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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Average, healthy eating

81 replies

Hoghedge10 · 13/02/2022 20:13

I'm over weight, I also think I might have an eating disorder. I binge eat and also have incredibly unrealistic ideas about how much an average person eats.

I'm thinking of going to my Doctor, however I would really appreciate some ideas of how much an average person eats and exercises. I understand not everyone is the same and there are extremes on both ends but some realistic idea of how a fully functioning adult eats would be incredibly helpful.

If you are an 'average' (whatever average is?!) Person with reasonably healthy eating patterns would you mind sharing an average meal day for you and what, if any exercise you do.

OP posts:
hihellohihello · 14/02/2022 12:52

Easiest way to reduce weight on diet is just take a well known meal and adjust portions of everything so you ensure a deficit. Ideally protein should be a quarter of your plate, starch carbohydrates a bit less and green vegetables/ salad half your plate.

These websites can help you work out your calorie requirements and deficit.

www.verywellfit.com/recipe-nutrition-analyzer-4157076

tdeecalculator.net/

Do exercise too. Even if it's just walking. It makes the body just generally work better which includes being better at burning fat.

I lost 4 stone over the past few years from doing this. I decided to take up running, though and run everyday. I have found the FitBit app good for logging calories in against calories burnt. And once you log everything it is easy to tweak things to ensure any plateaus don't last too long.

hihellohihello · 14/02/2022 12:54

And after a more indulgent weekend I might skip breakfast a couple of times in the week and run fasted. This sorts out any extra pounds I might have put on. For me this is no bother. I've forgotten it once the mealtimes has past. Wasn't always like this. I think once the body is efficient at burning fat it becomes easier.

Mellowyellow222 · 14/02/2022 13:03

I have a history of binging etc.

Why not log what you eat for a week? MyFitnessPal let’s you scan barcodes and it’s really easy.

That will give you a good idea of how many calories fat etc you are eating everyday.

Log everything - especially the binging.

I think you would benefit from a chat to your doctor about your diet and how good makes you feel.

MyNameIsAngelicaSchuyler · 14/02/2022 13:05

the problem is 'normal' in the UK right now, as in what most people do, is resulting in an obese nation.

i would focus on nutrition and whole foods. granola or porridge with fruit, yoghurt, seeds / nuts for breakfast. Wholemeal pitta / bread sandwiches, or a salad with roasted veg, or soup / nutty bread, or oatcakes / avocado etc for lunch. Dinners based around vegetables and pulses or small amounts of lean protein if you eat meat.

get moving daily, cut white carbs / processed food RIGHT down. just switch to whole foods.

Try to see food as a way to nourish yourself from the inside out. the more you do this the easier it gets and the less you want to treat your insides poorly.

D0lphine · 14/02/2022 13:10

@MyNameIsAngelicaSchuyler

the problem is 'normal' in the UK right now, as in what most people do, is resulting in an obese nation.

i would focus on nutrition and whole foods. granola or porridge with fruit, yoghurt, seeds / nuts for breakfast. Wholemeal pitta / bread sandwiches, or a salad with roasted veg, or soup / nutty bread, or oatcakes / avocado etc for lunch. Dinners based around vegetables and pulses or small amounts of lean protein if you eat meat.

get moving daily, cut white carbs / processed food RIGHT down. just switch to whole foods.

Try to see food as a way to nourish yourself from the inside out. the more you do this the easier it gets and the less you want to treat your insides poorly.

I agree that "normal" is not necessarily healthy.

However as OP is currently binging, it would be good as a start for her to eat normal foods in normal amounts at normal times.

When she is comfortable there, she can progress on to focusing on health by swapping in some more veg etc.

Focusing on "healthy eating" when binging / restricting can just perpetuate the cycle of restrict/ binge which results in wild weight fluctuations which is bad for health.

Gasfire · 14/02/2022 13:12

I reckon I'm normal.
Weekdays
Breakfast: Greek yoghurt and muesli
Lunch:wrap with chicken or tuna or whatever.
Snack: banana or couple of hobnobs if there are any around in work. Not every day.
Tea: winter- chilli/ shepherd's pie/ salmon roast veg couscous/ rice etc
Pudding: couple biscuits

Weekend:
More stodge based.
Red wine
Couple of beers
More sugar

Exercise: 2 ex classes a week
Run twice a week

Tall size 12. Slim

HomeHomeInTheRange · 14/02/2022 13:18

I’m in the middle of the healthy weight BMI.

