Healthy eating thread, NOT for weight loss?

[NancyEspana]

I know weight can be an indicator of health and it isn't something we should just ignore, whether we are overweight, underweight, healthy BMI but not comfortable with our weight or with a big waist to height ratio etc.

BUT, there are already countless weight loss threads on here, which are fantastic help sometimes, but for me, can sometimes be counterproductive. Not to mention me feeling as if I have been bombarded with diets, slimming clubs, books on weight loss, magazine articles on the way to get beach body ready, since before I can remember. I think I have diet fatigue !

I have been looking for a thread on here for just healthy eating / healthy habits. I really don't want to know what weight anyone else is, or how many lbs they have lost that week, what their BMI is or even what their measurements are.

But, I would really like a place to discuss healthy eating and healthy habits, like exercise, not too much alcohol, drinking more water, getting enough fruit and veg etc, without getting out the measuring tape or weighing in every week.

I appreciate, I sound like a right fussy fecker , but I don't think I'm the only one who must feel this way. But, I haven't come across any recent threads like this.

Would anyone like to join me on here?

Full disclosure: if I so happen to lose weight by changing my habits and making healthy choices, that would be a welcome side effect, but I would be equally happy if I maintained my weight but just made healthier choices and maybe changed shape a bit if I got more exercise etc.

Posting here as I don't know where else to post it basically and also because I think it will disappear from here if nobody responds because they think I'm an arse for posting .

So I've been following a bit of a meal plan and although I don't think I'm depriving myself (particularly at dinner time) I find I'm a lot more hungry for dinner which is a good thing I think. I've stopped eating the toddler left overs, and I've been trying to have either fruit or protein for snacks (an apple or a handful of cooked meat).
So my daily meal plan at the moment is:
Cereal for breakfast, and a chopped banana
Jacket potato for lunch, usually with beans
Fruit snacks in the afternoon, sometimes with yoghurt
Normal dinner, been having quite big portions of things like risotto or pasta bake.

Feeling good on it and a bit like I should probably stop wearing my maternity jeans (DD is nearly 4 months).

illicit Fitbit, ankle tag!

Good meals plans though row & kittle 👍!

I'm just finishing breakfast, which is two bits of toast, an apple, a nectarines and a baby orange, plus . Not the healthiest breakfast I ever had, but at least it's breakfast and no refined sugar (I don't think...I did check the bread packet and it looked to be sugar free).

Off on school run, then hopefully to swimming pool, but it looks like they've changed their creche policy, so need to check they'll take DS!

Yoga booked later too

Hope everyone has lovely, healthy days. And even if you don't eat healthy, I hope you enjoy it - that's healthy too imo!

Em I remember those days well. You do end up with strong arms though when you are wrangling toddlers!

Day off today so started with another yoga session followed by breakfast of beans on toast while watching the birds on my hedge - very calming.

Had really healthy dinner of trout on spicy rice with red pepper and spinach but offset by the fact that I thought I had a fish bone stuck in my throat all evening. 🙄

Three cups of coffee (two decaf) with soy milk and half a piece of toast and a satsuma so far.

Taken ds for his flu vaccination.

Leftover risotto for lunch. So far 1500 steps.

Gym later.

Avoided toddler morning snack but starving for my lunch now!

Went for my swim! It felt great and DS was great at creche. I'm going again later in the week. Have to remember to bring goggles though, as my eyes are a-stinging now! Sorry...I've obviously been watching too much Pioneer Woman .

Diet has been...hmmm so so, but I'm feeling good tbh. Yoga later too, hurrah!

I'm just making a pot of soup with leftover veggies from yesterday, split peas and the leftover meat from roast dinner. Will have that for lunch in a bit. I'm making chilli and jacket potatoes for dinner too.

I had yoghurt with blueberries and muesli for breakfast, so no snacking at mid morning. Then leftover lasagne for lunch with lots of salad.

Had thought ahead about drive home, and had an apple and satsuma waiting in car. Am home now and trying to resist peanut butter on toast...

Hope you've all had a healthy day

Mushroom risotto planned for dinner, not low calorie, but delicious! Will have a glass of wine too.

I had planned to do a spin class tonight, but DH back from work too late, so will do a yoga video once kids in bed whilst DH makes dinner

Tried hard today but feels like I haven't done very well. Took both kids to my parents and at lunch time they did cold meat, cheese, salad, baguette etc. I fear I ate too much of the meat

Today I had banana porridge for breakfast, an apple with peanut butter and an oatcake with cheese for a snack, beans on toast for lunch and couscous, roasted veg and feta for dinner, followed by a biscuit. It was a bit too much really - shouldn't have had two things for a snack and should have had one slice of bread instead of two at lunch. I'm now craving a smoothie but think I've eaten enough for today so will hold off until tomorrow.

I'm very pleased with myself this evening for resisting chocolate, as evening time is always when I'm tempted. I ate well today though, and I think a well balanced diet during the day is key for me to resist junk in the evening. Lots of herbal tea too. I meant to prep a tray of roasted veg for dinner tomorrow but forgot about it till now, will hopefully find the time tomorrow evening.

