How can we eat better???

[PositivePete]

I read a post a few weeks ago, and can't find it now

Basically - I eat CRAP!

I am fortunate enough to stay slim, I have no idea how. I have 2-3 take aways a week, I am ashamed.

I don't eat breakfast & then by 11am I'm starving and scoff a foul pre packed sandwich.

How can I get more organised with food, lunches & dinners ...

I just want to be healthier, more organised, eating fresh food, and not spending a disgusting fortune on CRAP!

HELP!

Hmm, what's stopping you? Is it that you don't know how to cook, don't have time, are in a rush to eat, don't have ingredients in? Are you cooking just for you or for others? What do you like to eat?

I'd start with a small change you can stick to, like eating breakfast, or cooking one more home made dish a week. Meal planning may be helpful and it can make shopping easier. Cooking enough for more than one meal at a time saves a lot of hassle. There are also companies that deliver a weekly box with recipes and the food you need to make them - a bit pricey but cheaper than takeaways and might help to get you started. Google recipe delivery for various options.

Single Mum, work full time, I can cook in fact very well, I seem to have lost my "zest" for cooking well :(

I cook my DS everything (apart from the odd "orange food)

I think it's because I am tired & the thought of cooking & preparing for the next day is far from my mind at 7:30pm (when DS gone to bed) ....

What about making a Bolognase over a weekend (or week in the slow cooker)?

You could then make this into a lasagna, stuff the sauce in cannelloni' or make a pasta bake with it.

You could eat chilli one day and then stuff the chilli in tacos/wraps another.

You could make a stew/casserole and then use it on another with a pastry top or mash.

Stir frys are very easy and quick even if you use microwave rice or noodles

I would also buy frozen veg (saves the chopping and is often more nutritious than fresh) such as: peas, green beans, spinach, sweet corn. Sainsburys/tescos, also sell frozen onion/garlic mix which is the basis of most meals anyway.

You can do this!

Wow! Fantastic ideas ..... Thank you, am going to start this ...

If you want to get organised a meal plan will probably be the best way. But don't go overboard with planning lots of difficult things - make sure you have some 'easy' stuff in there like stir fry or the filled fresh pasta or leftovers.

Have easy wins where you make 2x or 3x the quantity of food you need and either have it the next day or freeze for another week.

Do you want to eat breakfast and just don't have time? Or do you not like eating so early? Can you take a banana and a yogurt to work with you so you scoff that at 11 instead of the sandwich? Then you can push lunch out later.

Is money an issue for lunch? Can you buy a nicer lunch from work canteen or something?

If you're cooking for your child can you just make more and eat that food for dinner?

I have a work canteen that I eat in now, but when I used to have to take food I found leftovers were the easiest, healthiest and nicest things I could realistically bother doing on a regular basis. If you have a microwave at work have you tried taking leftovers?

Also, Jamie's 15minute meals is a good quick go to for quick meals (there was also a thread on here about meals in ten minutes).

Thank you again for the ideas. Banana & yoghurt sounds good, I just don't feel like eating in the morning.

Ok so easy/not too rigid meal plan. Left overs for lunch. And just need to change my attitude

I was gonna say as well, why not eat what your DS eats.

I watched a programme this week bit rubbish tbh but the thing that stuck with me from it was "you only have one body, treat it well". I'm going through a bit of a shameful food phase myself, I know how easy it is to fall into that junk food loop.

Breakfast will set you in good stead for the day. Eggs, or oats, or something similarly substantial, with a portion of fruit on the side. I like toast with peanut butter, sliced banana & cinnamon, or a poached/scramble egg on toast with a handful of grapes on the side. At least then if the rest of the day goes tits up you know you've done one thing right!

It's the amount of Junk Food I eat, it's shameful .... shockingly so & as you say God knows what it's doing to my body.

And I'm hardly setting a god example for my young DS

's the amount of Junk Food I eat, it's shameful .... shockingly so & as you say God knows what it's doing to my body.

What do you mean by junk food? Chocolate and crisps as snacks, or 'junky' main meals like takeaway pizza and curry?

If it's the takeaways - what is it you like about them? The convenience? The taste?

The convenience factor can be helped once start making 2x or 3x when you do cook, as you'll usually have something in the fridge or freezer to eat which will be just as easy as calling for a takeaway. Or eating with your child since you are already making food anyway.

If it is the taste, maybe sub for slightly healthier cheaper alternatives at home - jar of curry sauce plus a chicken breast (or tin of chickpeas or lentils if you like eating veggie) onion, pepper and handful frozen green beans. More veg than your takeaway curry, cheaper and enough for more than one meal.

When I crave pizza I go for the filled pasta stuff and have it with tomatoes sauce (passata heated up in microwave with a pinch of mixed herbs) and cheese grated over the top. Serve with mixed leaf salad from a bag. Easy, cheaper and not as bad as a huge takeaway pizza. Again, should do 2 meals and reheats ok if you are generous with the tomatoes sauce. Or something like a tuna pasta bake satisfys the carb-cheese pizza craving for me as well.

I bet you're just being hard on yourself for not making the ideal choices when you're tied and hungry getting in from work.

Set yourself a 1 week challenge to meal plan (but don't make it too difficult - nothing complicated) and get back into the habit of cooking and eating well.

Here's a meal plan that I did a few weeks ago to help get your 5 a day - hopefully might be helpful! :)
www.eatdrinkcook.co.uk/7-day-meal-plan-for-your-5-a-day/