Eating our 10-a-day thread (2)

[Breathmiller]

Hi all

This is our second thread about upping our veg and fruit intake on a daily basis.

We tend to list what we've had to keep us accoubtable and generally chat about how to increase the rainbow on our plate.

We don't always make 10 but anything more than you would normally is great. I like to at least get 5. 10 or even sometimes more is a great day.

All welcome whatever reasons.

Had a big portabella mushroom and a good portion of spinach with dinner. Plus cauliflower hash browns which I want to count but I suspect they're processed nonsense! Tasty though.
About to have a massive satsuma. 7.5 in total which I'm happy with.

Hope all is well @HowlingKale

I'm very envious of the middle aged dream. Cooking veg is basically impossible with no kitchen so it's fruit and a large dinner time salad most days.

Yesterday was

Banana
Apple
Apricots

Carrots (yellow and orange)
Raw beetroot
Courgette
Cucumber
Tomatoes
Gherkins
Pepper
Radish

I bought an OXO julienne peeler which makes shredding root veg so much easier because the spiraliser is packed away but I prefer it.

Lettuce
Celery/peppers
Cucumber/radishes
Beetroot/tomatoes
onions/plums
carrots
cauliflower
banana
prunes

Dates
Orange juice
Courgette
Tomatoes
Onions

I'm noticing as I'm aiming for 10, I'm consistently hitting 5 which is a LOT more than I used to some days. Pleased with that

1 kiwi
2 tangerines
3 Carrot
4 Onion, mushroom, garlic
5 red pepper, green beans
A few blueberries
I find I have that extra tangerine and /or peel a kiwi because of this target ihaveonecat.
Not having a kitchen would be tough LimpLettuce. I have done it a couple of times but had a microwave.

Twentin I read one poster saying she had lost almost a stone while having covid, so it could well be burning up a lot of extra energy! Seems extraordinary but it is an odd virus for sure.

LimpLettice a julienne peeler sounds intriguing. I'm amazed you're getting any veg in without a kitchen, sounds a big challenge.

Today was ok ish,
Breakfast: pineapple, apple, blueberries (1)
Lunch: spinach, butterbeans, tomatoes, tofu, grapes, artichokes salad (3 portions)
Protein drink with half a banana (0.5)
Broccoli, carrots, brussels and corn with dinner, which was an M&S cashew macaroni, my all time favourite ready meal. It's all cheesy and savoury and creamy and completely vegan. Veg probably 2 portions.
I'll have a satsuma at bedtime, so about 7 in total.

Ooh that sounds my kind of ready meal @ThisTownAintBigEnoughForBoth will keep an eye out for it next time I'm in M&S.
I usually weigh myself at the start of every month and I've lost one measly pound. But my clothes do feel looser since Covid.

1. Mixed salad leaves with rocket and kale
2. Cucumber/cherry toms
3. Spring onion
4. Sweetcorn
5. Pepper
6. Carrot
7. Mushrooms
8. Courgette
9. Red lentil dal

Once a week I try and make the dal for DH and I for the turmeric health benefit and funnily toddler's become a huge fan. (I don't really know what else to add turmeric in tbh).

Twentin it's not cheesy as in a fake vegan cheese taste, it's just got that salty melty umami quality, it really hits the spot for me!

I do love dal but I never cook it, is the recipe quite simple?

Yes it's dead simple ThisTown I also love lentils but most need to be pre-soaked and I find take me ages to cook, whereas red lentils are quick and easy.
My method - when dal starts to boil, add salt, chilli powder, turmeric, cumin seeds, chilli flakes (we like it spicy) and let it cook covered on low heat. After 10-15 minutes add some crushed garlic and butter/healthy oil. (Occasionally I fry the garlic off and then add, different taste altogether). Leave on low again for 5 to 10 mins and then top with fresh chopped coriander. We like it runny (so 5 or 6 cups of water to 1 cup of dal) and eat it as a soup or with rice but everyone keeps it to their desired consistency.

