Healthy diet - reducing processed

[Picklepepperpiper]

We are watching food facts and fiction and it has just reiterated our desire to eat far fewer processes foods.

However, where do we start? Any tips would be most welcome. The majority of our meals are cooked from scratch and we do not use jars etc. we do eat mince, sausages, baked beans.

Is anyone able to direct me to some sites with recipe ideas? I also would love to know how to wean dd 5 off cheerios and cornflakes.

[Picklepepperpiper]

*processed

[Awakeagain]

We've done the harcombe? Diet which pretty much cuts out processed foods, caffeine, sugar and intolerance type foods
There is a recipe book which you can get which has lots of ideas but the phase 2 recipes are either fat day or carb day (but I suppose you could serve with rice or add meat)

[Flatasawitchestit]

Clean eating is the way to go.

Its changed my whole life food wise and I'm more trim than I've ever been.

I'm so keen on it I wrote a blog (that's also turned into a parenting blog!) and instagram is great for ideas. Google clean eating. I can provide some great link ps if you'd like them

[Picklepepperpiper]

Thankyou, will look into both of those. I really want to instil good eating habits in dd and ds

[MyLifeIsStillChaotic]

I would be really interested in those links please Flatasawitchestit. I

[snowlie]

Took my dcs off processed cereal over a year ago.....we have gradually moved away from wheat too. They have pancakes for breakfast, eggs or porridge. I got a mincer and I grind my own meat, make my own skinless sausages....mostly all the dcs treat are homemade, cake, biscuits and ice cream, still sugary but lots of other good stuff in there as well.

Their tastes have changed as we have gradually moved away from sugary processed foods, they will now eat dates, crystallised ginger, 85% cocoa chocolate, most dried fruit, nuts, full fat yoghurt, porridge, since we started this.

[Betrayedbutsurvived]

www.100daysofrealfood.com/

This blog is really good.

[mumoftwoboysS]

snowlie really interested in your healthy lifestyle change- my kids like cereals though they only have a choice of cheerios, weetabix, porridge or granola so not too bad. But I am keen to get them into healthier less sugary breakfasts/snacks etc. How do you do breakfasts like that in the mornings when it's all a rush? (thinking of when DS starts school)

also anyone have kids at school - thinking of lunchbox ideas. I wanted to give DS natural yogurt (maybe with fruit in) but he's only 4 and tried opening a small plastic pot and he couldn't get the lid off! So I either need to find easy open pots or think of other ideas (really don't want to buy ready-made sugar filled yogurts) also thinking of doing other healthy snacks (I don't work atm so have the time!)

I'm interested in a healthy diet and less processed food (make our meals from scratch tho do fall back on sausages, baked beans and fishfingers once a week)

also any ideas to get a fussy kid into eating healthily -my youngest DS only wants biscuits or apple or banana for snacks- won't touch dried fruit, seeds, anything unusual...

[mumoftwoboysS]

ooh just clicked on the 100 days link - thanks for that- some good school lunch ideas. Just still don't know what I'm going to put the yogurt in!...

[Surya]

Mumoftwoboys, is this lunchbox any good? www.laptoplunches.com/

We use it for our (adult) lunches, so I don't know how good its for a four year old (am currently 8 months pregnant with PFB!), but the lid of the lidded inner container is a pop-off one, not a screw on one, so might be easier. Its definitely good at containing liquids: I make my own yoghurt, and take a raita often to work.

[mumoftwoboysS]

those look great Surya but its an american website so would have to pay lots of postage will have a look in TKMaxx and Paperchase for similar bento style ones I think (even tho DS really wants a bog standard superhero one! problem with those is they only have one big space and a water bottle -fine for sandwiches but not much else)

[Surya]

Bummer! They did use to have a UK stockist (I bought from them), but no longer.

[LoveSewingBee]

Look at Arab/Middle Eastern recipes, I really like Claudia Roden.

We try not to eat any processed foods, little sugar, etc. We have muesli in the morning (plain muesli with no added sugar or fruits except raisins, add grated apple, juice of 1 or 2 oranges, few nuts, yogurt. Mix, ideally let it stand for 30 minutes, then serve. We drink water with it instead of beloved morning cup of coffee.
We have sandwiches for lunch. Home made bread with very little salt, no sugar with organic cheese or fruit spread (no added sugar) with semi skimmed milk and fruit.
For dinner we have cut down on meat. We have increased pulses, lots of fresh veg, only use olive oil to cook meat if cannot grill it, otherwise grill.
Any cakes, cookies we make ourselves.
It is more work, but actually tastes much better. Also cheaper if you buy dried pulses and soak overnight. I cook a whole pack at a time and then freeze portions so I have always some ready to use.
Have you seen 'The men who made us thin' and 'The man who make us fat' on the BBC on Thursday evenings?

[snowlie]

Breakfast is a more elaborate affair in this house....it's given almost the same attention as other meals. Mostly the kids are old enough now to cook their own breakfast, while I cook their packed lunch. I often get up early and end up cooking.

Btw the best lunchbox we've bought and we have been through a lot is an neoprene lunchbox, easy to clean and stretches to fit any combination of containers.

[3ismylot]

If you google paleo recipes or look for them on pinterest you will find loads of great ideas, You can add in pasta/potatos etc if you prefer too

Also just sites like bbc good food are great for inspiration and recipes