Seriously need healthy recipe help for a picky eater

[Frantasmic]

For pizza and sloppy joes, you can switch to turkey based meat products or use chicken. For the sauce, puree fresh tomatoes and add some oregano and garlic. Reduce the salt and the sugar that pizza sauce and sloppy joe mix would have.

For ground beef substitute, get ground turkey and then find a good, trimmed brisket (they go on sale all the time) and ask to grind the brisket with the turkey. You could do this with extra lean ground beef too. A local hamburger place uses this for hamburgers and it is really good.

You will also need to find a good reduced fat cheese substitute.

You can bake tenders instead of frying them. it won't taste exactly the same but they can be made more healthy that way.

Otherwise, the PP who mentioned that changing sauces/seasonings isn't going to really impact your diet or make something you find unpalatable more so now.

 

[cabanafrau]

OP -- you're doing the right thing trying to find some new things to eat. The danger with eating a limited menu is getting so tired of the few things you eat that you run toward the things you shouldn't have. I think your challenge and goal should be to find some new, healthy stuff that you actually like.

Your diet before was NOT healthy. What you're eating now is sorta healthy but missing major nutrients. You say you eat salads. The school lunch program head where we used to live had tasting parties with children at which she served all sorts of raw vegetables, things you would normally eat raw and things most of us cook. The kids were shocked at how different things tasted raw. You can make anything into a salad, top it with a vinegarette of some sort and you've got healthy, low cal and delicious.

Do you like spices? I would really experiment with spices and also lemon and lime juice, vinegar, hot sauce, etc. Give that boneless chicken breast some zing!

OP, you've gotten lots of good ideas in this thread. You are still in denial. This poster is 100-percent correct, your previous diet was NOT healthy. No need to shoot the messengers. I don't think anybody is sitting in judgment of you. You're merely upset at the changes you need to make.

Quinoa, mashed cauliflower & raw veggies were some of my first thoughts for you. I don't do it as much as I'd like or should, but I do try to keep a container of cut veggies in the refrigerator for snacking. Even if you only like carrots or celery, have that on hand. No law against a serving of raw veggies w/ dinner if that works for you. An unusual option my kids love to snack on is sugar snap peas in the pod.

Don't get defensive about the suggestions people offer. Consider them, try out as many as reasonable & maybe you'll come up w/ a good variety of options for you.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

I am going to suggest - with all the empathy I can muster (and as a cardiac nurse who deals with this regularly) - that you might need to approach this in a different way.

I hear anger and misinformation in your post. Because your changes need to be lifelong, I fear that if you don't work out the emotional and intellectual aspect of this, you might fall back into old habits.

I think it's also extremely important for your son and his genetics that you are successful here. He needs his mother here and he needs to eat in ways that prevent him from having the same issues you're having down the road. (Genetics are amazing when it comes to heart disease. They're like a script.)

Have you had any counseling at all? Having an event like this launches one into a type of grieving process. You grieve for the "health" and lifestyle you lost. You grieve over your new fear of the future. Etc. You go through all the same emotions that one has over a death - shock, denial, anger, bargaining, etc. It's not an easy task but eventually one has to come to acceptance.

I would also suggest some "Mind Work". Pick up a copy of The Wellness Book and read through it. Find some Healing Arts centers in your area and see what they offer for classes. Things like Relaxation, maybe Meditation/Journaling and even Nutritional Coaching and/or Hypnosis. This will help get your mind in a better place in order to help you going forward. (Lest you think I think it's easy, I don't; I've had to do this myself as well when I was launched into the cancer world. Same principles, different poison.) I'd be happy to chat via PM or email any time.

Now with all that said, I'd like to congratulate you on your 16# weight loss. That's huge! and a great start. You didn't mention exercise but that's really helpful here because it helps burn energy (calories, sugar) and tones your muscles, helps elevate your mood, etc. But one thing it also does that not many people are aware of is that it helps you grow new blood vessels in your heart, called collateral circulation, that can help feed major vessels in the event you have another episode. (Of course it takes time, but over time, with regular routine, it can.) So a regular exercise program would be a priority. Did anyone refer you to a cardiac rehab program? Patients usually LOVE these, even those not accustomed to regular exercise.

