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.

I either need to give my cooking a severe reboot or invite myself to dinner with each of you on a rota basis

I have had a very despondent day and cannot get any motivation for anything grrr. I think I am overwhelmed by everything I think I have to do. I was in my pj's by 5pm and just want to get the whole day behind me. I managed to eat at tea time but made a chick pea and feta thing that is usually lovely but the whole things wasn't nice at all.

Tomorrow I am pushed for time - dp is back at the hospital for a check up which means i need to do lots of work and 2 school runs, and get dinner. But I am going to go for a run - even a short one - as soon the sun comes out!

Ah Stilllearnin, it sounds like you are putting too much pressure on yourself. This thread is about eating better, not perfectly.
Maybe your run tomorrow will help to clear your head. If not, come round here for tea: Cajun salmon and stir fried veggies here tomorrow.

I did a half hour fitness DVD instead if my run then some foam rollering. Lights are flickering here so it's going to be pretty stormy.

Aww Still - sorry you're feeling low . Remember that most people are blundering along eating a crappy diet and not doing any exercise. So at least we are trying to live healthily and managing it some of the time! Hope you find your mojo. I have real slumps too on the motivation front, but getting out for some runs has really picked me up this week.

Well thank you for the invite! I do put pressure on myself and always have. I think for the next two weeks I will just get out to run and not worry about time or distance - and try a new route too. Work is all pressure as we try to get everything set up for a good end of financial year and I'm not sure I've done enough.

But there are lots of positives and i am assuming i will hit my stride. My parents are taking me and dd to London next week - I feel like a kid (in a nice way). We are going to the Grayson perry exhibition and the ballet boyz. I am really looking forward to it.

Chin up Still, you are doing great. I totally get the feeling if just wanting to hibernate, especially when you have so much on your plate. I was full of new year enthusiasm for general sorting out, moving forward with work, fitness, food but we got home after the holidays to find we'd been burgled so for 3 days I've been dealing with police, insurance claims, quotes for repairs etc, with the knowledge of all the other stuff that needs sorting, putting away Christmas decorations for a start! The urge to crawl back into bed after everyone else has left the house in the morning has been strong! Be kind to yourself, run for the enjoyment and release of it and go to bed and cocoon (when you practically can) if you want to. Don't worry about cooking!

Morning all! Just rushing past to report that the broth was good. The basic broth was extremely tasty (sounds like sleep has the same recipe) and not spoiled by the veg (but nutritionally enhanced).

Busy day today as have DD2 (7) on inset. Need to try and get as much work done as poss this morning so I can do something nice with her this afternoon.

Did anyone see an article in the Guardian magazine about how January is the worst time for resolutions/ new habits? Basically that the weather and darkness makes it difficult to go outside your comfort zone!

I can see that being an issue Bram!

I've just been reading this month's copy of Cosmo Body, I was so impressed with it, really refreshing approach throughout to healthy changes, body acceptance, two (!) fashion articles featuring models that look like real people, great food pieces, an interview with Nicole Scherzinger who comes across really well. And a piece on extreme exercise that urges caution and patience. I'd highly recommend it!

Still I've been exactly the same this week. Felt really down and had rubbish skin and poor sleep but I've forced myself to plan meals and managed 2 gym sessions and my first ever hot yoga sesh last night!

Owed some lieu time from Christmas so taking it today and planning to chill with a movie.

Silly question, has anyone frozen anything with coconut cream in? Is it possible? Doing Dames coconut dhal tonight but there's only 1 of me so would be good to freeze some. If not how long do you think it will keep in the fridge?

I've frozen coconut dal (and coconut milk on its own) and it's worked fine.

Sleep sorry to hear about the burglary. Hope they took nothing of sentimental value.

Still. Hope you are feeling a bit better.

Short. Did you manage to get everything done?

The book 'Whole- rethinking the science of nutrition' is less than £2 on kindle today. It gets good reviews so might be worth a read.

My plans for the weekend have been scuppered as my youngest was up being sick at 3am. Just the once but will need to lay low today.

Well everyone, life is good at getting in the way, hey?

What a difference a day makes is my current theme tune. Yesterday, I started work late and got out on a slow and windy 4 mile jog. It was lovely and I felt miles more motivated for it. I made a pizza for tea and did a veg thing of roasted cherry toms, sugar snap peas, green beans, and roasted hazelnuts. Not fantastic but felt a bit better for making the effort.

Yes sorry to hear about the burglary Sleep and Neeko, I'm getting there now thanks. Hope your day went ok and your wee one is feeling better.

