To eat the same thing every day?

[IsThisOKtoEat]

I desperately need to lose weight. I am obese and pre diabetic. Could I have a balanced diet if I ate the same thing everyday? I think it would be easier of I didn't have to think about what I eat. I'm trying to keep carbs low. I am vegetarian. If I don't do something quick I am going to become diabetic.

This is what I am thinking?

Breakfast - cinnamon porridge made with water (or milk if I don't have 2 coffees!) plus blueberries and chia seeds + coffee with full fat milk

Snack - Coffee with milk and almonds, clementine

Lunch - Cheese omelette with cherry tomatoes and spinach & linseeds

Snack/pudding - walnuts and apple

Dinner - Noodle soup with lots of veg and tofu (v small portion of noodles)

Snack/pudding - Greek yogurt with banana and mixed seeds

I will base portion sizes on a 1500kcal vegetarian meal plan from Diabetes UK

I am not well-versed in nutrition, but that sounds very healthy and appetising. Do you really think you can cope with eating the exact same thing every day, though?

Also, why full fat milk instead of half-fat?

I think if you mix it up with what you have in the noodles and mix up the fruit you might be ok.

Is there another meal you can throw in every now and again just to give you some more flavours? Could you have scrambled egg and mushrooms instead of omelette so it's on the same theme?

If you feel satisfied with eating the same thing every day, then go for it. If it's satisfying, you can sustain it. If you can sustain it, it will work.

@PonyPatter44 there's been lots of talk suggesting that full fat is better as it keeps you fuller for longer. I only eat full fat versions of everything and butter and not spread too.

@PonyPatter44

I am not well-versed in nutrition, but that sounds very healthy and appetising. Do you really think you can cope with eating the exact same thing every day, though?

Also, why full fat milk instead of half-fat?

The OP mentions Diabetes UK- if OP is diabetic then fat can help slow absoption of carbs to prevent spikes in glucose levels.

Mght be nothing to do with that obviously.

pony I think that keeping fats high is better if you are doing low carb, I know the calories will be higher and not sure of the reason exactly but that's what I have read!

3 snacks in one day seems excessive and more likely to encourage hunger than having more filling meals and eating less often. Also that's a lot of fruit for someone trying to keep blood sugars down. I'd avoid clementines and bananas over lower sugar fruits like apples and berries. Vegetables would be better.
I'd increase the fat and protein and drop some of the snacks/puddings.

But as for your question on eating the same thing every day, plenty of people do or at least same breakfast and lunch and vary the dinners.

It looks ok, but three snacks sounds quite a lot? It’s ok to feel hungry for a bit during the day, otherwise your body will be constantly processing food if you’re having three meals and all those snacks.

Sounds great. Give it a go.

Who knows if I will feel satisfied! I just don't have the headspace or time to be thinking about or preparing and shopping for different meals. I am a single parent to a child with very different dietary needs so will most likely be cooking 2 meals anyway.

Thanks for the clarification on the high fat.

I have a cupboard full of spices and think that is how I can change things up - I love things like ginger and chilli.

Also agree with all the fruit being quite sugary. Maybe cut out some of the fruit, add some more vegetables (swap out the cheese in the omelette and make a vegetable frittata instead). How are you making the noodle soup, maybe a stirfry with brown rice would be better (or alternate it).

I'd try and rotate a couple of menus perhaps, if you get bored of the food you might end up snacking. Sounds tasty though.

I was thinking of making this soup:
www.recipetineats.com/dan-dan-noodle-soup-vegetarian/

qwill
I suppose I added the cheese to the omelette (20g) because it is high fat. But really am not an expert on the high fat low carb thing.

Have a look at things like high fat low carb and fast 800. Look up insulin resistance and see if it affects you, worth a read as calorie counting doesn’t work when you are insulin restistant

YANBU, DH lost lots of weight by eating carrots for lunch everyday. He didn't mind and it was easy for him to pack in the morning.

Ragz If the daily calorie count is right, including the snacks, I wonder if it would be better to add them to the meals instead of having them as snacks. I have based the number of snacks on the Diabetes UK meal plan, but I did think it seemed a bit snacky!

rubytubeytubes I think I may be insulin resistant as I also have PCOS. I lost about 10kg quite easily a couple of years ago when I really cut carbs. It's as if my body doesn't process them and just turns them straight into fat. I just don't seem to be able to do what I did when I lost the weight before. I don't know what's changed.

You really don't need 3 snacks a day, and your teeth enamel doesn't either. No matter what you're eating, if it's balanced and nutritious.

Try it and see, would be my layman's advice, but tbh it sounds like psychologically you may need to fundamentally reset your behaviour with food.. eating something every hour or two isn't ideal for most adults, and if you're overweight it's likely linked to your relationship with food, not the physical contents of your meals alone.

Good luck.

@RagzRebooted

3 snacks in one day seems excessive and more likely to encourage hunger than having more filling meals and eating less often. Also that's a lot of fruit for someone trying to keep blood sugars down. I'd avoid clementines and bananas over lower sugar fruits like apples and berries. Vegetables would be better. I'd increase the fat and protein and drop some of the snacks/puddings.

But as for your question on eating the same thing every day, plenty of people do or at least same breakfast and lunch and vary the dinners.

Based on the nonsense in this post I have to wonder why anyone would ask on MN for food or diet advice.

I would cut out the cheese In the omelette and have mushrooms instead. Also skimmed milk in coffee. Having a variety of soups in the cupboard will make it less boring. I have this every evening with a boiled sweet potatoe thrown in and spinach also. Just breaks the monotomy and feels more like a stew with the potatoe and spinach in it Snacks can be more varied with carrot and pepper sticks. Whole meal rice cakes are a handy snack and all fruits and veg. Nuts are quite fattening so I would limit these. Good luck

@Qwill

It looks ok, but three snacks sounds quite a lot? It’s ok to feel hungry for a bit during the day, otherwise your body will be constantly processing food if you’re having three meals and all those snacks.

What does that mean? You've typed it out very confidently but what does it mean? "Your body is constantly processing food". Is that a bad thing? Can you explain why?

People on here haven't got a clue. Literally not a clue.

@collieresponder88

I would cut out the cheese In the omelette and have mushrooms instead. Also skimmed milk in coffee. Having a variety of soups in the cupboard will make it less boring. I have this every evening with a boiled sweet potatoe thrown in and spinach also. Just breaks the monotomy and feels more like a stew with the potatoe and spinach in it Snacks can be more varied with carrot and pepper sticks. Whole meal rice cakes are a handy snack and all fruits and veg. Nuts are quite fattening so I would limit these. Good luck

🤣🤣

I agree with others re the number of snacks and I think it is a good idea to add 1-2 of them to your meals.

I am autistic and lost over 3 stone eating in a similar way to you suggest. 3 meals a day and one snack. All healthy vegan food. My breakfast, lunch and snack are nearly always the same. I do have a different dinner each day but if you are happy to eat the same thing I don’t see a problem. Your menu is balanced and nutritious and much bEtter than many people eat. I agree with the suggestion to use different veg in your dinner for a little variety/ better balance of vitamins

If it was up to me I'd eat peanut butter and jam on toast every day and a glass of wine to wash it down with. Sadly though I have to cook for the rest of the family too.

@IsThisOKtoEat

pony I think that keeping fats high is better if you are doing low carb, I know the calories will be higher and not sure of the reason exactly but that's what I have read!

If you need to loose weight then cut as much fat as you can. Replace with fruit and veg. It's not rocket science really. Cut out fat and you will loose weight ! If you only ate fruit and veg you would never be overweight !