Tips for eating well

[the captians wench]

Okay, I have my goal for the week. I know it seems like a bad week to start this kind of thing, but I'm not dieting, I'm eating healthier.

Today I am fixing lunch and dinner at the same time. I work late tonight so I never feel like cooking when I get home. One is a stir-fry using frozen veggie mix and some strip steak. The other will use the same steak and veggie mix, but I'll add some tomato paste and some white wine and put it over pasta.

Either one will reheat nicely, and I'll probably have just enough of each of them to actually make 2 meals each, since my portion sizes are so small.

So the goal is 2 days a week.

 

[midwestyankee]

Okay, I have my goal for the week. I know it seems like a bad week to start this kind of thing, but I'm not dieting, I'm eating healthier.

Today I am fixing lunch and dinner at the same time. I work late tonight so I never feel like cooking when I get home. One is a stir-fry using frozen veggie mix and some strip steak. The other will use the same steak and veggie mix, but I'll add some tomato paste and some white wine and put it over pasta.

Either one will reheat nicely, and I'll probably have just enough of each of them to actually make 2 meals each, since my portion sizes are so small.

So the goal is 2 days a week.

This is great, wenchie.

Be sure to reward yourself a little bit when you meet this goal. Also, after you finish this week, be sure to set a similar goal for the next week. Maybe next week your schedule will allow you to go for three or even four days. Regardless, any improvement is a great thing and doing it over and over will make a big difference for you.

You can do this!

 

[the captians wench]

I met my first goal. I had 4 healthy meals at home.

I've realized two things:

1) frozen veggies are great for stir fry or pasta​

2) it really is handy to cook for two or three days one night and package it in meal sizes​

But now my bad luck continues and my microwave has gone ka-put. So the next month will be harder, but I think if I stick with one week at a time I'll be grand.

We're sticking with two meals this week. Lots of stress, I don't want to push myself too hard.

 

[midwestyankee]

I met my first goal. I had 4 healthy meals at home.

I've realized two things:

1) frozen veggies are great for stir fry or pasta​

2) it really is handy to cook for two or three days one night and package it in meal sizes​

But now my bad luck continues and my microwave has gone ka-put. So the next month will be harder, but I think if I stick with one week at a time I'll be grand.

We're sticking with two meals this week. Lots of stress, I don't want to push myself too hard.

You're doing great, wenchie. You really are. Adapting to the kaput microwave and keeping your goals within reach are both reasonable responses to the situation.

You can do this.

 

[Keroin]

You're doing great, wenchie. You really are. Adapting to the kaput microwave and keeping your goals within reach are both reasonable responses to the situation.

You can do this.

DITTO!!

Go Wenchie, go!

 

[the captians wench]

thanks guys

 

[Lizzie_Borden]

I met my first goal. I had 4 healthy meals at home.

I've realized two things:

1) frozen veggies are great for stir fry or pasta​

2) it really is handy to cook for two or three days one night and package it in meal sizes​

But now my bad luck continues and my microwave has gone ka-put. So the next month will be harder, but I think if I stick with one week at a time I'll be grand.

We're sticking with two meals this week. Lots of stress, I don't want to push myself too hard.

That's totally what I do Wenchie

However, I buy fresh veggies, cut em all up, mix them, then freeze them in small portions in ziplock bags.

You get better quality stuff. I find the prepackaged frozen veg, you get a lot of stalks (like, from broccoli) and other assorted yucky bits.

You're doing good though! And having stuff that's easy to heat up in a few minutes means it's far less easy to justify ordering pizza.

PS: I have mastered the art of cooking in bulk and freezing things, mainly curries and pastas, so if you want any recipes or anything, let me know.

 

[the captians wench]

That's totally what I do Wenchie

However, I buy fresh veggies, cut em all up, mix them, then freeze them in small portions in ziplock bags.

You get better quality stuff. I find the prepackaged frozen veg, you get a lot of stalks (like, from broccoli) and other assorted yucky bits.

You're doing good though! And having stuff that's easy to heat up in a few minutes means it's far less easy to justify ordering pizza.

PS: I have mastered the art of cooking in bulk and freezing things, mainly curries and pastas, so if you want any recipes or anything, let me know.

