[stacky1]

I have been thinking about going on a diet but I don't know what I should eat. I just want to mainly start eating healthier. The problem is that I don't really like many healthy foods. The big thing is I hate salad. I don't really like hardly any vegetables. What foods should I eat that would be better for me other than salad. Thanks

[simoneaugie]

Are there any vegetables that you do like? (not corn, corn is a grain) I learned to like vegetables when I grew them. Have you ever eaten broccoli stalks? Darn, those are so good, raw and peeled of course.

[stacky1]

I like carrots and I like cream of broccoli soup but I don't like them raw. I also like cooked green beans too I guess

[ISneezeFunny]

I got to ask... how old are you?

Eating healthier doesn't mean you have to eat "health foods" but it'll be a tad harder if you don't enjoy vegetables.

Some of these foods are considered "healthy" but you have to also incorporate some greens/fibers into your diet:

(I'm just putting things that are currently in my fridge)

Whole chicken breast
Fish
Potatoes
Tuna
Yogurt (as a snack)
Applesauce (as a snack)
Fruits

The things up there alone can make a few meals to last a few days.

[stacky1]

I'm 20. I also hate fish so that ones out. I really like fruit. Maybe ill get some of that.

[simoneaugie]

Fruit is good, but it is high in sugar. Sugar being a carbohydrate, in excess can slow or reverse weight loss.

Maybe you could get a calorie book. Figure out how much food energy you need to maintain weight. Eat that much and excersise more. Or eat less than you need. You should probably be taking a daily vitamin if there are a lot of foods you don't like.

Remember, what looked scary or slimy and tasted gross when you were younger may be a different story now. Taste stuff, chew it with an open mind. If you don't like it, spit it out and rinse the taste out of your mouth.

[kp2171]

Many times salad is a poor choice for the vegetable portion of your diet, since some lettuce, like iceberg, have nothing to offer nutritionally, and the fatty dressings added do nothing good for you.

My wife dislikes many veggies. She's fit and health conscious, but simply dislikes many veggies. Some of the fav's we have often

Asparagus. Softened (sauteed) in olive oil with garlic, light salt, and pepper. Moderate amounts of olive oil are good for you, and asparagus has great health benefits.

Broccoli. Steamed in an electric steamer (these rock). Takes 15-20 min with no work other than loading, turning the dial, and cleaning after... and the broccoli takes so fresh without being waterlogged.

Green beans. Boiled in hot water until almost done. Then finished with a touch of olive oil in a hot pan w/ garlic, salt, pepper. The hot pan finishes cooking the beans, and I think it firms them up more than just boiling.

Fresh spinach. I like this, my wife doesn't, but ill throw it out there. Wilt it over steam for just a minute or so, then toss with a light vinigaratte.

We will do others from time to time (I love most veggies), but those are the most common. And notice we start with fresh veggies more often than canned. Canned is convenient, but often lacks in flavor and texture.

Fruit is great, but as mentioned, it isn't something you should overload. Fresh pineapple beats the pants off canned.

Also... drinks like the Naked brand can be good for a serving... no sugar or preservatives are added... ill buy their Blue Machine, Red Machine, Black & Blueberry Rush, and Chery Pomegranate flavors... often just drink half of a 15 oz bottle at a sitting, usually once in the morning and then once at dinner. Yummy stuff.

As for eating healthier overall... don't try to do anything so drastic you aren't going to follow through. For ex, you can focus first on when you eat, what you eat, and how much.

Instead of pounding down three big meals, spread it out. Why in the world do we often save the biggest meal for the end of the day when our bodies are winding down? Makes no sense. So instead think about portions.

Sure... we will commonly have a bigger breakfast together as a family on the weekend... but most of the time in the week it'll be something different. Half a glass of the drink I mentioned or a banana and a slice of whole wheat toast with peanut butter. Fuel your body in the morning.

Later morning. Just a few bites of a lean meat with cheese. Staves off hunger with just a few bites.

Lunch. Be sensible. Again, if you go out to eat, often you can eat half the portions given and be full.

Middle afternoon. Macademia nuts, cashews, almonds, sunflower seeds. Dry roasted, watch the added salt. A few bites again can stave off the munchies that send you to junk food.

Dinner. Reasonable portions. Amazing how much food you can get used to eating for no reason. Use a small plate. One quadrant for meat, one for carbs, the other half full of veggies and fruit... and no, you don't have to have it all on one plate mushed together. Its about balance and proportion. Eat perhaps 2/3 of what you have been.. in a week you will be shocked at how full you are on less food.

Cut out the junk as you can. Soda, even diet, isn't good for you.

All this said... I think it's a good idea to do two things concerning any diet. First, allow yourself an off day now and then. I just had a great dinner date and ate some wonderful food without guilt. I won't eat like that often, and perhaps ill put in a little more time later at the gym, but allow yourself off days on occasion. Also, if you have a craving, fix it also from time to time. If my wife needs a chocolate fix, its better for her to get that killer truffle from the store down the street than to wander around that craving. A little bit of what you want can get you over that desire and get you moving on.

Lastly, if you are changing your diet to change your body, you need to exercise. Period. NOTHING, works better than a healthy, sustainable diet and a consistent, planned workout. If you can work out early in the day, do it... it gets it checked off your list and it amps up your metabolism during the time you'll be eating. There's no substitute for moving your body.