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Eatbetterers part 3 -gather around healthy people !

934 replies

DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen · 14/07/2014 16:27

Third thread of healthy eating, no calorie counting just good, healthy food for us and our families.

Smile
OP posts:
Sleepwhenidie · 23/09/2014 09:52

Hello serendipity and welcome, well done on getting through all 3 threads! Tell us some more about yourself when you get a chance.

Holmes you sound like you are doing really well, moving house is so stressful and of course you can't prioritise food and eating all the time, remember it's a practice not a perfect Smile

still I'm so pleased for you, you sound so happy and like you've made a real adjustment, it's such a relief to let go of the angst isn't it Smile

Haywire · 23/09/2014 13:34

Hello all have had a busy week with boring, plumbing and loft conversion, bat issue based misery - basically moved into a house stuck in 1976 that we need to modernise- so not had much time last week or so to post.

sleep that Anna Jones, Dahl is one of the nicest things I have ever eaten ; I am going to make it again tomorrow; i have made the nectarine chutney to go with it also lovely. Made the ratatouille with a fried egg on top last week (as have a bazillion courgettes to use) from same book had plenty of herbs and some saffron in was surprisingly really good. It did say to fry all the veg but I couldn't be bothered so just roasted it all.

Holmes agree on the protein breakfast being more filling I quite often have nut butter on toast with a banana after a early run and find that really keeps me going until lunch. go easy on yourself with the moving having fairly recently been there it is stressful and a bit all-encompasing near the end.

have just ordered HFW book light and easy so may have a new cookbook to obsess about soon.

AmericasTorturedBrow · 23/09/2014 13:50

HFW has a new book out? Uh oh Wink

still I make vegan Alfredo sauce with cauliflower - when I'm on a laptop and not phone I'll link it for you. Failing that, apparently cauliflower can be grated and cooked like rice or turned into pizza crust. I've never tried either, I hate the stuff

Haywire · 23/09/2014 14:22

I am such a cook book enabler Blush

mmmm I love cauliflower but have not done anything every exciting with it usually soup or pasta bake type things. Might look out something good to do with it and try it later in the week seem to remember it's supposed to be good roasted.

Sleepwhenidie · 23/09/2014 14:48

I've posted the adulterated (with smoked haddock) recipe on my blog if anyone is interested and doesn't have the AJ book. Smile

Is the HFW book the little one? I did the lamb cutlets with minted feta dip the other night and it was fab - kept setting the smoke alarm off when I was cooking them though Hmm. How worried should I be that none of the DC's were woken by it repeatedly going off Confused?

Haywire · 23/09/2014 15:11

It's just called river cottage light and easy looks same size as his veg every day book uses no wheat or dairy I think, coming tomorrow from amazon so will report back. Lamb cutlets with feta sounds like my kind of food. How do I find your blog sleep

SerendipityDooDah · 23/09/2014 15:54

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Sleepwhenidie · 23/09/2014 16:47

Well it certainly sounds like you've identified your pattern Serendipity Smile. Sorry to hear you are lonely and struggling with your hip Sad. You may have seen Dame and Fuzz on here, they have both started with health issues that limited exercise but are doing much better just with walking, is that an option for you?

My blog is here, I am on the mn bloggers network but the links don't work...

Sleepwhenidie · 23/09/2014 16:54

And I've realised the lamb cutlets came from Nigel Slater, not HFW, for some reason I confuse them Blush, both middle aged men in farmhouse kitchens I suppose Smile

Sleepwhenidie · 23/09/2014 16:54

Will post v easy recipe when I get home!

AmericasTorturedBrow · 23/09/2014 17:59

Welcome Serendipity and well done on getting back on your wagon. It must be hard with all the toing and froing on top if a stressful job / do you know how long you'll have to work in London for?

Ugh I love cookbooks but really need to go back to the ones I already have rather than buy new ones. HFW Veg is my favourite of all time ever, closely followed by Oh She Glows (vegan cookbook by a Canadian blogger) although when one day I get my appetite back for meat thenNS Appetite and Nigella's Bites just make me happy

Neeko · 23/09/2014 22:02

Hello and welcome to Serendipity Smile.

