Good tasting Food! Am I missing something?

[slfmade]

I'm pretty new here and was curious if I was missing something when it comes to dieting. As I've been reading I've seen that many of you seem to eat nasty food. ex. Tuna with Flax drizzled on top.

I realize I probably sound like a little girl, but I'm attempting to not only look good by next summer, but to also make a life change eating foods I enjoy while eating healthy and achieving transformation goals. I was under the impression that we're looking at Cal, Fat, Carbs, and Pro, and I've found great hundreds of recipes that give me good options to make tasty meals. I'm just curious why most tend to stick with rather bland foods.

For instance here's a recipe I tried last night and now it's one of my favorite foods.

Chicken breast cut into 1" pcs and tossed with salt and cummin (Grilled)
Salsa Verde
Canned Diced tomatoes
Green, red, yellow peppers
Onions
Kidney Beans

Grill the chicken and toss everything in a slow cooker for 5 hrs.

305cal 5g 24c 41p - (sodium is bit high at 914, but do I really need to concern myself with sodium until right before next summer?)

So am I right or am I missing something here?

Any help would be appreciated.

[Papiriqui]

The food i eat is far from bland!! These guys might take it a bit further by eating more lean than i do like boiling or steaming chicken and stuff but when you count calories like we do, in your example you need to count the peppers, salsa, tomatoes, onion, beans, all separately and than add, perhaps the amount of macros will change, also when you need to eat a certain amount of carbs, fat, proteins per meal this may not be the best approach, or perhaps you would need to add more chicken to get more proteins or add more carbs, etc. Quite a few things need to be taken into consideration and thats why as you say we eat somewhat bland, because we try to eat as lean as possible!!

Provide amounts in cups or ounces for each item!!

[slfmade]

That was the exact combined total of everything for a 1 1/2 cup serving. I'm pretty good on calculating my macros. I've dropped 58lbs since last march. Now I'm looking for LBM. This would be more an example of a mid day meal - I would definetely up the carbs for a morning, pre, and PWO meals. I'm currently on a 50/40/10 type of diet. I've thought about adding some potatoes or wheat pasta to this meal, but I'm pretty much sitting at a computer during the day so I save up my big carb meals for morning, pre, and post workout meals.

[Back In Black]

Wanna list your diet including macro's, it will give us a better idea of where you are at. Also list your stats.

[slfmade]

I guess my main question is: Are the main 4: Calories, Fat, Carbs, and Protein really all we're looking at? If I can make it taste better within my 50/40/10 or whatever configurations I'm doing be okay, or are there more specific things I need to look at?

[slfmade]

Sure thing. This was a sample diet of something I might do last week. After receiving some advice from a member on here I've changed it a bit and added more cals, fat, and carbs. I'm not at work and don't have my macros spreadsheet so I'll bold the changes.

Stats:
Male
5'9
175lbs
29 yrs old

Diet :

7 a.m. Liquid egg whites with veggies and 1/2 cup oatmeal. 305cal 3.5f 38c 32.5p (Changed from 5 egg whites to 3 whole eggs and 2 egg whites)

7-12 a.m. I usually go Hiking and take an iso-pure shake with me to have at 10 a.m. 154cal 1f 2c 35p (I hike 3 days per week - if not hiking I'm sitting) (adding 1 tbs natty peanut butter)

12:30 p.m. 6 oz Grilled Chicken with Almonds and Veggies 237cal 3f 15c 42p

3 p.m. 6 oz Tilapia with Veggies 180cal 2f 8c 36p (I've added a carb source to this ex sweet potato, wheat pasta, etc)

5:30 p.m. 6 oz London Broil with (Brown Rice, wheat pasta, or sweet potatoes) 579cal 11f 61c 57p

6:15-7:45 Workout (Mon, Wed, Friday)

7:45 PWO Shake 280cal 1f 30c 34p

9:30 - 6 oz Turkey and Veggies. 244cal 1f 15c 44p

Totals - 1980 cal - 23g fat - 170g carbs - 280g pro (New Totals are 2320 cal - 50g fat- 200g Carbs - 290g Pro)

Also, in additon to this I take Omega 3, 6, 9 supplement daily.

Currently this is putting me at a 53/37/10 split.

[Back In Black]

Ah yes, I remember your thread. Your fat is actually about 19% or so of your total cals - 450cals out of 2320. But that's good. Carbs are 34% and pro 50%. Based on your figures. Which makes about 103% but let's not argue over that 3%.

Anyway in answer to your question the argument from some is that as long as you hit your macro's it doesn't matter on your food choices. But a sweet potato or oats is far the better choice over candy. I know taht isn't really what you are getting at and, if you are bulking then you have more leway on food choices than if you were cutting. The meal you listed is fine and those are pretty good choices for a lean bulk. The leaner you want your bulk to be the cleaner you want your food choices.

Experiment with herbs and spices and you'll get most of the taste you want.

[slfmade]

Good Deal. Thanks