Anyone else have a crap diet?

[Looooop]

I eat far too much sugar, definitely don't have 5 portions of fruit and veg per day (don't they recommend 8 now?) And too many refined carbs.
I have a massive sugar addiction which I really need to stop. I have had successful spells of cutting it out but I always give into it. My BMI is 20.9 so weight isn't an issue and I exercise a lot, I just know the diet is bad for me.
I get told I have nice skin, but I can see it is slightly dull with dark circles and I suspect the diet doesn't help. I take daily vitamins, but I also have sleeping problems, headaches and mood swings.

In terms of budget I have about £55-60 a week to spend on food, which I know is more than some people have, though it doesn't seem to get that far these days.
I'm not hugely keen on cooking and can be quite lazy, also limited on time.

For breakfast I usually eat one of those porridge sachets or a bowl of cereal, sometimes with fruit in. Sometimes a bacon sandwich.

Lunch can be anything, a sandwich, quiche, pie, pizza, anything at all.

I work in residential care and get my dinner for free which saves a lot of money. However it's not particularly healthy, white bread sandwiches, pies, chips etc. Occasional roast dinners, full English.
Unlimited cakes, biscuits etc.
I eat cakes, chocolate, biscuits etc. Every single day.
I dislike most fish and seafood, and spicy food.
Does anyone else want to improve their diet?
I find salads quite boring and love bread and cheese. My favourite meals are pizzas, chilli, burgers, jacket potatoes, toasties, etc. Just don't know where to start.

Also love sweets like haribo, but try to only eat them twice a week.

The good thing about me is that I drink zero alcohol, no tea or coffee.

I’m exactly the same

I'm the same. Since January have been drinking 3L water a day and adding in more protein (nuts, chicken, eggs and fish) and more fruit and veg to my diet. I feel loads better for it and my skin and hair look healthier.

I decided to add stuff to my diet rather than cut things out as I knew I wouldn't be able to keep that up. It's given me more energy and I've found that I've actually been eating less sugar without really thinking about it because if I have eggs on toast for breakfast, I don't also feel the need to eat a bowl of cereal. If I snack on an apple/cheese/nuts, I can often forget the 3pm chocolate biscuit. So the protein has naturally replaced some of the sugar. I did initially put on a bit of weight but that has now come off, especially as I have more energy to be more active now.

OP I could have written your post! Exercise loads but eat utter crap. No weight issues but it can't be good for me . Good idea to add good food rather than take away the rubbish initially.

My problem is I have a tiny appetite so eating rubbish pushes out any hope of eating healthier.

Same OP. I never had a good diet but it got loads worse after I went back to work after maternity leave. I just haven’t been looking after myself for the last year or so at all. I did get a bit of a wake up call when a blood test showed I’m low in B12 though. That explained my irregular period, constant bad mood (to a certain extent) and the problems I’ve been having with a sore tongue and mouth ulcers. I’m feeling a bit better since I started taking a supplement and increasing the amount of dairy, fish and eggs I’m eating but still a long way to go. I’ve noticed I’ve naturally cut down on the sweets and chocolate too which is a bonus too.

I'm the same only no exercise OP. My BMI is a bit higher but the real thing is that I can see it in my skin, mood, everything.

Also same with Haribo, I also finish off Pringles in 10 minutes...

What about trying a meal box for a couple of days a week, something like Guosto or Hello Fresh?

Thanks everyone. I've tried Hello Fresh before but wasn't overly keen, going to look at Gousto though as heard good things about it.
Just had a McDonald's sausage egg muffin, great start lol

If you like bread and cheese, could you try a more Mediterranean diet?

Switch out white bread for more a more rustic grainy type. Good cheeses, olives, olive oil, grilled veg or salads with nice dressings.

The sweet sugary addiction is hard to break, it gives you highs and lows that leave you craving more. I think cold turkey works for this and once you're through the initial period you won't crave it anymore. Berries and dark chocolate are a decent substitute.

