@Idratherbereading , I was the same on my first week, thought I was going to die of hunger, turned out I wasnt using the app properly so recorded wrong and it looked like I had eaten over my swips by mid day
I didnt get the recording of the healthy extras right
At the time Healthy Extras for me ( you being a breast feeder will be more generous Im sure ) was two lots of dairy and one fibre option - for me as I dont do cereal was a wholemeal pitta . Dairy for me was a small amount of semi skimmed milk and 4 dairy lea lights or a bit of cheese. I didnt get that those were free - didnt need to be swiped if I stuck to the limits , and then that I could actually eat as much greek yoghurt on top as I liked ( plain and fat free )
So there I was recording them as swips instead of HE and of course - SWIPS all used
Look at free, speed and protein foods to make your main meals. If a meat eater you can have as many bacon medallions and eggs as you need to fill you, along with say fried potatoes ( just a light spray of oil ) baked beans, tomatoes and mushrooms for breakfast ( or lunch or dinner ) and its all free - no counting of swips What would be a swip would be the dollop of ketchup or brown sauce
Lunch is usually when I take bread - I get a wholemeal pitta, spread the middle with the dairy lea lights and then pack it with salad and protein - I like tinned fish, you may like ham - as long as its lean - fill your boots . On a sandwich like that I wouldn't use a swim but say you wanted tuna and mayo = the mayo is the swip and needs counting
Dinner - as long as you use 5% mince or lean fat free meat - you can fill your boots. Fish - all free. Eggs - free Pasta - free, spuds boiled or jacket or steamed - free . Veg - free . You can have the spaghetti bolognese, the chicken curry, the lasagne - it's the garlic and naan bread which will use the swips - and the jars of pre-made sauces. But there are so many easy recipes on the app, in the magazine , online . The swips come from the fats and ready made usually so you can actually eat all day long and not use a swip
Night time snacks I tend to avoid by timing dinner right, not so early that I get the munchies but my favourite is greek yoghurt and fruit - frozen , I just tip some in a bowl and nuke for a couple of minutes, top with greek yoghurt or the light and free flavoured ones , and add a sprinkle of granola ( bio and me is plant based and is great and counts as a HE choice and I dont need to count it if I haven't had bread at lunchtime ) or I chop up an apple or pear as a topper - for the bite and chew
I remember that first week with horror. I went back to a mid week meeting to say it wasnt working for me and my consultant showed me where I was going wrong . Since then it's a piece of cake.
And yes if you have an air fryer , use a spray oil , chips and roasties are on the menu and now they have wholemeal flour as a HE - yorkies are on as well as scones