5 Ways to Break Out of Your Eating Rut

Tired of your own cooking or eating the same meals over and over? Can't imagine slurping down another smoothie for breakfast or munching on raw almonds for a mid-afternoon snack? I know I get bored with my stand-by meals, and after every visit to my parent's house feel rejuvenated in the cooking department just from eating someone else's cooking.

Maybe you know your eating personality well enough to know that you're perfectly content eating the same breakfast, for example, every day. Routine helps to keep things simple and predictable. You don't have to change things every day to have adequate variety. Even changing from one week to the next can keep your diet from getting stale and getting off track.

Here are 5 simple ways to change up your plate without having to try a new recipe every day or eat an entirely different meal every day of the week.

1. Stock up on different fruits, both fresh and frozen.

   Use these to add to smoothies, oatmeal, yogurt, salads, or just eat plain. Branch out from the standard apples, oranges, and bananas to more exotic fruits like mango, pineapple, and melons. Especially during the summertime, seasonal fruits like berries, grapes, peaches, and plums are juicy, delicious, and full of antioxidants and vitamins!

2. Try one new recipe per week.

   I try to make one new recipe over the weekend when I have a little extra time. Some recipes get thrown away, others adapted and tried a second time, and some make the cut as a new go-to meal my whole family enjoys.

3. Enlist the help of a spouse, significant other, or friend.

   Having someone else cook one meal per week or do a meal swap with a friend can prevent you from getting burnt out on your own cooking and give you fresh ideas.

4. Swap out chicken breast for fish.

   Both are great sources of lean protein and are versatile with different flavor combinations, but adding more seafood can help you up your omega-3 intake. Don't like fish? Try pork loin for something different. It can be used interchangeably with chicken.

5. Keep your eyes open at the grocery store for new and different products.

   Look for new products such as different spice blends, new grain blends, salsas, and salad green mixes.

How do you mix things up to keep your meals interesting? Let us know in the comments below.