Low cholesterol cooking - help!

[WilsonFrickett]

DH is just back from the docs and his cholesterol is really high . I think this is primarily from lack of exercise/booze/put on a lot of weight but obviously we will need to look at our diet too. Can anyone recommend a decent cook book/book? One that's not too worthy? We like our food (obviously a bit too much!)

[coffeewineandchocolate]

hairy dieters cook book?

[WilsonFrickett]

Oh I've got that one. I'm I also being totally selfish in now thinking 'sigh, another thing for me to sort out' as I wave goodbye to my weekly takeaway? I am, amn't I?

[coffeewineandchocolate]

have takeaway when he is out :-) I have the readers digest low calorie cook book which is good?

[chickensaladagain]

Low cholesterol is not the same as a low calorie or diet books

Has he asked for a referral to the dietician?

Low cholesterol doesn't have to be boring, my parents actually have a much more varied diet than they used to

[Mondrian]

Pretty simple, cut out red meat and dairy products (incl eggs). Excercise is the key so a good way is if he excercises 3x per week he can have a treat in the shape of juicy steak or eggs.

[coffeewineandchocolate]

I'm aware of that but low calorie recipe books are more likely to have low cholesterol recipes than something like nigella. Google is a good tool for low cholesterol recipes. also contact the British heart foundation as they may have a book they recommend?

[coffeewineandchocolate]

allrecipes.co.uk/m/recipes/tag-5770/low-cholesterol-recipes.aspx

[coffeewineandchocolate]

www.hearthealthyonline.com/healthy-recipes/low-cholesterol-recipes/low-cholesterol-recipes_ss1.html

[WilsonFrickett]

That's all brilliant, thanks all.
He only saw the nurse who told him the reading and gave him a leaflet, he's seeing the GP next week. I guess dietician will be the next step?

I did a bit of reading last night and think the fact he's overweight generally is a big part of the problem, so generally 'weight loss eating' is going to be a good idea. TBH, given what I read last night, we don't eat a lot of cholesterol - only have red meat once a week if that, very little processed food, no pastries or anything like that. So I suspect it's the non-cooking nights and eating too much and booze that's at the root of it...

[chickensaladagain]

It may also be genetic -some people have high cholesterol regardless of diet

[Willowisp]

But you have to look at the bigger picture - eating 'cholesterol' doesn't necessarily give you high cholesterol.

The best thing you can do, is cut out the junk food, cut the drink out, biscuits, if fact anything processed. Start eating 3 x a day, no sbacks & a meat & 2 veg type diet. Don't go the 'low fat' route as he'll end up hungry & miserable.

How is your weight ? Is this something you can do together ?

[WilsonFrickett]

YY Willow, we could both do with losing some weight.

So I'm looking at it as: meal out or takeaway once a week only; red meat once a week only; rest of week more or less 'normal' food (we do eat pretty well when I cook, it's the non-cooking nights that are the problem).

DH promising to eat a proper porridge breakfast (I fear there have been many, many secret bacon rolls that I do not know about). And I'll work on the weekend breakfasts that I think have been a contributing factor too. Bacon, sausage, fried egg twice a week needs to change.

[Willowisp]

I don't think there's anything wrong with good red meat. I'm talking grass fed organic here, not factory farmed, nutritionally depleted crap.

How about saving your takeaway money & spending it on good, tasty food (not processed!)

Have a look at myfitness pal.com & put your weight & heights in, which will give you a daily calorie allowance. This will help you will portion control. Weigh yourself tomorrow morning (no time like the present !) & see how you both get on for a week.

One small fried breakfast, but without bread, toms, poached eggs, grilled bacon & 1 good quality sausage should be fine.

You might like to have a look at oatbran mixed with oats for porridge.

Good luck !