Are All Food Ruts Bad?

HI everyone, it's Karen here! Since we're talking about food ruts this week, I'd like to explore this common question - Are all food ruts bad? 

The first thing to remember is that you are best judge of whether you're in a food rut. Definitions vary. To some, it's eating the same thing three days in a row. To others, it's not a rut until you've eaten the same food everyday for a month. And truth be told, a lot of us eat the same things for breakfast, lunch, and snacks, especially during weekdays when we are on a schedule and efficiency is a priority. Because of this, most people probably experience the majority of their food variety at dinnertime. 

If you feel satisfied eating the same things routinely throughout the day, and it's part of an overall balanced and nutrient-dense diet, then a so-called food rut is probably nothing to worry about. The problem primarily arises in a couple of instances. The first is when a food rut involves foods that are low in nutrients, which can negatively impact your health when eaten for long periods of time (an everyday breakfast of yogurt with berries is a little different than a simple breakfast of PopTarts). The second is when a food rut strikes someone who is trying to eat a generally healthful diet. A lack of variety creates boredom, which then leads to frustration and abandonment of their healthy eating efforts. 

Interestingly, research indicates that personality may be a factor in determining whether you are likely to get stuck in a food rut. It's called a "boredom threshold" and this can vary from person to person. Someone with a high boredom threshold can be content eating the same things over and over (we all know that person who happily eats a PBJ sandwich at lunch every day for years). But those with a lower boredom threshold need more variety to avoid becoming dissatisfied with their food choices. 

So it might be helpful to think about your own boredom threshold and how that might impact your food planning. Ask yourself how quickly you tend to get "burned out" on your food choices, and work with that, instead of fighting against it. Plan for the rut or, even better, work to avoid one in the first place. We'll discuss ways to do just that in class this week, so stay tuned!