Coffee

3 spoons of granola, I spoon Greek yogurt, a good helping of frozen berries. Or some chopped apple / banana.

Lunch; something like 2 slices of bread / toast, cheese or egg, or baked beans or soup, some sort of salad.

Probably a couple of biscuits or a small piece of cheese and biscuits. Maybe apple, carrot or satsuma.

Dinner: pasta or fish and something, bolgnese, veg and chicken pea curry and rice, chicken, potatoes and veg… but I watch the amount of rice and pasta as I found out have a ‘portion’ is a lot less than I thought!

Probably one item from some chocolate or ice cream or wine in a modest amount.

2-3 gym sessions a week, a fair bit of walking (I would generally go on a 4-6 mile walk at the weekend)

Anoooshka · 14/02/2022 13:18

I don't weigh very much, but here's what I usually eat during the day:

Cup of tea. Cappuccino (full fat milk) and cake or croissant.
Lunch - leftovers, or maybe just a bit of cheese and some bread.
Dinner - tonight we're having beanburgers (homemade) and chips. I'll probably snack on some cheese in the evening. I eat lots of cheese.

But I really don't think asking people on the Internet what they eat will help you. I'm small-boned and tall and have never had a huge appetite. If I'm hungry and it's not mealtime, then I'll either have a small piece of cheese, or I'll make a cup of tea. My stomach doesn't like food if I'm stressed, so I'll lose weight rather than binge eat.

You really need to find out why you are binge eating first and address that.

scottishnames · 14/02/2022 13:29

Re breakfast - sometimes yes, sometimes no. It depends on whether I'm hungry.

I think so much easily available processed food means that it's far too easy to stop listening to how our bodies feel about food. There's no law to say we have to eat three meals a day, or at the time of modern meals. In the past, people ate at very different times - as recently as the 19th cent. Also, processed food is nothing like as filling or satisfying as 'natural' foods - and can lead to insulin spikes and then 'crashes' that send hunger signals.

Also, so much food eating is habit, or for comfort. I'm NOT saying don't eat - I really enjoy food and like cooking - but I think the advice above not to bother about healthy eating is wrong in all sorts of ways.

Getting into the habit of eating healthy foods (wholegrains, nuts, fruit, veg, protein and good fats) tends to regulate hunger. It should give you more energy and more nutrients to improve your health. (And looks; better hair and nails and skin, for example.) It can also improve your mood.

mumda · 14/02/2022 13:33

Labels on food packets are your friend.
Read them - most of them tell you how much is a portion. Use scales to measure.
Take photos of these portion sizes on a standard plate, or use a cup for measuring them out for future reference, or be prepared to always use scales.

Using a smaller plate will make your portion look bigger - and as we eat with our eyes then it's a way of kidding yourself.

Eating slowly is essential to make sure you have time to realise you're full. And stopping eating when you're full is essential. And really difficult.

As far as I know there's no menu plan showing portion controls of "5 a day" with any recommended diet, plate by plate.

scottishnames · 14/02/2022 13:42

OP and Mumda

Will this help? Portion sizes from NHS, for fruit and veg:
www.nhs.uk/live-well/eat-well/5-a-day-portion-sizes/

From BUPA for the rest:
www.bupa.co.uk/health-information/nutrition-diet/portion-size
It also has menu suggestions

If over 50, this from USA is interesting:
www.nia.nih.gov/health/serving-and-portion-sizes-how-much-should-i-eat

Hoghedge10 · 14/02/2022 13:45

Thank you for all of the replies and the suggestions. I have read through all of the posts but will go back and look at the links etc. In more detail.

It has been helpful for me to see how others eat. I know there is a huge amount of variation on diet and metabolic types, but it has highlighted how unrealistic my diet is.

I think the biggest thing I have taken away is that I need to take some responsibility for my diet. That might sound really silly but I've slipped into eating pretty much whatever I want whenever I want with incredibly large portions. Even taking into account other people's extremes my portion size is clearly incredibly unrealistic. I don't really think about what I'm eating and I think 'adulting' up and thinking about what I can eat that is reasonably healthy whilst also taking responsibility for my health and diet is something I'm going to try and focus on.

