Food Rut

You know you’re in a “food rut” when you turn to the same foods for most of your meals everyday. Not only can this be unhealthy, but it’s also not very interesting. It’s usually not the kind of habit that helps you enjoy your meals or look forward to them in any way.

We’re all guilty of falling into a “food rut” at some point in time, whether we like to cook or not. Many of us find ourselves filling up our grocery cart with the same old stuff. Some of us don’t even go grocery shopping, but stop at the local deli to pick up a jar of peanut butter. I know many people in a “food rut,” who survive on peanut butter out of the jar, or simply order pizza every night for dinner. This can be good for a time, but after awhile, eating becomes a chore. This is no way to live! We should be excited by our meals! Here are some ideas for keeping us out of the potential “food rut”.

The best way to stay out of a “food rut” is to enjoy new flavors and tastes. Try traveling to new culinary destinations; places that offer new “taste experiences.” If you can’t travel far, but live in or nearby a big city, visit a new restaurant in a different neighborhood or try a new cuisine. If you live in a small town, order interesting spices and ingredients online. You can have most exotic ingredients sent to you directly, even when you live in a remote place. It’s all about being “Epicurious” which will keep you far away from a food rut. Whatever you do, if you make your next meal an adventure it will surely keep you out of a “food rut”.

I like to visit my favorite international market when I’m looking for new ideas. It’s called Kaluystian’s and they have every spice you could possibly dream of! Here I can discover a new spice or ingredient every time I visit. They have at least 30 varieties of chili pepper, five different types of cinnamon, at least 20 different kinds of honey and any type of rice or bean you could ever imagine. Find markets like this that will keep introducing you to new foods and keep you excited about the dishes you prepare and enjoy.

Another tip for keeping meals new and exciting is to let the seasons guide you. Throughout each month of the year, there are new vegetables and fruits at the market. This is Mother Nature’s way of saving us from a food rut, a hint at telling us to eat more variety and try new things. Make several different recipes with your new produce, and try to keep it fun- creating something different every time to enjoy each meal in a whole new way.

Maybe you don’t have time for exploration or travel. Just a moment spent flipping through cooking magazines will do the trick. Or when you’re at home or at work with some downtime, peruse cookbooks and food blogs to keep meal ideas new and interesting. Most local newspapers have a food section and introduce new recipes weekly. You can also check the Internet, and start visiting food blogs that you like. There are so many out there these days with great new ideas about the latest restaurants, food trends, culinary travel and recipes. This is a great way to keep your finger on the pulse and try new things.

In order to maintain a balanced diet, but also to really enjoy what we eat, variety is key. Luckily Sabra offers an outstanding selection when it comes to Hummus, just think of all of the choices-Roasted Red Pepper, Sun dried tomato and Supremely Spicy to name just a few. Hummus is such a versatile food, so find your own unique ways of enjoying it. I like to use it instead of tomato sauce on a pizza, or as a condiment on a burger, the perfect complement to a summer barbecue. You can find a whole lot of recipes on Sabra’s website (www.sabra.com). Don’t miss Facebook.com/sabra for an array of inspirations. There you'll find quick, easy and healthy convenient meals and snacks. Enjoy your culinary adventures and discoveries!