Seriously need healthy recipe help for a picky eater

[Gina]

I appreciate anyone who can offer up some recipe suggestions for me! Just please, I beg of you, don't be like so many people I've talked to and say things like, "Well, you just need to like more things." It doesn't work that way.


After the heart attack in September from the blocked artery, and finding out my cholesterol was high, and my blood pressure was sky-high, and apparently I'm diabetic , I've had to obviously change my eating habits. It ticks me off, because I did *not* eat that badly beforehand, but genetics are what they are and I'm dealing with that. I am doing extremely well -- have switched to sugar-free everything and have cut out tons of hidden fat and sodium and calories, and have lost 16 pounds so far.

But I'm running out of things to make for dinner! It's just DS(15) and I, and I willingly admit that I am a super-duper-ultra-picky eater. No vegetables no weird pieces of things in food, very much a meat-n-potatoes kind of girl. Only not so much the potatoes anymore -- which leaves a big hole in the menu. I still make them maybe once every week or two, but with just a little parmesan and salt-free seasoning. I stick to skinless boneless chicken (white) and lean boneless pork loin chops for protein, and sometimes tacos made with ground turkey and lower-sodium seasoning.

We used to eat things like beef stew (just meat & potatoes), pizza, sloppy joes, chicken tenders, mac & cheese, au gratin potatoes, and lots of bread. I miss bread so MUCH. Lots of rice, lots of potatoes, corn, and salad. (I do like salad!) Hamburger Helper, that sort of thing too. Perfectly happy with all of that. But of course, it's all pretty much out now.

What I'd really love is maybe some ideas on how to make "comfort foods," but healthier? Like I said before, it's not like I can just talk myself into liking seafood, or vegetables, or yogurt, or any of the other things that make me turn slightly green just talking about them. I have to work with what I have and how I am. I am eating extremely lean for breakfast and lunch -- lots of protein and fiber but not much of any bad stuff -- so I can spare a few carbs and whatnot for dinners... I just don't know what to make.


Sorry so long... If anyone has ANY ideas, I would love to hear them!! Thanks so much!


-gina-

 

[FireDancer]

The only thing I can think of is to switch to Bison for red meat. That is the red meat I try to eat instead of beef. If you want to stick with beef try to get hormone free lean meet from a local butcher. It will be a little more but totally worth the extra cost. It is going to be hard to have a truly healthy diet without vegetables, especially leafy green ones. Have you tried every vegetable? How do you know you won't like any of them unless you've tried all of them. If it is just texture you can prepare them in many different ways to take care of the texture thing.

Since you like potatoes go with sweet potatoes instead and don't add sour cream or butter to them. I like to bake them with nothing but some pepper. You might also want to try celery root (aka celeriac) as a potato replacement. When mashed they have a consistency much like mashed potatoes just with the slight flavor of celery. I don't add anything to mashed potatoes (actual potatoes or celery root) other than pepper. No butter, no milk, nothing.

The other thing to think about is how you prepare your meals and what condiments you use. The method of cooking or toppings can make a very healthy meal into something unhealthy. The best example is taking a salad full of vegetables and pouring a cup of ranch onto it. It made a great meal into a not-do-great meal with the puring of a bottle.

Also, check out the WISH boards right here on this site.

 

[kisaacs]

So I am not diabetic, but I do weight watchers, so I'm trying to eat healthy. I made these mashed potatoes for dinner on Thanksgiving for my inlaws and they all said they're the best mashed potatoes they've ever had. They do have turkey bacon and scallions in them, but you can leave that out if you don't like them. The key is that they have lots of cauliflower in them, letting you eat more for fewer calories and carbs. You absolutely will not taste the cauliflower. Trust me on this. You won't. Here's the recipe:

http://www.laaloosh.com/2011/10/12/bacon-mashed-potatoes-recipe/

Overall, the recipes on that site are very tasty!

Kristen

 

[cornflake]

I don't quite understand the 'well, I don't like vegetables so I won't even bother,' thing.

I mean... from what you said you ate before it doesn't seem healthful at all, no, and I appreciate you're trying to do better but just assuming you won't - and thus, just btw, your son doesn't get? - eat any vegetables no matter what, because you can't learn to like them, how is that helpful?

Also, maybe some nutrition education might be helpful. Like, you don't have to cut out bread. Just white bread and fluffy simple carb breads, those are bad. Good, dense, real whole grain breads with seeds? Those are good, slow, complex carbs. You NEED carbs to live. Just try to make them complex, slow ones. Beans, whole grains, fibrous things.

You like mashed potatoes, have you tried mashed cauliflower? I mean... people change their eating habits. It's not simple but if you learn to cook and maybe be a bit more open to trying things - and to helping your son have a better diet...

 

[K and K's Mommy]

Do you like to cook? I get the Cooking Light magazine and go to Cookinglight.com a lot. I don't think I would suggest the magazine to you because some of it is more "foodie" type food. However, you can go to their website and find comfort food redone. I make one of their macaroni and cheeses. Honestly, if you have a homemade mac and cheese recipe, just switch to whole grain pasta, reduced fat cheese and a skim (or I like 1% better) milk.

