Don't want to count calories but DO want to have a more structured nutrient-dense way of eating - any nice meal ideas?

[ToriTheStoryteller]

I've read through some of the threads and they look great from a support/buddy point of view.

I realised I already do roughly 15:9 or 16:8 but I'd like to eat more healthily so adding in one or two days of very low calorie-eating sounds like something that will suit me.
I wanted to get an idea of what people eat on their "2" days. I was thinking of variations on the following ideas (I think the idea is that those days are also low carb? Might be wrong though!)
Brunch:

• Fruit, natural yoghurt and mixed nuts/seeds.
• Poached egg with spinach on toast.
• One-egg omelette with onion and another veg - mushroom or pepper.

Dinner:

• Chicken or tuna with salad leaves, cucumber, tomato, pepper, baby corn, etc, and mixed nuts/seeds or pulses.
• Chickpea/spinach curry (no rice).
• Lentil soup or dhal.

Do they sound like the sort of volume that you would go for on a "2" day?🙂

The spacing has gone a bit wild, sorry about that.🤣

I’m following with interest as I want to try something similar I think. When I’ve done 5:2 type plans before, the 2 days are around 600 calories if I recall. I know you say you’re not counting calories but maybe in the planning stages that could help you? 2 x 300 calorie meals? For example your 1 egg omelette could possibly be 2 eggs and maybe even some cheese to be around 300 cals?

Just you and me then.😂

Yes I might have to have a look so I have a rough guide then I can adapt recipes to mix them up a bit.

I'm going to have natural yoghurt, fruit and nuts now, then for dinner it will be chickpea and veg curry without the rice. I'm looking forward to seeing it as a bit of a reset. I fairly healthy but there's always days that are a bit crap so if I'm going to eating less on these days I think it will encourage me to prioritise nutrition on the other days too.

My typical menu usually gets quite streamlined when I’m properly ‘on it’ …. But then I get bored so it’s a fine balance getting it right..

I often have a protein shake for breakfast and add almond milk, frozen berries and spinach to it. I find it more filling than Greek yogurt. I like overnight oats as well. Dinners are usually meat + salad in varying proportions. I tend to buy a mix dressing and use that all week, then get a different one the next week. I also buy the spice sachets type things, divided over 4-6 portions the calories aren’t awful but they add a bit of variety that otherwise I probably wouldn’t bother with if I had to think for myself. This week I have a Nando’s one and a nadiya Hussain one- I don’t always follow the whole recipe I just use it to season my chicken or fish.

I make a Vietnamese salad with those skinny rice noodles, very finely chopped vegetables, prawns or shredded chicken for protein and lots of coriander on top.

dressing is a mix of lime juice, rice vinegar (same benefits as ACV), fish sauce (more protein) and maybe some soy sauce if I need a bit more punch.

vegetables are usually: cucumber, carrot, radish, spring onion, chilli and tomato.

sounds like a lot but it take literally 10 minutes to prep a batch which lasts two or three days.

Edit - I’ve just counted and there’s 8 different fruit and vegetables in there!

One of my other go-tos for something sweet is my Protein Yop.

100g Greek yoghurt
1 scoop vanilla protein poweder
Frozen summer berries
Water to loosen to a drinkable consistency

All in a blender until smooth, strain to get the pips out.

It takes like Yop but has over 30g of protein and at least one of your 5 a day.

Thanks guys, nice ideas. That Vietnamese salad sounds really tasty. Just need a bit of summer to make me want a salad (instead of wind and rain that makes me think I woke up in November today!)