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

999 replies

fuzzpig · 03/04/2014 20:22

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! :)

OP posts:
Neeko · 04/07/2014 21:04

Chocolate for me would still be the hardest thing to give up.

Having a lovely holiday. Went to aldi on the first day and stocked up on Greek yoghurt, nuts and fruit so at least breakfasts have been healthy. Why do tourist areas in the uk serve everything with chips? Today is my birthday and I so wanted a nice meal with vegetables but the best I could find was grilled sole, potatoes and salad (think two pieces of lettuce, a slice of cucumber and tomato Confused). We have a long way to go to challenge the eating habits of a nation!

Looking forward to cooking from scratch again on Tuesday Smile

holmessweetholmes · 04/07/2014 21:34

Hmmm - I would find cheese hard to give up too. Also bread. Although I do find bread a problem. Even when I eat good home made stuff made from wholemeal flour, I find it hard to just have one slice.

I need to get back into the weight training too. Things have been a bit hectic round here this week so I haven't done any for a while. Proper routine needed!

fuzzpig · 04/07/2014 21:53

I'm getting a routine together too. DH did a personal trainer qualification when he was job seeking and is creating a gentle progressive programme. Going to make up a table on the computer so I can print it out each week :) It'll be mostly gentle stretches, building up to weights later, and I'm going to include tai chi which I've tried on DVD and really enjoyed. Also getting a mini exercise bike. :)

OP posts:
shortaris1 · 04/07/2014 23:03

Enjoy the holiday Neeko. Know what you mean about chips!

I'd find it really hard to give up cheese. I've never met a cheese I didn't like Smile I also love bread Holmes, so much so that I've had to banish it as when I buy it I end up eating endless slices every day, always slathered in butter. I have got a breadmaker but as I live alone I don't use it as I'd just plough through whole loaves of the stuff!

Forgive me Eatbetterers, for I have sinned. A man brought my dinner to me tonight (takeaway). Oh well, it is Friday and I'm working through the weekend so I've roasted my veggies and got my Greek yoghurt and raspberries from Aldi to take in with me so better choices tomorrow.

Fuzz, I'm very excited about the sound of printing out a table!!!

stilllearnin · 04/07/2014 23:12

Fuzz, that's great (and a handy DH to have, mine fell off a ladder today!pretty bruised but ok). I can't decide what food I'd pick. It would have been choc, cheese or bread. But the pull is nothing like it used to be. Lentils, chick peas, tinned toms...oooh pizza, actually. I can eat any weird veg pizza. Don't really need the cheese - its the tomato and base combo.

stilllearnin · 04/07/2014 23:22

Oh and happy birthday neeko

kazza I used to eat when stressed too and also when angry. I can honestly say that although there are emotional aspects to my eating, I don't feel like I'm an emotional eater anymore. I can't be too specific about why unfortunately (or id be really wise!!) but I think it has something to do with seeing food as it is and letting go of dieting. Although I'm haven't figured out how that can help its just what I've noticed alongside not being driven to eat by my mood. My dodgy eating now all comes from being tired and disorganised!!

Neeko · 05/07/2014 07:43

Thanks stilllearning. Hope your DH isn't too sore today.
I'm loving all the positive exercise talk. I definitely need to get myself in gear with that when we get home. I have a physio appointment soon to finally start sorting out my dodgy hip so I'm hoping to start running again in the autumn. It's the one exercise that fits best in with our work schedules. Until then I'll have to stick with walking and hula hooping.

Sleepwhenidie · 05/07/2014 09:01

Belated happy birthday Neeko Smile

You lot are cheating, I said one thing I would be very sad never to have bread again too Grin

Your exercise plans all sound great, I agree that's a handy DH to have Fuzz. You sound a bit better? Did you get a bit of rest?

short - no such thing as sinning here! Did you relax and enjoy the takeaway? How was it and how did you feel afterwards?

kazza I think what fuzz says about getting out of dieting mentality is a big part of becoming less of an emotional eater. Also remember that there's nothing wrong with you for doing it-food can after all help us deal with life, calming and distracting us, it's a natural instinct to seek food to do this (like babies). It becomes a problem when we become dependent upon it, overuse and even abuse it, like any drug or coping mechanism. Instead of battling it, try first just slowing yourself down when you get the impulse to eat. It can be handy just to identify the trigger and exactly what you are feeling - (good idea to keep a little notebook to do this). Awareness of what is going on is a big first step. Then when you are able, give yourself a choice of other coping methods-shout, run, shower, walk, call a friend, do your nails (make a list today of all the things you think you could do). Remember these are all choices, if it is food you really want in a stressful moment then make that choice and eat it slowly and take proper comfort from it, rather than mentally checking out and demolishing it Smile.

Sleepwhenidie · 05/07/2014 09:02

Oh, who was raving about the Honestly Healthy book? I ordered it and it came yesterday-looks AMAZING!

fuzzpig · 05/07/2014 09:18

Oooops sorry neeko totally failed to say happy birthday! Hope it was a good one despite the disappointing meal! Thanks

Oh dear still falling off a ladder sounds horrible, hope the bruises are healing! Arnica cream is good IME.

