleasurable!