Thread for those who are trying to eat "better"

[Octopus37]

Following on from yesterdays thread "Do I eat too much", which I posted on, I was unsurprising told that what I eat is crap. Have been feeling pretty crap the last few weeks, not enough energy low libido, sluggish, wound up, down - so have decided to see if changing my eating habits can shift things a bit. I'm not overweigh 5ft5, 8st6lbs, (slightly on the heavy side for me), but would be pleased if I did loose a few pounds, trying not to make weight the focus. Have decided to take a vitamin pill with iron every day, last year had v low ferratin levels so had to take iron tablets for a while. I'm not promising to do well every day and cut out sugar completely as I feel that I would be destined to fail. However, I am going to try to I improve. Today have eaten:
1 pack of Belvita biscuits
1 Actvia extra creamy yoghurt
1 large apple
1 Danone (high protein yoghurt)
3 Oatcakes
Some cashew nuts
I am planning on sweet chilli chicken & rice (ready meal cause of money diet) with some stir fried veg for tea and plan to eat some red grapes afterwards. Also may have some sort of a treat on school run. Also aim is to replace the Belvita biscuits with oatcakes for breakfast and maybe eat them with some cheese. Know I'm not doing perfectly but I am making an effort. Buddies welcome.

Welcome risette :)

LOL @ us all PMSing at the same time.

I learned (well, more noticed/accepted, as I probably already knew on some level but chose to ignore it ) something else about myself the other day. Went to the shops before work to buy some crappy snacky food as period had started.

Now that in itself I don't mind, I'm happy that I can mostly eat well and have the odd less healthy day without it making me want to give up altogether. But OMG I went soooo OTT. And I realised it's because of lack of time. I was wandering round in a panic wondering what would fill the void and pretty much grabbing anything that caught my eye. I felt actually not in control if that makes sense. I suspect that's also partly due to hormones, but I know that as I was worrying about queues etc I wasn't thinking right.

So in future I won't go to the shops before work. I know that I can shop well (mindfully!) as I've learned to do that recently so I need to make sure I only go when I can give it - and my body's needs - my full attention. :)

I am really struggling this week though. It's thrown everything out of sync and I'm really overwhelmingly tired both phsyically and mentally. A combination of several things I think. It's very hard not to get trapped in a vicious circle though isn't it. I need damage limitation!

Right, with that in mind I'm going to get my vitamins sorted for the rest of the week as I couldn't be bothered to on Sunday when I usually do it. Which then means I don't bother taking them. But half a week is better than none!

Just had lunch - falafels with hummus; tuna and beetroot salad; 1 slice of rye bread toasted with butter & marmite - yum.

Off out now to get party stuff for DD2's 7th birthday party on Sun - will not buy junk food whilst there! Maybe some more fruit though as we seem to be out.

Thanks for the welcomes

I'm going to have to a step by step approach, otherwise I go all out being super healthy and it doesn't last.

A typical day for me is:
Weetabix or porridge (as making this for my daughter)
Normally a shop bought sandwich lunch and usually white baguette type sandwich (area for improvement!)
midweek dinners are pretty healthy if not a bit bland. I do eat lots of veg.

Im not much of a foodie though....and I guess if I were on my own my diet would be a lot worse.

My main problem is the sugary sweets and desserts I eat during the day. I am going to start a food diary this week to see how bad I am

My husband is away for a couple of nights so dinner for me tonight is going to be a spinach omelette.

Just dug out my anti ageing low sugar diet so will take a look and share anything I try

Hey Risette, I don't know if you've read through the very long thread but I think most of us find that getting some protein and good fat into the first half of the day helps a lot with sugar cravings. So definitely have a look at different options for lunch (lots on here if you scroll through) and maybe consider other breakfasts that will keep you satisfied a bit longer if you snack on sugar/carbs in the morning . Eggs are a brilliant choice (hard boiled the night before if mornings are a rush).

I was complemented on my 'good cholesterol' today hoping the bad will go down in time

I'm doing a variation of lemon chicken with a dollop of Greek yoghurt - it's made it all creamy and delicious! Having it with spinach salad.

If you can eat eggs Risette then that will help for sure in the mornings!

Eggs are awesome. Fact. :o

Eggs are good. I guess you shouldn't eat them every day though?

Had my quota in my spinach omelette which was tasty. It's a Gino d'Acampo recipe 'Torta alla Gianduia' if your googling, except I didn't have any kale or sundried tomatoes just ordinary toms!

Kale is definitely meant to be a superfood though so will try and track some down for next time.

