My biggest surprises on this diet have been yellow squash, zucchini, and sweet potatoes. All of the above were food items that I never allowed to cross my lips for a long time. In part, I think I disliked them so much b/c of the way my mom fixed them. Sweet potatoes were always smothered in brown sugar and marshmallows...blech. Way too much sweetness for me. The squash she made was always really bland and mushy. My mom is one awesome lady, but cooking wasn't her bag. So yeah, any recipes I ever came across with those items were automatically discounted before.
Also, I never thought I would crave salads before b/c they never filled me up, but I usually bring one for lunch every day now and I look forward to it.
And MittenNKim, I completely get what you mean about dinner seeming wrong for it just to be protein and veggies. Dinner seemed really off balance for a while with no starch involved. We used to eat a lot of instant noodle or rice dishes with supper. I fixed some of those noodles for my husband a few weeks ago, and he doesn't even like them anymore. Said he kinda prefers the veggies now.