The truth is, while some foods might provide a bit more of this or that nutrient, there is no one food that provides every nutrient you need to live the healthiest life possible. Your best bet is to eat a variety of foods so that your body will reap the benefit of each.
It’s so easy to get in a rut and buy the same foods over and over again, but with just a bit of effort you can incorporate new foods into your diet and treat your taste buds, all while giving your body the best possible nutrition possible.
Easy ways to try new foods:
1. Get a few good cookbooks. I’m particularly fond of Mark Bittman’s “How to Cook Everything Vegetarian” and the classic “The Joy of Cooking” by Irma Rombauer. It’s fun to flip through these giant volumes and find recipes for things I’d never heard of like salsify and amaranth. It makes me excited to search out new ingredients to play with in my cooking.2. Shop at ethnic markets. In many cities, immigrants have opened stores selling the produce and other ingredients popular in their native cuisines. Not only will you be blown away by the variety and quality of produce, but you’ll find many gorgeous fruits and vegetables not commonly available in mainstream supermarkets. Plunge in and see if you can find some new favorites.
3. Try your local farmer’s market. This is one of my favorite tricks for getting picky children to try new things. My kids are much more likely to try the patty pan squash after they’ve spoken to the farmer that grew it rather than me just plopping it on their plates. The people working the market will be glad to answer your questions on how to use any unfamiliar produce and might even have samples. Many farmer’s markets also publish cook books to raise money which is a great way to get recipes for the produce local to your area while supporting local agriculture.
4. Join a CSA. Not only are CSAs (community supported agriculture) a great way to help farmers in your area, it’s a great way to expose your family to new fruits and vegetables or to remind you to eat old favorites. Most will give you ideas on how to use the produce in your weekly share. Keep in mind, there might be weeks where you do get an overabundance of one or two items and you might still have to go shopping to fill in the gaps or get more variety, however the produce will be fresh and full of nutrition and you’ll be discovering the joys of eating locally and seasonally.
5. Get your children involved. If you have kids, take them grocery shopping with you and make a challenge for them to pick one new food for dinner or snack. It’s wise to set limits, otherwise they might decide on the new variety of boxed cookies. But chances are, they’ll find something interesting. If the family likes it, great, put it in rotation. If not, talk about using the item in conjunction with a new preparation or waiting a year or so and then trying it again. It can help to share stories about foods you disliked as a child but loved later in life. This will help your children understand that tastes can and do change and that there is never a need to write off any food forever.
6. Have a potluck with friends. Encourage them to bring something new for the group from their culture, a place they’ve traveled, or any other recipe or foodstuff they’ve acquired a taste for by experimenting. Make sure to be clear that you’re looking for adventurous stuff, not just “safe” foods that everyone likes. Sharing foods and recipes with friends not only expands the palate but is a great way to experience community, which is also excellent for your best health.
7. Subscribe to cooking blogs. There are many fine blogs devoted to all sorts of cooking and food on the Internet. Reading through them can give you ideas for all sorts of new foods to try. You might even be experienced to start your own to document your adventures in eating!
Trying new foods is one of the great joys in life. It’s not only pleasing to the palate, an interesting diet can help you consume a wider variety of nutrients that will add to your continued health.
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