When Did You Last Try a New Food?

It’s the new year, we’re all resolving to get healthy and try to make this the year that we change our ways and hit our goals. So, my question to you is this, when’s the last time you tried a new food? I know, I know, you have your routine, you have your way of doing things, you are doing what works for you but, how’s that working out? I believe the definition of insanity goes some thing like doing the same thing and expecting different results. So often we get stuck in food ruts. We ate a certain way growing up and we eat a way that works for us and our family now. When things are working why change? But when we want to get ourselves and our families healthier it can only happen when we mix up the routine.

What do you think about mixing it up? Trying something a little different this year and maybe, just maybe those goals you’ve been striving for could be your reality this time next year. It could be fun right? Trust me, if you know anything about me you know I am not a very adventurous eater, new foods, particularly anything with a different texture, scare me, but I keep pushing myself to mix things up and expose my family to new foods!

So where to start?

1.       My suggestion is small steps for big changes. Add one new food each week. Little changes can be less uncomfortable. Think about this: if you buy green cabbage all the time, mix it up this week and try purple cabbage or Asian cabbage. They have the same texture and only a subtle change in taste.

2.       Make it fun for the whole family. Take everyone to the grocery store or even better…the farmers market where there are fresh new foods straight from local farms and let each person pick a food they want to try. Look up recipes to use that new food in and have the whole family help make the meals and get involved in the preparation for the week. Keeping a list of the new foods the family has tried and liked and making a binder of all the new recipes is a great way to track progress.

3.       Eat the rainbow. I have literally made a rainbow on a plate to get excited about veggies. Preparation is the key for this one. Having a variety of colorful veggies to choose from makes it easier to grab these crunchy delicious foods and add them to the daily routine. Adding colorful fruits can be a sweet treat for yummy desserts too! One way of making this fun for the family is to keep track of the colors you have eaten that week trying to get the entire rainbow in by Friday!

4.       Don’t give up. There have been lots of foods that I have tried over the past while that have been complete fails. Like I said, I am not that adventurous, but I keep trying. I remember spending hours on a dish for the family and after the first few bites, we all looked at each other and agreed that this particular recipe was a total fail. We ended up eating eggs and toast for dinner that night and still laugh about it to this day. The point is, you’re not likely going to love every new food but keep trying!  There are hundreds of foods to explore and you just never know, one might be a total success!

Besides the ruts we get into with food, and food boredom, there are other reasons to try some new foods. First, variety is indeed the spice of life. Getting new foods can bring back the joy of eating and stimulate the appetite. New foods bring new nutrients, lots of fiber, antioxidants, and new phytochemicals (the other healthy chemicals in fruits and veggies that include colors and smells) that can improve your health! If you make it fun for the whole family, it can also be important for expanding your own and your children’s palates and getting them used to new textures and tastes. This can set them up for a healthier future.

Do you want to get even healthier? Are you curious about how you can add new healthy foods to your routine? Let’s chat about how health coaching can help you make your own healthy changes? Schedule an initial complimentary consultation with me today—or pass this offer on to someone you care about! Visit www.noshoesnutrition.com and sign up for a FREE consultation.  We work with individuals from all over the world individually or in groups so don’t let anything hold you back!