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5 Tips for getting out of or avoiding food ruts

5 June, 2015 by Giselle Rochford 17 Comments

One of my worst habits, according to old roommates, is the fact that I overplay songs that I like. Seriously, Maroon 5’s ‘Never Gonna Leave This Bed‘ was on repeat in my apartment from 2011 to 2012. Sorry Justin. Unfortunately, this habit extends to food as well. As soon as I find a meal I enjoy, I make it over and over and over again, until I eventually fall into a food rut.

5 tips to help you avoid falling into food ruts or get out of them when you do via @ExSloh | ExSloth.com

I talked about my food ruts in a WIAW post a couple months ago, but I basically just shared some new and interesting foods I’d been eating while on holiday at the time. Not surprisingly, as soon as I got back to Waterloo after that week in Toronto, I was back to my old meals. So today, I wanted to share some tips I think will help me avoid food ruts, or at least get over them without going on vacation.

5 tips to help you get out of a food rut, or avoid it altogether #healthyeating

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1. Hit up a restaurant

Like I mentioned above, restaurants are great for trying new things without having to do all the thinking, cooking and planning yourself. Go to your favourite restaurant, or a totally new and random one, and order something you’ve never had before. Everything from the appetizer to the dessert, to the wine you choose, should completely new to you. It’s a great way to find new things that you’d have probably never been exposed to otherwise. Sure, you may end up absolutely hating something, but the potential for new and amazing discoveries is extremely high.

2. Try a new veggie or fruit

I did this a couple of years ago with beets and brussels sprouts. I’d never had either before and one day at the grocery I just decided to pick some up. I wasn’t exactly sure what to do with them, but once I got home, I found recipes online and discovered that I actually really enjoy both. My love of beets even resulted in this Beet & Walnut Red Velvet Loaf. If that isn’t getting out of a food rut, I don’t know what is.

3. Do a grocery list overhaul

Similar to trying new veggies and fruits, you should definitely try to keep your grocery list as fresh as possible. And by fresh I don’t mean mostly unprocessed foods, although that’s always great. What I mean is, you should continuously switch the things you get when you go to the grocery. For example, if I buy chicken this week, next week I’ll mix it up with turkey or fish or just skip the meat altogether and have a vegetarian week. Once you have different ingredients, it’s impossible to make the same things over and over every week i.e. no food rut.

4. Open a cookbook

I have an entire shelf of cookbooks and I don’t use them nearly enough. But, when I’m in desperate need of inspiration I turn to them because they’re great places to find new and exciting dishes. It’s even better when you have a variety of different themes to your cookbooks. For example, I have one filled with Caribbean dishes, another of Canadian favourites and a few others. Just grab one, open if up to a random page, pick up the ingredients you’ll need and get to work. And if you don’t have any cookbooks, open up Pinterest and get to searching.

5. Do a food swap

Food swaps are something I first heard about through the blogging world. Basically, you’re paired up with someone else and you have to send them a box filled with different foods and goodies you think they’ll enjoy. It’s great in theory, but I’ve never actually participated in one because I live all the way in Canada, and shipping food to and from the US would probs be a bitch. But, if you don’t want to get all hardcore about it, just do one with your friends. Most of the food swaps I’ve seen are centred around snack items and ingredients, but you can definitely swap actual cooked meals since you won’t be shipping anything. 

What about you?

  • What’s your worst food related habit?
  • Do you fall into food ruts often?
  • Any more tips for avoiding or getting out of food ruts?

Share in the comments below!

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Follow GiselleR | Healthy Living Blogger’s board Nutrition Tips on Pinterest.

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Filed Under: Healthy Eating Tips

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Comments

  1. GiGi Eats says

    5 June, 2015 at 1:14 am

    I could eat the same exact thing every single day of my life, and I wouldn’t get bored – how weird am I? Salmon skin for EONS baby! ha ha.
    GiGi Eats recently posted…A Tasty Recipe For Disaster!