Do you like chicken and turkey? Beef and pork are a little higher in fat than these, so if you can, try to incorporate those more often. Fish would be great but it sounds like you don't like it. Same with veggies. My hope would be that, with your mind work, you'd see the benefit of some of these other types of foods and want to try them and work them into your regular diet because you know they're good for you and good for your son in the long term. Weight Watchers cookbooks are excellent and allow you to have some of your favorites prepared more healthily. You should also eat a handful of (dry roasted, unsalted) nuts every day as they provide a good type of fat that's actually helpful.

If you haven't sat down with a Registered Dietician for nutritional counseling yet, you should. (Different from the person you saw in the hospital; I mean, in the RD's office where there are visual examples of foods and serving sizes, etc, and they do a whole nutritional assessment on you as well as make recommendations specific to YOU given your preferences and schedule, etc. They really do try to work with you, not preach to you.) Serving sizes are a big issue in our society. Fifty years ago they were almost half of what they are now, and we're losing the generation who understood it well (our parents). Serving sizes and fat in foods are literally killing us and our kids.

I wish you success and improved health.

Pardon me for adding to this already lengthy post but I wanted to add some resources:

The American Heart Association:

Getting Healthy
http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/GettingHealthy/GettingHealthy_UCM_001078_SubHomePage.jsp

Healthier Kids
http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/GettingHealthy/HealthierKids/Healthier-Kids_UCM_304156_SubHomePage.jsp

The American Psychological Association:

Mind/body health: Heart disease
http://www.apa.org/helpcenter/heart-disease.aspx

Medscape:

Lessons of the Heart -- Cardiovascular Disease: A Mind, Body, and Spirit Approach
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/542203


Holistic Mind Body Healing

Stress and Heart Disease
http://www.holistic-mindbody-healing.com/stress-and-heart-disease.html

The Emotional and Mental Healing Guide
http://www.holistic-mindbody-healing.com/mental-healing.html

Weight Watchers

Recipes
http://www.weightwatchers.com/food/index.aspx

USDA

Food and Nutritional Guide, Dietary Assessment, lots of other info
http://fnic.nal.usda.gov/nal_displa...r=4&tax_level=2&tax_subject=256&topic_id=1325

CDC

Fruits and Vegetable Benefit
http://www.fruitsandveggiesmatter.gov/benefits/

How to Use Fruits and Vegetables to Help Manage Your Weight
http://www.cdc.gov/healthyweight/healthy_eating/fruits_vegetables.html

 

[Gina]

Do you like fish?
One of the best meals I make is a tilapia filet, with lemon pepper on it. Bake until flaky.
And then I make quinoa on the side. One of the most complete foods you can find. And it tastes good.
Last night I added a little BBQ sauce (not good for diabetics, I concede) and some chopped scallions to my quinoa. YUM!

Quinoa! That's the thing I wanted to ask about, but was drawing a blank! I love rice and couscous and anything like that so much... and miss it a lot. The little I've read about quinoa sounds so intriguing to me, and sounds like something I would really like, but have no idea how to cook it. Time is another issue for me -- being a single parent of a teenager where our lives revolve around his incredibly packed marching band schedule, I don't really have time to make some elaborate dinner from scratch every night. I really miss the convenience foods in that regard.
I don't like fish at all, but I wish I could be hypnotized into liking it -- I know how nutritious it is.

Congratuations on your weight loss!

Have you met with a certified diabetes educator and nutritionist? I did after my Type 2 diagnosis. It was fully covered by insurance. The nutritionist took things I prefer and worked them into a meal plan for me.

No, but I'm waiting for the Cigna Well-Aware people to call me back about that. I'm hoping they can help in that regard -- just some guidance (like how many milligrams of this that and the other am I supposed to be aiming for??) would be a big help.

And thank you for both the encouragement and the cookbook suggestions!