I don't do any exercise really and always have an excuse that I'm too busy, but that really needs to change too.

OP posts:
Catrice · 14/02/2022 13:49

Firstly op, if you believe yourself to have an eating disorder I would definitely say please do see your gp. There is treatment out there which really will help you to overcome it but you need to set the ball rolling in the first place. I'm in the middle of receiving it now and for the first time in my life feel like I'm in control of my eating and more importantly am eating foods I actually want to and enjoy! I've also read through all the replies and personally think they're not really helpful...what's normal to one person is not normal to the next if you see what I mean. Please do phone now and make that appointment. It was the best thing I've ever done and hopefully you'll feel the same.

mumof2exhausted · 14/02/2022 13:59

If I were you I would honestly record what you eat into fitness pal to get an idea of calories. I tend to eat around 400 Cals for breakfast (seeded bagel, peanut butter and apple), 400 /500 lunch (eggs, beans and slice toast or soup or chicken wrap and salad), then dinner is 500/600 stir fries, curry, pasta dishes etc (lots of veg, fish or meat and source of carbs). Then fruit / nuts and bit of chocolate (adding up to around 300). My aim is 1800 a day but it’s so easy to go over if you don’t think about what you are eating. I’m size 10.

D0lphine · 14/02/2022 14:33

Sounds really hard OP.

Sorry you're going through it

SerotoninAnswerMySoul · 14/02/2022 14:47

The NHS and have information about healthy portion sizes, and balanced diets. Their info tends to be straightforward and useful. They also have healthy eating plans which are much less faffy than other websites.

Nutrition.org.uk also has info on healthy portion sizes, and how many portions of each food group we need per day.

Sorry, I can't post links for some reason!

hihellohihello · 14/02/2022 14:48

I think the biggest thing I have taken away is that I need to take some responsibility for my diet. That might sound really silly but I've slipped into eating pretty much whatever I want whenever I want with incredibly large portions. Even taking into account other people's extremes my portion size is clearly incredibly unrealistic

So, so easily done. Don't feel bad about it. My portions slowly started matching my DHs and my teenage son's (taller, heavier and more muscular than me/still growing) and hey presto I was 4 stones bigger!Shock If you look at calorie counts of pub meals some are also over what my requirements would be for the day! There are so many social factors influencing eating. Added to this sugars and simple carbohydrates affect appetite and can actually make you feel hungrier! Conversely exercise can balance out hunger signals as it can train your body to use fat for fuel more seamlessly- but modern work and scheduling means you might have to have a think about how you can fit it in. I say any amount is better than nothing! Really, though, it's no wonder we sometimes have to relearn what is right for our body's needs.

hihellohihello · 14/02/2022 14:51

Oh and I went from a sedentary size 16 with a bad back at nearly 50 and recovering from cancer treatment to someone who runs 10k just about every day and is a size 8. It is possible!

SerotoninAnswerMySoul · 14/02/2022 14:52

Please don't feel bad about losing track of your portion sizes. It is very easy to do and our bodies get used to what we have! Also hard when we are tired. But I will say, once you've been consistently having healthy balanced meals regularly for a bit, you will probably stop craving large portions of other stuff so much as your body will be quite well nourished. Also getting enough rest is important to make sure you have the energy to sort yourself regular meals.

cdba88 · 14/02/2022 15:53

Can't say I'm normal, trying to lose weight atm and currently sticking to 1500 cals a day which is a lot for some. Currently a size 10/12.

Breakfast: 2 wheatabix, 80g raspberries and about 100ml skimmed milk

Snack: medium boiled egg

Then went to the gym

Late lunch: cheese salad sandwich. 2 small pieces of multi seed bread, 10g light Mayo, 25g of reduced fat cheese

Then for tea I'm doing roast chicken, potatoes and a load of roasted veg.

Might have some Valentine's Day chocs if I have calories left at the end of the day.

