Not too long ago, my mother and I were talking about food and
diets. "Your grandmother used to feed you pasta five nights a
week," my mother insisted. "She did not!" I exclaimed, stung.
After all, I remembered my grandmother as a wonderfully varied
cook who could make anything taste wonderful. She served all
sorts of meals, not just pasta! There was spaghetti, of course -
she was Italian, after all. But she also made Ziti with
vegetables. And Linguine. And tuna casserole with. ..elbow
macaroni. By the time I'd finished naming off a typical week's
worth of menus, I had to concede my mother's point - but I made
mine as well. "But... it didn't FEEL like we were eating pasta
every night!" There's a point to this story, I promise, and here
it comes: One of the biggest reasons that people slip off their
diets and eating plans is BOREDOM. It's very easy to look at the
foods allowed on your diet and see it as restrictive and boring.
Chicken four nights a week. Fish three times a week. Green leafy
vegetables till they're coming out of your ears. Who wouldn't
get bored? The answer is - anyone with a good set of cookbooks
and a healthy imagination. Perk up your cabinet with spices and
fill your refrigerator with fresh fruits and vegetables, then
look for novel ways to combine them. Here are a handful of tips
for non-boring, healthy, low-cal eating 1. Spice it up!
Spices are one of the quickest ways out of the diet doldrums.
Rosemary and fennel with chicken, mint rubbed into pork, pepper
and lemon mint on fresh fish - the 'blander' the food, the
higher the effect of the spices. 2. Dress it up.
Fruit vinaigrette dressings make wonderful marinades for meats
and dressings for warm or cold vegetables. Try broccoli drizzled
with raspberry vinaigrette or cabbage spiced up with apple
vinegar and pepper. 2. Herb-infused olive oils - tarragon,
ginger, fennel and more.
3. My brother the chef gave me a set of three oils for Christmas
one year and it completely changed the way I'll cook forever! 4.
Low sodium soy sauce is a great way to flavor up just about
anything. 5. Fruit
The bitterness of dark leafy greens like spinach were
practically designed to be eaten with mandarin oranges,
raspberries or chunks of pineapple. Still need some help? Here
is a list of the absolute best cookbooks on the market to help
you fight those diet boredom blues! The Mediterranean Diet
Cookbook This cookbook features polenta, couscous and more!
Laurie's Low-Carb Cookbook This everyday chef shares recipes
that are so easy to do! Low Carb Meals In Minutes Use this book
and get six weeks worth of complete menus that include shopping
lists. Dr. Atkins New Diet Cookbook This one's from the creator
of the Atkins Diet The South Beach Diet Cookbook This book is
packed with more than 200 recipes for delicious low-fat foods
Moosewood Restaurant Low Fat Favorites If meat isn't your thing,
this cookbook shares recipes from one of the most famous
vegetarian restaurants in America American Heart Association
Low-Fat Low-Cholesterol Cookbook Are you trying to lower your
cholesterol or take care of your heart? This book has great
tasting recipes that are good for you--and your heart! American
Heart Association Meals in Minutes If you're constantly eating
fast foods because you simply don't have the time to create
great tasting healthy meals, check out this book! Joslin
Diabetes Center's Vegetarian Diabetic Cookbook Meatless and
vegan recipes that are low fat, high fiber, and delicious The
Guilt-Free Gourmet Famous cruise ship chef Sam Miles put
together this wonderful cookbook from his six years traveling on
ships as a cook.
So, now you've got some ideas and some resources--there should
be no reason that you have to live with boring foods--even if
you are on a diet!