Thread for those who are trying to eat "better"

[Octopus37]

Following on from yesterdays thread "Do I eat too much", which I posted on, I was unsurprising told that what I eat is crap. Have been feeling pretty crap the last few weeks, not enough energy low libido, sluggish, wound up, down - so have decided to see if changing my eating habits can shift things a bit. I'm not overweigh 5ft5, 8st6lbs, (slightly on the heavy side for me), but would be pleased if I did loose a few pounds, trying not to make weight the focus. Have decided to take a vitamin pill with iron every day, last year had v low ferratin levels so had to take iron tablets for a while. I'm not promising to do well every day and cut out sugar completely as I feel that I would be destined to fail. However, I am going to try to I improve. Today have eaten:
1 pack of Belvita biscuits
1 Actvia extra creamy yoghurt
1 large apple
1 Danone (high protein yoghurt)
3 Oatcakes
Some cashew nuts
I am planning on sweet chilli chicken & rice (ready meal cause of money diet) with some stir fried veg for tea and plan to eat some red grapes afterwards. Also may have some sort of a treat on school run. Also aim is to replace the Belvita biscuits with oatcakes for breakfast and maybe eat them with some cheese. Know I'm not doing perfectly but I am making an effort. Buddies welcome.

[SoleSource]

I want to totally give up sugar!

[Edenviolet]

Hello!

I think its probably a good idea if I join you.

Have tried to eat healthily today but found a pack of after eights from Xmas and ate four BUT have been quite healthy with other meals, wholemeal toast for breakfast, omelette and salad for dinner. Some sliced chicken as a snack and green tea rather than normal tea with sugar.

I am starving though.

[CaptainHindsight]

Im low on iron too Octopus, I have been eating spinach with everything and it is a darn fine excuse to order a saag curry for the "health benefits"

Protein,Protein,Protein! Keeps hunger at bay and encourages building of lean muscle. Try mixing the cashews with pumpkin,sunflower and peanuts and almonds if you can stand them

[Rummikub]

Hello, I must do this too. I have been keeping a food diary for a couple of weeks and have shocked myself. Knew it was bad, just not how bad. I don't eat a lot really, but it's all beige. So white bread toast and tea for breakfast, tea and choc for lunch and usually home made curry & rice or chicken of some sort.

Hardly any veg or fruit. My aim is to switch from the white bread to wholemeal (have bought rye bread for this week). Then attempt to cut down on bread and have porridge, and stop buying chocolate. I don't even taste it anyway, I just eat it swiftly.

[CooEeeEldridge]

Can I join too? Wondered why my running pace had slowed down and had startling realisation it was due to cutting way back on carbs. After always believing carbs=bad this was a shock!

So now, I'm trying to think what I put in my body and what effect it will have. Not to eat less, or diet, but to 'eat better'.

My big thing is to plan and buy the right things for week ahead, rather than bombing round supermarket when starving hungry!

[DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen]

I've done this for the past month and feel tons better.

I started out sticking religiously to 3 meals a day and only snacking on fruit and veg.

It only took a few days to get used to that and now am cutting back on portion sizes etc.

Don't miss sugar at all, it's a miracle as I was eating LOADS of it.

By sticking to eating 3x a day it makes me plan meals properly and properly think about what I am eating.

I'm not counting calories or weighing myself as I'll get obsessed. I know I've lost weight as my clothes are looser.

I had my hair dyed as a reward and buy make up every week to congratulate my self

[Octopus37]

Thanks for the replies. Have just eaten two slices of toast (seeded bread, actually don't like white toast) with chocolate spread, but aim now jus to leave it as my ready meal with stir fried veg and some grapes. Know its not perfect but probably the best I can do. Agree about the protein.

[Coumarin]

I'd like to join in too. Definitely don't want to lose weight and I think I eat pretty healthily but I do want to cut down on processed sugar. Chocolate is my nemesis.

Doing The Food Shop later so will try to keep it only to nutritious food and do some meal planning. My trouble is quick snacks as I quite often just grab something during the day. Like those belvita biscuits so I'll get oatcakes today instead.

[Coumarin]

Oh yes and Nutella. Cannot resist! I won't buy a new jar.

[CaptainHindsight]

DS has just discovered Nutella

I just want to grab and spoon and dig!

[Coumarin]

Does anyone have ideas for packed lunches? Not sure sandwiches are the best choice and getting a bit boring tbh.

[Coumarin]

It's dangerous Captain

[CaptainTripps]

Ditch the Belvita! ASAP. Am I alone in thinking this? D'you need 2 yogurts?

Nuts good but would recommend almonds...9-10 a day as they have the added benefit of calcium. They are filling too. Don't splurge on them though. They can be moreish.

CaptHind - spinach does indeed contain iron but it is not an efficient way to get iron into the body. There are better ways. Cockles are surprisingly high. In fact most molluscs contain healthy levels of iron and are well absorbed by the body. Don't forget the Vit C needed to utilise the iron.

[sweetkitty]

Can I join too? I'm 5ft 4 and 8st 7lbs am vegetarian but my diet is rubbish and I'm always tired and my skin looks grey

This week I've replaced whole meal toast and tea with porridge. I don't eat much but I do eat a load of rubbish, I get very tired in the afternoons so reach for a chocolate/biscuit fix.

Today I have eaten
Porridge with semi skimmed milk
2 slices of cheese & toast (DS wanted some for lunch) tea and an apple
Dinner will probably be cheese pizza and chips as it's pizza night

That's really bad isn't it? Usually I would make something homemade and veggie for dinner.

[ElbowPrincess]

I have eaten less today, but not particularly healthy :(

Half a BLT sandwich
Salad box with coronation chicken
Half a packet of bacon fries

Not very hungry for dinner, might have a corn on the cob. With butter on.

[Coumarin]

Would be nice to have a thread about eating healthily and not about weight loss or restrictions.

Even the healthy eating threads seem to end up being about weight loss.

[CaptainHindsight]

Coumarin - I love dips so I take a selection of veggies and various low fat dips a lot of time.

Wholemeal wraps stuffed with protein and veg is also a great alternative to white bread.

[ElbowPrincess]

Can you make a frittata/ommlette and take that into work? They can be delicious cold.

[Artandco]

My tip is porridge with stuff in the morning.
If I have porridge with some crushed walnuts, sprinkle of flaxseeds, handful of blueberries and some grated apple I can kid myself iv already had 2 of my 5 a day :)

[CaptainHindsight]

frittata

[Coumarin]

Captain Liking the sound of that. What kind of dips do you go for?

[Coumarin]

Never thought of that Elbow. Great idea!

[Coumarin]

Also tell me about wraps. I've never had one or made one. Do you buy the wrap bit from the bakery section? What can you put in them?

Sorry if those are really stupid questions.

[TheCountessOlenska]

Ooh can I join please!

My eating has gone to hell in a handcart since dc2 - i make sure the kids have their 5 a day but not myself. I'm a total sugar junkie and it's getting worse - i hide chocolate in my bag and secretly eat it in the kitchen Sometimes, to save on calories, i don't eat proper lunch just 2 chocolate bars
Breakfast is awful, white bread and a cuppa.
I go running but my diet isn't helping my fitness.
Think i need to cut out sugar scared!!

[Coumarin]

I'd find running harder than cutting down on sugar Olenska so you'll be ok.