Is this too much lunch for a diet?

[Hatehooveringsomuch]

Trying to shift a couple of stone.
I eat v healthily, but probably too much, I don’t work out normally, but have started again.
I’m a person who has to cut back a lot and not eat much/work out daily to stay slim.
In the past when I was v slim, I went to the gym and had less carbs & smaller portions. I’m trying fasting also.
I’ve had no breakfast, just got in from school run, morning work and walking the dog.
Is this too much?
There’s two tins of tuna and two crackers, the rest is just salad? Assuming that’s okay?
Dinner is broccoli, cauliflower, carrots & chicken, piece of fruit afterwards.
I’m attempting to cut right back on carbs, my portions seem big though 😂but I’m hungry
Desperate to lose weight

It looks fine You could perhaps make a Mayo substitute with Greek yoghourt garlic lemon juice spices etc. Things to add to a salad which are healthy and give it extra taste : pomegranate seeds which release some juice into the dressing , toasted sesame seeds or toasted pine nuts, boiled egg, gherkins

The only thing wrong with your meal is the salad.
Chuck that in the bin where it belongs and replace it with two slices of wholemeal bread.
Delicious, filling sandwich.

@Thepeopleversuswork Sorry these post s upset you but you can just scroll on and not read, surely?

I'd half the tuna and add more veg/salad for a more nutritionally balanced meal, eg loads of sliced peppers, cucumber, avo, radishes. TBH I'd add a couple more crackers for a bit of variety or seeded oatcakes.

Why are you planning on having lots of salads? Do you love salad or do you think its a good way to help you lose weight? You can eat what you want in moderation and to lose weight you need to be in a caloric deficit, so if you don't count calories your attempt at weight loss is fruitless! Sorry.

You need to make your calories count by eating nutrient dense foods but by staying in a small deficit you will lose weight. Calories in drinks, teas, coffee with milk, dressings etc all count.

😂You've forgotten to add the 3 doughnuts and a Mars bar (or two.)

Two tins of tuna? You'd have a much more balanced lunch with one tin of tuna and some wholemeal bread instead of the crackers

What to have in salads

a few nuts - heavy on calories but excellent on other nutrition

toast some pumpkin or sunflower seeds in a dry pan

chop up parsley or other fresh herbs like basil

lemon juice

cooked green beans in a dressing of olive oil and chilli flakes

couscous salad : add chopped dates, toasted almonds, pan fried cherry tomatoes, toasted seeds, cooked green beans, courgette, grated carrotchopped herbs, lemon juice, spring onions, cooked down red onions, a bit of olive oil. I put in whatever I have of these or other things I fancy.

It seems quite a lot of tuna to me? If I’m having it with crackers I mix one tin with some light mayo, grated cucumber, finely diced red onion, quartered cherry tomatoes, and a little diced green pepper. That makes enough for two portions. (Albeit for me that’s more to do with the cost of tuna than the calories! But in line with the family of four comment). Also.. tuna in water will be much less calorific than tuna in oil.

@Arniesleftleg Its getting hot where I am, tend to eat lots of salad now, which I don’t mind. Alongside losing weight, I want to eat as much salad, veg, fruit as possible, just a clean, healthy diet

Well yeah but it's not just me is it? Anyone who has issues around food or is in any way vulnerable on this topic could find this thread pretty upsetting.

I don't even have an eating disorder (although I have some close friends who do). I just think it's really worrying that people without any qualifications are dispensing dangerous diet advice that is clearly based on their own disordered eating to strangers.

And one or two are being insulting to the OP into the bargain.

I’m eating healthy right now too.

For a snack mid morning I usually have a banana or apple.

Most lunchtimes I have salad and switch between tuna and chicken with some light Mayo or salad cream.

I’ll only have 1/2 a tin or max 1 tin of tuna though and I measure out my salad cream/Mayo on a tablespoon before putting it on so I know I’m not going silly with it. I usually have 2-3 tablespoons worth and loads of veg.

For dinner I’ll have a stir fry or chicken and veg.

I then have treats such as a cornetto depending on my calories remaining although I’m trying to stop that and have breakfast instead as there is a lot of evidence that having breakfast speeds up weight loss but I find it hard to eat before 10am even though I’m up at 5:30.

I would say to only have 1 can of tuna and maybe some sugar free jelly or ice pole afterwards but if you are ok eating what you’re eating now and losing weight then it doesn’t matter how you’re doing it.

Everyone is different and you just need to find what works for you and that is something that you can sustain long term.

That's a huge portion and if you're having a cracker, you've defeated the object of not having bread. Plus, wouldn't have and dressing as that's an extra 200 plus calories

Substitute a can of tuna with a boiled egg for variety, add a black olive and you have salade Niçoise. Other veg: radish, grated carrot, different salad leaves, tinned artichokes, red peppers, celery, big yomtoes, cooked green beans, grated celeriac, asparagus, cooked peas, beetroot, fennel, cannelini beans, chickpeas.

@Hatehooveringsomuch I've not read the whole thread but salad ideas that are low carb would be:
Olives
Hard boiled eggs
Cottage cheese
Tofu
Crust-less Quiche
Grilled large mushrooms stuffed with soft cheese
Stuffed peppers

I don't think two small tins of tuna is too much on a low carb diet - the protein should help keep you full and then you won't snack. I would have it in water though and then make a dressing with a good quality olive oil and balsamic maybe?

Falafel are nice in a salad but not as low carb! I'm veggie, but other non veggie ideas that could be nice would be smoked mackerel fillets perhaps?

just think it's really worrying that people without any qualifications are dispensing dangerous diet advice

How do you know people posting have no qualifications?

The same logic could apply to every thread on mumsnet-even the parts of the site for weight loss (and health, and relationships...)

It's scientifically proven that the most successful diets are the ones where you don't take advice from a bunch of randoms on the internet.

I've just (accidentally) bought a reduced calorie salad dressing. Asda own one. And it's really lovely. Very strong flavoured and tart. I don't miss Mayo and it's almost 0 calories.

You could add
grated pear or apple
Grated carrot, cucumber
Grapes
Melon
Olives
Basil ( fresh )
Sweetcorn
Mushrooms ( practically zero calories )
Artichokes - from a jar heated up is really nice
A poached or boiled egg
Spinach
Some seeds
Avocados ( I know they are high in calories )

Dressing try mixing vinegar and whole grain mustard ( I also add olive oil but you can leave that out )
Or some glaze if you have a sweat tooth

I’ve made this Green Goddess salad dressing before, with all Greek yogurt instead of a bend of mayonnaise and yogurt, and it’s truly delicious. It’s fresh, bright and herby. Not sure if it would work with tuna as I don’t eat tuna.

The whole salad recipe is great too, especially if you roast the chickpeas with the sweet potato. Really filling and nutritious without compromising on flavour and texture.

😂😂😂😂actually laughing out loud

🤣🤣🤣🤣

Some bread is ok as long as it is not stuffed with emulsifiers (shop bought) which apparently cause all sorts of problems Do you have any decent bakers in your area where you could buy bread which is not artificially produced

It's an idea not to ask for any ideas regarding food on mumsnet. It's shit but the disordered eaters are prolific on here. Have a look on YouTube or have a look on the BBC good food website. I think if you are limiting your carb intake then what you had was fab. There's no point being hungry an hour later!

Firstly you need to have breakfast and start your metabolism.