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It can be really easy to fall into a food rut and find yourself eating the same meals on rotation time and time again. But finding inspiration to shake things up in the kitchen can be lacking despite the many recipe bloggers, chefs, and food influencers. After all, how do you know if you will like it?

The answer is you will never know unless you try. Pushing yourself out of your cooking comfort zone can help you to discover some new skills and tips and maybe even find your new favorite food.

These tips can help you to branch out and move away from your tried and tested foods to delight your tastebuds.

Chicken

Chicken is a staple food in many people’s diets, and the best thing is there are so many ways you can enjoy this versatile meat. So if you don’t want to stray too far from your favorite foods, why not look at enjoying this staple in different ways and incorporating it into new dishes? You can try this bacon wrapped chicken, add seasoned chicken to a skewer with some seasonal veggies and salad foods, or you can experiment with different styles of stuffed chicken breast using things like onions, garlic, herbs, spinach, cheese, or pesto.

Pasta

Much like chicken, many families enjoy pasta as a staple food. Again getting stuck in a rut can be easy regarding your favorite pasta meals. Take the routine out of your next pasta dish by finding a new recipe. Why not try tangy lime avocado pasta, braised chicken, and chili pasta? You can even swap out your pasta for vegetable options like zucchini pasta, carrot, or butternut squash. Experiment with different flavors and food combinations of everything oy enjoy. For easier meals, try using your slow cooker for pasta meals.

Salad

If the thought of eating yet another boring salad makes you free, then you need to get creative with what you add. Salads should include a healthy mix of lettuce, cucumber, tomatoes, onions, corn, avocado, beans, carrot, and anything else that grabs your attention. This can include meats, cheese, nuts, seeds, fruits, and dressings.

Why not mix it up with different cheeses, like goat’s cheese, rockets, and walnuts, for example, or a peanut, lime salad with curry leaves and mustard seeds for a refreshing citrus twist? The great thing about salads is their versatility; you can eat them as a complete meal, a snack, or a side dish accompanying your main meal.

Baked Potato

In a recent potato survey, 41% of people polled indicated that a baked potato was their favorite way to enjoy this starchy-carb vegetable. If this is true for your house, how do you enjoy eating yours? Chicken pesto and mozzarella can turn your baked potato into a mouthwatering meal, as can swapping your regular potato for sweet potato, twice baked with BBQ chicken, for a fun summer twist. Loaded baked potatoes can be a great alternative to boring fillings or your regular choices; why not dress up your favorite toppings with new flavors, like a lime and chili dressing for tuna or bacon and cheese with chives instead of just cheese?

Conclusion

Spicing things up in the kitchen needn’t mean throwing out all the rules and abandoning your favorite foods; just change how you enjoy them for some new twists and delicious meals.