Trying A New Personal Diet
Trying A New Personal Diet, Within A Conventional Food Family
Whenever we make a big change in life, that may not only affect our day-to-day but the experience of our families and friends, too. For example, you may have decided to completely cut out alcohol intake (a wise decision), but that means your “bottle of wine and cheese board” night may need to be replaced with another activity, or you can enjoy an alternative alongside your family.
A similar change occurs when we focus on a new dietary approach. Not all your family members may wish to (or need to) join you in that pursuit, but as a home cook, this presents a logistical problem. It may mean you need to cook that vegan meal for yourself after the fact, or teach your partner how to remove animal products when planning out your meals.
Sticking to a particular diet within a conventional food family can feel isolating to begin with, no matter if you’re following ketosis, carnivore, vegan, or another diet worth pursuing. That’s no one’s fault, of course, just a measure you need to adjust to. But how can we adjust to it? In this post, we’ll discuss all of that and more:
Craft Meal Alternatives
In some cases, it can be healthy to prepare robust meals that are slightly different to that which you’re feeding the rest of your family, but won’t require too much extra effort. So for instance, a wonderful gluten free and low-carb taco salad recipe can offer all of the regular fixtures of taco tuesday in your house, except without the hard or soft shells, allowing you to remove the carbohydrate intake you’re trying to avoid.
The same may go for breakfast, where you craft yourself a lovely mushroom omelet instead of the mushrooms and eggs on toast that others are enjoying. Looking through your regular rotation of meals and considering which particulars you could flip out, how easy that might be, and what ingredients you may wish to shop for can be ideal.
Buy Universally Applicable Ingredients
Of course, the above point is often emphasized by how many universally applicable ingredients you have to hand. Depending on how you usually buy foods, this may need to change or not at all. It might be as simple as purchasing organic, vegan substitutes, like plant-based sausages instead of the regular pork, beef or chicken variety you’ve brought home for years.
The same can go for tasty alternatives, like lentils, couscous, beans and root vegetables instead of conventional carbohydrates you may usually eat. Simple to prepare basics, stored in mason jars or refrigerated in containers, give you a basic set of ingredients you can flexibly work from, allowing you to avoid feeling limited in your diet.
Opt For Your Own Indulgences
If you’re trying to limit your sugar intake, it can be hard to see your entire family enjoying a dessert after their Saturday meal, or indulging in a food you used to love. This is where having your own indulgences can make a big difference, helping you avoid that “missing out” feeling while still sticking to your diet.
For example, you may use rice malt syrup on top of sugar-free granola bars for a tasty, sweet but sugar-free indulgence. There are many to experiment with, and having such options available can keep you sane in amongst those who may not have the same limitations to worry about.
Store Your Own Foods Separately
If you’re in a house with growing kids or teens, it’s always good to make sure any specialist foods you have to hand are stored away from the others. This way, if someone whips themselves up a meal while you’re not home, or your partner is cooking for everyone, then they won’t use your ingredients without realizing.
After all, opting for a different mode of eating alongside the family can be a little more costly, and the last thing you want is for those ingredients to be taken. So no matter if you’re opting for a healthier cereal each morning, you’ve made your own sweets or indulgences as discussed above, or perhaps you’re trying to go completely vegan and don’t wish for animal products to touch your food while being prepared, simple divisions and labeling can go a long way, as can discussing this with your family so they know what to do.
With this advice, you’re sure to try a new, personal, and tasty health-filled diet, even within a conventional food family. That way, no toes are stepped on, and you can all move forward in the most delicious manner possible.