Dogmum40 · 14/02/2022 16:07

Breakfast- I have two slices of toast or crunchy nut cornflake cereal for breakfast

Lunch- soup or something like cheese on toast or a bacon cob

Dinner - mainly one pot type of meals or else meat and veg, at weekends I will make more complex foods or have buffet type foods and in summer it’s much more lighter like salads,

I always cook and don’t like burgers or pizzas etc so I don’t buy takeaways (plus I don’t have any local to me as I’m rural) but I do eat sugary and fatty foods just not as a fast food option if that makes sense ( sugary junk food is my poison of choice 😆)

Drinks - either water with ice, tea with milk and one sugar or wine

Snacks - cake or bags of chocolates ( I have a very sweet tooth)

Exercise - I have dogs so they get two walks so around two hours every day, plus a couple of days a week I have an outdoor physical job so I do that too

scottishnames · 14/02/2022 17:58

OP This is really in answer to the poster who suggested that you ate 'normal' (= mostly highly processed) food rather than the real thing. It's not particularly a slimming way of eating but it is filling and - most of all - nutritious . You might find you lose weight on it anyway. I'm only making these suggestions to try to show that healthy eating need not be some sort of punishment. Or difficult. And ,if cost is an issue, it's cheaper than many processed ready meals or takeaways.

Breakfast - what about cottage cheese and an apple; oatcakes or seedy-bread toast and crunchy peanut butter; carrot sticks and hummus; a plain 2-egg omelette -- I think this is nicer cold - plus mushrooms or a few tomatoes if feeling hungry; sliced cheese (eg emmenthal) and raw pepper strips; scrambled eggs with mushrooms or a few bits of smoked salmon (really cheap if purchased as offcuts; you can buy them in bulk online) ... lots of possibilities; think of breakfasts in continental hotels that cater for local people rather than only British visitors. Even home-made wholemeal pancakes - very little flour, lots of eggs and milk - with lemon juice and fresh or stewed fruit - no extra sugar, if you have the time.

DH often has porridge with berries and then perhaps a pear or a kiwi or an orange. You could do overnight oats and berries. Or yoghurt and berries with (not too sweet) granola or toasted chopped nuts....

Lunch - homemade soup - minestrone, mixed veg, lentil, leek, french onion sort of thing, butter bean etc etc - all very cheap and easy and filling- plus perhaps a bit of cheese on the side if you have not had cheese for breakfast. Or with yoghurt or grated cheese mixed in. Or with some cold meat. This is usually our winter option.

In summer (and indeed today) - lots and lots of green leaves, grated carrot, olives, avocado and olive oil/vinegar dressing. If you eat meat, you could add some cold chicken or cold roast meat. Or you could have hard-boiled egg mayonnaise (if no eggs at breakfast) plus salad as above, minus dressing, of course. You can add as many other veg as you like, within reason: little tomatoes, watercress, celery, chicory, spring onions, radishes, fennel, rocket, finely shredded hard cabbage... Or (if you eat fish) 'winter' salad (chopped apple plus walnuts or capers or gherkins plus mayo and lemonjuice and lots of chopped celery or fennel) with cold kippers or smoked mackerel or safely-fished tuna or rollmop-type herrings, with lots and lots of plain lettuce or other green leaves. Oily fish is v. good for you.

Supper: Today we will have cauliflower cheese (quite rich; lots of feta and vegetarian 'parmesan' and mustard in sauce, home made: olive oil, wholemeal flour, milk and cheese as above) with plain lightly-boiled carrots and lots of steamed spring greens. (This is perhaps an odd taste - I really like greens; they are also excellent shredded and stir-fried with garlic, soy sauce, ginger and spring onions). DH will also have some celeriac and swede mash (very easy to make at home) , and a couple of sausages. But you could have roast or grilled meat or fish or chicken plus two or three different vegetables. Or baked veg dishes. Or a casserole . Or a stir-fry. Or a quick frizzled steak (if you like - often cheaper than a nasty 'plastic' ready meal.) You might find that you can also eat a baked potato or a few stamed new potatoes as well; we all have different metabolisms.

Please don't get me wrong - I like curry and pizza and I have a Chinese friend who is a fabulous cook, but the takeaway versions of all these wonderful ancient cusines are not often very healthy. They are a fast option, and fine for a treat, but not the long-term answer.

