Discussion Board

I feel like it's obligatory that someone post occasionally about how amazing it is when your tastes change as a result of eating this way. I had a moment like that tonight. I was in the mood for pasta with spaghetti sauce and did not have the time to make sauce - so, I bought a can of Muir Glen no salt added tomato sauce (i.e. it's canned pureed tomatoes, garlic, onions - no sugar, no salt, no fat). Normally, it's something I might use as an *ingredient* for pasta sauce. I ate it, plain, over pasta. And it tasted delicious.

(I do feel the need to clarify briefly that the pasta itself is an indulgence for me, and that I normally stay away from processed products like that (this was a quinoa-corn pasta, as I avoid gluten). I know that pasta is an alright McDougall food (if it's whole grain), but my tendency is to believe the literally whole foods are the best ones, so I generally try to stick with those.)

Anyway, I LOVE eating this way, something that I believe I share with many of you. It's SO COOL how such (comparatively, in this case) simple foods can taste so good. Incidentally, I read the forums all the time, but don't comment much because I am not one who takes well to Internet conflict, and I find that discussion boards (no matter which ones!) do tend to be full of controversy. It is lovely, though, to know that there is a community of like-minded people out there, and I appreciate that all of you DO talk publicly here about all this.

Hi Emily,
I’ve had a similar epiphany this summer. Not having any cookies, cakes, or candy for the past 10 months, I’m now finding fresh fruit to be such a treat. I never enjoyed it this much before. I’m very happy about that.
Letha

.....and if you eat around folks on the SAD, you have to enjoy their bewildered looks when you comment on how great your lunch oatmeal tastes! It is amazing how tastes can change.....this is what I always tell people who say, "but I could never do that". Dr. McDougall has mentioned fasting briefly when starting new eating plan....after a day or two without food, EVERYTHING will taste delicious.

Emily, please post more often. I enjoyed reading your insightful commentary.

Last night, DH and I had steamed new potatoes, sliced tomatoes, and bbq tofu. It was delicious. I had a hankerin' for something sweet (Now, I don't even have any cookies, cakes, etc., in the house. I was going to have a bowl of cereal.), but I actually decided to wait, and the feeling passed. Drank a glass of water instead. Wow, I didn't die from starvation!


Another interesting tidbit that I read last night, which really applies to me: People who eat quickly until full are three times more likely to be overweight than those who eat slowly. That is soooo me. My goal today is to become more mindful and slow down!

I was trying to explain this all to a SAD person recently, and she looked at me like I had three heads.

Your experience is the norm. Unfortunately, many will not get to that point where the tastes change. They will wonder why it all is such a struggle. The answer is just around the corner. You just have to getup and walk there. Then you can say "Why didn't I get here earlier?"
Thanks for sharing.
f1jim

This is a compelling argument to go 100% McDougall - to give your sensory systems the opportunity to reset your body's food preferences to healthful, non-toxic, alternatives.

I never thought I could eat a salad without an oil or mayo based dressing. It took about 2 weeks to get used to it but now I love salad with oil free dressing. Also fruit tastes so much sweeter then it used to.

Hey Letha,

I agree! Yesterday, I indulged in a slice of watermelon. First bite made me think, "Dang, this thing's wayyyyy too sweet!"

Then I laughed, realizing I never would have thought that back when I was deep in the SAD.

I love McDougalling.

Beth

Yeah, it is a wonderful thing. Have you also noticed that your sense of smell is changing? One whif of cheese and it's so stinky to me. Most fish now and certain meats even will cause me to scrunch up my face in....awfulness. PEE-UU!

Last night I baked some potatoes until the outsides got crispy, then cut them in half length wise. I was loving the taste of the soft potato with the crunchie skin while the rest of my family was eating chicken sandwiches and tuna/mac salad.

Watermelon, canteloupe and fresh pineapple - I can really taste those. Also the different veggies. Instead of a salad having little taste other than the dressing - I can taste the unique flavors of the different veggies in the salad more. It's so much more interesting to eat salads now.

My sense of smell has gotten much more acute. I was down at the community pool for a swim and there was a party grilling some meat at the poolside. It smelled awful. BBQ is so popular in the summer and for 98% of the people it probably smells delicious - but not to me!

Oh, I hate the smell of cook outs too! I work as a grill cook, mostly breakfast, but burgers and steaks too. Folks will say "don't you get tempted by all that meat?" I tell them no, but think, "you don't even want to know what that meat looks and smells like to me". When a customer asks, "what you got good?" I say, "big bowl of oatmeal!". They just laugh.

Years ago when I found out I was loctose intolerant, I stopped having dairy for one month. After that I tried some milk. YUCK. I couldn't finish it! It tasted like slime! Now after years of veganism, I know when something has milk in it because it simply tastes gross.

They say it takes 30-90 days for your taste buds to adjust to this type of diet (I read that in the pleasure trap) and that once you have kicked the habit of the SAD diet, eating healthy foods will feel so good! So, I understand why eating watermelon will taste so good! I have only minor chocolate craving, when I was eating my regular processed vegan diet, I would go nuts even a few hours without chocolate, but after I started this it is not nearly as bad! In fact, it's easier to eat healthy!

I'm brand new to McDougalling (just started on Monday), but I have jumped in with both feet and I am loving it! I've been 100% on the MWL plan and I can't believe how delicious everything is! I thought I had tried every diet, and have done a LOT of low-carbing over the years, and I am just absolutely stunned at how delicious all these veggies and grains and potatoes taste to me. It's like a whole new world, from Day One. I haven't had any cravings at all. I did slip up once midweek and eat a mini-snickers bar, and my reaction was "meh -- this totally isn't worth it."

I guess after 50 years of eating the junky SAD, my taste buds were really ready for some GOOD food.