Some of the biggest excuses I hear about healthy eating, whether for health reasons, or to lose weight or gain muscle, are: “healthy food doesn’t taste good” (which is a serious problem because if your food doesn’t taste well, you’re unlikely to stick to the plan) “it takes too long to prepare healthy food” and “it’s too complicated”. These excuses are often the result of thinking that you need to slave over a hot stove preparing 6-course meals all day. Could not be farther from the truth.
excuse #1 Healthy food is bland food
First of all, the reality is that healthy foods are not to blame; it is the cook who is to blame. Healthy foods don’t have to be boring or taste bad. Foods like rice cakes taste like cardboard because that’s what rice cakes taste like, not because all healthy foods do.
The belief that healthy food doesn’t taste good will slow your progress. Healthy food is like high-performance running fuel for your body, while junk food loaded with salt, sugar, fat, preservatives and the like is nothing more than candy in disguise. You can say that healthy food helps you perform like an Indy car or a fighter plane, and junk food gives you the performance of a garbage truck! If you insist on eating junk and avoiding healthy food because it “tastes bad,” don’t expect to win races or competitions any time soon.
Another point to keep in mind is this: expensive restaurants don’t serve Big Macs; Notice I didn’t say hamburgers. They have good burgers; one is made with prime beef, nutritious bread, and lots of vegetables.
A tasty menu will have you looking forward to your meals, and that’s essential.
You may be able to eat a bad meal once in a while and shake it off, but do you think you could do that every day? How about 4, 5, 6 even 7 times a day? Probably not, unless you were in a prisoner of war camp and had no other choice.
Simply put, tastier foods make it easier to stick to your nutrition plan. Follow your nutritional plan long enough and it will become a lifestyle. By making it a lifestyle, you’ll reap the benefits of healthy eating that only come from “sticking to the plan” long-term. Maintaining a long-term healthy lifestyle means your results will stay with YOU for the long haul, and I bet it’s safe to say that’s what you want.
Kirsten Hawkins, nutrition and health expert, writes: “One of the main reasons people abandon their diets and eating plans is BOREDOM. It’s very easy to look at the foods allowed in your diet and see them as restrictive and boring. Chicken four nights a week. Fish three times a week. Leafy greens until they crawl out of your ears. Who wouldn’t get bored? The answer is: anyone with a good set of cookbooks and a healthy imagination. Liven up your cabinet with spices and fill your fridge with fresh fruits and vegetables, then find new ways to combine them.”
Excuse #2 I don’t have time to prepare healthy food
You may be saying to yourself “that’s great, but I don’t have time to cook”. Honestly, neither do I, at least not 5 or 6 times a day. However, I have time to cook once a day and I usually prepare several meals at once.
Once you realize that most healthy foods don’t take much longer than unhealthy foods, you’ll find that you’ll have time for that, too.
Most of the time it is just as fast and even faster. You can usually take the same recipes and replace the ingredients with healthier options. For example, swap medium ground beef for extra lean, butter with olive oil, brown rice for white, and voila, you’ve got a healthy meal. It also helps to experiment with different types of foods and try things you are not familiar with.
Excuse #3 Too complicated
It’s also not that complicated. No need to spend hours seasoning and boiling dishes. The good news is that healthy meals tend to be simple dishes that use easy-to-learn cooking methods.
Toni Tanner Scott, personal chef and cooking coach, writes: “To support your healthy eating plan, stock your pantry wisely, focusing on the types of cuisine you and your family prefer. Start with the basics: good olive oil.” olive, low-fat/sodium broth, brown rice, whole-wheat pasta, dried beans, and lentils Then, if you’re particularly into Tex-Mex, add a good chili powder, cumin and oregano, and tomato paste. If Asian food is always a favorite, keep low-sodium soy sauce, ginger, and sesame oil on hand, along with longer-grain rice…you can always make a fabulous meal with a little lean meat and fresh vegetables”.
All this good healthy eating will make you feel and look better, which will make you want to stick to the plan even more. Plus, consistently eating healthy, balanced meals that meet your caloric needs will give you the fuel you need to push yourself to higher levels and maximize the benefits of each workout. You’ll also recover better and faster from your workouts, which means you’ll be in the gym sooner and reach your goals faster.
If you’re serious about your health, your appearance, your mental well-being, making the most of your time in the gym, and realizing your true potential, then fueling your body is a priority.
And it all starts with a tasty menu based on a rock-solid nutrition plan and a proven system that will get you there.
Time to eat!
Learn the basics of cooking.
You really don’t need more than the basics, and they are very quick and easy to learn.
Use the best ingredients you can get
Use fresh ingredients when you cook, it will make your food taste much better. Even the best chef in the world would be hard-pressed to make a tasty meal out of old, stale, stale ingredients.
Stay away from wilted fruits and vegetables and make sure the colors are bright and/or light.
While fresh organic whole foods are my first choice, using pre-cut or pre-mixed fruits and vegetables, such as a salad mix, is fine when you’re short on time.
As a general rule, don’t use anything that has a strong odor or cloudy color.
Fresh fish does not have a strong “fishy smell”. If it does, it’s more than likely going, if not already, wrong. The same goes for other meats, stay away from strong smells.
Leftovers with purpose
Bulk cooking—meaning making leftovers on purpose—is a great way to keep your fridge or freezer stocked with groceries and ready-to-eat meals.
© 2008 Raymond Toulany