I'm Picky. And so are my kids.

I have a confession.

I don't love meat.  Especially beef.  And I'm not really a chicken fan.  I like ground turkey, and I like pork sausages, and bacon.  But the rest.... I could live without it.  I don't really love vegetables either.  I eat them.  I have some favorites.  I even will say I like them most of the time.  But I don't LOVE them.  I don't crave them.  There is nothing that gets me excited about eating them or cooking them.  

My favorite foods are things like cheese and spinach quesadillas, bean tostadas, stuffed artichokes, gluten free pasta with lots of romano cheese and butter and herbs, gluten free english muffins with sauerkraut, toast with tomatoes and mayo, grilled cheese sandwiches, bagels with cream cheese, pork tamales, scrambled eggs and omelets with toast, chips and salsa, bean dip, mexican rice, bean and cheese burritos, muffins and breads, cereal with milk, brownies, pancakes and waffles, home made oven fries, nachos, stir frys, garlic shrimp with rice, and so on...  Oh and did I mention I love coffee? Loaded with cream and sugar of course.  It's just not good.  Anyway, you get the idea...  Bread.  Snacky foods.  Carbs.  That's what I love.  *sigh*

My kids are picky too.  One in particular would like to live off of yogurt, waffles, pasta, french fries, and string cheese.  With a little ice cream thrown in there too.  For veggies he eats pickles.  Occasionally cucumbers.  Olives.  And sauteed spinach.  Go figure. 

I have a lot of work ahead of me.  I have to retrain myself and my kids.  Luckily the baby is just beginning his journey with food so hopefully I can keep him on the healthy track for awhile.  But the big boys... Oy. 

So. How on earth are we supposed to willingly switch and stick to a diet where we don't get to eat our favorite foods?  Even if I know how beneficial it will be?  Even if I know how much better I will feel and how much more energy the kids will have?

I'm searching for the answer here...  and I'm realizing this has been my problem all along, and probably why I've failed every time I have tried to change my diet.  Eventually the prepared foods sneak back in when I'm tired or busy with the kids.  If I'm trying to be good and not eat what I make them, I end up starving myself till I can't go any longer and then breaking down and grabbing the first thing I find just so I don't pass out or freak out all together.  It's even harder when I'm nursing the baby because I am hungry ALL THE TIME.

Sorry.  I'm babbling.

Bottom line is I don't have an answer.  Yet.  But I have some ideas that I think may help.