If you want 'pudding', a little bit of dark (70% and over ) chocolate plus a small handful of almonds or hazelnuts, or a few grapes, or a satsuma or two....Or berries and yoghurt, or cooked fruit and real cream. Cold stewed dried apricots, or cold stewed apples plus cinnamon, for example, whizzed up then blended with a little whipped cream are so quick to cook and taste really luxurious. Leave individual portions to chill in little bowls in the fridge. If liked, top with a few fresh berries, grated dark chocolate or flaked almonds.

All real food All really tasty.. None, except DH's sausages and the smoked fish, processed. And, as earlier posters have said, snacks are not really necessary. I'm old; we never used to have them. As a child, just home from school, we were offered bread and jam or perhaps a couple of plain biscuits (digestive or similar) plus a drink of milk or very dilute squash. Crisps of all kinds and snack /'protein' bars (however packaged) etc were virtually unknown. As a young adult at work, snacks - except perhaps for a surreptitious apple - simply did not exist. We ate salads or sandwiches for lunch. Then later we had dinner/supper. We survived.

On Sunday afternoons there was cake. Home made. Really good. But once it was gone, it was gone. Please believe me; I'm not preaching. Compared with today, in the past it was so much EASIER to eat well. The current processed and fast-food industries have so much to answer for.

Iamnotamermaid · 14/02/2022 20:31

@Hoghedge10 for portion sizing the best advice I can give is get a smaller plate and this should have everything you are going to eat. Make sure it is all natural food (not processed). Drink lots of water, esp before a meal. Jillian Michaels is a good source of information on diet. For exercise get into a routine but start off gently with lots of walking and then add other activities to build up further. Best of luck!

Blueeyedgirl21 · 14/02/2022 21:50

I am an 8-10, my average work day food goes something like this

Breakfast: I wait until I’ve arrived at work. Black cofffee, two slices of toast with Nutella or peanut butter, apple slices or an orange
Lunch: tin of tomato or veggie soup, bag of baked crisp things, Diet Coke. Or a meal deal type thing- chicken salad sandwich , fruit pot, Diet Coke
Mid afternoon: two finger Kit Kat and another black coffee, sometimes something like a small piece of flapjack or brownie if someone has brought something in. I only have a small bit though I don’t like to sit and eat a lot at my desk in the office !
Get home: pint of cordial, maybe an apple or a few slices of cheese or a very small bowl of cereal if I’m starving or didn’t have an afternoon snack
Tea: this varies massively but midweek usually something like pasta bake with quorn pieces and a corn on the cob, chicken and veg stir fry, spag bol, chicken breast with potatoes and a veg side.
Evening: sometimes I’ll have a glass of Prosecco and a couple of squares of chocolate but nothing too intense as usually tea fills me up

Weekends this usually becomes a larger brunch type meal at about 11 - omelette, bacon butties etc and a larger tea, with a dessert, but less snacking because of being out and about

lomoloko · 14/02/2022 22:18

I broadly eat whatever is around me, but most commonly a bagel for breakfast, buttered or with cream cheese. And black coffee. Quite often I don't eat breakfast and just drink coffee and don't really eat until about 12. I just don't feel like it.

Lunch - whatever is left over from last night if I'm home, or I might go out and get something with colleagues, in which case whatever -- chinese food, burgers, poke bowl. I typically eat the protein first and then leave the rice or chips or bread. If I'm hungry I'll eat those as well but I don't get that hungry at lunch. I will get a few flat whites or cortados with almond milk if they are available and I'm out. I will probably eat a banana too, or a couple of oranges or an apple.

Dinner - I often eat out so I feast for dinner quite a lot, I guess. I do order the pudding and I do get the extras. I might eat out three times in a week and then at home I'll eat whatever quiche, salads, sausages and vegetables, meatballs, eggs- again I typically eat the meat and veg first and only then eat the pasta if I'm really hungry, just my habit. I eat a lot of cheese, just cheese on its own or maybe with some olives and tomatoes.

I drink a lot of water and coffee and in the evening I often drink a couple of glasses of wine or a cocktail and I quite often eat crisps, pudding, a bar of chocolate, biscuits --- not all on the same day and not typically for hours and hours, but sometimes I do just eat loads of biscuits - a few times a month.

I am a tall size 12 and I have never been fat or thin. I feel like I eat what I want.

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