Loving all the recipe book talk. I have a weakness for them but end up making very few recipes from them. Love to know that they are there though for a browse and inspiration. Smile

Had a wonderful weekend away. Are a mindful and delicious breakfast each morning but it all went downhill from there. Lots of chips, champagne and chocolate (not together). Not sweating it though as felt really relaxed and managed to run and walk along the beach and felt more at peace with myself than I have for a long time.
Back to home cooked meals and smoothies as of last night.

Sorry to read about stressful house moves and work situations. It makes me sad that modern life is so stressful so much of the time.

Sleep. I've started reading that second book you recommended. It's interesting. Had never considered that the female obsession with being stick thin could be linked to a longing to be more masculine before. Shock

stilllearnin · 23/09/2014 22:07

Limited pooing? No thank you! Wow that's a lot Serendipity. I had a really abusive boyfriend once but when I said that I needed to lose weight, he said 'take the weight off your shoulders first'. The only remotely nice thing he said to me and good advice. Americas we have the same library! I'd add Plenty (the veggie version to that). I have failed in my 'one new recipe a week' pledge already, but there's a lot on this week including the last festival of the season...and relaxSmile

holmessweetholmes · 24/09/2014 07:46

Right, today is going to be a good eating day, moving or no moving. Breakfast was Greek yoghurt, banana, almond butter and a teeny drizzle of maple syrup. Lunch will be chicken soup and salad.

Cantdothisagain · 24/09/2014 07:56

Hello! Sorry for going AWOL. Just no time to post! I've been reading with much interest though.

I'm exhausted - eating okay I think but work is full on - any tips other than salmon and avocado for energy? It's not physical work so I don't need that sort of energy but it's mentally draining.

On Facebook some of my friends (more like old school friends than real friends iyswim) are exercising and dieting and posting about it. One is very slim (at a guess a size 6) and her mum (similar size) posts on her wall constantly 'good for you being so good, you'll be beautiful soon' 'think of the scales!' 'Soon your husband won't keep his hands off you'. The dieter posted about a family meal out and her mother posted back 'I hope you were good' to which daughter replied 'yes salad'...What a message from mother to child. It reminded me of your blog post Sleep and the daughter blog post you linked to.

I have Hugh FWs new book. It doesn't grab me as much as Hemsley and Hemsley but has some good ideas. I also have Jamie's Comfort Food. It's all about the balance...

stilllearnin · 24/09/2014 09:02

You'll be beautiful soon?! I was brought up to be the least judgemental person on the planet, but that's made me feel so sad- generation on generation no doubt.

shortaris1 · 24/09/2014 09:13

Goodness can't that's just awful!

Love my cookery books here too. Gok's Chinese one is a fave, as are both my Nigellas.

Bought some Linseeds in Aldi the other day which will be great with natural yoghurt as they are flavoured. Also taste lovely on their own!

Freezer is full with masses of soup from my soupmaker. Made lentil, tomato and lentil and 'bottom of the fridge'. Weather is a bit cooler so they're great to take to work. Can't wait til Fridays payday to go and do a big shop for lots of lovely food.

Prawn stirfry tonight.

Bramshott · 24/09/2014 09:41

Welcome to Serendipity! So lovely to read that you feel you've found a 'home' here!

Thanks for the link to the dahl recipe Sleep. I definitely want to try that. We eat a lot of smoked mackerel, but for some reason, not much smoked haddock. I'm about to start an insanely busy period with work (the one that makes me ill every year...) and looking for healthy and sustaining recipes I can cook up vats of to take to work with me. Dahl is always a winner and this one looks more filling and nourishing than the lentil and coconut one I usually make.

Now, what can I do with 4 egg whites?! I used the yolks in a recipe yesterday and am stuck with the whites. Usually in that position I do meringue and freeze them, but we never actually seem to eat them (even the DDs).

SerendipityDooDah · 24/09/2014 11:30

Morning, all.

Sleep, yes, walking, cycling, Pilates, resistance training are all options, fortunately! Just need to do some/all of them ...

Americas, I think the London gig will be for the next 9 to 12 months. The good news is that from next month I should be able to work 1 or 2 days a week from Dorset (broadband speed willing), which will make a huge difference.

Still, what a fabulous quote from a not-so-fabulous sounding ex-boyfriend. I'll remember that one.