Sleep I've been meaning to write a list of nice things to do to lift my mood (not necessarily to distract from false hunger but that is definitely one factor!) - thanks for the reminder, I'm going to do it RIGHT NOW. :)

OP posts:
Sleepwhenidie · 05/07/2014 09:45

On the breakfast Kazza, would you like almond butter, or sardines/smoked mackerel pate or mashed avocado on wholegrain or sourdough toast? How about smoked salmon (and avocado), or Greek yoghurt as discussed above? A breakfast 'pudding' you can throw together before you go to bed or on a Sunday for the next few days, with yoghurt, oats, chia seeds and coconut milk, topped with berries and a drizzle of honey?

kazzawazzawoo · 05/07/2014 09:47

Happy belated birthday neeko Smile

Thanks for the tips about emotional eating sleep and still. I'll try to do so. I've been going through a very stressful time and need to stop using chocolate as comfort.

Sleepwhenidie · 05/07/2014 09:48

Sorry, it was still that made the point about dieting mentality and emotional eating. Still do you think the same applies to your reduced 'pull' towards the bread cheese and chocolate?

kazzawazzawoo · 05/07/2014 09:49

sleep, I don't like almond butter (have a jar in the cupboard that I tried), or sardines etc, in fact struggle with fish full stop. I struggle with yoghurt without sugar too Sad This morning I had porridge made with almond milk with half a tsp of sugar sprinkled over and two strawberries cut up on top. That was ok, quite liked it.

Sleepwhenidie · 05/07/2014 09:49

kazza don't beat yourself up, you could be relying on vodka or crack Smile

Sleepwhenidie · 05/07/2014 09:53

Your porridge sounds good, maybe a bit more fruit and a few nuts would be even better Wink. Perhaps stop thinking in terms of 'breakfast food' altogether if you aren't keen on fish suggestions etc. Have what you would have for lunch or dinner, who says what we should eat when? Smile Steak and veggies (for example) would be weird at first but there's no actual reason why it's wrong Grin

kazzawazzawoo · 05/07/2014 10:02

Thanks sleep. The fact I don't have much time in the morning makes things difficult too. I seem to spend a lot of the evening preparing lunch for the next day (usually tuna and egg mayo salad) for myself and dh. In the morning I'm getting dd ready for school and myself ready for work, so it's easier to have something quick.

Sleepwhenidie · 05/07/2014 10:46

Ok I am going to have a think about easy stuff!

Sorry, I meant the Hemsley&Hemsley book, not honestly healthy Confused!

Notmaisieinmorningside · 05/07/2014 11:13

Hello everyone, and belated happy birthday to neeko. I am still trying mainly just to eat more slowly and with a greater awareness of the fact that I am eating - with mixed results. Last night I was about three quarters of the way through dinner before I remembered to slow down and actually notice myself eating... The other things I'm trying to do are to improve my breakfast and snacks. Normally I have tea, granary toast and lashings of butter and marmite for breakfast, and occasionally eggs, if time permits. For the last couple of weeks I've been having poached eggs, wilted spinach and granary toast, or toast with avocado, cherry tomatoes and a drizzle of olive oil, or a version of Bircher muesli, with oats soaked in a little water overnight, berries, full fat proper Greek yoghurt and honey. And for snacks (previously strongly chocolate orientated) I'm still enjoying the celery and almond butter combo, and also like cubes of beetroot and feta. I certainly haven't given up chocolate (had fantastic chocolate sorbet the other day, from a chocolatier dangerously close to our flat, and chocolate mousse for dessert last night) but I'm finding that I'm not using it as a crutch to get through the day in the same way - and that eating it less is making me think about it less too.

holmessweetholmes · 05/07/2014 11:51

I'm having mixed success atm. However, I am not worrying about what I eat so much and am eating plenty of good stuff. Just need to avoid the sugary things a bit more consistently!

My plan was to only eat sweet stuff when I bother to make it myself - the occasional crumble, flapjack or something - so that it is really good stuff and worth indulging myself, and so that the effort involved dissuades me from making sweet things too often. But I keep caving and buying random packets of biscuits or mini magnums.

Right - am going to have a good week this week and not use my stressiness about the house move as an excuse to eat silly things.

Cantdothisagain · 05/07/2014 11:57

It's me raving about the Hemsley and Hemsley book Sleep.

Did the Sri Lankan lamb curry yesterday (in slow cooker) - was fab.

Ditto sea bream teriyaki, the salmon, chicken adobo etc etc!!

Sleepwhenidie · 05/07/2014 12:07

Flowers cantdo, I can't wait to get started trying things. I am out today but have optimistically left it open in the kitchen - maybe DH will decide to cook dinner Wink!

holmessweetholmes · 05/07/2014 13:16

I just had a look at that book on the Kindle store. Looks like there are good recipes, but are we buying into the principle behind it - the 'alkaline diet' thing? Sounds rather like the kind of diet advice that I'm trying to steer clear of! I read the Web MD review of the diet. It basically said that of course the diet works - because it involves going all or mostly vegetarian and eating wholegrains and loads of fruit and veg - but that the alkaline bit was pretty much nonsense.

holmessweetholmes · 05/07/2014 13:18

Ahhh - sorry, x-posted! Will have a look at the Hemsley and Hemsley book!

stilllearnin · 05/07/2014 13:42

Nice recipes on the HH tho. I'm going to have a crack at that Ella's cauliflower pizza base next week. My dd has discovered the shop near her school. She goes with her friends after and the sweet wrappers on her bag are terrifying. Not sure how to tackle it. She gets pocket money monthly and they generally use it for things they've been coveting but she seems to have little bits of money stashed away for sweets. Any suggestions?