As far as going sugar-free, I try and stick with things sweetened with stevia, like my coffee, and the other stuff I have just eliminated (donuts, pastries, etc.) I understand the not-so-great-ness of artificial sweeteners and try to avoid them. I shouldn't have said I've gone "sugar-free" so much as I have just tried to seek out and eliminate hidden (and not so hidden!) sugars that I never paid attention to before. I was never a big soda drinker anyway so that hasn't been a problem, and we drink a lot of iced tea here so I've been happy putting the Truvia in that. I try to limit the xylitol but one product sweetened with that I have found is really awesome is Walmart's house brand dark chocolate mousse. Sugar-free (xylitol), 60 calories, and SO good.

Ah yes, the biggest misconception that is a hold over from the Atkins Diet, that carbs are the devil. You are right, they are not. Over processed simple carbs and sugars are not good unless you are burning them immediately but complex carbs are needed for life.

Oh, I get that we need carbs, and that the complex carbs are what I need to focus on. Switching to high-fiber and high-protein foods in smaller "doses" and more often, I have really noticed a huge difference. I don't get that "shaky" feeling during the day that I now recognize as blood sugar spikes. I semi-willingly made the switch to more whole-grain and nutritious breads, but man do I miss the soft, fluffy loaves of Italian and French bread...

Lastly, do you like pickles? If you do and add them to sandwiches you might want to at least give pickled turnips a chance. I know it sounds weird and even though I have a wider palate of foods I was skeptical but gave them a try and they are great as an alternative to pickles. You never know unless you try, right?

Unfortunately, pickles are one of those foods that just the smell of will literally drive me away from the contaminated area, lol. Really, really hate it.

Since you don't like hardly any veggies, I would suggest that you DO try to eat a salad every night with your meals. You can make it ahead of time and have a small plate with each meal. That way you are getting something. And try to make it more interesting than iceburg lettuce. Spring Mix "looks" funky but really doesn't have a taste that's disagreeable. Mix that in with some chopped, crispy romaine and you will get some nutrients in there.

We do have a salad a lot, not every night but a few times at week. Usually just romaine and a bit of fat-free shredded cheese and just a small bit of lite dressing. I know something like spinach salad would be even better, but that's one of those things for me. Just hate the taste.

Thank you all for all the ideas and suggestions. I definitely need to go look for those cookbooks!

BTW, I do like fruit a whole lot -- and my doctor told me that he is a-ok with me having that because the body breaks down the fruit sugars much more slowly and evenly and the fiber, like in an apple, helps that even more. So please don't think I just shun all health. I am not in denial -- I just wouldn't be able to talk myself into eating something like a brussel sprout or a lima bean any more than someone could talk themself into lifting a bus. I really can't put into words how much even the thought just repulses me. I really can't help it, and I'm sorry if that is somehow denial. It's just not anything I can control. Believe me, I wish I could -- it would make all this so much easier!!

 

[WowLookAtThat]

I like Firedancer's suggestion of bison meat. My husband is a big meat and potato guy but I switched him over to bison. I tend to make his steaks with grilled onions and a lot of herbs. If you like sausage perhaps switching to chicken or turkey may help. I usually use turkey meat for hamburgers (I make a pretty good mozzarella jalapeno turkey burger) or meatballs.

Not all vegetables taste bad. In fact, if cooked and seasoned right veggies can be really tasty! If you want spaghetti, try mixing in tomato, basil, bellpepper and maybe some spinach. My SIL makes hers with zucchini but my husband won't touch the stuff. I also tricked him into liking broccoli by baking it with some garlic and a little bit of breadcrumbs. Now it is is his favorite vegetable! I suggest using a lot of herbs and lemon (lemon cuts down on the need to use salt in my opinion). There are websites such as sparkrecipe that have a lot of meal ideas.

My MIL makes smoothies with fruit but she throws in some spinach or other kind of vegetable that you wouldn't know was in there. Perhaps try that?

 

[Magic Mom]

OP -- you're doing the right thing trying to find some new things to eat. The danger with eating a limited menu is getting so tired of the few things you eat that you run toward the things you shouldn't have. I think your challenge and goal should be to find some new, healthy stuff that you actually like.

