To get rid of ALL processed food from my house?

[turntothesun]

I am seriously thinking of doing this. I am aware that my DCs are eating more crap (for want of a better word) than they should be. They exercise regularly so get away with it weight wise, but there's more health issues to consider than just weight.

The main reason however is this : Me. I am, I now realise ADDICTED to food and/or have huge emotional eating issues. I am at home all day with two babies, we rarely go out as I have very little energy and I EAT EAT EAT.... to fill the time, to deal with boredom, to cheer me up, because I 'deserve' it..... I have tried and failed WW and SW more times than I will ever admit to. I read on Mumsnet somewhere that if you are addicted to food in this way then attempting to follow any diet will not work as you need to deal with the root of your overeating. This really struck a cord with me. I also read that foods such as crisps, chocolate, cake, biscuits - which, surprise surprise, is the precise stuff I'm constantly stuffing into me mouth - are highly addictive and cause a false sense of hunger.

I think I am suffering from a little bit of depression which means I do go out with the babies like I should and I let the house get in a state etc etc. I sit at home eating and eating and getting fatter and fatter (size 16, 5ft 2, 12st 11), I feel like crap, aches and pains everywhere, heart palpitations almost daily.

So, my plan is to force myself to go out every day, either to the park, to soft play, to the duck pond and to get rid of all processed food (where shall I take it, I envisage quite a few bin bag fulls)...... AIBU or is this a plan?

turntothesun, I'm 5ft 4 and a size 10, not sure I am "slim" but not overweight. For lunch I always have a (quite large) salad of raw vegetables (lettuce, pepper, tomato, cucumber) with some protein, which I vary daily (tinned fish, eggs, grilled chicken, ham, low-fat cheese). In the evening I have a hot meal, which is always some protein with cooked veg (frozen vegetable mixes that come in individual bags are quite useful, you just put it in the microwave). I eat potatoes (chips) once a week (usually on Friday, as a treat). I eat rice and pasta even more rarely, maybe once a fortnight. I snack on fruit and the 10-calorie jelly you can find in individual pots in supermarkets.

turntothesun, I am similar to IonaNE in liking similar foods, size 8-10, 5ft 3. I eat a very small bowl of sugar free Alpen/porridge/plain Greek yoghurt/scrambled eggs and rye bread toast (I don't eat bread with wheat) for breakfast. A salad or homemade soup for lunch followed by fruit or yoghurt. Anything really for dinner that has been cooked from scratch without a huge amount of carbs (pasta, rice, potato) and another yoghurt. I do have days where I have a biscuit or a slice of cake but not every day and I stop at one.

I meant to say remember to include enough protein with each meal as it helps you feel full.

Protein is so important. A big leafy salad doesn't make a dent in a hungry stomach.

I do agree Katelyn, and I still eat some fruit (breakfast maybe a natural yoghurt and berries) but my thing is about using fruit for snacks in these early days of trying to change your diet. If you have been really really addicted to sugar, its extremely hard to stop the response that sugar means you need more sugar and as your unlikely to feel like eating 10 apples, your very quickly turning back to other forms of sugar.

Great idea. IMO getting rid of processed food is a MUCH better idea than calorie counting or low fat eating.

Start with getting rid of crisps, cake, chocolate, biscuits. Also any "low fat" yoghurts, mayo etc, they often contain extra sugar and additives.

I would say allow yourself one or two ready meals/take aways/jarred sauce/breaded stuff a week. It's hard to cook from scratch every day and there will be some days you are tired or a bit ill and need something quick. Some ready meals are better than others though, for example fresh stuffed pasta or fresh soup are probably less processed/got less crap in than frozen burgers.

Be prepared for cooking to take longer though - you may need to get into batch cooking and freezing.

It'll be great for your DCs too - my mum never had processed food and as a result I don't really eat or like it which has really helped me as an adult. Just don't ban it completely or it might backfire...

Have you looked into paleo eating OP? This is what I have followed for the last ten months and it has transformed my health and my attitude to food. It was hard at first but now I find it so incredibly easy, there's no guesswork about what to eat, whether 'just one' of something will be ok, which inevitably leads to eating another ten of whatever it was as the carbs in it just prompt you to crave more carbs! I have absolutely no cravings for the foods I don't eat, even though I still have them in my house and cook them for my family.

I eat fruit, veg, meat, fish, nuts and nut milk. I could tell you what I eat every day if you like but I am probably not classed as 'normal'!

MrsKravitz I'm on the Paleo diet and I can't sing its praises enough. It's changed my eating habits for good, would recommend to anybody.

You were me 3 weeks ago, honestly I never thought that I would change but I woke up with breathing difficulties one night and I had a huge pain in my chest, I honestly thought I was dying. It took a couple of days after that eating whatever I want before I finally thought to myself what am I doing?

Food was what made me happy in life, it consumed every part of my being but I have been 'dieting' for 3 weeks and I have lost 1 and a half stone 13 more to go.

I eat the same thing everyday, I find this helps me to condition my mind to not view food as an excitement and comfort which it has.

