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 .

Well I'm feeling very sorry for myself today. Just sleep deprived and a bit blah so used food to reward myself. Silly really. But normal!

@NumberblockOne good idea about buggy classes. There are loads on near me actually but for some reason I haven't thought to actually book on one...

Sounds like everyone is doing well. I just love an empty-fridge stir fry. So satisfying.

I have been mainly eating more healthily but do find that if I'm not well prepared I end up eating random rubbish and then just have biscuits for dinner. This coming week I have done a very thorough meal plan. My husband is going back to work after paternity leave this week so I am considering making myself a "packed lunch" for the next day before bed- a small salad, and then have that alongside whatever I give the toddler - soup, houmous and veg, quiche, omelette etc.

Wow I'm boring myself. Sorry all. OK, here's my goal- I want to do some form of exercise 2-3 times this week. Will try to hold myself to that and report back next week.

Oh yes traybake main courses are fab. I saw one in a magazine at the hairdressers yesterday with chicken and nduja, which I'd really love to try.

I've also just had a roast dinner which was delicious. I'm having half a glass of wine now, just to finish it off you understand .

Not food related, but general wellbeing-y, I used to keep a bullet journal, which I'm thinking if restarting, if only to help me get organised for Christmas! Christmas shopping and cleaning to do, (we are hosting this year 😬 - my idea and I'm so glad people are coming to us, but it's a bit daunting at the same time).

I should be at yoga tomorrow night, but it depends on a meeting DH might have to go to tomorrow. Fingers crossed I get to go as frankly I can't take my hairy legs swimming instead .

I've been craving toast this evening, it has been really hard to resist. I have managed though. It probably has something to do with sitting through multiple tantrums from both my children this weekend.

I went for a run this morning and also cycled into town which is about 6 miles roundtrip, so feeling good about that. Food has been ok but a bit carb heavy this weekend. Also had to partake in the ice cream dessert that DS made yesterday (would have been rude not to). He is really into cooking/baking at the moment so we are generally well-supplied with dessert at the weekend.

Well done for resisting @NumberblockOne, I regularly have bedtimes that have me reaching for the chocolate immediately after! I made a lovely veggie rich beef curry over the weekend and have 3x2 portions in the freezer so that's 3 quick and easy meals sorted for the next few weeks. I need to get some more containers during the week.

Hi all!

How is everyone doing?

I've had a reasonably nice and healthy morning. School run followed by soft play. I had eggs and toast for breakfast and I managed to perfect my favourite dal recipe at the weekend, so I've just made another batch of that, which I'm having with naan for lunch. Maybe a bit of a bread heavy day, but I'll make up for it at dinner and will have plenty of fruit for snacks.

I couldn't go to yoga on monday due to a meeting DH had, but I'm going tomorrow and on Saturday.

Homemade leek and potato soup for dinner. Veggie pasta for lunch.

I am failing on the water front. Must. Drink. More.

Hi all. Today I had muesli for breakfast, sandwich, hummus and veg sticks and a pear for lunch and went for a 5k run. I must have been feeling that it was all a bit too healthy though as I've just had oven chips and a crisp bake for dinner! I'm jealous of the dal - I love dal, it's one of my favourite meals.

Very busy few days, and not busyness that could have been planned for, but been sticking to the healthy eating reasonably well. Have homemade beef curry defrosting for dinner and have my supermarket delivery coming shortly, did my meal plan before ordering too, so hopefully have mostly everything in for a week of good eating.
Not been doing so well on the exercise front but will hopefully get a couple of walks in over next few days.
How's everyone else doing?

Not been an outstanding week as snowed under at work, but did at least manage my dance class. Here’s to a healthy weekend!

Hi all!

Yes, not a great week for me tbh. Definitely not taking care of myself as I should be.

But, today is a new day! I'm off to yoga this morning and then planning some healthy meals today. I made up some portions of chickpea curry and rice yesterday, so I'm sure that will feature.

Just having a with soya milk.

I still haven't got rid of all the apples, so I'm planning to make them into apple jelly today. Full of sugar, but at least it will use them up and makes me feel wholesome, standing in the kitchen, making preserves 😂.

Hope everyone else is well.

@NumberblockOne, I bloody love dal! I made a second batch, but had to use red lentils. The original was yellow split peas and I think I prefer the split peas. I've been boring on about my dal to anyone who will listen! Will stop now. Love it though.

Oops forgot to get eggs, so couldn't have scrambled eggs this morning, having a bagel instead. I find we seems to either go through 0 eggs or 12 eggs in a week, we don't seem to have a happy medium.
What Dahl recipe do you use @NancyEspana? Enjoy your yoga class!

You want to talk dal you say???

I have adapted a nadiya Hussain recipe.

So I do 2/3 bag of yellow split peas.

• Rinse them in a sieve.

• Then put them in a pan with enough cold water to cover it twice iyswim a decent pinch of salt, two bay leaves, a tablespoon of turmeric and a few chilli flakes (optional).