Your diet before was NOT healthy. What you're eating now is sorta healthy but missing major nutrients. You say you eat salads. The school lunch program head where we used to live had tasting parties with children at which she served all sorts of raw vegetables, things you would normally eat raw and things most of us cook. The kids were shocked at how different things tasted raw. You can make anything into a salad, top it with a vinegarette of some sort and you've got healthy, low cal and delicious.

Do you like spices? I would really experiment with spices and also lemon and lime juice, vinegar, hot sauce, etc. Give that boneless chicken breast some zing!

I agree. OP, you said you ate healthy but you didn't at all. I'm not judging you for that, I fell into that myself. However, as long as you are just trying to eat the same food, but in a healthy way, you won't be satisfied. Those foods were good because of their fat and salt and basic white carbs. Without those things, they won't taste the same to you. You goal should be to find new tasty foods.

I like the earlier suggestion of incorporating veggies into healthy recipes, for instance, shredded zucchini in turkey meatballs (homemade not store bought, because store bought are loaded with fat and sodium)

 

[punkin]

Quinoa! That's the thing I wanted to ask about, but was drawing a blank! I love rice and couscous and anything like that so much... and miss it a lot. The little I've read about quinoa sounds so intriguing to me, and sounds like something I would really like, but have no idea how to cook it. Time is another issue for me -- being a single parent of a teenager where our lives revolve around his incredibly packed marching band schedule, I don't really have time to make some elaborate dinner from scratch every night. I really miss the convenience foods in that regard.
I don't like fish at all, but I wish I could be hypnotized into liking it -- I know how nutritious it is.


Also try brown rice and whole wheat couscous (it's available)


No, but I'm waiting for the Cigna Well-Aware people to call me back about that. I'm hoping they can help in that regard -- just some guidance (like how many milligrams of this that and the other am I supposed to be aiming for??) would be a big help.

And thank you for both the encouragement and the cookbook suggestions!

As far as going sugar-free, I try and stick with things sweetened with stevia, like my coffee, and the other stuff I have just eliminated (donuts, pastries, etc.) I understand the not-so-great-ness of artificial sweeteners and try to avoid them. I shouldn't have said I've gone "sugar-free" so much as I have just tried to seek out and eliminate hidden (and not so hidden!) sugars that I never paid attention to before. I was never a big soda drinker anyway so that hasn't been a problem, and we drink a lot of iced tea here so I've been happy putting the Truvia in that. I try to limit the xylitol but one product sweetened with that I have found is really awesome is Walmart's house brand dark chocolate mousse. Sugar-free (xylitol), 60 calories, and SO good.






Oh, I get that we need carbs, and that the complex carbs are what I need to focus on. Switching to high-fiber and high-protein foods in smaller "doses" and more often, I have really noticed a huge difference. I don't get that "shaky" feeling during the day that I now recognize as blood sugar spikes. I semi-willingly made the switch to more whole-grain and nutritious breads, but man do I miss the soft, fluffy loaves of Italian and French bread...






Unfortunately, pickles are one of those foods that just the smell of will literally drive me away from the contaminated area, lol. Really, really hate it.






We do have a salad a lot, not every night but a few times at week. Usually just romaine and a bit of fat-free shredded cheese and just a small bit of lite dressing. I know something like spinach salad would be even better, but that's one of those things for me. Just hate the taste.

This is not a salad. You are getting almost no nutrients from this (well, at least it's better than iceberg, I guess) Do you like tomatoes? cucumbers? carrots? anything other than romaine?

Thank you all for all the ideas and suggestions. I definitely need to go look for those cookbooks!

BTW, I do like fruit a whole lot -- and my doctor told me that he is a-ok with me having that because the body breaks down the fruit sugars much more slowly and evenly and the fiber, like in an apple, helps that even more. So please don't think I just shun all health. I am not in denial -- I just wouldn't be able to talk myself into eating something like a brussel sprout or a lima bean any more than someone could talk themself into lifting a bus. I really can't put into words how much even the thought just repulses me. I really can't help it, and I'm sorry if that is somehow denial. It's just not anything I can control. Believe me, I wish I could -- it would make all this so much easier!!

