Filling food that isn't bread?

[ExpressDelivery]

First of all, this isn't about weight loss or low carbing. I run around 40 miles a week, carbs are a good thing and I don't need to lose weight.

I want to eat good nutritious food to fuel my running, but find I eat a lot of (wholegrain) bread. I think my diet would be better with more variety. It's not that I think wheat is "bad" it's that I think having it at every meal probably is.

So I've had my evening meal (chicken and veg curry with rice) and I'm still hungry. I don't want pudding, don't generally have refined sugar, usually I'd get some toast. What's an alternative?

Rice cakes with peanut butter
Crackers and cheese
Those krisprolls with butter or cheese
Oatcakes- optional philadelphia
Home made popcorn with butter and salt

That kind of thing is my go to snack

HUEL!!

huel.com

I know a few software engineers who exist solely on this stuff (+ caffeine and booze)

I have it for the occasional breakfast or lunch on the go.

Waaaay better for you that a supermarket meal deal or toast and jam.

I don't think this is about protein or slow release oats and 'feeling full'. It's about getting energy into your body in advance to fuel the running and the only sensible way to do that is carbs. 40 miles a week is a 10,000m run six days a week. That's an incredible amount of exercise on a 'normal' diet that many sedentary people would share, but what would be helpful is to understand how that exercise is spread over the week. Is it six miles a day, or twenty miles twice a week? Makes a big difference.

Most serious runners I know load up on carbs the night before a long run, and pasta seems to be the choice for them. More complex carbs, such as a banana or three, several hours before a serious workout also seems to work.

Chickpeas, lentils, and quinoa are staples in this house. Lentils are high in iron too.

Also, agree with pp to look at the amount of fat in your diet. It's fairly accepted that when your body isn't digesting an appropriate amount of fat it still thinks it's hungry and craves more, which is why people put on weight on low-fat mayo and stuff, because they just end up eating more of it.

And finally, while things like mixed beans and nuts are generally good at providing energy and protein, you will know that very high fibre diets are not a distance runner's best friend!

I find a lentil daal lovely and filling as a meal! This is my fave recipe by a company called Spice Pots

www.spicepots.com/blogs/recipes/lentil-daal

An apple!