    Reply
    • Giselle Rochford says

      5 June, 2015 at 12:59 pm

      My problem is that I don’t get bored of foods often, which leads to the food rut. I would happily eat oatmeal and peanut butter forever, but I’m pretty sure I should try to get some other nutrients in there lol

      Reply
  2. Cassie @ Almost Getting it Together says

    5 June, 2015 at 1:23 am

    I could eat the same three meals for the rest of my life and be fine but OBVIOUSLY I wasn’t seeing any changes so I have been switching things up… more or less eating food OTHER than greek yogurt and peanut butter lol.
    Cassie @ Almost Getting it Together recently posted…Farmers’ Market Shopping Tips

    Reply
    • Giselle Rochford says

      5 June, 2015 at 1:00 pm

      Nail.on.the.head. This is pretty much my life except sub oatmeal for greek yogurt lol

      Reply
  3. Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says

    5 June, 2015 at 10:54 am

    I always love to get at least 1 new ingredients at the store every week! May that be produce or a spice, just something new!
    Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine recently posted…Friday Finisher 6/5/15

    Reply
    • Giselle Rochford says

      5 June, 2015 at 1:01 pm

      It’s a great habit right?! Occasionally I’ll pick up something not so great, but usually it’s love at first bite with whatever new food I discover 🙂

      Reply
  4. Tianna says

    5 June, 2015 at 12:08 pm

    so many great ideas! thanks for sharing this 🙂 I should try more new food now hahah

    stop by and chat 🙂 http://storybookapothecary.com
    Tianna recently posted…The Only EcoCert Organic Makeup Line — Antonym Cosmetics Review

    Reply
    • Giselle Rochford says

      5 June, 2015 at 1:01 pm

      I hope you do, Tianna! And I’m glad you like the post 🙂

      Reply
  5. Karen says

    5 June, 2015 at 3:17 pm

    Worst food habit? Probably that I make a lot of starches with dinner because those are our favorites.
    Food rut? Not often
    Tips: experiment with spices and marinades. Try at least two new recipes a week.

    Reply
    • Giselle Rochford says

      5 June, 2015 at 7:25 pm

      I’m the same way with starches. Especially potatoes. It’s a work in progress. And thanks for the tips, especially the marinades one 😀

      Reply
  6. Amanda @ Diary of a Semi-Health Nut says

    6 June, 2015 at 9:14 am

    Great tips! I’m totally like you…my food ruts aren’t ruts because I get tired of the food; they are ruts because I need more varied nutrients!! PB toast every morning though!! 😉
    Amanda @ Diary of a Semi-Health Nut recently posted…Did You Know #17: Benefits of Compression Socks

    Reply
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    22 October, 2019 at 5:56 pm

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  8. AsianFood says

    8 January, 2021 at 8:50 am

    Asian food is fresh and very packed with flavor. I love trying out the different dishes that they have to offer! This is a pretty cool.
    Regards:
    Asian Foods Near Me

    Reply
  9. Jahid Hasan Rafi says

    5 August, 2022 at 8:12 am

    hii giselle rochford Great tips! I’m like you … I get tired of food so my eating routines aren’t routines; I need more varied nutrients so they are routines!! PB toast every morning! take love healthy eating food
    Jahid Hasan Rafi recently posted…
    Hot Chilli Food And Travel Blog – All Healthy Food

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Monday Announcements: 6.8.15 says:
    8 June, 2015 at 8:01 am

    […] recommends: 5 Tips for Getting Out of or Avoiding Food Ruts from Ex […]

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  2. On batteries, veggies, vloggers and more - Diary of an ExSloth says:
    8 June, 2015 at 9:28 am

    […] « 5 Tips for getting out of or avoiding food ruts […]

    Reply
  3. Why I follow a mostly plant-based diet - Diary of an ExSloth says:
    20 July, 2016 at 12:01 am

    […] Cutting down on my meat consumption forced me outside of my food comfort zone. In the last couple months of plant based eating I’ve tried so many new-to-me foods that I never would have attempted otherwise. Not only has it been amazing for my general health but my overall enjoyment of food has increased. Goodbye food ruts. […]

    Reply

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