OK, maybe not brussels sprouts and lima beans, but how about kale and lentils? There are a lot of things out there I would bet you have never tried.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Quinoa! That's the thing I wanted to ask about, but was drawing a blank! I love rice and couscous and anything like that so much... and miss it a lot. The little I've read about quinoa sounds so intriguing to me, and sounds like something I would really like, but have no idea how to cook it. Time is another issue for me -- being a single parent of a teenager where our lives revolve around his incredibly packed marching band schedule, I don't really have time to make some elaborate dinner from scratch every night. I really miss the convenience foods in that regard.
I don't like fish at all, but I wish I could be hypnotized into liking it -- I know how nutritious it is.
I happen to have a bag in my pantry...it cooks in about the length of time of rice. So if you put it on first and then go work on your protein...you'll be all set. (20 minutes)

As far as going sugar-free, I try and stick with things sweetened with stevia, like my coffee, and the other stuff I have just eliminated (donuts, pastries, etc.) I understand the not-so-great-ness of artificial sweeteners and try to avoid them. I shouldn't have said I've gone "sugar-free" so much as I have just tried to seek out and eliminate hidden (and not so hidden!) sugars that I never paid attention to before. I was never a big soda drinker anyway so that hasn't been a problem, and we drink a lot of iced tea here so I've been happy putting the Truvia in that. I try to limit the xylitol but one product sweetened with that I have found is really awesome is Walmart's house brand dark chocolate mousse. Sugar-free (xylitol), 60 calories, and SO good.

I had to give up sweets all together. When I looked at South Beach as my own personal way of purging my sugar cravings, it was explained that artificial sweeteners help to encourage your sweet tooth. I am unfortunately still hooked on diet coke, but my treats that I get sparingly (as in rarely) are much more enjoyable than anything that is a sugar substitute and I find I don't need much of it. BERRIES make an excellent dessert for me now. They are fruits that are low glycemic. Heaven!




Oh, I get that we need carbs, and that the complex carbs are what I need to focus on. Switching to high-fiber and high-protein foods in smaller "doses" and more often, I have really noticed a huge difference. I don't get that "shaky" feeling during the day that I now recognize as blood sugar spikes. I semi-willingly made the switch to more whole-grain and nutritious breads, but man do I miss the soft, fluffy loaves of Italian and French bread...

I find that no more than 1 serving of a carb per meal and no more than 1 fruit per meal is sufficient. Highly active folks such as Fire Dancer who trains for marathons would require more...but for the average person, it should work. I prefer the more dense grains myself. So this was an easy fix. My husband likes his "white" grains. It is a losing battle, so I have given up on converting him. He says my stuff tastes like dirt. FYI--there are indeed whole grain WHITE flours. They are made with the different color wheatberry, though I forget which is which. I had NO idea. It would take practice to make the breads yourself to get them correct. Bakeries/manufactures add things to make those loaves "fluffy" and turn out the way you would expect. But with practice, you might come close.


We do have a salad a lot, not every night but a few times at week. Usually just romaine and a bit of fat-free shredded cheese and just a small bit of lite dressing. I know something like spinach salad would be even better, but that's one of those things for me. Just hate the taste.

Just make sure that you find a lettuce that isn't iceburg. You will get more nutrition out of it.

Thank you all for all the ideas and suggestions. I definitely need to go look for those cookbooks!

BTW, I do like fruit a whole lot -- and my doctor told me that he is a-ok with me having that because the body breaks down the fruit sugars much more slowly and evenly and the fiber, like in an apple, helps that even more. So please don't think I just shun all health. I am not in denial -- I just wouldn't be able to talk myself into eating something like a brussel sprout or a lima bean any more than someone could talk themself into lifting a bus. I really can't put into words how much even the thought just repulses me. I really can't help it, and I'm sorry if that is somehow denial. It's just not anything I can control. Believe me, I wish I could -- it would make all this so much easier!! I can only speak from the land of sugar, not so much the cardiac, but if you consume fruit with a fat or a protein, you will slow its digestion even more to prevent those spikes. I love Pears and Almond butter--or even with a slice of cheese. YMMV on what you can do to make it heart healthy.

