healthy evening meals ideas please!

[sarz]

I need to loose a bit of weight, and i go to the gym most days and breakfast and lunch are very healthy ( porridge and soup!) but my problem is the evening meal! I am a nanny so i have to cook for everybody (mum, dad and a 4 and 6 yr old) so i have to make something that is healthy but so that the family dont think they are also on a diet!! The children are great and will eat anything, and i am happy to make meals from scratch, so ideas please!!

[Rantmum]

Hmmm, I would think that as long as you make food that is fairly low in fat and reduce your portion size, that might help.
I believe in keeping food as "normal" as possible because then you don't feel deprived... so some basic ideas
Replace sour cream with reduced fat creme fraiche in recipes
Use wholewheat pastas and spaghetti.
Tomato sauces are good and tend to be lower in fat
Stop drinking alcohol if you tend to have wine with dinner just add fizzy water and make a spritzer or have fruit juice/plain water instead.
Increase the amount of vegetables cooked for each meal and load your plate with them if you think you will still be hungry with the smaller portions, but still eat some carbs (and meat if you are not veggie) so that your meal is well rounded.

I like simple things like
Chilli con carne with wholemeal rice/baked potato and salad
Spag bol - use wholewheat pasta and a mega salad - no garlic bread
Tarragon chicken no cream just creme fraiche
with lightly sauteed green beans, carrots and wholemeal rice/potatoes.
Beef stew with baked potatoes.

Really normal food really!

I am not a nutritionist, just an MNer who likes to stay slim but loves food and hates diets, so someone more qualified may come along soon. Good luck!

[sarz]

Thank you rantmum! Yes i am all about normal food to, so they were great suggestions!

[Jahan]

Have normal food but control your portions by filling a 1/4 of your plate with your protein, a 1/4 with the carbs and 1/2 with veg.

[Orchide]

Sarz, if you want to buy a book, get this...
Top 200 low fat recipes Not sure why its listed as £78 though!!!! My hardback says £18.99 ion the cover.

Its fab!

Im not much of a cook but have successfully made lots of lovely things from here and get high oraise from DH (the chef in this house)...or maybe hes just very grateful not to have to cook!

There all kinds of taasty recipes - duck, chicken, pork beef veggie. Tonight we are have chicken and seafood paella,