Wednesday, February 12, 2014

Tales From a Failed Foodie: Foods I'm Trying to Like

There is an excellent chance that I am the world's pickiest eater. I'm not at all experimental when it comes to food--I could be happy eating the same few foods every day for the rest of my life. And coming from an Italian family, that list includes a lot of pasta and bread. Soft, chewy bread with a crispy crust...Mmmm...

Anyway.

Running has definitely put healthy eating front and center in my brain. One, if I don't eat well, I don't run well. Two--and I've said this before--if I'm going to spend all that time on the treadmill, I don't want to negate it all with what I put in my mouth.



My favorite foods do not stack up well on the nutritional score card. Recently, I've really been making an effort to try new foods and include a wider variety of foods in my family's menu--i.e., putting different veggies in my pasta. Hey, that counts, doesn't it?

 It's a struggle for me--I like what I like, I have some issues with texture, and food has always been an aswer for everything: when I'm sad, I eat. When I'm happy, I eat. When I'm stressed, I eat. When I celebrate, I eat...you get the picture.




Earlier this year, I experimented with swapping pasta out for spaghetti squash with marinara. It wasn't bad, but it didn't trick my tummy like I hoped it would. I have definitely cut down on my pasta intake overall (my Italian metabolism that could handle all the carby goodness 3 times a week began to fail me when I hit 30) and when I do eat it, I make sure it's the whole grain or vegetable kind.

On our first date 9 years ago, my husband ordered hummus. I didn't even know what hummus was. I finally tried it last year (I told you, I'm insanely picky). It's a good thing I did, because I love it and I dip everything in it. It's made me branch out and try some new veggies, because how bad can something be when it's covered in roasted garlic hummus?

One of those new veggies were red bell peppers. I'm a little obsessed with them right now, and when the mood strikes, I've been known to eat one like an apple.

Then there was the quinoa phase. Quinoa has so many health benefits, and with all the scary arsenic rice stories, I thought it would be a great thing to switch to.

Too bad I don't like it. At all.

I've tried several recipes, and it always comes out tasting a little grainy to me. Maybe I'm just not doing it right.

Another miss? Avacados. All those good fats...but so much squishiness. Which is a shame, because I really want to like guacamole. Whole tomatoes are another problem--I love them in a good sauce, but just don't like them on sandwiches or salads.

I am not above treating myself like a toddler and sneaking vegetables into my regular food--pureed cauliflower into cheese and cream sauces, spinach into my smoothies, and adding a variety of beans and veggies into crock pot soups.

Ironically, the actual toddler in the house has better eating habits than me. His favorite food on the planet is, I kid you not, a mix of spinach, broccoli and cauliflower. He won't go near a chicken nugget or a fruit snack. Apparently, I should be taking a page out of his book.

Until then, who is up for trying some homemade kale chips?

A penny for your thoughts: do you have a hard time eating healthy foods? What's your favorite healthy recipe?


13 comments:

  1. Oh wow I feel like I can relate SO much to this. I'm the pickiest eater I know and I eat like a 4 year old. Pizza, mac and cheese, desserts, plain foods, all my jam. Fancy salads, avocados, beans, not so much. I am lucky that I do like a few vegetables but I've never been one of those people that enjoys trying new foods either. I like what I like and I see nothing wrong with that... until health starts getting in the way. It's nice to know I'm not the only one out there!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. There should be a support group out there for people like us!

      Delete
  2. I LOVE ALL THE VEGGIES!!!! I want to branch out and cook some new-to-me veggies, but overall, I don't really have a hard time eating "healthy"!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Lucky lady! I bet you'll find some new things to try on your travels! :)

      Delete
  3. I love most veggies too thankfully since I'm a vegetarian! I have done the vegetable purses in things for my husband though. Throwing greens into soups and chilis works for him too.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Chili is a lifesaver for me--it's so versatile and so much can be hidden in it!

      Delete
  4. I am working on branching out to more veggies too. Figured out this year that I like asparagus. It was one of the ones I tried once as a kid but never again. When I tried it recently I was surprised I liked it. The spaghetti squash doesn't fool my taste-buds either. It is better if you let it sit overnight though. I make spaghetti with it the night before then warm it up and eat it.

    ReplyDelete
  5. I'm with you on the avocados, and I live in Southern California where guacamole is practically a food group! I think we all have our food hang-ups. We just try to keep them a secret when we're out with other people. I don't have a big problems with veggies, though. In fact, I eat so much broccoli that if it's as good for you as they claim, I'll probably live forever!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I love that theory, it made me laugh! When out with other people, try to appear normal...

      Delete
  6. I don't have a problem trying new foods if they are plant or grain based. I will not try new meats though...lol. I love spaghetti squash and avocado! Two of my favorites!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm really not a big meat eater either--I haven't made the official cut out of my diet, but I never feel very good after I eat meat.

      Delete
  7. Don't forget that even the Oatmeal...an ultrarunner...runs to the extreme so he can eat whatever he wants!! http://theoatmeal.com/comics/running

    hmm...I'm trying to cut down sugar. I recently found out that I'm not supposed to have oranges and celery due to a pollen allergy. I'm really bummed about the celery, but not so much the oranges. I am trying to eat an apple and a banana every single day. It's regular, but it's easy.

    Maybe try home-making some bread? THen you can sneak in yummy, healthy things like flaxseed and chia? I mix half whole wheat pasta with white pasta-- penne is my favorite. THat way I get the fiber from the WW kind. I used to LOATHE the WW taste, but it's grown on me.

    ReplyDelete