10 Ways to Bust a Food Rut
With the plethora of edibles we have at our greasy little fingertips, it’s a conundrum that food ruts even exist. But they do.
How many times have I wondered aimlessly down the meat aisle at the grocery store willing a new protein to appear? Beef, pork lamb, chicken — geez, can’t they come up with something different? And what about my favorite restaurant? Sure they offer a dozen or so entrées, but I know that item number three is a safe bet, so I settle … again.
Last week I caught myself staring haplessly at chicken breast. Even fun favorites like Chicken Cobbler get old, and on this day I was plumb out of ideas. I needed something new and exotic to rouse my taste buds from their slumbering state.
Providence smiled upon me when I came across an Austrian recipe for — of all things — chicken curry. The combination of chicken, apple, banana, peach, grapes and curry was just weird enough to peak my interest, but not so bizarre that it scared me.
If it turned out gross, I’d suffer through what I could and then take myself out for dessert; my reward for at least trying something new.
I boiled my chicken (this could be done a night ahead) shredded it and got to cooking.
Let me tell you, this curry dish rocked my world. The recipe was easy to follow and good enough for company.
If you consume three squares a day, you’ll be chowing-down 1,095 meals per year. Get creative. See how long you can go without duplicating a meal. If you find yourself in a rut try one of these ideas.
10 Ways to Bust a Food Rut
1. Turn it around. Breakfast for dinner is a good option when traditional supper sounds blah. It’s usually pretty fastm too.
2. Keep turning. Why must our first meal of the day consist of cereal, milk, eggs, yogurt and the like? Brit’s are known to eat curry for breakfast, lunch and dinner; have at last night’s leftovers.
3. Get worldly. I’ve recently been exploring my heritage with traditional Volga German cuisine. Bierocks and Schwartzbarren Kuchen anybody?
4. Surprise package. Let your friend order for you at a restaurant or ask the maître d‘ to bring the best dish of the house.
5. Mimic the movie. Buy a new cookbook and start working your way through it.
6. Get fancy. Try something out of your comfort zone and amaze yourself with your culinary prowess.
7. Go veggie. Opens up a slew of new recipes options.
8. Swap up your side. Keep the chicken the same, but get crazy with a new grain.
9. Treat yourself. Buy a new kitchen gadget to spark some creative culinary ideas.
10. Get gutsy. Beef tongue tacos!
What gets you out of a food rut? —Karen