To ask if this is a healthy lunch?

[Vilanelle]

I am easing into a low blood sugar diet.

For lunch today I had a few slices of extra lean chicken breast, green olives, lettuce, carrot, edamame beans, table spoon of low fat cottage cheese, spoon of hummus and a wholemeal pitta.

It beats my usual sausage roll, crisps etc but colleague saying it isn't very healthy.

Was planning on having the same tomorrow as really enjoyed!

Do you think it's healthy?

Depends what you mean by "healthy". Are you aiming for a specific goal? Are you following an eating plan?

Sounds fine to me.

Sounds incredibly healthy to me. Plenty of protein and vitamins and roughage.
I'd vary the veg if you have it often though, and add some peppers, tomatoes, beet, cucumber, sprouted seeds etc from time to time.

Sounds good to me!! You've got protein, calcium, veg, wholemeal carbs. I can't see what's unhealthy about it - hummus can be quite high calorie but it's good stuff in it like chickpeas.

I am trying to lose some visceral fat. I am overweight and need an overhaul to be honest.

Trying to cut out all added sugars completely.

Thank you for the responses. I will definitely be adding more veg tomorrow, I was in a rush today.

I thought it was healthy but she pointed out the cheese and hummus could be high in fat.

Goal is to lose weight and generally be healthier. I gave up smoking a year ago so am concentrating on weight this year.

Don’t try to run before you can walk.

Don’t cut out food groups altogether as they become forbidden fruit.

Sounds all good to me but, vary it to avoid boredom

Sounds absolutely fine to me, but what in the name of all that's holy is 'extra lean chicken breast'. Chicken breast is lean. What would make it extra?

I don't believe in low fat everything anyway, I have lost 4 stone by doing a variation on keto with full fat cheese, butter, yoghurt etc. It works for me because it stops me being hungry so even if some bits are higher calorie, overall it works out less because I am not tempted to snack and am happy with smaller plates.

Sounds lovely and healthy to me - might copy it! My kids are going through a phase of hoummus on everything - so wrap/bread/panini etc spread with hoummus then chicken/cheese/ham and salad. I used to buy the reduced fat stuff but have reverted back to full fat as you get all of the nice flavours - Moroccan is our current favourite.

It's definitely better for you than sausage roll and crisps so well done.

Did you enjoy it?

I’d have gone for normal cottage cheese rather than low fat but otherwise it looks good to me. Plenty of veg, some protein, some fat, and some fibre. Also you say you enjoyed it, which means that you’re more likely to stick to eating that way and not slide back to less healthy choices.

Unless your colleague is a qualified dietitian with access to your medical records I would smile and nod and then carry on eating what you’re eating.

Sounds good to me, we all need some fat in our diet.

If you are worried you can plug the lot into my fitness plan to see exactly what numbers it shows.

If you aiming fo bsd, read th book and start

I would add some more substantial veg (peppers etc) - but only because I couldn't eat enough lettuce to count as a portion without getting seriously bored. Go full fat cottage cheese.

Other than that, sounds like your colleague just wanted to ay something.

If you're doing low carb don't cut the fat! Fats DO NOT make you fat, too much food makes you fat. Healthy fats are so so good for you avocado, oily fish, nuts etc. Please don't go for low fat dairy products either, they're more unhealthy than regular because when the fats removed the taste is compensated for by sugars or flavourings. Fat will keep you fuller for longer and give you energy, especially if cutting carbs.

Sounds like you're doing a fab job, ignore your colleague and be proud of yourself

By chance, have you read the 8 week blood sugar diet?

I couldn't find any full fat cottage cheese in my local tesco express!

I will definitely be adding more veggies tomorrow, perhaps some peppers, tomato and fresh beetroot!

I really enjoyed. Should I add a boiled egg?

@Loulouuz I have not read it but have been looking at forums to do with the blood sugar diet. I have ordered the book on prime today and will look to do it.

The thought of cutting out bread and potatoes seems impossible though

Even 'full fat' cottage cheese is only about 6% fat and it's so much nicer than low fat or fat free stuff.

I think the only ones available are Longley Farm, which you can buy in some but not all supermarkets (it's a Yorkshire brand so I think it's available a lot more round here than it is nationwide, so I think my perception of it is skewed. You can get it in most delis, farm shops and butchers too).

Or Lidl or Waitrose own brand. I think that's about it.

Sounds lovely.

Hummus is high fat (and salt) but so long as you don't eat loads of it like I do it's fine

And far better to eat a generally healthy diet which is slightly lower calorie that your usual than go crazy with a low calorie diet which will make you miserable and just go back to your old habits.

Ignore your colleague. There is nothing wrong with having good fats in your diet - in fact you should aim to have them in your diet if you are trying to loose weight.

Often low fat versions of products are worse for you as they include more sugar than the full fat version.

I think that is a fab lunch and just a word of warning - there are plenty of people who will sabotage your efforts with "helpful" comments so I recommend not discussing your diet/health unless you trust them well.

Seems like an awful lot for one meal. Healthy enough though.

Good advice from iloveruby

You could have the boiled egg instead of the chicken. I think your lunch sounds lovely and very healthy especially if you add even more veggies to fill up on.

Tell her to mind her own bloody business! Sounds very healthy to me.

@bluerussian an awful lot
I don't think one pitta, veg and some slices of meat is a lot? Sounds fine for an adult human who is working. Being well fed at lunch and avoiding the snacky slump mid afternoon is surely a good thing?