I'm not denying that it's hard, it's horrible but for the first time in over a year I thought 'I'll take my children to the park' and I went! I walk to school with them rather than drive, it's amazing. I used to fall asleep during the day whilst they amused themselves because my energy was so low.

I know it's only been 3 weeks but it is the first time in the last 4 years of over eating that I am enjoying being alive, my existence was food, my body wanted food when I was feeling every emotion possible and I wanted my children in bed early so I can start my over eating at night, it was awful.

It's great that you have realised you need to change because once you have realised that and you make the changes needed for a healthier life I promise you that life will be worth living.

YANBU at all. We do this. We eat paleo-ish. We do have things like olives and peppers in jars, frozen spinach and berries as standbys, plus I usually have chestnut flour about for a bit of baking now and then. Very occasionally (like once a month) get a gluten free pizza with no cheese from the local italian delivery place.

However, we do have a healthfood store/organic greengrocer on the corner and a chocolatier downstairs so I'm not sure I would manage to do this if I had to go any distance to get to the shops for the odd treat. It's important not to go to such an extreme you swing right back and binge I think.

Instead of wasting it all, why not try just not buying any more (crisps, biscuits etc). That way its more of a gradual change, and once its gone, its gone.

Have a look at 100 Days of Real Food. There are loads of great recipes and you don't have to do it all. Even if you make some small changes you can still cut down on processed food.

MrsKravitz and Hubert - id love to hear more about paleo? what sort of meals and snacks do you have?

healthychanges - that's great! tell me more, what have you been eating?

YANBU at all. I can eat God knows how much junk if it's sitting there in the kitchen. If I don't buy it then I can't.

You really won't miss it after a few days, and it'll mean when you do have the odd cake/meal out you'll really enjoy it- rather than that horrible slightly-sick feeling you get from just bingeing on crap at home cos you're bored.

Good luck!

turntothesun - info on Paleo here nomnompaleo.com/paleo101
and a whole heap of recipes on the same site.

Squoosh, I've got that book, but haven't got round to reading it yet. Did you find it worked for you? I need to tackle my eating, and quickly.....??

One way I found to cut down on sugary things was to do my weekly shopping online.
I found if I went to the supermarket myself I didn't have the willpower not to walk down the areas of chocolate etc, with doing my shop online means I don't have that temptation in front of me. If I haven't bought it I can't eat it was my mantra.

Here is a good intro to paleo OP - robbwolf.com/what-is-the-paleo-diet/

Breakfast is quite a shock if you are a cereal lover as I was, but you do get used to eating food that isn't just 'breakfast food' iyswim - I have the same food for breakfast that I would have for any other meal now. Which means I often have leftovers from the night before, so sometimes chicken curry or chili! This morning I had vegetable sticks with guacamole that I had prepared the night before, with a cup of tea with almond milk. Mid-morning I have a smoothie made with coconut milk, berries, kale, cinnamon. I often don't have lunch as I don't really get hungry now - previously I used to have these terrible blood sugar crashes where I felt desperate to eat something and really bad tempered. I snack on nuts (not peanuts as they are legumes) and dried fruit, Nakd bars (the ones with just nuts and fruit, some of them contain oats which I avoid) and things like cold meat, tinned sardines, home-made soup. For tea tonight I had roast chicken (with the crispy skin) with a huge pile of cabbage, broccoli and roasted butternut squash (cooked in delicious beef dripping).

Pretty much any recipe or favourite meal can be adapted for paleo; I eat the aforementioned chili and chicken curry, and also beef stroganoff, chicken chasseur, lamb Bolognese, beef in red wine, pork belly with vegetables...the great thing is that fat from meat is ok so this helps make everything tasty!

When I first started I felt the need to eat paleo versions of familiar treats, like pancakes and puddings made with coconut flour, ground almonds, bananas and maple syrup, but I don't want them any more.

I really can't recommend this way of eating enough, but there are some snags; it can be more expensive and time consuming, especially if previously you were eating cheap quickly-cooked convenience food. Like me

My Paleo breakfast during the week is an apple, kiwi, spinach and kales juice made with water and a little lemon and lime. At the weekend I treat myself to protein pancakes (two eggs and a banana mushed up, cooks just like normal pancake mix!)
Lunch is always a salad with either egg, tuna, chicken, or whatever meat was used the night before. Or an omlette or stir fry if I want something warm.
Snack on fruit, nuts, seeds, and veg like carrot sticks. I also eat a spoonfull of almond/ cashew/ hazelnut butter if I'm going to the gym.
My evening meal is a paleo version of a general staple, like a curry made with almond milk with cauliflower rice.
The biggest change I made is being a bit more prepared. My purse is always full of snacks just in case. Also, you can't be too strict, realistically. I eat what I'm given if at a friends, and when eating out I always try to pick something like fish served with veg, and replace any chips or potatoes with more veg. It's about making smart choices and doing your best.

Have you had any help for your depression?

I agree that getting out of the house every day is a good plan but making too many changes to your diet all at once is going to be tough if you are suffering with depression. I suggest that you visit the GP for help first before going on another diet.