You did your workout for the day, and you ate the right foods for your (personal) diet. Great! But… do I detect a hint of boredom? Is this winning combination coming off as too bland for you? If so, then I’ve
got news for you: your diet does not have to be boring. In fact, eliminate boring from the equation here. Although eating and enjoying food should be celebrated, it comes to stand that we also need to be realistic. Not every meal is going to be a proverbial party in our mouth, nor are we children that need to be “entertained” 24/7 with our food. However, I do understand that you can get stuck in a rut after eating the same thing day in and day out. So, before you fall off the wagon and go back to the old habits that were sabotaging your health and fitness goals, read on! I’ve got a few tips that you can use to keep yourself from getting too bored and detached from your diet! Are you ready? Then let’s do this!

Do Some Forensics

First, let’s get this often overlooked, yet obvious, step out of the way. And that is to look over what you’re eating. Take into account what your diet is, from the macronutrients (carbs, fat, and protein) to the micronutrients (vitamins, minerals, antioxidants). Are you lacking any essential nutrients? For instance, if you find yourself craving certain foods, notice if there’s a correlation to your current way of eating. Case in point: you’re eating a diet that is mostly carbs, some proteins, and very low fat. You find yourself craving specific foods like buttery popcorn, bacon, eggs, and roasted nuts. Hmm. Now, what do those cravings have in common? Fat! It could be that your diet is lacking in adequate fat.
What about carbs though? Now that is a tricky one. On the one hand, if your diet is already loaded with them, then you may be experiencing an addiction, which is a different topic altogether. (If you want some tips for that, read the following posts here and here for some help!) Now, on the other hand, if you’re hardly eating any carbs, and are craving healthy, high-carb foods like sweet potatoes and oatmeal rather than sweets like cookies and ice cream, then play around with your intake and see how you respond to a serving or two of a whole foods based carb. (I should note that for my keto and low carb followers, you can definitely satisfy those cravings with a healthy version of your favorite treats. But again, cravings are different than addictions. If you’re transitioning from high carb to low carb, there’s obviously going to be some growing pains involved. Should that be the case, read the following post on how to beat the sugar beast on keto.)

Think Like an Artist

Listen, there’s no denying the power of real foods- the kind found in nature, not a machine. But I get it. Broccoli? Chicken? Rice? Eating the same foods can get boring… unless you get creative. Here’s what you can do- change your perspective. Rather than dreading, say, sautéed spinach, look at it as though it were a blank canvas. The base is the spinach. And the colors you paint with include condiments, herbs and spices, and accompanying ingredients. Continuing on with our spinach example, you can quickly alter the flavor profile and turn it into several different recipes. You can make it ultra-savory with chopped garlic with a squeeze of lemon, or exotic and flavorful with coconut milk and ginger. The same approach can be done with protein. Let’s use eggs. Maybe one day, you include basil and oregano to make it Italian, and the next, you add a bit of salsa. Even the way you choose to cook your food can make a difference. Grilled vegetables definitely take on a different texture compared to steaming or baking them. Raw carrots add more crunch to a salad while providing a sweet creaminess when cooked and blended into a soup. And there are plenty of nifty pieces of equipment you can play with: an air fryer, crockpot, spiralizer… All of these can transform the way you view (and consume) your favorite foods! So, the next time you see a familiar food on the menu, consider all of the ways it can be “freshened up” appreciated in new and tasty combinations.

Variety is the Spice of Life

Some people claim that eating healthy is boring. And I beg to differ. If you thought having to diet meant munching on rabbit food and plain old meat, think again. We already covered how you can mix and match ingredients and cooking methods, but let’s not forget that you can also experiment with different foods. For instance, instead of always reaching for almonds, why not go with pistachios or walnuts? If you’re tired of chicken breast, go for the thigh. Can’t stand kale? Did you know that there are plenty of alternatives, from romaine lettuce to arugula and tender baby greens? As you can see, there are plenty of options. Instead of getting stuck in a routine, find a way to keep things interesting. Rotate your foods. Have steak one night for dinner, and salmon the next. Instead of using black beans, try pinto or edamame. By broadening your dietary horizons, you’re given the freedom to explore and appreciate real foods. Unless eating the same foods floats your boat, don’t be afraid to try new things! And in doing so, you’re less likely to view your diet as a form of imprisonment and more as freedom. As the saying goes, variety is the spice of life. It’s why I argue that a healthy diet is anything but boring and repetitive if you approach it right!

Explore

The final tip I’ll add is for you to go out into the wild unknown and explore for new recipes. I know this may seem too obvious, but have you honestly ever done this? Spend an afternoon searching for something that’s new and intriguing! For instance, when I started eating keto, I had to get really creative with my food choices, since that diet demands a specific macronutrient count. Rather than eating the same low-carb, high foods every day, I looked for recipes that were filling and delicious while still keeping me on track with keto and my goals. In doing so, I was able to find a few staple recipes that I still fall back on even when I’m not eating keto! And you can (and should) do this no matter what diet you align with. Eating vegan? Pinterest will definitely suck you into a never-ending black hole of possibilities! Going paleo? Why not pick up a cookbook? Looking for a plant-based, flexitarian style? Hit up social media and see what other people are making. Thanks to the internet, you have a virtual library containing millions of different recipes for you to make. All without breaking your diet!

There you have it, everyone! Just some simple tips for breaking the boredom in your diet. If there’s something that keeps your diet from getting stale, I’d love for you to share it in the comments. Until next time, thanks for reading!