I have a wonderful market down the street from me that always has yummy veggies. If you have any tips on how to freeze them I'd be greatful. I really prefer fresh, but they go bad so quickly I can't justify buying them. If I could make one meal with fresh and freeze the rest tho, that would solve the issue.

I'm working up to the frozen meal plan, but right now I still have trouble getting myself to think frozen=good. We'll stick with the two days ahead until I get used to that, and then easy me into freezing.

But any tips you have would be great.

 

[the captians wench]

Well the two a week plan has held good all month. This week I'm feeling very ambitious. Since I'm off all week, I'm setting a goal of one home cooked meal a day. Today I've had breakfast and lunch.

I got a mini crock pot for Christmas, so anyone with recipes I'm all ears.

Oh, and today's yummy home made lunch, thanks to Christmas day left overs.

Yes I did pipe the potatoes on. I do love a pretty presentation.

 

[Lizzie_Borden]

I really like veggies from raw to completely overcooked depending on context.

Like roast pumpkin.

Overdone to the point of blackening on the outside, and mushiness in the middle.

Perfect.

I just love vegetables really. Except for celery. Yuck.

 

[minx1]

Hey hon,

Sounds like the healthy eating is going well.

I am in a similar position; work long hours and the last thing I feel like doing is preppin veg and cooking when I get home. I also cook for one.

The way I work it is to cook on the day before I'm going to be in work for a few day and cook a big pot of something.
This is generally a beef stew, chicken casserole (seriously fantastic for losing weight. I lost over 3 stone eating this!) or spicy lamb soup. Once its cooled the pot goes into the fridge and I reheat portions the next few nights.

I need to start the chicken casserole again, because lately I've put on quite a bit of weight and I know that will fix it. Once you start to see results it really spurs you on.
I have also learned that I lose more by eating soupsor casseroles than I do eating salads or stir frys for some reason. maybe I dont eat as much

I also save rice or pasta for a treat at the weekend as I tend to eat large portions of these and they are pretty heavy diet wise.

Good luck with the new regime chick

 

[Bette_coquette]

Do you own a rice cooker? I love brown rice, which is healthier and has fewer calories than white rice. When it's just me, which it often is, I'll cook some brown rice in the cooker and steam some vegetables to serve over the top. I like a nice vegetarian meal occasionally.

Speaking of roasted vegetables, there's nothing better than roasted brussel's sprouts. O' little sprout! How I love thee!

I second springing for the pre-cut vegetables. I've thrown away SO much produce that's rotted in my fridge because I come home too tired to chop. I actually hate chopping and it's the one thing that will have me eating cereal for dinner rather than cooking a real meal.

Cutie, I see those clam shells of lettuce often and have yet to buy any. That's going on my list right this minute!

I'm glad I came across this thread. Over the past year I've gained 10 pounds and would like to drop at least 5 of that. I know that cooking from fresh foods will help me do that. What will be hard is cooking with less oil, such as olive oil. It may be better for you, but it's still extremely high in calories and can really throw off my calorie count for the day.

Best of luck and keep on keepin' on!

 

[catalina_francisco]

I have a slow cooker which I have had for about 30 years now and still use, but our steamer is becoming a favourite. It has 3 levels, and multiple settings depending what you are cooking. If it requires a couple of different times, you just add the shorter time items at the appropriate time by putting them in a level of their own and popping it on the top. It is great for losing weight as the goodness of the food remains, there is no fat at all used, and if spices and herbs are involved, there is a tray included for adding them also. I also don't cook with salt for health reasons, and use herbs and spices instead. For those moments when I need something to keep me going until meal time (eg. on the run, or mid morning and afternoon snacktime which I have been ordered to have these days), I make up a container of nuts, and chopped dried fruits....a small handful of this can keep me going for hours and is healthy.

Catalina

 

[brioche]

I went on the Jenny Craig diet primarily because I can't be bothered/don't have time to structure everything the way Weight Watchers wants you to do. So I really am willing to pay a lot of money to have the convenience of my menu figured out for me and all the entrées done. I just have to do what they tell me, which is becoming easier as the weeks go on (fewer cravings for white bread/sweets). But the one area where I am falling down is the veggies. They want me to have a salad and then a cup and a half of other veggies a day and while other people would rejoice I am not a veggie person, I am a fruit person. I enjoy my 3-4 servings of fruit each day. I am not the kind of person who can have a salad every day. I am getting better; I love green beans and I've started buying them in the ready to steam packets and I also buy corn, which is not strictly allowed but is better than nothing. I just have to find a few recipes for the veggies I DO like that last a little longer in the fridge. Stir fries go slimy pretty quickly.
I love tomatoes and garlic and onions and green beans and corn and like broccoli and cauliflower, so it shouldn't be too hard to find recipes. But everything seems to have potatoes in it, and they're too starchy.