Hi all!

Everyone sounds like they're doing fab!

Yesterday went well for me on the exercise front and that, on its own, makes me feel a hundred times better! Definitely going to do some yoga and also a DVD / YouTube workout later. I love Davina Fit in 15, core workout and my core needs a lot of work, so I will definitely do that. I had a really wonderful yoga class last night. It was all about the passion / discipline limb of yoga and was right up my street. Felt amazing and I drifted off briefly in savasahna . I don't think I snored though.

Food was good enough too and no booze. Feeling really positive today.

So far, I've had peanut butter on toast and a . Planning leftover chilli with mashed avocado for lunch. Stir fry for dinner.

Snacks, sticking to fresh fruit and maybe some nuts.

Hope everyone has a lovely day!

Well done @nancyespana, sounds like you are really in the zone!
I'm doing well on the eating front too, need to do some exercise though, a walk at lunchtime is the most realistic option for me during the working week, I just couldn't fit it in today but hopefully tomorrow. And I'm going away this weekend and I expect I'll do lots of walking then, although the healthy eating might take a hit.

Ah thanks @thatsnotmyflamingo! Are you off somewhere lovely at the weekend or is it just work?

I mean... I am definitely not being , especially with food, but it's progress and I feel better, definitely.

I could do more on the food side of things, but I'm trying not to pressure myself too much and just getting into some healthier habits, which I really do feel I am.

How is everyone else doing?

Gym yesterday and have do e 7600 ish steps today. Must up this though.

As of tomorrow we are going vegan for a week or so. So healthier options.

Food has gone well today. Not low fat, but satisfying and healthy. Snacked on fruit. No exercise though.

Will run tomorrow, and then off on holiday for 2 weeks on Thursday. Will be an active holiday, but all inclusive, so will need to try and be mindful with my choices

Am managing to eat relatively healthily if you don't count the wine and evening snacks. Have dance tonight though and I usually like to stay virtuous afterwards by having herbal tea.

Oh sounds fab @wildernesstips! Take me with you .

Exciting @ememem84! I hope you like the vegan week!

Vegan day 1. Tea with soy milk. Toast with flora and jam. Not so difficult really....

Yay emem! D'you know, it really isn't as hard as people being vegan, (says the lapsed vegan ).

I highly recommend coconut oil on toast in place of Flora! It's damned delicious. Also peanut butter is vegan, (I'm sure you know that, but some people still think it has dairy in it).

nancy you’re right, it’s not that hard it’s just more thought.

We started today as we do a food shop on a Tuesday night. So last night I polished off the bottle of wine (contained milk traces) and ate a bar of chocolate. 😂

I’m interested in health benefits and also hoping to be able to find a variety of things to eat.

I’m having soy milk in coffee, herbal tea (increasing water intake too!), nuts fruit etc as snacks (ordinarily I’d go high sugar snacks like biscuits),

The hardest part dh said was actually checking labels. So many of our “normal” foods (ie normal brands of stuff) are vegan but it’s just checking. Ie pasta. I thought pasta (even the dried stuff) was made with egg. Some is. Some isn’t. The stuff we buy isn’t so that doesn’t have to change.

Dinner tonight is toast sweet potato and cauliflower tacos with salad. I’m not a fan of cauliflower. But am jumping in with both feet. Maybe if we have it this way I’ll love it....

(Incidentally jamie Oliver made cauliflower cheese pizza the other day on meat free meals. I’ll get on board with that once my vegan phase is over!!!)

I think having even a short spell going vegan is quite fun and does get you to eat things you wouldn't normally try. You'd be surprised how many things are vegan which kids actually really like as well. My dd would live on hummus, crackers, pom bears, baked beans, jacket potatoes, chips, peanut butter and jam sandwiches, potato waffles, pasta and tomato & roast veg sauce (loads of olive oil and a good pinch of salt depending on who you're cooking for).

@NancyEspana weekend away is a child free city break with DH, I can't bloody wait! It's not the first time I've left DC for the weekend but it's the first time, I'm (mostly) ok about it and looking forward to it, rather than feeling torn about leaving them.
2 weeks all inclusive sounds even better though @Thisismyhappyface.

Hi everyone! Checking back in after I saw the kids safely back to school, and I can have a bit of headspace again!

I made a huge pot of soup today which should cover my lunches for a while. I've snacked on raw carrots, and drunk lots of water. Every time I do this (), I realise how quickly I get out of the sugar mindset and wish I'd just done it all along.

Thanks for the good examples, and good luck to all!

Oh I have holiday envy flamingo and happyface!

Hi again giddyaunt! Hurrah for soup! I have also just had a snack of carrots and grapes. Planning a massive tray of roast veg for dinner. Probably not low calorie, but very tasty and fairly 'natural'.

Well I am off the wagon today 🤣

Am in an airport hotel eating crisps for dinner with a beer!
Ate well all day, and had a run, but next few days will be a washout- airport and flights all day tomorrow, then a boozy night out when we arrive.

Nice hotel with a gym for first 48 hours though, so will try to use it a couple of times