Didn't need to worry about my dhal leftovers, I scoffed 2 portions . I halved the recipe and then ate the lot. Bloody lovely. Ill be doing that again! Never done dhal before but very tasty and easy.

Can't get warm tonight. Going to add a onesie to my ensemble. Glam!

Ooh was that my dhal recipe? Glad you liked it!

It was Holmes. Thanks again.

French day here today but need to pop out later to get food.

Argh dreich that should say!

I made the jamie Oliver veggie chilli last night on sleep's recommendation - really good.

Glad you enjoyed it Still .

Did anyone get any good recipe books for Christmas? I got Polpo, which looks fab, also Persiana and I ordered The Medicinal Chef too, can't wait to start trying recipes from them all. Did Polpo spinach with garlic and chilli with some salmon on Thursday, so simple it's hardly a recipe at all but it was delicious!

Neeko how is little DC?

She's much better thanks, Sleep. Only sick once and then a bit under the weather yesterday but back to her usual nonsense today.

No cookbooks here this Christmas but I already have loads that I don't use often enough.

We had slipped into a takeaway habit in December and it's quite refreshing to be back cooking everything again. The DC even requested boiled eggs for breakfast the other day followed by a banana. I was very proud.

Still. I googled that chilli. Looks lovely. I'll definitely give it a try. We had Jamie's Aubergine Dahl last night. I love it but the Dahl takes a lot longer than the recipe states. Worth the wait though and plenty Dahl left over for another time.

Chipotle chicken Mexican stew planned for tomorrow. Yum.

I confess that I'm still lurking on the diet threads but keep smiling to myself when someone posts that they lost x amount then quickly follow it by stating they put it on again. It's much less desirable now. Thanks.

Aww - sorry to hear she's been ill, Neeko. We had some lovely local lamb slow cooked in a spiced tomato and aubergine stewy thing which dh made. Really nice. I was all geared up to have another crack at kicking the sugar habit starting tomorrow. Then dh randomly decided to make a big cake. I only had a tiny sliver and will try to resist it tomorrow!

That lamb thing sounds delicious Holmes. I've never had lamb and aubergine together though I love both.

I'm just cutting down on sugar as there's still too much Christmas temptation in the house. DH and I enjoy a cup of tea and something sweet at supper time we are not in our 80s, honestly but I'm trying to limit it to then and will cut it out/down between the Christmas stuff finishing and the Easter chocolate arriving!

I still have a little Christmas weight to lose plus the stuff I was working on slowly and steadily before Christmas and definitely have more body confidence when I'm a dress size smaller than currently, but I'm back to eating 3 healthy meals a day and exercising - though no running this weekend due to storms. I'm trusting that doing this without piggy portion sizes will get me where I want to be. Might be slower than ww or 5:2 etc but it will be permanent and the DC won't grow up remembering that mum was always dieting.

Interestingly, this thread has made me quite cynical to adverts for low fat and diet products. Before joining this thread I'd have watched it and thought "oh I must try that one", now I find myself thinking about how much sugar it has in it, or what type of filler etc.
Be proud - you lot changed that mindset.

Well, today is going better food-wise so far. Omelette for breakfast, and just had a big plate of salad with smoked salmon, cream cheese and lots of lemon and black pepper and a rice cake. I won't ever go extreme low-carb again, but there is no doubt that my appetite stabilises and I feel generally better when I avoid eating regular, full portions of carby stuff.

Aaaargh! I am still in the grips of this post-Christmas sugar addiction. I manage to eat really well all day, but still can't resist the sweet stuff at about 4pm. Or if I resist it then, it rears its head again at about 9pm.

I know that a bit of sugar now and then isn't a problem, but as soon as I eat any, it makes me want to inhale every ounce of chocolate/cake/whatever is available in the house!

holmes - have you tried pukka's peppermint and licorice tea or something similar? it tastes sweet and seems to do it for me without making me want more sweet stuff.

Has anyone seen the stuff about the horizon 'diet' program? I wish they'd drop that D word - its come to mean something about losing weight until you reach a goal, rather than a way of eating. I love Tanya Byron too.

I feel exactly the same way about the D word Still! I haven't watched the programme but I did read about it. The hormonal aspect is interesting and persuasive. The emotional eating part obviously a thing but definitely not solved by a diet, quite the opposite!

Holmes when you say you 'eat well' through the day are you falling into the trap of creating a sense of restriction/deprivation? Are you getting enough fat at breakfast and lunch ? Would a couple of squares of dark chocolate after lunch help? I have that most days and also when the inevitable 4pm munchies hit me I'm finding an apple sliced and spread with a tablespoon of nut butter or an apple and a couple of dates is filling the gap for sweet and satisfying really well....