icicles one of the differences I notice between dieting and stopping drinking is the different way in which our bodies / minds react.
The way I see it dieting is related to our biological imperative to survive, so when we diet there is a real physical and mental biological drive behind wanting to eat, and it takes time to retain our bodies to get used to smaller amounts of food without thinking there is a risk of starvation. And like a petulant child, it can be quite difficult to find the means of distraction if we haven't planned in advance. And it's always easier if we catch it before a real tantrum sets in.
So here's my 'Chicken Soup for the Alcoholic' - not a schmaltzy collection of words but some real practical advice. Early in the day when your resolve is strong, write a shopping list and go to the shops. Buy a chicken, and some onions, a big can of sweetcorn, and a can of evaporated milk (not condensed milk!!). Also buy some nice crusty bread and some lovely sweet tomatoes. Come home and roast the chicken - or buy one of those ready roast ones. For lunch make your self a wonderful tasty sandwich of roast chicken, crusty bread and sliced tomatoes, adding salt, pepper, olive oil, basil to taste. Make a plan for your favourite way to use the rest of the chicken meat, perhaps a lovely curry, or fajitas, or a chicken and mushroom pie?
Take the left-over chicken bones and boil them with salt / pepper / herbs to make a delicious and nutritious stock. Of course you could just use a stock cube, but then you'd miss out on the lovely sandwich and the possibility of a great curry.
Later in the afternoon, when perhaps your resolve is starting to waver, this is the time for real action. First sit down and have 2 big glasses of water, or 2 cups of tea. Then back to the kitchen. Chop the onion and cook it gently in butter or oil. Add the chicken stock and three-quarters of the tin of sweetcorn and cook for about 10 minutes. Add the evaporated milk. Blend or liquidise. Add the remaining sweetcorn and some finely chopped cooked chicken. And there you are the best ever tasty lovely chicken and sweetcorn soup. You'll feel full and satisfied, and the petulant inner child will have been kept occupied.
But what about the times when you haven't got a chicken to hand to start the distraction process? Well have you got an onion, a stock cube, a tin of tomatoes and a couple of handfuls of lentils? Same routine as before - 2 big glasses of water or mugs of tea beforehand to satisfy your thirst. Fry the onions, add stock, lentils and a tin of tomatoes. Cook for 20 minutes and blend. Tell the petulant child that you'll attend to it once you had your soup. Or maybe that craving will have gone until tomorrow. And you'll have spent less than £1 on a big pan of soup, rather than a fiver on cheap wine.