Are there any downloadable 7- or 14-day diet menu plans out there that are aimed at foodies (or is that a contradicton in terms?)

[superfluouscurves]

If so, I'd be terribly grateful for links please!

So far clicked on Weightwatchers and saw 'gravy granules' listed as a store cupboard ingredient. Eh?

Clicked on Rosemary Conley and she had loads of recipes with quorn (which I know is meant to be good for you but I hate it!)

Want to follow a diet that is healthy and uses natural ingreds but it has to taste good too. I don't particularly like loads of cream or fat in my food, so I don't think it should be too difficult to find? Or do I have to trawl through veggie recipes by Nigella, Hugh FW and co?

Any ideas anyone?

Meant to add - just look for a nice, simple plan to follow.

Come and join us on the low carb thread.

There are about 160 of us about to start tomorrow morning!

If you have time, and access to good shops for nice fresh ingredients (I have neither of these things :/) then the 17 day diet should be pretty good, and effective. I'll send an amazon link to the cookbook in a sec.

Hth and good luck!

AB

www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/1849839255

Thank you very much Ruprekt I'm not specifically looking for low carb (although I know I need to eat less of them!) but I will definitely check out the thread

Annaban yes, do have access to good shops/fresh veg etc. Will definitely have a look at that book.

Thanks again both of you! Much appreciated.

You could have a look at the Hairy bikers diet book, I've heard good things but I haven't tried it.

I just adapt recipes myself, I use myfitnesspal to count the calories.

Thanks ¨Snowkey I already have it as it happens. I think our cooking is quite similar to many of the recipes in the book simply because of where we live (ie Belgium where all fat is trimmed off meat, bacon is virtually fat free, no fat exudes from mince when you cook it etc etc and people generally incorporate loads more veg in to their diet). However, our portions sizes are way too big so must go back to book and see if they specifiy quantities etc. Would like a plan where all the calorie-counting is done for you if possible.

Tried to follow MFP but kept exceeding the limits!!

Thanks again!

You learn to fill your plate up with a small amount of lovely tasty food and a large amount of veg....good luck in whatever you decide. I do the 5:2 diet, it allows me to eat good food 5 days a week....and very low calorie twice a week.

Now funny you should mention the 5:2 Snowkey! Saw the Michael Mosely prog and read an additional article about it in one of the Sunday papers this w/e I think. Will peruse on Amazon.

How are you finding it? And what is the level of weight loss compared to other diets if you don't mind me asking?

The 5:2 diet has not helped me lose weight - probably because my BMI was between 20-21 when I started but it did enable me to maintain which is amazing....we eat out sometimes once or twice a week and have great affection for a glass of something laced with alcohol.

Mind you christmas was a killer, I didn't fast for 3 weeks, I had a chest cold so couldn't exercise and I fell into a vat of sugar and alcohol. I gained 5lbs!!! So to ensure a loss, I'm off sugar - in the hope that I can return to only eating puddings when we eat out, I'm off alcohol - normal January affair and I'm 5:2ing. Yesterday I had lamb shamwarma without a hint of guilt. I like interesting tasty food too much to eat cardboard everyday. On fasting days like today, I'll make a low cal vindaloo and serve with cauliflower rice - a big slug of oil would help the flavour but at least I can have the chilli hit today and eat normal food tomorrow.

I am using mfp to keep me on the straight and narrow but it's not difficult to stick as long as I stay away from my danger foods - sugar and alcohol.

Thanks again Snowkey that's really interesting info. I'm seriously considering 5:2 because, like you say, I don't mind eating only a small amount of (good) food on one day, if I know the other days are going to be relatively interesting.

Only prob is my dh (who loves food and cooking and looks as if someone has died if I reject any of his offerings). I know I'm responsible for what I shove down my own gullet but it does make things difficult!!

He needs to lose weight too so we shall just have to plan things very carefully and make sure we stick rigidly to the famine days.

Like you, I need to eat far less sugar and I had my last glass of wine for a couple of months last night!!

Thanks again! Your low cal vindaloo sounds fab btw!