We do pizza night with whole grain pizza dough. If you make it yourself, you can control what is on top. I do, sometimes, make the pizza dough, but I also will buy it from the Trader Joe's.

You can also make homemade sloppy joes using ground turkey.

Best of luck!

 

[Gina]

My son likes vegetables, and I fix them for him, but thank you for completely ignoring what I specifically asked.

Kristen & FireDancer ~ Thank you much for the ideas. I admit the thought of bison meat is... not high on my list of things to try. The thought of it kinda skeeves me out, but I'm not sure why. I know it's very lean and high-protein! Unfortunately it's also very expensive.

I know this is all a tall order, and I know it's pretty impossible for someone with a more "open" palate to understand how truly repulsive even the idea of some of these foods are, but I'm just trying to figure out healthier ways to fix the foods I do like, different seasonings and sauces and whatnot.

 

[FireDancer]

Also, maybe some nutrition education might be helpful. Like, you don't have to cut out bread. Just white bread and fluffy simple carb breads, those are bad. Good, dense, real whole grain breads with seeds? Those are good, slow, complex carbs. You NEED carbs to live. Just try to make them complex, slow ones. Beans, whole grains, fibrous things.

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.

Kristen & FireDancer ~ Thank you much for the ideas. I admit the thought of bison meat is... not high on my list of things to try. The thought of it kinda skeeves me out, but I'm not sure why. I know it's very lean and high-protein! Unfortunately it's also very expensive.

If someone served you bison and didn't tell you I doubt you would even know. It really does taste just like lean beef. It can dry out so you have to be a bit more mindful while cooking. It is a little more expensive but not too much more, at least not here. Of course I imagine living in Texas beef might be cheaper than it is here.

Have you considered lamb? I know it is even more exotic sounding than bison but it is also a healthy red meat.

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?

 

[Minnesota!]

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!

 

[Sadie22]

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.

Almost anything can be worked into your meal plan in moderation. I have not given up bread. In fact, I bake big batches of muffins and freeze them for later consumption. I still make beef stew with the same recipe I always did. My recipe includes carrots, with potatoes on the side. I use a lot of ground beef, Canadian bacon, turkey, tuna, salmon.

I'm troubled by the mention of sugarfree as many such foods are worse than what they replace. They can raise your blood glucose just as much, too. Sugar alcohols have uncomfortable side effects. Sometimes I drink diet soda (no regular soda anymore) but otherwise there are no commercially-prepared sugarfree products in my house. I do sometimes bake with Splenda and sweeten tea with an artificial sweetener.

There are great cookbooks put out by the American Diabetes Association. The Month of Meals is wonderful, especially since it does the calorie and carb counting for you. A good cookbook like this may teach you to prepare vegetables you thought you hated in a way you love.

I bought vegetables fresh from a local farm this year and was able to get my picky (nondiabetic) husband to try and like some vegetables he insisted he hated from childhood. A dish with lima beans, corn, green peppers, and tomatoes is now one of our favorite side dishes. He now eats carrots, kale, and Swiss chard. Part of the trick is not to over-cook.

Diabetes Self-Management magazine is one publication that features a monthly remake of traditional comfort food recipes into healthier, just as tasty, versions. You may be able to find these online.

Happy cooking!

 

[ckay87]

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?

I just had pickled okra over the weekend...fabulous! If you like pickles, you would have to like pickled okra - it's the same thing.

Wouldn't OP need to be wary of pickles, though, due to sodium? Don't know, just asking.

 

[dngnb8]

So, youre a meat and taters girl, no veges, and you say your diet wasnt all that bad? This sounds like denial.


First, I notice you went sugar free. That is a start, but not a fix. Here is a cookbook you should get

Controlling Your Fat Tooth

Many good recipes in this book, and the first third is the misconception about having a "sweet" tooth. It is usually fat that you crave.

My initial perception is your in some serious denial. Youre gonna have to acknowledge some things to yourself before you can change things. If you dont, I see a long road ahead of you

 

[FireDancer]

I just had pickled okra over the weekend...fabulous! If you like pickles, you would have to like pickled okra - it's the same thing.

Wouldn't OP need to be wary of pickles, though, due to sodium? Don't know, just asking.

I do like okra but I've never tried pickled. I usually don't like pickled foods but the turnips are making me re-think that.

As for the sodium, I am not sure. I looked up pickled turnips for diabetics and found this site. It looks like a serving only has 9mg of sodium and a diabetic can have about 1500mg per day.

 

[Christine]

Gina,

I promise I won't try to sway you over to veggies!! I eat less and less of those myself because I can't stand out of season veggies or most frozen ones. I do really well in the summer months but I eat a lot of peas in the winter! And cauliflower.

Anyway, I might suggest that get one of the cookbooks that is out that shows how to "hide" veggies in other food. I think Jessica Seinfeld authored the most notable one but there are others. It's way to cook veggies into things so you don't detect them which is good for picky eaters and many children.

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.

It's hard, I know. I am not picky but have had to really curb my diet because I get a lot of distress now from most fruits and some veggies.

