Friendly reminder– you do NOT need to eat foods that you don’t enjoy! Forcing yourself to eating something you do not like, is not worth the effort!
Here is your permission to Eat What You Love!
It is important, of course though, to consider and to try to new foods, especially if you didn’t like them as a kid and just haven’t tried again. To start, you might try ordering something unfamiliar or perceived-as-disliked or prepared in a way you wouldn’t try at home when ordering out at a restaurant. At home, you can also a different cooking method to see if you like the flavor or texture that way – for example, try to grill or roast vegetables rather than steaming them.
If you’ve exhausted your efforts and have still been unsuccessful, then you gave it your best go, and you can say you truly do not like it and do not need to eat it!
Oatmeal is a good example of this. Depending on the texture, some of us just may not have an appeal for it. Most times though, I find, you need to add toppings with a variety of flavor, taste, and texture to see that you really do like oatmeal, you just don’t like it flavorless. And I don’t either. Who would, honestly? It’s pretty lacking in flavor naturally, so it’s your job to experiment and see what flavors, colors, textures, you like to put with it!
The basics to building better oatmeal is to include some color, flavor, and texture.
Color can be achieved by adding different fruits- frozen, fresh or dried- anything goes here! Experiment with different fruits when they are in season or clean out your pantry and freezer, and toss in what may be on it’s last leg!
Improving the taste may mean adding some sweetness – honey, agave, brown sugar, chocolate chips, cocoa nibs- or even some spices like cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice- or even some various combinations of these!
Adding various texture like crunchy granola, nuts, seeds, coconut flakes or smooth & rich nut or seed butters. these not only provide additional textures, but they also provide valuable and delicious fats and fibers!
For me there’s a layer of each one of these three categories. I usually pick a fruit, a sweetness + spice, and topping!
The complexity and depth of these combinations will make the bowl not only more appetizing, but also help build in more nutrition more naturally- with the focus being on the flavor and taste. Let’s be honest, it’s all about the taste, if something doesn’t taste good, we won’t want to eat it!
I hope you learned how to incorporate a more fun & appealing flavors into your oatmeal bowls!
xo,
Becca
twistednutritionblog.com 