But it's hard, I get it! Good luck x

I’m the same OP. Exercise a lot, barely drink and don’t smoke, but my diet is the weak link.

I tend to have one healthy meal a day (with two portions of veg) and have some fruit but eat far too much junk food. My weakness is salty snacks more than sugar. Crisps are a problem.

Any ideas how to break addiction to salty snacks.

Mines not great. I'm a decent cook and make most of meals from scratch, but I am a massive snacker. I work in healthcare so do weird hours, days and nights, and therefore eat at weird times. I'll think nothing of tucking into a pizza at 2am on a nightshift. I love my crisps, chocolate, biscuits, sweets, and eat these almost daily. Not crazy amounts though. Takeaways, maybe once a week, or once a fortnight so not horrendous. I do buy the crappy ready made sandwiches from work or a Sainsbury's ready meal for a work lunch once a week.

I guess my balance is that when I cook, I eat well. Lot's of veg, lean meat, eggs, fish. I made fajitas last night on wholemeal wraps. Tonight I'll probably just have an omelette, salad, and a few chips (homemade).

You get some people who don't cook at all and live on takeaways/pre prepared food and that is where it gets a bit worrying. I have a friend that will get 5-6 takeaways a week. She doesn't cook.

I am exactly the same only I also don’t exercise but have 2 young DC so lots of running around after them, work full time and have a DH who just doesn’t see the same jobs that need doing as me 🤣and have always had a fast metabolism

while it sounds like I have a wider range of diet I struggle to eat 5 portions mainly because I don’t really like vegetables and food just doesn’t really interest me to the point I eat weetabix every morning and then work days have a sandwich (usually ham with a bit of lettuce and cheese), crisps, apple, bananas (occasionally grapes or carrot sticks if we have any) and a little cake or chocolate as I don’t like the hassle of thinking about lunch so it’s easier to make the same thing every morning

One easy way to add veg to your diet is those pre packed bags of stir fry veg. Just add a protein of your choice and some noodles. I tend to chuck in my own sauce (soy sauce, hoisin sauce, sweet chilli sauce, peanut butter etc) but you can buy pre mixed stir fry sauces too.

https://www.theguardian.com/profile/meera-sodha

Have you though it about taking a thrush tablet? Fair chance your gut is full of candida making you crave sugar.

Alternatively you can correct it by curring out sugar and simple carbs, a few days on a low carb diet would help change your body's responses.

You sound motivated, and you are not alone in liking all those things, but you need a proper grown ups diet! Cooking doesn't have to be hard, put salmon or chicken in the air fryer and eat with boiled veg, make omelette, stir fry.

You could get your blood tested for vuts/nutrients if that type of thing motivates you, you're likely deficient in a lot of areas.

I had gestational diebetes and this has basically changed my life taking my blood sugar so often and seeing how bad white carbs are for me.
If you can look on diebetes Uk website and follow their advice the weight will drop off your skin will glow and you'll sleep better and be happier!

Well done but have no sugary drinks at all only diet drinks or water, you might have to start drinking herbal tea just to have something different

Replace with dried mango

Mindful chef is great

Also if you write everything down that you eat or drink in an app like my fitness pal it works well

i live on lots and lots of chocolate,3-4 pints of water and whole blue milk(im talking pints and pints) per day

i go days with out any proper food

we don't eat fast food, i don't drink alcohol or tea and coffee

i did have a full coke habit(24 cans in 2 days) but cans went pricey so i stopped last year

i cook home cooked meals 8-10 times in an 24 hour period as my son doesn't sleep, needs 24/7 care and eats constantly
he has fruit, vegetables, meat all proper cooked meals i just don't do it for myself

cook it for me and i will eat it, i just wont make the effort to cook my own

apparently its a rare trait of ADHD type I(inattentive)

im not small, im 16st 4 and 6ft

I don't meet to sound judgmental but if you're cooking anyway why don't you just make a bit more and eat it?
If you want to lose weight it will drop off if you stop drinking calories and replace with eg sugar fee squash and fizzy water or Coke Zero