Ways to break out of a food rut

One of my go-to meals: A ham & cheese omelet with zucchini spears and blue cheese dip

Sometimes I feel like I’m stuck in a rut. I eat the same things over and over: Eggs. Steak. Various cheeses. Nuts. Avocados. Jicama sticks. Zucchini. The BLT Cobb salad from Wendy’s.

Part of that’s due to my low-carb diet. A lot of foods are just off-limits.

Wait a minute. That’s not entirely fair to Atkins. There are many, many more foods on the acceptable list than I eat on any given day.

It’s not Atkins, it’s me: Sticking to foods I’m familiar with is easier than looking up the carb count of something new. The familiar also gives me a sense of security. I know I can’t go wrong with chicken, cheese and bacon, a side of veggies and a big glass of H2O.

Problem is, eating the same things day in and day out does get boring. That leaves me with a dilemma: How to break out of the rut while staying true to my diet.

My ideas?

• Use old standbys in new ways. Instead of curried walnuts, shake things up with spiced pecans or cinnamon candied almonds.
• Try at least one new recipe a week. Checking out new recipes will help you forge new favorites.
• Don’t shy away from ingredients you think you dislike. I used to detest cooked spinach, but not anymore. Same with lemon-flavored desserts. Now they’re one of my favorites. I wouldn’t have figured that out without keeping an open mind.
• Keep an eye out for recipes from unusual sources. I found this idea for an egg baked in an avocado on my newest online obsession, Pinterest. I’ve also combed some of the many low-carb recipe sites.

How about you? What are your suggestions for breaking out of a food rut?