 

[Heidict]

I read somewhere that our tastes bud's change all the time. Something like every 7 years or so. So, start giving those veggies another chance. You may actually like some of them now.

Instead of using simple carbs like white bread and white pasta, switch to whole wheat. It would still allow to have these things without the bad side effects.

The mashed potatoes and cauliflower recipe that Kisaacs posted sounds really good and I wanna try it it. I like cauliflower, but when my husband made it mashed I didn't like it. This way soundS yummy though.

It's good that you like salad. I'm a lot like you. I only like a few veggies and I have to "disguise" the others to eat them. I love salad though and Firedancer is right. Use a healthier option on the dressing or it's all for naught.

Congrats on your weight loss and the diet changes that you have made so far. It's not easy. And for the one who said that you are in denial? Yeah, that is why you are making changes and asking for tips on how to make more. It's all denial. Now if you were eating nothing but pasta and fried foods I could see it. Sure your diet wasn't the healthiest before, but it could have been so much worse.

 

[dngnb8]

It ticks me off, because I did *not* eat that badly beforehand,

We used to eat things like beef stew (just meat & potatoes), pizza, sloppy joes, chicken tenders, mac & cheese, au gratin potatoes, and lots of bread. I miss bread so MUCH. Lots of rice, lots of potatoes, corn, and salad. (I do like salad!) Hamburger Helper, that sort of thing too. Perfectly happy with all of that. But of course, it's all pretty much out now.

And for the one who said that you are in denial? Yeah, that is why you are making changes and asking for tips on how to make more. It's all denial.

She is trying to lose weight. Her denial is that her diet isnt that bad.

*Insert laughing emoticon here*

 

[tink_n_pooh]

You say you like chicken and tacos, do you also like salsa?

I make salsa chicken in the crock pot, it's super easy and relatively healthy. Just take a jar of salsa (look for a no salt added, low salt variety if you are watching your sodium), some people also add corn and black beans, and about 3-4 chicken breasts... stick it in the crock pot on low for about 6 hours.

 

[worm761]

I didn't read all of the responses. But I am going to give you my very best advice. I am what most people consider a rather picky eater. What I am learning is that I am not really all that picky. I just don't like what people close to me like. But you have to be willing to try. If you aren't willing to try, and it sounds like you aren't, then nothing is going to change for you. Adding sauces to your meats is not really healthy. Try experimenting with seasonings. I am truly sorry that you have limited your diet so much.

 

[java]

I don't know the science behind this but my father who was told to change his diet(not weight issues- blood pressure and cholesterol issues) One thing he was told to do is to NOT mash potatoes? The change in texture does something to the way your body absorbs something? So I guess my advice is no mashing.

On bread, can you add in some lavash, or garlic naan? Also what about Whole Grain? do you like whole wheat? I think it fills you up quickly so you eat less of it vs. a white bread. Do you like rice? Switching to brown is easy. I actually prefer it now. start by adding just half to half regular. and slowly up it from there.

Have you tried roasting vegetables? I know you said you don't like them but I found oven roasting gets my kids to eat them. Things like a roasted green bean can actually trick you in a way to think you are eating fries. (ok that's a reach but I really like them this way and so does my family)

Try to shop on the edges of the supermarket- stay away from processed. It's better for you and you'll save $$.

Don't try to go cold turkey. Slowly change your way of eating. Good luck to you! And congratulations on the weight loss!

 

[tar heel]

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!

 

[pickles521]

Hi Gina,

You said you like these things: like beef stew (just meat & potatoes), pizza, sloppy joes, chicken tenders, mac & cheese, au gratin potatoes, and lots of bread. Lots of rice, lots of potatoes, corn, and salad.

Some things easily convert to a new diet, as you've found out, the other things can be easily modified - exchanging anything white for it's darker counterpart usually works well - regular pasta for whole wheat, white rice for brown, white potatoes for sweet... you get the picture.

I also like the idea of "hiding" vegetables, though if you're doing the cooking that may not be a good plan.

It sounds like maybe you can add buffalo occasionally, or use dark meat chicken sometimes (soup maybe?). I also think since you love salad, you should strive for that at every meal (ok, maybe not breakfast, but that's up to you!), just don't smother it in dressing. Another thing is to try new spices. There are a bunch of MrsDash-type spices now! Do you eat eggs? Great source of protien.

I also am going to go where you don't want us to. You should try new things - tastes change as we age, and sometimes knowing it's so much better for you helps. If you love mashed potatoes, try mashed cauliflower. When you really enjoy that, try cauliflower another way. If you love salad, try another type of lettuce: iceberg (the "normal" but not very nutritious), romaine, raw spinich, leaf.. there must be a hundred types now! try adding tomatos or carrots to the salad, try something totally off the wall that you never have (beets anyone? You couldn't pay me enough to try beets, but at 41, my dad dared me to try it, and I did. it's my favorite in the whole world now! Don't you hate when they're right!!), pak choi - awesome in stirfry with beef, kale - try kale chips! star fruit, kiwi, a different variety of grape. You don't have to love them all, but you might get lucky. And enlist your son to help - he might find a new fav too!

You've done great so far and you're on the right track. Keep up the good work!