Dahl recipes and others sound gorgeous. Have made these as well this week, both yummy:

Spinach Avocado Prawn Salad

Roasted Squash and Sweet Potato (minus the pasta)

Notmaisieinmorningside · 24/09/2014 13:03

Hello again, lovely Eat Betterers. I have rather fallen off the wagon since moving house (lots of chocolate and also hot buttered toast have seemed irresistible throughout post-move stresses and busyness). However, dd is now happily settled in to her new nursery, I've started to deal with the big backlog of work that built up during the school holidays (I'm self employed and had no child care) and I'm ready to start focusing again on eating better and getting back into yoga and walking. I am so glad you're all still here, posting nice recipes and cookbook recommendations, and offering support and encouragement. Thank you!

AmericasTorturedBrow · 24/09/2014 14:59

oh can't that's awful. My mum and I often talk about food but it's always with a health spin on it, and losing weight to be healthy - on the whole, she's allowed her occasional moans about what she sees as middle aged spread (which doesn't exist, she's beautiful, my mum), but even at the grand age of 31 she's still careful to always tell me she thinks I'm more than fine. She has once or twice gone as far as to say "don't worry too much, don't get too thin" but those have both been on the occasions I've been hard training and just about or just finished spending a week cycling 545miles so it was kind of expected that suddenly the work made me leaner.

Oooooh will look up Plenty!

You could make an egg white omlette bramshott - everyone in CA is obsessed with them and you can actually order "protein breakfast" in most places - egg white omlette, poached chicken breast and quinoa. Bleurgh. Life is for living! Failing that I have a great recipe somewhere for gin and tonic cupcakes that requires lots of egg white.

Baked up a storm yesterday - Banana bread which is amazing with almond butter spread on it, and garden vegetable muffins. Both recipes had tons of sugar in them which I substituted out and reduced - both a hit with DS, the banana bread with almond butter is particularly good for energy.

Getting back into a good frame of mind, mainly because this sprint tri is looming so I'm trying to get out exercising and filling my body with good stuff over the next 3 weeks. Eeeeek! Had my braces tightened yesterday so it's back to soups and smoothies for a few days, and a lovely squash risotto defrosting for dinner

AmericasTorturedBrow · 24/09/2014 15:02

Garden Muffins

I used 2 cups of courgette, 1 cup of carrot and 1 cup of grated sweetcorn as it was lying at the bottom of the fridge. Substituted the sugar for 1/5cup apple sauce

Sleepwhenidie · 24/09/2014 17:06

Hi can't, it sounds obvious but are you taking regular short breaks from work? Just 10 minutes outside, or a bit of yoga or meditation every couple of hours can make a big difference to energy levels.

If you think of a situation where you feel exhausted, lying on the sofa perhaps, getting up feels like an effort, and your best friend calls unexpectedly and makes you laugh - following the call your energy levels are much higher, yet you haven't eaten or slept. Certain people, situations, activities can be energy vampires whereas others can be the opposite Smile.

When it comes to food, caffeine and sugar can drain your energy too, after the initial hit they provide, so watch your intake of these. Choose meals and snacks with protein and good fat for sustained concentration.

cant those FB posts Sad but all too typical I think....

Neeko · 24/09/2014 18:19

Those Facebook posts are awful. HmmShock

I watched the Ted talk last night and found it hit me hard. Lots of what she said rang true with my own experience and I can't believe I've allowed myself to mess about with my body so much. Hmm
DH watched it with me and we spoke at length afterwards about it. I've been aware for the past few years that we need to be careful how we talk about food around the DDs, but the statement about many eating disorders stemming from a comment made by a family member made us both stop short. We have agreed that we will stop using fat as an adjective in this house, even in jest. Smile
I am also going to recommend adding that Ted talk to our school PSE program too. If it stops even one girl mucking about with her body then it will be a real result.

On a lighter note, made a casserole in the slow cooker today: chunks of lamb shoulder, butternut squash and red onion with rosemary, black pepper and veg stock. Delicious.

Managed to sneak in a quick run after work. Only 2.75miles but it all adds up. Smile

Maisie. Glad you are sorted bad back in the zone. It's hard to be mindful when your mind is full!

Neeko · 24/09/2014 18:21

AND back in the zone. No idea where the bad came from. Must be my clumsy thumbs.