Eatbetterers part 3 -gather around healthy people !

[DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen]

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

Fantastic! What a great ad for Eating Better!

Did anyone else see this BBC article (linked to a prog tonight I think) about how eating a low fat diet isn't actually that good for you, and some fats are positively beneficial? Of course we knew that already here, but reassuring to see that maybe the 'standard' diet advice might be on the way to being revised?

There's just too much evidence to ignore by now surely Bram ? NHS healthy eating advice is really pretty poor, but I'm guessing they are paralysed with fear of changing it and getting it wrong again?

That's fantastic Bram, I'd be well proud of myself.

I'm not surprised people get confused with dietary advice to be honest, it seems to change so much. From a cholesterol point of view I've always been told cheese = bad so glad to see that my favourite foodstuff isn't as evil as I've been told. Have to say I lived on the Mediterranean for a year when I was younger and I love, love, love their diet. Wish our fruit and veg was as fresh and lovely over here too.

Todays revelations I do not like cold oatmeal as I nearly vomited the mouthful I had this morning of the overnight oats, hot is the way ahead for me. The dc don't like Spanish chicken and chorizo bake that I made tonight. I thought it was delicious but it's not going to make a reoccurrence as a family meal.

Hope you get better soon still

I love the idea of mindful eating sleep, it's something I've been trying to work on myself.

Hi all.
Congrats to Bram. That is really good news.

We got back today from a couple of days at a tacky but wonderful seaside resort. Chips ahoy! I spent the drive home thinking of wholesome meals I could make and went straight to Aldi as soon as we got back. About £40 of my shop was on fruit and veg!
This evening I have cooked a vat of lentil soup, roasted a chicken for a chicken pie tomorrow and made spinach burgers, stewed apples and roasted veg pasta sauce for the freezer along with a variety of grated veg and breadcrumbs to help me make healthy meals more easily. Tomorrow I will make a double batch of chicken pie with potato and cauliflower mash and a bean chilli and homemade fish cakes for the freezer. I'm not going to be caught out by a stressful day when I go back to work next week

Off to read those articles now.

Neeko- good work. And bramshott - that's pretty inspiring. Morrigu mindful eating transformed my diet and I really enjoyed it. I have at least realised why I'm eating so terribly at the moment. I just cannot face the thought of food. I made two soups on Monday night but I felt so sick doing it. On that basis it is actually more appetising to sling a veggie burger in the oven - despite that you'd think I'd prefer plain food. So I've got some bread for marmite toast and eggs. Minimum thought but a bit more sustaining. I feel slightly human in the morning so I may make a lentil sauce and a veg chilli then (instead of a run). Cannot wait to feel better! I do feel lucky though when I consider my friends who have been ravaged by cancer and the treatment for it so that they have long periods of feeling much worse than I do now

Oh neeko did you give me the recipe for the spinach burgers? Can I be really rude and ask again?

Hi Still. Sorry you are feeling so poorly. Hope it eases soon.

Spinach burgers:
2 red onions, chopped and fried until soft
150g grated mature cheddar
2 beaten eggs
5 slices of wholemeal bread made into breadcrumbs
1 packet of fresh spinach finely chopped
(We also put in a few finely chopped chillies or chilli flakes)
Combine all the ingredients in a large bowl and separate into 8 patties. Dip each one in plain flour mixed with black pepper. Chill for 30 mins then dry fry. (I chill them then wrap them individually in baking paper and freeze.)

They are nice served with spicy parsnip wedges (fried in a little coconut oil and sprinkled with paprika and chilli powder).

I bought a red cabbage yesterday which is a veg I don't usually buy. Any ideas for tasty things to do with it?

Thank you neeko- I shall make those today. And write the recipe down in my little book! Red cabbage and sultanas are a good combo. Not had it in years.

Do you just mix sultanas through the cooked red cabbage, Still?

I hope u like the burgers.

I think something like this but my dc would prefer these ingredients but a braised version? www.taste.com.au/recipes/25499/sauteed+red+cabbage+with+apple red cabbage

Haven't had it for ages and it is the perfect time of year

I tend to do a whole red cabbage braised with apple (like the recipe still linked to) and then freeze it in 4 smaller portions to bring out when we're having a roast, sausages or similar. DD1 and I love red cabbage. The rest of the family not so much!