Thank you so much Twentin, I'll give it a go. I think when I've tried before things didn't go well, the lentils started sticking and still weren't cooked, I couldn't get the right balance.

I had another request if anyone has suggestions... I'd really like some hight protein ideas for jacket potatoes which aren't baked beans (I don't really like them). I am vegan and I haven't found anything that works since I stopped eating cheese. I currently have avocado, hummus and home made coleslaw with a potato but it leaves me feeling quite hungry and if I put my food into a diet tracker this meal comes up very low on protein.

Thanks so much if anyone has ideas.

Lettuce
Celery/peppers
Cucumber/radishes
Beetroot/tomatoes
onions/olives
Apple
Pear
Plums
Spring Greens
Brocolli
Mung beans
Banana
Kiwis

Twentin I add turmeric to my scrambled eggs if I am making them spicy, also to any casserole, tomato based sauce or veg soup. I also use it in baked spicy cauliflower or potatoes mixed in with equal amount of smoked paprika, plus some dried herbs and salt.

Thistown : For toppings on potato I agree about baked beans though the rest of the family love them. I'd prefer homemade puy lentil / mushroom mix, lentil "Bolognese"or any home made bean with spicy tomato sauce mix.

Yesterday:
1 satsumas
2 apple
3 Carrot
4 Onion, garlic, green cabbage
5 celeriac, red pepper

And far too much beige food. Not enough planning this week. I'm going to follow my own advice and get cooking some beans or lentils!😉

Dates
Tomatoes
Onion
Garlic (1/2 portion)
Courgette
Apple
Orange juice

Banana
Apple

Lettuce

Carrot
Cucumber
Turnip
Beetroot
Cherry tomato
Onion pickled in orange and lime
Radishes

My stash of dates is depleted. My dad came to do some DIY and ate them like they were sweets
Me "why didn't you tell me how nice they were?!"
Dad "then you would have eaten them all"

Lettuce
Celery/peppers
Cucumber/radishes
Beetroot/tomatoes
onions/plums
haricot beans
banana

@Ihaveonecat That reminds me I need to add dates to my shopping list!

Thistown In my household I'm the only one who loves beans! It does sound quite difficult for you as the 'usual' fillings aren't vegan friendly.. maybe a side of rocket/kale salad with plenty of chickpeas, kidney beans, seeds. Or lentils in an onion and tomato base. Perhaps a cashew pesto filling (spinach, a bit of lemon juice, basil, garlic, soaked cashews, salt n pepper in a bit of olive oil pulsed together). I'd top it with cannelini beans or similar.

Howlingkale thank you for the turmeric ideas!

1. 2 satsumas
2. Banana
3. Avocado

4 and 5. Small salad

1. Spring onions/cucumber

Lychee flavoured jelly which probably won't count

The sainsburys ones I got are gorgeous. Well they were until they vanished into my dads stomach

Thanks for the baked potato ideas, I think cashew pesto or something lentilly or bolognesey sounds really good. I am lazy and want something I can just get out of a tin but I don't think such a thing exists other than baked beans!

Yesterday:
Pineapple, apple, grape with breakfast (1)
Stuffed mushrooms and peppers with chickpeas and other things in (2)
Cottage pie with lentils and sweet potato mash, with brussels, corn and cabbage (4)
Protein drink with half a banana (0.5)
Bedtime satsuma (0.5)

1. It was a really busy day so I'm very pleased with that.

I wondered if Breathmiller was OK? Not seen her around for a while?

@ThisTownAintBigEnoughForBoth garlic mushrooms are weirdly good in a jacket potato, I have that quite a lot

There are jars of vegan pestos on the shelves now. Not sure how high the protein would be.

I can help with that @HowlingKale

Vegan Pesto

Scala - 2.5% protein - contains soy
Zest - 4.3% protein - no soy - tastes great