Simple, Repetitive Diet

Question
Hello,

This is a weird question.

I'm pretty overweight and hope to control this by controlling what I eat a little better.  

It抯 really difficult for me because I抦 a really picky eater with a LOT of weird hang-ups and phobias when it comes to food.  When I look for diet plans, they always include all kinds of dishes that gross me out.  I really like simple, plain foods that don抰 mix too many things; for example, if I were to eat a hamburger, it would contain only meat and bread.  I would add no condiments (I抦 scared of any kind of contact with ketchup and most other sauces) or vegetables (those are fine on the side, though).

I think I can control what I eat if I plan a diet where I basically eat the same plain foods every day with a few build-in options to keep me from getting bored.  What I抳e got so far is something like this:


Breakfast

1 bowl Wheat or Bran Cereal w/ milk
2 eggs or 1 serving of ham (4oz)


Lunch

Sandwich (2 slices whole grain bread w/ 1 serving chicken or turkey)
Salad (dark leaves, tomato, carrots)
1 glass milk


Dinner

Grilled or Baked chicken breast (6oz)
1 starchy vegetable (potato, corn, etc)
1 green vegetable (peas, broccoli, etc)
1 glass milk


Throughout Day

1 citrus fruit (orange, pineapple)
2 other fruit (apple, banana, berries, melon)
Multivitamin and Omega 3 supplements


Could you give me any advice for improving this so I get all the nutrients I needs and not too much of anything, or point me in the direction of a diet plan that won抰 terrify me?

Thanks!

Answer
Hi Jacob,

Wow, that's an interesting question! Obviously, without being able to have a more detailed background of your history, I'm only able to offer limited suggestions, but here goes:

I'm a firm believer that, as adults, we have earned the right to choose what we eat. It is perfectly ok to not enjoy certain foods or certain combinations of foods. That said, you are certainly correct in that you also want to ensure that you are receiving adequate nutrients. If you do not like mixing your foods, that is fine, so long as you are eating a variety of wholesome foods throughout the week. Try to focus on the quality of your food rather than the quantity...you didn't mention if your veggies are fresh/canned/frozen, where you are buying your groceries (ie farmer's market or supermarket), if you are buying organic. etc. Your diet seems to have a lot of dairy in it...Is there a particular reason for this? How do you feel when you drink milk? Some people feel great...it is also one of the top food allergens around, so be careful! Try to include different colours of fruits and vegetables in your diet, and never skip out on your greens! Personally, I support a whole foods diet as much as possible, meaning foods in their whole, natural form, without being processed. Think whole grains (brown rice, quinoa, amaranth....), high quality animal products (preferably full fat), fresh or cooked fruits and veggies, legumes, etc.

In regards to your weight, it's important to be realistic with yourself and where you're at right now, as well as with your goals. How much weight would you like to lose? And more importantly, why? How would your life be different if you were able to lose the weight? If you've made attempts to lose weight in the past, what do you think has gotten in your way. Being overweight is simply an imbalance in the body; there may be a physical imbalance present, such as a blood glucose issue or a chromium deficiency, or it may also reflect a more psychospiritual issue...something to think about, perhaps...

The fact that you referred to a "phobia" rather than a preference is also very interesting....what is coming up for you with this? It sounds like there is a deeper issue than simply taste or habits. When reading your question, one thing I noticed was that you seem to be very concerned with being in control (of your food? your life? in general?). I can't help but wonder what's underlying this, and how it would be for you to experiment with "letting go." If you need the structure of a set meal plan, then I would recommend to continue following this for the time being....I would also suggest that you try to take notice of how different foods make you feel. Many people find a food-mood journal very helpful in helping gain awareness of how we are feeling in relation to the food we are eating.  Ideally, we would not need a diet plan or a nutritionist to tell us what to eat, but the nature of today's food industry makes it necessary for many due to overwhelming choice. It's difficult to recommend a meal plan for someone with so little information, because what works for one person will not work for someone else...we are all physically and energetically unique. A great starting point, however, would be to check out "Food Rules" by Michael Pollan. He doesn't recommend specific foods, but rather general guidelines such as "don't eat anything your grandmother wouldn't recognize as food."


I hope this is helpful, and best of luck on your journey!

Warmly,
Melissa
(RHN, British Columbia, Canada)

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