Come forward EatBetterers and unite - it's the second happy healthy eating thread!

[fuzzpig]

Here's the previous thread where it all began!

EatBetterers are trying to improve the diets of ourselves and our families. No weighing, restricting, calorie counting etc - just finding joy in nourishing ourselves by making positive changes one step at a time. All welcome! :)

Bssh are you finding being slim a bit of a head f*?

Not as such. I was a very confident and happy size 20 too but wanted to lose weight for health reasons. I admit it's an absolute delight to go clothes shopping these days: some of my favourite designers only produce clothes up to size 12 or 14 but I am benefiting, in terms of personal style, from being able to fit into them now. It's a lot of fun clothes shopping now, to be honest.

Food is still my hobby/focus (as it is my DH's), so that hasn't changed. I just need to get used to the fact that my appetite is not as large as it was. As you say, to relax more about it all :)

Had a very moreish breakfast today of dark rye bread with butter and emmenthal cheese, along with a glass of gold top milk (scrumptious!) and a juicy peach.

I plan on having vegetable soup with added spinach (and swirl of butter) for lunch with a store-bought green smoothie (Naked brand) then spinach dahl and cauliflower curry (will add the leaves too) for dinner, followed by cherries. Snacks, if I'm hungry or fancy it will be raw almonds and macadamias.

Oh, and milky coffee and Japanese green tea.

Hi Gerty! Your 15 minute lunch sounds like a nightmare for anyone but particularly for someone with digestive issues. Unfair and crazy.

Bssh, are you veggie? Your food for today sounds delicious.

Chicken mayo salad for lunch here, with added pumpkin seeds and pomegranate seeds. Mmm.

Welcome Proseccoco! Gerty - 15 minutes?! I may eat fast but that's just not on!

Proseccoco, welcome - this is 'Eating Better', not 'Eating Perfect'. If you really want a double decker, have a double decker - but here the rule is that you have to sit down, focus on it (not on MN or the TV) and eat it as slowly as you can - really enjoy it.

Gerty - 15 mins - that's really bad, could you campaign for 10 mins more ?

Bssh - I have food envy

Hey found you all again!

proseccoco I love Double Deckers and have not given them up, just reduced the amount (of chocolate in general) I guzzle. The key for me is to eat more healthily overall to counteract the sugary/processed stuff. Also, I don't do guilt - especially around food. Welcome, by the way :)

Gerty welcome.

Cant no not a veggie (as you'll see fron next week's menu: DH is planning a lamb & pumpkin stew - slow-cooking it on Sunday to eat during the week). We tend to eat less meat on the week though; more on the weekend especially when we eat out, plus roasts of course.

Can't Yes it really is, have tried eater eating more and therefore faster, just makes me feel awful, particularly as I'm generally running around straight afterwards. They have said I can have a little longer but that feels unfair to other staff, and is just not feasible on busy days.

Today I had porridge with blackberries and raspberries, two small slices of wheat free toast, small ham salad and a pink grapefruit for lunch but then snacked on chips. Having salmon, sweet potato wedges and salad for dinner, probably with greek yoghurt and fruit afterwards.

I loathe Double Deckers.

Anyone remember the dreadful programme of the same name?

I only do 5 or 7 hour shifts, so we're not entitled to any more and it wouldn't be needed if I wasn't eating food. The trouble is the shift timings (12pm-5pm or 5pm-12/1am) mean that they always coincide with meal times. I think I need to change job really, this one is killing me with getting up at 5:30-6:30am and working so late. The plus side is I don't miss out on too much time with DS when I work late shifts.

Also, double deckers are HEAVEN.

I had a random breakfast of a small slice of wholegrain bread with nut butter, some nelon and a slice of mozzarella! Then a nice salad and a banana at Pret for lunch as I was out. Then spaghetti with meatballs and tomato sauce for dinner. It is nice to alliw myself pasta again, but I find I eat a far smaller portion of it than I used to. I don't want to eat anything bloaty atm as I have to squeeze into an empire line Regency dress for a posh fancy dress party on Saturday. It is rather unforgiving around the ribs!

Well brazilnut pesto is divine! Did roasted vegetables with quinoa and the nut pesto, with rocket and radishes. Was really nice even if you are iffy about quinoa.

Also chocolate brownies (homemade, of course, and clearly Very Healthy)...