I hear you on the veggies. I discovered, I do not like a lot of veggies. I don't hate them--but they are plants and nowhere near as tasty as fruits to me. I have my heavy hitters...and Green giant makes a frozen mix with some kind of light sauce and they call it Healthy Weight--it is delish. My favorite veggie is peas, but I do things to it that may not work for you. I add EVOO, sea salt, fresh pepper and at times--mozzarella. YUM!

It may be worth it for you to just sample around. Our tastebuds do change over time...if you aren't bothered by the smell, then try a taste. If you dont' hate it--try it again.

That is me and sweet potatoes. They really used to make me gag. But-I started with them in a yummy muffin recipe from williamsburg. Then I expanded to roasted. Recently a friend made me an undressed baked sweet potato and I did enjoy it. You'll never get me to eat yams from a can (YUCK!) or candied yams/sweet potatoes or anything yucky like that. But by itself, it is pretty tasty to me now.

I also love sweet potato fries. I sampled a regular fry recently after not having one since August and I was surprised that not only did I not like it--but it hurt my tummy.

And on the mashed cauliflower--I find it downright yummy. Especially with garlic. I'm also more of a chicken fan which helps.

Lifestyle changes regarding diet take time to evolve. After decades of eating one way, you aren't going to enjoy abrupt changes. But you may indeed surprise yourself on what you find may be tolerable.

Best of luck and congrats on the 16 pounds. Going sugar free (but not fat free and aside from diet coke, no sugar substitutes) and limiting a sweet to only my immediate family's birthdays and my birthday being my only "whatever" day...I have lost over 20 pounds since August.


The dietician/nutrionionist may help you over some stumbling blocks.

 

[Jennasis]

Is it ALL vegetables? I am super picky too, but there are a few I will eat (and by few I mean broccoli and carrots...I have recently added in shredded cabbage but only when prepped very specifically). I don't eat fruit at all...none...nada...zip. People look at me like I'm a freak when I say that but it's true (I can and do drink OJ every morning though...odd I know).

Quinoa is great FOR you but tricky to make right. I plan to give it another shot. We made it once and it was okay.

When we make burgers (lean beef or turkey) we use those low carb flat-bread thingies instead of buns.

We use brown rice instead of white.

 

[monkeybug]

We've liked everything I've made from this website.
http://www.skinnytaste.com/

And even though I know you don't want to hear it, I agree with other posters who have said you need to give veggies another shot.

My husband used to despise brussel sprouts. He said he hated them, would never like them, blah, blah, blah...
Well when we had kids I made the rule that they didn't have to eat something they didn't like, but they had to try 2 bites before they decided not to eat it. Of course my daughter took one look at my husbands brussel sprout free plate one night and said "Daddy, you need to try two bites"
Guess what my husbands new favorite vegetable is? He had always had brussel sprouts steamed and unseasoned, I sauté them with lemon and garlic. The way a veggie is prepared makes a BIG difference in the taste.
My "picky" husband now can add asparagus, sushi, sweet potatoes, bread pudding, swiss chard, and banana pie to the list of things he used to hate and now adores.
Give things you think you don't like another shot (just don't try them prepared in the way you know you don't like, roast, toast, season...do something different), just two bites...it won't kill you I promise.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Is it ALL vegetables? I am super picky too, but there are a few I will eat (and by few I mean broccoli and carrots...I have recently added in shredded cabbage but only when prepped very specifically). I don't eat fruit at all...none...nada...zip. People look at me like I'm a freak when I say that but it's true (I can and do drink OJ every morning though...odd I know).

You have just described my son. He also eats peas and I finally got him to eat an orange. But he would rather not. But so funny--it is him to a T. So you are not alone.

 

[dngnb8]

Chef Juan-Carlos Cruz used to have a show called Calorie Commando before trying to kill his wife.


The basis if the show was people would challenge him to "re-create" a high calorie meal, like mac & cheese, and cut the fat and calories.

