Many people find, when on a restricted diet, their meals become very repetitive.  Boredom sets in and people find themselves cheating on their diets more often just to eat something new.

I can’t tell you the number of times I have had a patient state how they are tired of eating chicken and salad at every meal. I like to tell them that variety really is the spice of life, even when you are trying to lose weight or on a restricted diet for health reasons,” said Karon Potter, R.D., L.D.

The diatary experts at Draelos Metabolic Center offer these helpful hints to add more variety and flavor to your everyday meal planning and cooking.

• Add different flavors to your meats and vegetables by adding herbs, spices, marinades, and even lemon juice. There are several types of spices and marinades at your local grocery store to choose from. However, make sure what you choose to use does not add too many calories!
• Try new cooking methods. Steaming, grilling, baking, slow cooking and broiling are all healthy ways to cook your meats and vegetables. Each method will add a new element to the food item.

• Introduce a new food at least once a week. This does not always have to be a new meat. Try a new vegetable, a new marinade, a new combination of meats and vegetables, or even a whole new recipe. By doing this, you will increase the amount of options you have to choose from.
• Buy some pre-cooked meals when in a time crunch or just do not feel like cooking. Try pre-cooked fajita chicken, steam-in-the-bag vegetables and pre-chopped salad mixes/fruits/vegetables.
• Use salad spritzers. These will allow you to increase the flavor of your salad with a low amount of additional calories. Try all the different flavors and figure out the ones that you like best.
• Dine out occasionally. Do not take away dining out completely. Allow yourself to dine out a few times a week. However, be sure to make smart choices. Choose lean items and try to order off the children's menu to keep your portions small. Look online at the menu ahead of time and decide what to get before you arrive. This will keep temptations to a minimum.
• Write down things you have tried. This will help you to remember the things that you liked and the ones that were not your favorites. You will be able to go back to this list and see what you have not eaten in a while.

Keep these ideas in mind whenever you are starting to feel bland about your food options.