I like quinoa but can't eat it - it gives me a stomach ache! Apparently there is a substance in it which is mostly removed by washing but which can irritate some people's stomachs. I must be particularly sensitive to it!

Holmes-I had spaghetti again yesterday as I was staying with family and that's what they'd cooked,I had a minute portion again and it was more than enough. God knows how I used to eat such a big plateful!

Exactly, Dame! My portions (of everything, not just pasta!) crept up when I first lived with dh. I guess I used to serve us both the same amount. If eating better dies not achieve a bit of weight loss over time, I will reduce my portions a bit. But I must say, I swear I can feel the difference after only a few days - my clothes feel a bit looser, especially around the middle.

I am off for a radical haircut this morning - from just below shoulder length to a crop! It should suit me a bit better than it did when I last had it short years ago as I am a bit slimmer in the face. I find that as I get older, weightloss is noticeable very quickly in my face shape (in a good way, thankfully). Anyway, fingers crossed that I don't regret the big chop...

Cant that roast veg & quinoa meal sounds delicious!

I'm going to fast today (having done 5:2 for over a year I still do it periodically, as does my DH; I always feel fab afterwards). So dinner tonight will be dahl and cauliflower curry again (same as last night).

Funny - Sainsburys cashier commented that my shopping looked incredibly healthy! That despite the chocolate and the fact that much of my veg comes in an organic delivery...

crumbs I have ust about caight up with this thread! I see random snippets before someone takes my laptop away!! Really skint til next week but I have to say this has done me some good (kind of) as I have had to thikn about what to eat more. I have a store cupboard of chick peas, lentils, bulgar wehat and tinned toms to fall back on. So I went and splashed out 7 on veg in Aldi (i worry about the ethics of that place you know but not got round to finding out about it). Its turnedout well too.

I am still working my way through the book sleep recommended. It makes you reflect quite a bit and it has been really helpful. Your talk of acceptance and relaxation reminds me of some of the most useful meditation I do. related but a slightly different angle - but very basically it is about being able to stand back and notice resistance (this includes attachment too) to something, soneone, somefood. That way you can see it for what it is. From the noticing comes acceptance. None of that actually makes sense from my description and only really makes sense if you practise it, but I have found it useful in all parts of my life.

Sleep, report back on the flying trapeze. My dd does aeriel circus but has only done flying trapeze once. It is really high but I imagine you have good upper body strength. Bet you want to do it again staright away!

Just broken my fast with half a falafal & humous wholemeal sandwich (shared the other half with my mum) then orange and yellow peppers dipped in a tub of Moroccan humous (a whole tub so wonderfully calorific). Then 2 no sugar, raw vegan Nakd bars: banana and chocolate. Boy these are delicious and the chocolate crunch one reminded me of Double Deckers but less cloyingly sweet so I can totally see me replacing the latter with these.

Dinner later tonight will be dahl, cauli curry & wholemeal Basmati again, like last night. Perhaps raw nuts and an apple if I feel like it.

stilll you sound like you're in a calm place ref. attitude to eating/life :)

Hello, I've been lurking for a little while, and just wanted to say how refreshing and inspiring I'm finding this thread to be. I'm making small changes at the moment, trying to focus on eating more slowly and mindfully - and I'm astonished at how difficult I find it just to slow down, sit down, and give all my attention to the fact that I'm eating... Still, baby steps are better than not trying at all...

Hello,

I was hoping I could join in a bit? I have been trying to make a few healthier changes this week as I was feeling really lethargic and bloated for the past while. I have more or less cut out wheat / bread this week and think I feel better for it.

Today I had porridge with a tiny sprinkle of organic unrefined sugar, and a small glass of juice and a coffee.

Lunch was a 2 egg omlette with a handful of cooked mushrooms and a tiny sprinkle of grated extra mature cheddar served with a salad of lettuce, tomato, cucumber, spring onion and a drizzle of dressing,

Had an apple after.

dinner was roast chicken, I had 3 medium slices of breast with a large helping of roast veg - carrots, red onion, yellow pepper, garlic, celery & cherry tomatoes, seasoned and drizzled with a bit of olive oil. It was so delicious. Did regular roast potatoes etc for dh and dd, clean plates all round and we have half the chicken left for tomorrow.

However I then had a small portion of M&S dutch apple pie (cinnamon and raisins etc) and a tablespoon of icecream. First 'rubbish' since monday, so I guess not tooooooo bad.