Maybe some of his shows are on youtube, or he has a cook book out.

At the end of each show, he would do the calorie count, and the number of calories from fat.

Too bad he tried to hire people to kill his wife. It was a good show

 

[punkin]

Chef Juan-Carlos Cruz used to have a show called Calorie Commando before trying to kill his wife.


The basis if the show was people would challenge him to "re-create" a high calorie meal, like mac & cheese, and cut the fat and calories.

Maybe some of his shows are on youtube, or he has a cook book out.

At the end of each show, he would do the calorie count, and the number of calories from fat.

Too bad he tried to hire people to kill his wife. It was a good show

Maybe she wouldn't eat her vegetables?

 

[dngnb8]

Maybe she wouldn't eat her vegetables?

Have you seen his wife?!?!?! She did not need to worry about that

WOWZA

 

[FireDancer]

Quinoa! That's the thing I wanted to ask about, but was drawing a blank! I love rice and couscous and anything like that so much... and miss it a lot. The little I've read about quinoa sounds so intriguing to me, and sounds like something I would really like, but have no idea how to cook it.

I found quinoa easy to cook but others have had more trouble. Now, I usually make mine and mix in a lot of raw vegetables like diced tomatoes, peppers, cucumber, and lentils. I don't know if all of those are on your no list but when they are raw and mixed in with the quinoa they don't taste the same.

My favorite quinoa meal is actually made with red quinoa. I basically use it as a pasta and just have it with basil and diced tomatoes and might add some Trader Joe's pasta sauce. They don't add a bunch of sugar to their sauces.

Do you have a Trader Joe's near you? They have a lot of good choices from bread and muffins that don't have a lot of added sugar and science project ingredients to pre-made foods that are much better than what you will find in most stores. They also have some good frozen pizzas that you might like.

I know this is a little OT but nutrition is really only half of the health picture, especially with diabetes. What are you doing to get in physical activity? Do you belong to a gym, go on walks, bike ride? I know you have a lack of time but it is important. When we were growing up we used to go at least once a week as a family to a local park and ride bikes. We have hundreds of miles of multipurpose trails around and we would all go ride for a couple of hours as a whole family when the weather allowed. Maybe that is something you and your son can do. I imagine you have better weather for that than we do in the late autumn to early spring.

Chef Juan-Carlos Cruz used to have a show called Calorie Commando before trying to kill his wife.

I wondered what happened to that show. I believe the Biggest Loser has a cookbook out that does some of the same concept. OP, if you do a Google search for "making comfort food more healthy" you will get links to some sites that have recipes.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

I added links to my previous post.

 

[Sadie22]

I just wouldn't be able to talk myself into eating something like a brussel sprout or a lima bean any more than someone could talk themself into lifting a bus. I really can't put into words how much even the thought just repulses me. I really can't help it, and I'm sorry if that is somehow denial. It's just not anything I can control. Believe me, I wish I could -- it would make all this so much easier!!

I thought I hated lima beans until I cooked some fresh ones myself. I like lima beans! What I didn't like was the boiled lima beans my mother made. Buy fresh and try some different recipes.

I haven't tried brussel sprouts since they were fed to us as part of the school lunch program. I thought I hated spinach too, but it was the cooked spinach they gave us that I don't like. Fresh spinach or spinach baked into twice-baked potatoes or baked into manicotti -- delicious.

 

[dngnb8]

I am not in denial -- I just wouldn't be able to talk myself into eating something like a brussel sprout or a lima bean any more than someone could talk themself into lifting a bus. I really can't put into words how much even the thought just repulses me. I really can't help it, and I'm sorry if that is somehow denial. It's just not anything I can control. Believe me, I wish I could -- it would make all this so much easier!!

That isnt why we said you were in denail. Your comment that you didnt eat poorly and then listed what you ate is what brought us to that conclusion.

The diet you listed is nowhere near healthy Gina. It isnt because of what you didnt eat, it is because of what you ate and then defended it.

That is the denial.

Check out Juan-Carlos Crus's cookbooks. He takes things like Mac'N Cheese and changes the ingredients to make it a healthier choice.

