Has anyone managed to drastically change their eating habits (particularly if they are a bit of a fussy eater)?

[MrsFogi]

I've decided I really must sort out what I eat (mainly rubbish and way too many biscuits and much to chocolate). Generally, I veer towards always choosing food with chips or junk type food even when in decent restaurants and I find eating fruit, veg and salad a real chore and I really don't like nuts and find fish hard going. I'm afraid I was brought up on a fairly rubbish diet and never touched any veg, salad etc until I got to uni. I'd love to enjoy eating all these "good" foods but wonder if it is really possible to retrain one's taste buds so that eating this sort of food is a pleasure rather than hard work. Has anyone got any experience or tips?

I eat a little of what i fancy for lunch..i dont tend to eat breakfast as i just cant eat that early in the morning, although i alwsys have a mug of ovaltine every morning. And then i have a proper meal in the evening with the children. I dont tend to snack at night anymore, and if i do..its more fruit, cereal, crackers, if i really am hungry. I try not to eat after 9pm..and nothing heavy. Slowly but surely try to replace bits at a time. Try a pasta salad for lunch and a piece of fruit for afters. And i also find if i dont stock the house with rubbish you dont eat it. But dont deny yourself every pleasure. 1/2 biscuits/a small choc bar, after eating healthy for the day or trying something new..is not a crime. Fish goes really nice with a diet..or even team up something good with something a bit bad..it can work as long as dont go over the top with portions, ie small portion of chips with a nice salad. Salad with fish and a jacket spud is nice too, with a small piece of butter and bit a cheese..try it..its very tasty..ive even teamed sausages with salads..pasta is very versitile you can team it with lots of things, chicken, sweetcorn, tuna, bacon, mushrooms. And it does work i have two good meals a day and im not hungry..drink plenty of water or flavored water and im now down to a size 12..which i havent been for yrs..have loads of energy.and happier.

I think it is totally possible to retrain your tastebuds to enjoy a better diet. Educate your palate, if you like. Many of the processed 'junk' type foods are extremely over-flavoured, over-salted etc., and that rather skews perception. A piece of steamed broccoli is going to taste quite boring by comparison.

However, if you persevere and deliberately base your meals around more natural foods then you'll find that you start to see that as 'normal'. I used to be a real Chinese takeaway junkie and, in order to lose weight, dropped it in favour of home-made stir-fries and other meals made with fresh ingredients. After about three months I ordered a Chinese takeaway and was appalled at just how awful it tasted! Greasy, salty.. ugh.

If I had one really serious suggestion it would be to brush up your cooking skills. Get to grips with natural flavourings such as herbs and spices so that your healthier food choices are not bland or boring. There's a massive difference between a dreary old grilled mushroom and a spicy Mushroom and Prawn Curry with fresh coriander and basmati rice.

I've been eating a healthy diet for 7 days now, MrsFogi! I have lost 2 pounds in weight and am starting to feel much less sluggish.
I wrote down what i was going to eat, went out and bought the food... then started.
Sunday lunch was easier than i expected.
It is easier for me when i have a plan of the weeks meals and the food stocked up.