At the point where if you feel as though if you see another spear of broccoli you may just lose your mind? You're not alone. With the day in—day out eating of the same foods that many individuals involved in fitness and bodybuilding experience, it's no wonder we get bored.
Boredom is not a good thing when it comes to dieting; it makes resisting temptation when your co-worker walks by with a plate of home cooked brownies seem like a greater feat than climbing Mount Everest. What is the solution? You need to become more creative with your cooking skills.
Variety
First off, try and include a variety of vegetables in your diet, not just the standards. Granted, some vegetables are a little more preferable for dieting due to a lower carb count, but when you aren't getting ready for a show, try and include as many as you can, so when the hardcore dieting phase hits, you will stay sane (okay, somewhat sane for a few of you).
Far too many people get stuck in the rut of only eating:
- Cauliflower
- Broccoli
- Asparagus
- Romaine lettuce
- Celery
Expand and include:
- Mushrooms
- Cucumbers
- Tomatoes
- Onions
- Peppers
- Zucchini
- Bok choy
- Bean sprouts
- Carrots
- Baby corn
- Snow peas
Note: The last three are slightly higher in sugar content.
Not only will this excite your taste buds, it will also ensure you are getting a wide variety of nutrients, thereby not risking any nutrient deficiencies down the road.
Stir-Fry Recipes
Below are a few stir-fry recipes that might help to give your meals more life. To prepare them, chop vegetables and then stir-fry using broth. As they cook, add the remaining ingredients until desired tenderness is reached.
Ginger Broccoli
- 2 cups chopped broccoli
- 1/2 chopped onion
- 2 stalks celery
- 2 cups sliced mushrooms
- 1/2 cup low-sodium beef broth
- 1-2 tbsp low-sodium soy sauce
- Sprinkle of ground ginger (amount depends on taste preference)
- 1/2 tsp onion powder
- 1 packet Splenda or other sweetner
Oriental Mix
- 2 cups broccoli spears
- 1 cup chopped bok choy
- 1 cup bean sprouts
- 1 cup sliced zucchini
- 1 cup bean sprouts
- 1/2 cup low sodium broth
- 1 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tbsp vinegar
- 1 packet sweetener
- Garlic and onion powder to taste
Sweet and Sour Stir Fry
- 2 cups chopped cauliflower
- 1/2 cup chopped carrots
- 3 stalks celery
- 1 cup bean sprouts
- 1/2 cup low-sodium broth
- 2 tbsp vinegar
- 2 packets sweetener
- Roasted red pepper and garlic powder
Mustard Dill Vegetables
- 1 cup cauliflower
- 1 cup snow peas
- 1 cup baby corn
- 1 cup chopped carrots
- 1/2 cup low-sodium beef broth
- 1 tbsp yellow mustard (or honey mustard)
- 1/2 tbsp dill
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
Italian Creation
- 1 cup broccoli spears
- 3 spears asparagus
- 2 chopped tomatoes (added close to the end so they do not become soggy)
- 1 chopped onion
- 1/2 cup low-sodium beef broth
- 1/2 tbsp Italian seasoning
- 1/2 tbsp oregano
- 1 tbsp Italian salad dressing (can use regular or fat free, depending on dietary needs)
Teriyaki Vegetables
- 1 cup cauliflower
- 1 cup celery
- 1/2 cup carrots
- 2 cups broccoli spears
- 1 red chopped red pepper
- 1 cup chopped mushrooms
- 1/2 cup beef broth
- 1 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tbsp vinegar
- 1 tbsp ketchup (or sugar free ketchup)
- 1 tbsp onion soup mix powder
- Garlic and onion powder to taste
Conclusion
Next time you are in the mood to try something new, give one of these recipes a try. You can vary the amounts of the sauce ingredients to suite your own nutritional needs and taste preferences. Vegetables are also interchangeable and will make achieving variety more manageable. With any luck, you may even derive some new recipes of your own which will make sticking to your diet all that much easier.