 

[ImOnIt]

I am not a veggie person, I am a fruit person.

Fruit has more sugar than you think. 5+ a day does not mean 5 sugary fruits. Your food only has potatoes if you put potatoes in your food, so substitute something for it. Pumpkin and kumara, ,leek or chinese vegetables.

If its slimy, make less or drain it.

I am not the kind of person who can have a salad every day.

My sister sometimes has salad for a meal, and its shocking how little you actually get. A whole plate of leaves weighs practically nothing.

 

[Bette_coquette]

I love a huge salad. I chop up lettuce and fill a serving bowl with it, then toss in any other foods I like: red bell peppers, cukes, carrots, toasted nuts of some kind, cheese, diced ham or salami, even dill pickles! I toss it all with a dressing and sit down in front of the TV for a feast. I've lately been getting back into the salads and feel better for it. I'd actually rather eat a salad as a whole meal than as an accompaniment. If I want something with beef or chicken, I prefer a cooked vegetable or two.

 

[the captians wench]

Fruit has more sugar than you think. 5+ a day does not mean 5 sugary fruits. Your food only has potatoes if you put potatoes in your food, so substitute something for it. Pumpkin and kumara, ,leek or chinese vegetables.

If its slimy, make less or drain it.



My sister sometimes has salad for a meal, and its shocking how little you actually get. A whole plate of leaves weighs practically nothing.

I've, for the most part, switched to sweet potatoes rather than regular ones. I boil or roast them, and mash them with just a touch of butter, a dab of honey, and a couple of dashes of cinnamon and nutmeg. Maybe a bit of pepper and a chunk of cream cheese when I'm feeling like something more rich.

It cures my potato craving, but gives me more vitamins and less carbs.

I've also found squash can have the same texture as potatoes in meals. Again, makes my brain think I'm getting something I"m not.

Some one mentioned brussle sprouts. You know, I'd only ever seen brussle sprouts boiled and looking slimy. So I decided I wanted to try them, but in a completelly different way. I mean they are part of the cabbage family, why not treat it like cabbage. So I split the sprouts apart and seperated the leaves, sauted them in a bit of EVOO with some garlic and leek, a but of pepper and a splash each of white wine and pom juice just until the leaves were tender. Was something like a warm salad. Would have been perfect with some pine nuts, but I didn't have any handy.

 

[catalina_francisco]

I've, for the most part, switched to sweet potatoes rather than regular ones. I boil or roast them, and mash them with just a touch of butter, a dab of honey, and a couple of dashes of cinnamon and nutmeg. Maybe a bit of pepper and a chunk of cream cheese when I'm feeling like something more rich.

Sweet potatoes are good GI and balance out some of the bad GI which might sneak in, but I would not be mashing them with butter and honey, or cream cheese as you are undoing all your good work. One recipe we have begun to do is smashed potatoes. You steam (in steamer or microwave) 1 potatoe and 2-3 sweet potatoes'(with or without skins and cut in half), with half a lemon sitting in the centre (I sometimes leave it out if I dont have one). Chop finely 1 red chilli, a bunch of coriander, and about 50gr feta cheese (can leave this out, but does add to taste) and mix together. Once potatoes are done, put in a bowl and using tongs, squeeze the half lemon over the potatoes, add the chilli mix then use a knife to cut and smash the potatoes and mix the chilli mix in, season with salt and pepper and serve.

Catalina

 

[Keroin]

You know, one of the flavour tricks I like to use with food is lime. Squeeze fresh lime onto just about anything and it goes from bland to YUMMY instantly.

And for those who love fruit but don't want the high sugar, try jicama - the vegetable that tastes like a fruit! Yum, yum.

I slice mine, squeeze lime over the slices and sprinkle on some cayenne. Dee-lish.

