Ask a Different Question

If you run into a person you know, what normally happens? One of you begins with, “How are you?” Then the normal generic conversation ensues. But what if that person opened with, “Are you the kind of person who would rather one good friend or lots of casual friends?” After the initial bewildered feeling passes, you would eventually answer the question and your friend would be intently listening. You have joined in an unexpected but engaging conversation. This chat will not be a forgotten encounter (as opposed to the vanilla family and work topics often discussed) plus your friend will be actively listening.

I recently heard about this concept of the “unexpected question to improve listening” and immediately applied it to healthy habits. How many of us get stuck in a rut with cooking? How many times have you almost lost it because someone had the nerve to ask you what’s for dinner? These moments of desperation and rage can be avoided with asking different questions. Instead of planning what’s for dinner, where your mind immediately envisions some sort of entrée, side and salad variation, erase that visual and start over. Ask a different version such as, “How many vegetables will I roast and how many will I grill this week?” “What recipe can I research that uses turmeric?” “What nutritious dinner can I cook tonight that I can simultaneously pack for tomorrow’s lunch?”

Starting with a specific ingredient is one way to initiate meal planning or cooking, but what about going off something else like the weather? If you know you will spend a significant time outside in the heat, serve a cold gazpacho and salad topped with summer citrus fruit. On the flip side, if you find yourself chilled to the bone most of the day, plan for that hearty soup with a warm spinach salad.

Playing off emotions can provide ideas for cooking too. Looking forward to plopping on the couch with a good book? Defrost the chowder or stew to fill a favorite mug. Want to have neighbors over to eat because you are feeling social? Turn on the music and prepare the fixings for taco night. Conversely, are you exhausted and are looking forward to a quiet evening? Keep it simple with the quinoa salad and cooked shrimp picked up from the prepared foods section of the grocery store.

Beginning a weekly meal planning process with a scavenger hunt of sorts is a strategy I used to shake it up during the stay-at-home mandate. I was determined to start with ingredients we had in our house and build recipes from there. In addition, I tried new takes on the everyday foods so we were not eating them in the same style. Simple changes made a difference such as sautéing the broccoli with garlic and spices instead of the normal roasting or steaming method I usually employ. I also realized I had almond flour in my pantry because I use it for one, and only one, specific meatball dish. This led me to research recipes that use almond flour and of course, I found something new to try. What about the surplus of fruit that was on its way to going bad because I must have clicked one too many items in the online shopping spree? Smoothies for everyone! This scavenger hunt became a game over a few days’ time, and when all that was left were condiments and pretzels, I succumbed and bought more food.

So the next time you are thinking about the week ahead or staring at a blank paper forcing yourself to meal plan, shift your mindset and approach it differently. What dried herbs or grains have you not cooked with in a while? Will you be in and out of your car in the blazing heat running from one appointment to the next and will crave something refreshing? Do you have a light week with not many meetings scheduled so you can enjoy your time cooking in the kitchen, or is it packed with commitments steering you to a curbside pickup service? What are you going to do with the asparagus and zucchini that are only to be of use to you for two or three more days?

Use these multiple tactics to throw out the dreaded question I can’t even bear to repeat and approach your kitchen with an inquisitive and decisive eye. What query will you pose to grab the attention of those you are cooking for? I would love to hear your ideas in the comments below.