to think that my diet is reasonably healthy??

[iwanttolearn]

In the morning I have a glass of soymilk, sometimes with sugar. I also have toast with cheese or peanut butter.

Then I have coffee

For lunch I have pasta or rice and vegetables or sometimes (about 1 or 2 times a week) chips. I will have meat sometimes, but I prefer mostly veg.

In the afternoon I have more coffee and usually a yoghurt smoothie. About 3 or 4 times a week I have a tendency to....have a chocolate bar or crisps. [embarassed]

For dinner I have soup usually, or something indian like chicken tikka or biriyani. And wine or a glass of coca cola or a fruit juice.

At night I have a cup of masala tea. it's my newest love....

So MN jury, what do you think?

Lol, I meant

SOunds ok to me. HAs someone said it's unhealthy?

Seems a bit short on fresh fruit and veg, and maybe could use more protein, and don't you drink any water? But otherwise I'm sure it's fine, I've seen much worse!

Probably quite high in fat/calories - do you need to watch your weight?

If I ate that I'd definitely gain weight.

Weight gain depends ultimately on portion size though, surely?

To me, it looks like you have too much saturated fat and sugar in your diet. If you are not trying to lose weight, fair enough, if you are, a couple of small changes would make a huge difference.

Instead of toast with cheese maybe have peanut butter and banana or fat free yoghurt with berries and nuts/seeds. Make sure the chips are 'fat' and oven or substitute them for sweet potato chips which (imho) are delicious.

I hate water and I'm really bad when it comes to drinking it. I have "good intentions", but then I add coffee to it for taste!

What's the context? If you want a few pointers to make it healthier, they're pretty obvious.

• Ditch the cheese and peanut butter at breakfast
• Drink water instead of Coke or juice
• Snack on raw fruit and veg instead of smoothies (packed with sugar) and crisps/choc
• Go easy on the curries!

I'm trying to lose a bit of weight, yes. Is it really bad that I don't eat much meatfor protein or can I have something else? I don't like eggs, so no omelettes or anything.

Oh indeed Meg but its very easy to have quite a lot of pasta/rice without realising.

Also personally cheese on toast for breakfast with sugar in milk seems not a great way to start the day.

But I'm small so can eat less than bigger/taller people before gaining weight.

Fish, and pulses like lentils and chick peas are all great healthy sources of protein.

Tbh if you are a steady weight (ie not gaining) and just want to lose a bit of weight it's pretty easy, all you need to do is...

1. Eat a bit less
2. Eat a bit healthier
3. Do a bit more exercise

So OK here could be a sample menu:

Breakfast: unsweetened milk, wholegrain toast with Marmite

Lunch: jacket potato with baked beans (great for protein) or pasta/rice salad with salmon (but don't smother in dressing)

Afternoon snack: banana / yoghurt & granola / carrot & cucumber sticks

Tea: grilled chicken veg and rice, or tuna steak, or tofu stir fry

Drink: one or two small glasses of wine every other night. Alternate nights stick to water or masala tea

Then incorporate 20 mins extra movement in your day.

I'm at a decent weight for my height, but I'm getting toward the heavier decent weight. I've been going to the gym, walking a fewtimes a week for a month now.

How do those of you who have chocoholic teenagers in the house avoid chocolate or other rubbish they eat. If i didn't have to see it all the time, it wouldn't tempt me so much. my dd can eat anything though, she's a beanpole!

If you are a chocoholic then get some good quality dark choc like Green & Black's and allow yourself two squares after dinner, you will soon find that cheapo dairy chocolate doesn't appeal!

The menu sounds great, thanks.

Thank you, Meg!

Giving up chocolate isn't easy as it sonds.... same goes for coffee...