Wenchie, I'll post my breakfast bar recipe on here later today. It's SUPER healthy and so, so good. Easy to make, too. (Hey, even I can make them). A great "on-the-go" snack.

And I'm with Cat, wean yourself off the butter and try steaming veggies. Another good snack is rice wraps. Like these...

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4060/4342240505_619e08951b.jpg

Oh man, now I'm craving Thai food, lol.

 

[the captians wench]

Cream cheese is usually for special occations, and the butter is only about half a tablespoon if that much, which is a lot less than the half a stick I used to use. Tho I tend to favor cottage cheese in place of both when I have it on hand. Feta would be yummy. I just like something to add just a touch of creaminess.

K- breakfast bars sound yummy, and the rolls look yummy. I had some dried fruit and nuts left over from making fruit cake, so I decided to try my hand at making granola. Turned out so good, and made so much! I gave about half of it away for Christmas gifts. It's been great to snack on in the evenings.

 

[Keroin]

OK, these bars are great any time of the day, they freeze well and are good for people with wheat or dairy allergies - such as yours truly. You will probably have to go to a health food store or some place like Whole Foods to get some of the ingredients - if you can find a place that has bulk it's cheaper. For the lowest sugar, use agave nectar. Add a small amount of stevia if you want more sweetness.

BTW, for those trying to kick the sugar habit, agave nectar and stevia are must-haves. Stevia is pricey but a little goes a very, very long way.

Grain Free Breakfast Bars

¾ C amaranth flour
¾ C buckwheat flour
½ C quinoa flakes
½ C walnuts, chopped
¼ C sunflower seeds
¼ C sesame seeds
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cream of tartar
1 ½ tsp pumpkin pie spice
½ tsp salt
¾ C chickpeas
¾ C soymilk
1 banana, broken into 1” pieces
1/3 C walnut oil
½ C maple syrup or honey or agave nectar
1 ½ tsp vanilla extract
¾ C raisins or dates or 1/3 C currants

*NOTE: This is the original recipe and you can play with it to find a combo you like. I use more of the wet ingredients because I found the bars too dry the first time. (1 Cup soymilk, for example). Also, I used more spice and vanilla to kick up the flavour. I put in more raisins, added a handful of dried cranberries and just a few, small dark chocolate pieces – cause I love me my dark chocolate.

PREHEAT THE OVEN to 350°F. Oil an 11” x 7” baking pan.

In a large bowl, mix the amaranth flour, buckwheat flour, quinoa flakes, nuts, sunflower seeds, sesame seeds, baking soda, cream of tartar, pumpkin pie spice and salt.

In a blender or food processor, combine the chickpeas, milk, banana, oil, maple syrup (or honey or agave), and vanilla. Pour into the flour mixture and stir to mix well. (Mixture will be quite thick and heavy). Stir in the raisins, dates, or currants.

Spread in the prepared pan. Bake for 20 min or until set. Cool in the pan on a rack. Cut into bars. Store wrapped in plastic wrap.

 

[Netzach]

You know, one of the flavour tricks I like to use with food is lime. Squeeze fresh lime onto just about anything and it goes from bland to YUMMY instantly.

And for those who love fruit but don't want the high sugar, try jicama - the vegetable that tastes like a fruit! Yum, yum.

I slice mine, squeeze lime over the slices and sprinkle on some cayenne. Dee-lish.

Best. Snack. Ever. Fed to me by this hottie I knew, damn. I don't know if it's Cuban, but she was.

Jicama, sliced up. Simple enough.

Mojo de ajo:

Garlic - I use 1/2 clove
Lime juice from 1 med lime.
Splash of olive oil

this is the dipping sauce of the gods for the jicama. You can salt it also, but why?

 

[Netzach]

I confess I like just a tbsp of bleu cheese crumbles on my yams, and a little reduced balsamic on that.

 

[ownedsubgal]

I confess I like just a tbsp of bleu cheese crumbles on my yams, and a little reduced balsamic on that.

that sounds soooo frickin yummy...but being a texture freak i'd have to add some chopped walnuts on top of the whole shebang. thanks for the idea!

 

[Netzach]

that sounds soooo frickin yummy...but being a texture freak i'd have to add some chopped walnuts on top of the whole shebang. thanks for the idea!

Oh nice! I know what I'm doing tomorrow.