• Simmer till they're cooked.

• Fry 5 x garlic cloves in a large knob of coconut oil or unsalted butter till they're golden. I also fry a few curry leaves if I have them.

• Add the garlic and butter to the pan of dal and add chopped coriander.

Following for ideas, and to get through the stressful pre-Christmas period

Hi @Orangeblossom78. Welcome .

I am feeling very motivated all of a sudden; I haven't even had any or tonight either .

Planning some positive changes tomorrow. I was saying to DH how I genuinely don't care if I lose weight, but some of the high carb food I've had recently just hasn't made me feel good. So I'm planning to reduce that tomorrow and focus on protein, fats, (plants as much as possible though), and loads of green veg. See if it makes me feel better. I also need to remember to take my vitamins, which I am rubbish at.

I'm going to do a big wardrobe clear out tomorrow as DH is taking the dcs to see his parents and I'm going to take advantage of the quiet house.

I'm trying to grow my hair a bit, so that's another motivation to eat well, as apparently your diet really shows in your hair, which makes sense I suppose.

Oh my hair is doing the post natal falling out thing... ffs.

Am spending money at present on myself. Yoga classes gym and Accupuncture. In an attempt to rebalance myself.

Ah thay sucks emem. Mine is just in really bad condition after decades of straightening and yes, two pregnancies and the rest. I've had to have it cut quite short.

I'm trying to grow it out, but it's going to take time, perseverance and a lot of hair TLC.

Had a strange few days as my dad suddenly had to go into hospital with heart problems. Bit of a shock as he is normally very fit and healthy. He's out now and we're going to see him today.

Normally junk food is my go-to when I am feeling emotional for any reason, but I surprisingly haven't needed it despite the stress and anxiety of the last few days. Instead I found myself doing yoga instead.

Yesterday was a bit if a write-off food-wise. It was DH's birthday so we had a curry for dinner followed by a cheesecake. We ended up freezing the rest of it as I think it was too rich for everyone! It was out of DS's Annabel Karmel kids recipe book. I'm not really sure why but her book is really dessert heavy and I felt like this was quite a grown up recipe, with tons if cream cheese, double cream and sugar in it.

Anyway, I only needed a light breakfast so I made a smoothie which the DC promptly stole . Have also been for a 5k run.

I'll definitely try that dal recipe @NancyEspana. I need more healthy recipes that work for the whole family. We don't do too badly - we are vegetarian and eat quite a lot of lentils, tofu stir fries, roasted veg etc. But there are still a few stodgy meals in our regular repertoire. I think it just takes time to change habits and find suitable recipes that everyone will like and don't take too long.

Och I'm sorry to hear that @NumberblockOne . It's horrible when things like that happen to your parents, especially when they're normally fit and seem invincible! Hope he's on the mend now.

Good for you not turning to junk food!

Good day so far. I had loads of veg fried in olive oil for breakfast with an egg. It was filling and I feel better for it.

Dd is at her activity now and I am waiting for her. Might nip out and grab a coffee in a minute. I've got rid of one big bag of clothes this morning in the nice clothes bin, as opposed to the clothes recycling for ragging bin. I have loads more to go through and get rid of.

I have yoga again tomorrow. It is such a great hobby and does me so much good.

Hope your DF is doing better @NumberblockOne. Thanks for posting the Dahl recipe @NancyEspana,
Quick question, do you chop the garlic cloves?
Did some cooking today, made some Mary Berry flapjacks, with the quantity of sugar in them, they are far from healthy but I decided to follow the recipe first time around, and then next time I will reduce the amount of sugar significantly and see if they turn out as well. They are yummy though curled up on the sofa with DS watching Frozen.

Oh sounds lovely! I made a Christmas Cake last week and I'm dying to try it! Have to wait a few weeks.

I should've said; I slice the garlic lengthways iyswim. I don't crush or finely chop.

Thanks @NancyEspana. Christmas cake yummy, I need to remind my DM that I have acquired a taste for it in the last couple of years so she think of me when she is distributing hers, she makes a lovely one with sherry.

Dh says I'm not allowed to feed the cake any more booze as the dcs are going to eat it . Apparently getting toddlers drunk is 'frowned upon'. Buzz kill .

Just to clarify, I haven't actually fed it any booze yet. Just soaked the fruit in some at the beginning, so I'm sure it's all burnt off.

Buzz kill indeed @NancyEspana .
Just had scrambled eggs for a quick dinner but made the effort to grill some tomatoes and red pepper to have with them so pleased with that.
I also have some nice bread to bring to work tomorrow, I really need to break my morning scone habit.

@NancyEspana bollocks to that. Dm makes a Christmas cake which after one sniff you’re over the limit. Ds ( age 2) has been helping her. He helped mix it (and ate a handful of boozy soaked fruit) and has helped her feed it a bit of Cointreau once a week.

I was there when she made it and added an extra two tubs of cherries to the mix. Mmmm. Glacé cherries.