Every two weeks I get an order of fresh organic produce delivered at work. Several of us are part of an organic buying club, which is kind of cool. The club offers a greater, fresher variety than is currently carried by our local supermarket.
In the last almost-three years, I’ve deliberately tried a number of foods that I didn’t previously eat, or at least didn’t prepare for myself. I’ve also taught myself to cook different foods and experimented with recipes, flavor combinations and the like. In produce alone I’ve grown to love making brussels sprouts and beets. I’ve tried slow-roasting or grilling veggies. I’ve even experimented with making tomato sauce from fresh tomatoes and will continue trying different recipes in that arena.
The goal of all these and other efforts was to increase my appreciation and enjoyment of eating healthier foods and foods prepared in healthier ways. Today, for example, I really enjoyed a salad at lunch that I’d put together of crisp romaine lettuce, roasted beets, toasted walnuts and a few small chunks of goat cheese, lightly dressed with extra virgin olive oil and balsamic vinegar. The flavors and textures were so enjoyable from the sweetness of the beets to the tangy cheese to the crunchy nuts. It all simply tasted so good!
This week’s organics share included parsnips. By coincidence, I ran across a recipe on the internet for parsnip, apple and peanut butter soup. I believe I’m going to try making that this weekend.
What I have discovered over the months of cultivating more appreciation for better quality foods, is that I have progressively lost my taste for other, junkier foods. Don’t get me wrong, I am sure that I will always like the occasional serving of salty, fatty, crunchy potato chips or a piece of fried chicken – but those cravings don’t come to me with any great frequency.
I have completely lost my desire for fast food burgers, fries, and milkshakes. In years past, when driving by one of the big chain burger restaurants, if I caught a whiff of the aromas, I’d feel instant desire to pull into the drive-through lane. During the worst years of my binge eating, I could easily order enough food for two people. In fact, I’d order two sodas so that the counter people would actually think I was ordering for two people. Now, the aromas make me a little queasy and definitely don’t lure me in to get any of the food.
Unfortunately, although I’ve tried, I’m yet to succeed at training my taste buds to like any seafood. That might never happen. However, my food choices are so much more healthy than they used to be, and that’s a tremendous plus!
Weighty Matters 
I don’t like seafood either! :p
Cathy, I’ve lived near the ocean all of my life and grew up going fishing with my folks. I really, really wish I could teach myself to like seafood. It would give me so much more variety in my protein. It just isn’t meant to be.
So, at least I’m looking at other, healthy foods and have learned that I like quite a few more than I used to.
Isn’t that just another of life’s little ironies that you don’t like seafood when fresh seafood is right outside your door?
I think your commitment to new, healthy foods is another positive step in building the life you want and deserve.