Having no variety in your meals can make eating dull. So, to help your mind and body function at their best, try working through different foods to ensure you’re taking in as many vitamins and minerals as possible.
If you don’t know where to start, you can opt for recipe subscription boxes. To get started, you can find them here. With these, you can decide the number of meals you want every month and get delicious recipes to impress yourself and your family and friends. But for those who prefer doing things themselves, below are some simple ways to add variety to your meals:
Be Creative With Toppings
Regardless of your diet or meals you prepare, you can dramatically change the flavor profile and keep your taste buds guessing with toppings. If you’ve considered recipe subscription boxes, you don’t need to browse all the options available for you, as they’ll provide you with everything you need to know regarding toppings.
If you don’t know which toppings to consider, here are some you can use:
- Citrus juice and zest
- Fresh berries and sliced fruit
- Dips, sauces, and dressings
- Seeds and nuts
- Chopped, spiralized, and grated vegetables
Try To Spice Things Up
Variety can make your mealtimes a more exciting experience. To add this, try to spice things up with flavors you may not often use. Adding spices to your recipes will help you enjoy something different than you typically would. However, if you have a chronic condition, consult your doctor first for the best meal prep ideas you can use before adding anything to your meals.
You can try making sweet potato fries and sprinkle them with ground cinnamon or using cayenne pepper or chili powder in burgers or tacos. If you want a cheesy flavor without using a piece of cheese, you can even sprinkle nutritional yeast over your salad or pasta dishes. This choice doesn’t only taste good but is also an excellent source of vitamin B and protein.
Tweak Your Recipes
Regardless of how you decide to prepare your meals, one of the ways to keep your food interesting is by changing up your recipes to turn them into new ones.
There’s a reason why people enjoy particular foods, but if you want something different, consider the following tips:
- Revamp the food you already enjoy by exploring new sauces.
- Serve your vegetables and proteins on different grains and bread. You can try something different, like replacing spaghetti squash with regular spaghetti.
- Use the same ingredients but serve them in various ways and combinations. For instance, you can cook a significant portion of tofu, ground meat, or bean for a particular day, then use it in a burrito bowl, salad, taco, and sandwich the next. You can also prepare asparagus for the week by steaming it as a side dish or chopping it for your salad.
Get Creative With Leftovers
If you want to save time cooking and cleaning your kitchen, leftovers are the key. They can be a fantastic option for adding variety to your meals. All you need is creativity. Below are some ways to improve the flavors in your food just by using leftovers:
- Make a healthy French toast from your leftover banana bread and serve it with fresh berries.
- Try making beef tacos with taco seasoning, guacamole, and salsa.
- Have a kitchen sink meal using leftover meats, healthy carbs like quinoa, and leftover vegetables, and serve them in a bowl of lettuce. Then, use avocado or olive oil and balsamic vinegar for extra flavors.
Switch Your Sides
Another way to add variety to your meals is by mixing up your sides. For instance, if you’ve prepared black beans and brown rice as your meal’s main component, prepare different vegetables on the side.
On a big sheet pan, you may roast onions and bell peppers for a day and choose broccoli for the next. It’s an excellent way to add variety to your meals without consuming too much time while allowing you to enjoy healthy sides.
Mix And Match Your Meals
A simple way to add variety to your meals is by preparing variations of its main components, such as vegetables, proteins, and starches. Then, mix and match them to create several combinations. You can do this by preparing several sources of starches, lean proteins, and vegetables. Once you do this, you can enjoy new meals regularly.
To make new meal combinations, follow these tips:
- Purchase various kinds of vegetables, then chop and prepare them. You might want to keep some raw for snacking, or you can steam or roast big batches to keep in the refrigerator. You can use those prepped vegetables as add-ons and side dishes to your main meals every week.
- Since protein is essential, prepare several protein options. Make a batch of bean salad and cook up a considerable portion of tofu and chicken.
- You can also use frozen fruits in many ways since they don’t spoil as long as they’re in your refrigerator. You can stock up on these for a quick and easy breakfast smoothie.
With such ingredients prepped, making your mealtime exciting is never impossible. Just mix and match in any way you prefer and keep things interesting by trying different must-try foods worldwide.
Never Be Afraid To Marinate
If you’re sick of plain, fried chicken or tofu and want something delicious and flavorful, don’t hesitate to embrace marinade. There are many types of marinade nowadays that you can use. Aside from the famous barbecue marinade, you can try the lemon garlic or balsamic vinaigrette ones.
You don’t have to stick with the same marinade every week. You can divide your meat and respective marinade in sealable storage containers to get more variety without wasting too much energy and time.
Bottom Line
Eating the same old meals will surely make you crave more. Besides, why would you stick to bland meals every day if you can opt for something more delicious and exciting? With the above tips in mind, you’ll be able to add variety to your meals while still making them healthy and allowing you to indulge in all kinds of flavor.