Thanks very much both of you. Will give it a whirl.

Hi neeko - instead of making the burgers, I sat on the sofa for four hours doing nothing! Something is wrong but pretty confident I will crack it. Screen and driving make me feel sick. I have my first ever eye test at the weekend. Anyway, went to make them today but the cheese has vanished!!

Sleep - i read your blog post about the change one thing. This is great actually. I had as usually been thinking in all or nothing terms. But one meal of total mindfulness is a really good goal. You can do it, but it take a lot of focus and you will learn a lot. I'm getting some appetite back and so I'm going to attempt this tomorrow.

Thought this looked interesting
www.topwithcinnamon.com/2013/06/lazy-girls-zucchini-spaghetti-no-fancy-tools-required-with-peas-creme-fraiche-and-pesto.html

Still- could it be a problem with your ears? That can give you visual difficulties and make you squeamish. Don't remember you saying whether you have been to the doctors or not, but I think you need to. In the meantime I wouldn't faff around making complicated meals. The family will survive on simple and quick things like scrambled eggs or soup that needs only the ingredients thrown in and left to simmer. Chopped frozen veggies are your friends.

My change one thing is to eat only at meals, but at meals I can eat whatever I want. That's easier to do since I'm off work for a few days. Yesterday I really thought about lunch and what I fancied eating. Bizarrely I ended up with a big plate of scrambled eggs and beans which was a childhood favourite of mine. It was delicious and kept me full all afternoon. When I think back to my childhood, we are mostly home cooked food (with the occasional crispy pancake or tin of meatballs- Boak!) and rarely snacked. I've definitely as an adult fallen foul of the marketer's idea that we need to fill the gaps between meals with ready-made snacks like biscuits and cereal bars. Teeny tiny baby steps...

Hi Neeko - i have an eye test tomorrow and then I'll go to the dr's (yes, i am putting it off!). My dp took ds to his gig last night in london...and came home with chesse! So I made the spinach burgers today. Tasted good and 3 out of 4 ate them - but they were a bit wet - any tips?

Oh I caught some of Jamie Oliver prog - some kind of frugal cooking thing - anyway he did polenta which we chatted about a while a go. Anyway it seems he whisked it all the way through cooking then added a big dollop of butter. I still think mine would wind up sticky.

Hi Still. Maybe more bread crumbs? Did you use fresh spinach? I've used fresh and frozen and fresh is better. Glad 3 out of 4 liked them.
I know it's scary to go to the doctor but it could be a virus or a hormone imbalance and, even if the symptoms don't ease immediately, you'll feel better knowing you are having it dealt with. Be brave .

I've never tried polenta. What does it taste like.

Hi everyone

Still struggling but went for a lovely walk earlier, really autumnal now it's beautiful with the leaves changing colour. Made garlic chicken and salad for dinner.

I've also learned that I can't be in the same house a stollen bites

Oh Dame, I love Stollen bites but never buy them for that very reason.

What do you feel you are most struggling with?

I had a poorly DC tonight and was very tempted to cook oven chips and chicken but, I am proud to report, that I had scrambled eggs and spinach followed by an apple instead. I did steal two of DH's chips later though

Afternoon all,

Sorry to hear you feel awful Still. Have you been to the doctors yet?

I was off work and out of routine last week as I had friends over for the weekend. Ate same fab food but drank too much fizz and have felt knackered these last two days. Off today so getting back to normal. Soup made and I had some for lunch and salmon is defrosting for dinner. Going to meal plan as soon as I can get my backside off the sofa!

I'm eating the laziest tea
Courgette "pasta" done on a box grater and quickly fried in a pan. Added chopped ham, Parmesan shavings and big spoon of creme fraiche, stirred and done

That sounds fab good I've sort of meal planned.

Sounds great goodas, and even lazier and similar is raw courgette, cherry tomatoes, toasted line nuts and parmesan with olive oil, lemon and balsamic, delicious!

What's going on Dame? Other stresses?

Did you see the GP yet Still?

I have not been to the dr's!! But I feel nearly normal which is bloomin marvellous

I made mushroom soup today. Not my best effort but it's suprisingly hard to semi focus on something for the full 8 mins it takes! But ds has requested this for Xmas eve!