From my experience, diets don't work. Everyone's physiology is different and I've created my own diet that is tailored to my needs, not the needs of some diet book author. One thing I need is plenty of sodium, since sodium is an essential nutrient, but bad in high amounts, so I limit my intake. I sweat a lot, so having essential electrolytes present in my system helps a lot. I also enjoy various nuts and seeds. Nuts help with fiber, aswell as balancing hormones, getting protein in, and getting in healthy fats. My favorite are walnuts and brazil nuts (which are high in selenium). Also I've learned to live with carbs since I can't do keto. Keto actually makes me feel tired, as opposed to the common advice that you're fueling your body the right way with keto, but as I said: everyone's different. Maybe it's my genetic makeup to prefer carbs. Although I do cut out sugary drinks as much as possible, and go for the 'zero' or 'sugar free' options when I can.
In terms of meals, I add seeds to everything (chia, flax, linseed, pumpkin seeds) etc I also add salad mix to everything, so a burger for me is quite leafy, and has plenty of onions. I vary my diet as much as possible, yet lately I have tried every dish imaginable and it's hard to seek out new food, but that's an enjoyable problem I like to solve. 'What new thing can I eat today?' is a common question for me.
Oh I know, but repurposing the word diet to mean blanket change is what sets you up for failure. When you realize that you can focus on incremental change and really see benefits.
Another example I give is how long you have been eating your diet and you suddenly want to change it. Compare that to riding a bike. It probably took 2-3 years for you to become good at riding so much so that now it comes second nature after 10, 20, or 30 years. Apply that mentality to changing your diet and you will have much more success. Sometimes you fall off. You cry a bit, you dust yourself off, you get back on.
In terms of meals, I add seeds to everything (chia, flax, linseed, pumpkin seeds) etc I also add salad mix to everything, so a burger for me is quite leafy, and has plenty of onions. I vary my diet as much as possible, yet lately I have tried every dish imaginable and it's hard to seek out new food, but that's an enjoyable problem I like to solve. 'What new thing can I eat today?' is a common question for me.