 

[Gina]

Chef Juan-Carlos Cruz used to have a show called Calorie Commando before trying to kill his wife.


The basis if the show was people would challenge him to "re-create" a high calorie meal, like mac & cheese, and cut the fat and calories.

Maybe some of his shows are on youtube, or he has a cook book out.

At the end of each show, he would do the calorie count, and the number of calories from fat.

Too bad he tried to hire people to kill his wife. It was a good show

I've never heard of him, but that is exactly what I am looking for. Will definitely look for anything by him!! Thank you much!

Thank you again to all for the other suggestions. I know by your replies that I'm just not getting across the magnitude of what it would take to get me to put any of the mentioned things in my mouth... I would literally have to be starving on a deserted island, and even then I'd probably be chewing on palm tree bark first. It's that strong of an aversion, and I can't even imagine "just trying" any of it. There's no basis for it -- my parents are very adventurous eaters and my brother and were raised that way (or it was attempted.) My brother now eats anything and everything. But even when I was little it would take me 30 minutes just to pick out all the unidentifiable bits of things before I would eat it at all, if it was even deemed edible to me.

But if any of you would like to come be my chef and hide vegetables in my food, I'd give that a shot.

 

[NotUrsula]

As a person who has serious texture issues myself (and I don't eat salads; because I can't stand eating leaves of any kind), I won't preach, but I'll offer a few baby-step suggestions:

1. If you do not own an immersion blender with a chopping attachment, put it right at the top of your Xmas list. KitchenAid just re-designed theirs, and right now the old model is turning up on clearance in quite a few places, including Amazon. I have this machine and it is a serious workhorse, the model number is KHB100. Keep this handy where you cook, and use it to puree the veggies you are adding to your food. Pureed veggies add flavor only, the color and texture that you find unpleasant will disappear. (It will even help to hide the smell in some cases, but I find that has limits. ) Remember, if YOU are the one cooking the food, the unidentifiable bits are identified, because you know what they are. If you really WANT to include them but can't stand to see them there or feeling them on your tongue, pureeing them fine will eliminate that problem.

2. It isn't a huge step up, so don't go crazy with it, but have you tried the Barilla Plus pasta products, the ones in the gold boxes? Those have been altered to add protein and lower the carbs a bit; they taste and feel like regular pasta, but are much more filling in small quantities. They are more expensive than conventional pasta, but since most people eat less of it, it tends to balance out.

3. If you are currently a bland eater, start experimenting with herbs. The foods that you listed as favorites tended to have one thing in common besides high bread-carb content: they are all flavored primarily by fat. Lower-fat food is more satisfying when it is spicier, so your first order of business should be embracing herbs if you have not already. (If you need to get them cheaper, buy them from an ethnic market; they come in little plastic baggies instead of expensive jars.) Go slowly on the amounts, however, especially with peppers; if you are not used to them they can initially cause intestinal distress. (This happens because they kill off certain flora in your digestive tract; it is a temporary effect as long as you start regularly including such items in your diet.)

4. Look at this cookbook: http://www.hollyclegg.com/book_detail.cfm?id=7 There are some sample recipes on the left side of the webpage, including one for pot roast that it sounds like you might like. I love Holly Clegg; she is a dietician by training, and has several easy-to-follow cookbooks out for people who have dietary restrictions or food aversion issues caused by illnesses such as cancer. Her stuff is simple, mostly fast, and does use the occasional processed ingredient to make life easier. One of the things you will find that she uses quite a bit is canned evaporated skim milk; mixed with a little olive oil it is a wonderful substitute for butter and cream. I'm so used to the texture of it now that the real stuff in sauces seems like glue to me.

Lastly, if you make one effort to get over an aversion, try to have it be seafood products. Find someone you know who likes fish and is knowledgeable about it, and ask that person to help you try to find something that you can like. Different species of fish can have very different textures and flavors; if you have only encountered the most common ones or ones propared in a certain way, there is a fair chance that trying a new species could get you over the hump. Again, the spicier the preparation, the more likely it is that you will get past your aversion.