Eat your Greens - 10 / 10 club week 8

[FrannyandZooey]

For anyone who wants a boost to their general health. The suggested goals are:

EAT 10 PORTIONS OF FRUIT AND VEGETABLES EVERY DAY

(if you don't usually eat much fruit and veg I would build up gradually or you could upset your digestion)

DO (AT LEAST) 10 MINUTES OF EXERCISE EVERY DAY

(can be yoga, stretching or something more energetic. The plan is that the idea of doing 10 minutes is not too daunting, and having started you may well find you want to do more)

There are no restrictions on what you eat so long as you get your 10 fruit and veg as well. The focus is not on weight loss but on improving our energy levels and hopefully our general mood and well-being.

Sign up below and post here to tell us how you're getting on and how you are feeling.

Basic guidance on what constitutes a portion of fruit and veg here

and more detailed information here

Well yesterday I had:
melon (1), carrot (1), guacamole (made with 1 avacado, 1 onion, 1 tomato - 3), 2 plums (1), apple (1), stew (leftover with all veggies listed below - 3) = 10

And...... I did the 10 min warmup on my new DVD. Was very feeble exercise but obviously I need to build up. Will try harder today.

Hello, haven't been online much over the last few days - ds has had a cold and hasn't been napping/sleeping well

I think I have been doing quite well on the f&v front. I have generally been having some fruit with my breakfast, as well as juice. And I've been doing better at snacking on dried fruit and nuts instead of biscuits! Yesterday I made up a big batch of butternut squash curry with loads of veg in which will last a few days.

I have thought of a few good ways of 'sneaking' f&v in/ staving off unhealthy cravings if you are having trouble:

• grate/mash/chop fruit of your choice and add to porridge/muesli/natural yogurt (I find mashed banana in natural yogurt and apple in porridge especially lovely)

• dates and (yogurt coated) raisins go someway to satisfying chocolate urges

• unsalted nuts are really filling and can satisfy savoury cravings for crisps

• grate a carrot into any tomato/sweet potato/lentil based sauces or soups to enrich flavour and get another veggie in

• while you're at it peel another carrot to eat while you're cooking

As for exercise, I did go for my swim on Sunday evening, first time in AGES, and it was lovely. The thing I like most is coming home feeling really chilled. Then I went to my Pilates class on Monday evening. I like it but don't think it is having the 'relaxing' effect on me just yet - I've only been going a few weeks and think I still feel quite tense during the class as I'm not very supple and worry about doing the moves right. Will stick at it though.

Oh and my veg box arrived today - looks good, but I have two ingredients I rarely use: runner beans and cauliflower. Anyone got any exciting ideas what to do with them? (Or they'll just get bunged in a sauce or soup!)

Happy birthday for tomorrow Franny

I make cauliflower cheese or I have just used 2 (small ones though) in an Ainsley recipe for biryani. Very easy - supposed to be lamb but DH doesn't like so made it with chicken. Runner beans I just chop, boil (should really steam) and serve as is.

Today I have had melon, pear, roast veg (1 aubergine, 1/2 courgette, 1.5 peppers, 1 red onion), dried cranberries. I am counting that as 7. I have an apple in my drawer, biryani (containing lots of cauli and peas) for tonight and also stewed some pears and plums.

ahahaha birthday coming up eh!

Today has been good, toast and banana for breakfast, cycled to work, grapes, nectarine, oragne, apple, red pepper, tomatoes, banana and veg fajitas with side order of broc, cauli and carrot. Reckon that's about 10 already actually wow!

feelin very fruity

tatties - make a nice aloo gobi-style curry with the cauli?

Cauliflower
Potatoes
Onion 1 chopped
Ginger,Garlic paste 1 Tsp.
Salt Acc to taste.
Tumeric 1/2 Tsp.
Cumin Powder 2 Tsp.
Coriander Powder 2 Tsp.
Red Chilli Powder 2 tsp.
Garam Masala 1 Tsp.
Oil 1 Tbsp.

Method :
Seperate the florets from Cauliflower. Wash & drain.
Cut Potatoes into Chunks.

Heat Oil in a Pan , add Onions & fry till translucent.
Add ginger, garlic paste, stir, Mix in Potatoes , cover to cook.

When the Potatoes are half done , add the florets,
tumeric & salt. Cover to Cook. Open afer a few minutes,
add all the dry powders & mix.

Sounds yum FMF, ta!

I am so tired today and have a sore throat. Since breakfast have eaten clementine, beetroot, hummus, tomatoes, cucumber, carrot and felafel. I am guessing another 3 - 4 portions there? Will go and eat an apple and another clementine, I need the vit C...

Was planning gym tomorrow but if I still feel like this I think I will comfort myself with energetic present wrapping and the infamous birthday banana cake

oops - unwrapping - I hope

Oh dear Franny, hope you are feeling better soon. I've had a sore throat the last week and it's just going now. Enjoy your banana cake

One grapefruit eaten in honour of Fruit & Vege Queen Happy Birthday

I feel a lot better today thanks Tatties

Had half a pineapple and half a melon this morning, along with some croissants

May go to gym or may not

will report back later

franny

do not go to the gym

it is your birthday

Instead content yourself with wrapping your presents (bit of a slip there, my friend )

ps what kind of banana cake do you have? I have apricot, raisin, fig and chocolate with a few nominal bananas chucked in.

Happy birthday dear Fraaaaaannnnnyy!

happy birthday to you!

But Filly

I like the gym and it is a treat for me to go

my lovely young personal trainer is there and I can use my new MP3 player

FMF I can honestly say no one has ever, ever, given me a bouquet of cheese straws before

I am touched

um

did you get an mp3 player and a banana cake and lots of books for your birthday?

um

we don't have the same dp, do we?

Franny, I am now going to eat a Raw Carrot for breakfast, in defiance of my traumatised tonsils, in honour of your birthday Here goes....

fab and healthy banana cake

franny, pls tell me that you are not having a fab and healthy cake on your birthday, please.

Greeny, if you hawk on this thread I will have you removed

Filly yes and my sister got me a cashmere sweater and I am scared of it It is bothering me actually, I have wrapped it in tissue and put it in the cupboard, but it is just waiting for me to look the other way and then it will creep out and rub itself in butter, or something

Filly, I like the gym and I like fab and healthy cakes

Oh god I am 35 and I am still a fucking nerd aren't I?

how many banana´s makes up 8 oz?

and you're not 35, franny

not til this afternoon.