I agree about going to the supermarket with a plan. Another downfall, along with the cakes and biscuits aisle.

Eggs are fine every day, that myth was blown out the window years ago. Thank goodness as they are fabulous

Mmmm might have omelette for breakfast tomorrow, yum! I have spinach too, double yum!

Brilliant....will start trying poached eggs for breakfast as sleepwhenidie suggests....might curb the morning snack attack!

I think eggs are classed as a super food now, full of iron and other 'good stuff.'

From what I've read there is very little difference in cholesterol levels between petiole who eat eggs and those who don't. My father's heart surgeon didn't have anything bad to say about them < had a little chat while Dad was in hospital >

People

Yep the whole eggs are bad thing was basically a load of bollocks. I actually read a leaflet in the GP surgery a few years ago saying that it had all been a mistake.

I pretty much have them every day now, usually 2 at breakfast. I really thought I'd get bored with them but I love it. Usually two slightly-less-than-hard-boiled (I've perfected my timing now to get them just how I like them!), one slice of wholemeal seeded toast with butter. So lovely :)

2 eggs first thing are amazing never get sick of them!

Lol at the cyber synchronisation! I ate 2 jam doughnuts yesterday as was due on today.

Shopping in a rush/ panic means I buy crap. When I plan my meals I happily give the treats aisles a miss. Shopping when hungry is also a hazard for me, I end up with chocolate, and ready meals and sweets.

Ok, so does anyone have any cancer prevention type nutrition? Or is it all about the veg? (Have had a bit of potential bad test results)

I'll raise you.

For health reasons ( I have MS) I eat a vegan diet with fish. I started last August and basically no dairy, no meat, no processed food, no added sugar but you can drink coffee and alcohol.

There have definitely been times that I have fallen off the wagon. Part of the challenge are snacks, I eat stacks of Nak'd bars and Bounce balls, and oatcakes. I always have a pile of snacks in my bag.

Other than that horrendous amounts of salad, veg, nuts, seeds, wholemeal pitta bread, salmon, prawns and loads of soup (Amy's kitchen do great vegetarian soup). Instead of dairy - soya, almond milk. Great supplements Vit D, fish oil, flax seed powder, spirillauna.

Not that hard, meat is easy, dairy more of a challenge but sugar is the hardest. Does it make a difference, yes - removing the dairy my energy levels soared. Gluten can also be a trigger for low energy levels.

Good luck ladies, it's tough but well worth it.

Oh no rummi, are you ok, what does that mean, it's a possibility or you have it?

From limited reading I think green veg is vital and tons of it. I force myself to eat sprouts as my optician says it's important for eye health-we have eye problems in our family. I think green leafy veg is vital.

Too many 'leafy veg is vital' there

Just checking in to say hello. I've had a few none healthy bits since I stopped posting on here so I'm back so you can all keep me in check. Hope you're all still doing well.

I had some bad news today that'll be ongoing so going to find it very hard not to do my usual comfort eating. Usually would 'treat' myself to lots of chocolate and crisps and have a pig out but I know that'll make me feel worse. Especially as my pmt moods were 100 times better when sugar had been reduced.

Any anti stress type food advice appreciated.

I find out in a couple of weeks, less. They found something that could be. I'm ok. Stay positive, till I know. It just feels like a kick.

So, leafy green veg you say...

Coumarin, hope you're ok.

Rummikub, sorry to hear you've had bad news and are now having a horrible wait.

I'm no expert, but from what I've read over the years the best way of boosting our immune system is with a variety of fruit and veg and importantly to drink sufficient water during the day.

Diet is so important. Dededum my mum has ms and I know how hard it can be to manage it. A positive approach to diet is definitely right.

I hope you're ok too coumarin.

Have a good day. I'm off to have a bigger breakfast... I.e including an egg as advised....will try and keep it healthy today

Rummi and Cou -sorry your both having such a rough time atm x

I have officially given up on blueberries,I tried frozen ones this morning in yog and they are marginally better than fresh but basically still disappointing pap! I'm sure there are loads of other foods that are just as good for you

Thanks risette. I know I don't drink enough water. There's such conflicting info about how much to drink. Guess I should just increase my intake as 8 glasses a day sounds intimidating.

My dd loves blueberries but I can't bear to pay for those flavourless blue things!

Couple of friends have ms, different stages, but both say vit d is vital. Ms is unheard of in sunny climes.

Thanks dame. I hardly slept last night. Not through worry but because I'm now addicted to that damn 2048 game someone linked on another thread! I'm so close!