As it turns out, I’m a huge creature of habit. I often find things that I like to eat and stick with them for ages. This drives my wife nuts. I always suggest going to the same restaurants or making the same meals over and over again. It’s not that I’m OCD, it’s just that I have found things that both work well with my nutrition goals and are things I actually enjoy eating. This combination doesn’t come around too often so, unfortunately for her, these items are probably here to stay in my regular rotation for quite a while.
The good side of this is that I have managed to put a large portion of my regular diet on autopilot. This means that for most meals, I don’t even have to worry about being tempted to try something unhealthy. I just go through the motions I’m accustomed to.
Is it breakfast time? I’ll take two Chocolate Peanut Butter Balance Bars and some black coffee. What do I want to drink with dinner? Unsweetened iced tea. Are we at Taco Bell? I’ll take two soft tacos Fresco style (no cheese, extra pico).
Stick with what works. If you have found some items that are low-calorie, filling and that you actually enjoy, then stick with them. Add them to your “autopilot” list and keep them there as long as you can stand the sight of them.
A few of my staples:
-Chocolate Peanut Butter Balance Bars. I absolutely love these things. The only thing keeping me from eating them every single day of my life is their price. Usually it is about $6-$7 for a single box. They are high in protein, high in essential vitamins and minerals and contain no HFCS. I actually suspect that there is something addictive in these things as I never get tired of them.
-Milo’s Unsweetened Iced Tea. If you live in the South Eastern U.S. then you have no doubt heard of Milo’s Tea. They are pretty renowned around these parts. However, I believe that they are distributing their iced tea products nationwide now. If you are in the unfortunate circumstance of not having direct access to Milo’s tea you can attempt to brew your own. It’s delicious, calorie free, and always caffeinated.
-Salsa. This is without a doubt my snack food of choice. If we are out of salsa, then it is time to go back to the store. I also enjoy making my own salsa. It’s cheap, fun and makes a great snack with tortilla chips.
-Coffee. Every morning. No cream. No sugar. No problems.
Do you have a similar list? Or are there things you have to automatically avoid? Putting your diet on autopilot could also mean staying away from certain foods without giving them a second thought. I’d love your input.
(photo by lrargerich)
