Eating healthier

[alanfinal]

Well its no good just giving up the ciggies and not try to be a bit healthier in other ways,trouble is I'am single,I walk into tescos without much of a clue and sort of grab all the cheap red meats

Also making meals for one often leaves me eating the same two days in a row,for example I do a spag bol on monday and eat the rest on Tuesday

I do pork chops twice a week because a fiver for seven always seems good value,I do ribs on a Sunday.

Get the picture I think two days out of five I eat chicken,doh not really chicken,nuggets or Tesco's KFC stuff.

The rest of the day is usually cereal and something on toast or a sandwich.

There's no real fruit or veg apart from sweetcorn,I dont really eat fruit because it makes me go to much lol.

Anyway I've made a start if a slow one,I have bought a packet of blueberries for the past two weeks and changed my cereal to muesli and added salmon to replace one red meat day.

Not really sure where to go next but want to add more veg like broccoli to replace beans.

The hard thing is buying an amount for one on a budget and not having loads of stuff that goes off and also being a bit of a shite shopper that just wants to get out of the supermarket as soon as I get in it

[Skwoddy]

Fresh fruit (like blueberries and Strawberries) not like your normal run of the mill stuff, great for adding to Cheesecake, muesli, Weetabix. Buy a veg steamer, dirt cheap and do several veggies at the same time as steamed salmon or other fish, Most veggies will last over a week stored in a cool dark place.

Just cut your sugar in half, lose butter and avoid too much starch, surprising how quick you get used to it.

The big one is wheat, major bloater since genetically modified crops came along.

Try making a huge pan of spag bol and freeze portions, its better than the crap you buy processed.

Chile, stew, all those.

[crin766]

What are your goals, just to be healthier or to loose the love handles? You need a clear goal with changing your diet or you will always revert to you old (easy) way of eating. You are in the perfect position to do it though being single. When you have to worry about what the Mrs and kids want and the cost of feeding them healthier stuff it gets much higher.

Sounds like you are getting a lot of carbs - pasta bread cereal etc. What you need to do is cut these down and get most of your carbs in the earlier half of the day. Also make sure thecarbs you are eating are wholegrain. White bread and pasta converts to fat to easily.

Then you should swap the carby snacks you have later in the day and evening for fruit and nuts (unsalted mixed nuts) these are a great source of protein and healthy fats.

I would also recommend a protein shake. I have one in the morning for breakfasts - a scoop of unflavoured maxiraw whey (use casein if your trying to shift weight as this makes you feel full for ages) with a bananna and a scoop of ground oats and a spoon of coffee. This is a great time to chuck in any fruit looking past its best in the big fruit bowl you will have ;-) once you get used to it and stop the rest of the crap it won't make you go to much.

And meals - cook loads! If breast fillets are on offer, buy 10. Cook them all in a light sauce, avoid creamy ones as they're full of cals - rubs are best. Then freeze them in individual portions and pull them out the night before you will use them. If you do this with a few meats you will cut prep time in half which means more vaping time!

Once you start eating properly the thought of a nice rocket chicken salad with a dash of olive oil and a sprinkle of chili is more exciting than a bucket of kfc! Honestly!

Also drink plenty of water with every meal and eat little and often. Men's health always have good meal plans so have a look online - You will feel like a new man

[Mary]

any leftover veg, dont throw them but add a stock cube, half milk and water, salt and pepper and a potato,cook then blitz them and you have a nice soup that you can either eat of freeze.

[Blownupdolly]

If you are working all day, you would do well to buy yourself a slow cooker. We bought a new one a few weeks ago. Its a Breville. Only cost £17 and is huge, but you can get them even cheaper than that. Google slow cooker recipes and the world is your oyster. Choose ones with plenty of veg in. Chuck it all in the slow cooker set timer and go to work. As soon as you get home your dinner is waiting for you. You can then freeze the left overs if you dont want to eat the same thing every day for a week.
We had the most beautiful braised lamb shanks on Monday. It was to die for.
As for fruit. What about a crumble and custard. Can't beat it!! there are healthy recipes out there for it. Just google. My fave is rhubarb.
Hope that helps

[kickit]

One thing I sometimes do, if I'm by myself, is look in the supermarket for the bags of veg for soups and stews. There's usually one or two onions, a couple or three carrots, a swede or turnip and a parsnip.

However, buying loose veg is no problem and you only ever need to buy as much as you will eat in one sitting. Even if I'm cooking for the whole family, if I'm going to need just one courgette or whatever, then I only BUY one.

As far as blueberries are concerned, buy frozen. They're usually tons cheaper, and none of the goodness or vitamins are lost by freezing them. No waste, and you just take out what you need each day.

[alanfinal]

Thanks Skywoddy,did eat weetabix for years then it started bloating me along with pasta,always meant to go to a doctor and find out if there is a slight intolorance to something,crin766 nicely written and very helpful post,I am just trying to eat healthier,but there is a bit of a belly I should get rid of,Mary great idea,i need to buy a few things,walked away with nothing from my last relationship,so have had to buy everything again,slow cooker sounds great too dolly will be looking for one.

[alanfinal]

Dec 13, 2012 8:46:55 GMT kickit said:

One thing I sometimes do, if I'm by myself, is look in the supermarket for the bags of veg for soups and stews. There's usually one or two onions, a couple or three carrots, a swede or turnip and a parsnip.

However, buying loose veg is no problem and you only ever need to buy as much as you will eat in one sitting. Even if I'm cooking for the whole family, if I'm going to need just one courgette or whatever, then I only BUY one.

As far as blueberries are concerned, buy frozen. They're usually tons cheaper, and none of the goodness or vitamins are lost by freezing them. No waste, and you just take out what you need each day.

Nice one kickit,never even thought about frozen fruit

[Blownupdolly]

Dec 13, 2012 9:01:36 GMT alanfinal said:

Thanks Skywoddy,did eat weetabix for years then it started bloating me along with pasta,always meant to go to a doctor and find out if there is a slight intolorance to something,crin766 nicely written and very helpful post,I am just trying to eat healthier,but there is a bit of a belly I should get rid of,Mary great idea,i need to buy a few things,walked away with nothing from my last relationship,so have had to buy everything again,slow cooker sounds great too dolly will be looking for one.

Slow cookers are everywhere Alan. Saw some in Tesco last week for £12

I grew up in Pinner and Northwood Alan, so know Watford well. Is that big Tesco still there?

[alanfinal]

Yeah its my local supermarket and its too god damn big,at least half a mile to the drink section lol,you have been all the places I know,I had a little garage and a flat for a while in Northwood and go to Pinner to get my hair cut,small world

[booblay]

The hard thing is getting round to cooking when you simply can't be ar*ed. That's when freezing your meals comes in handy. That massive spag bol you cooked last week (the one with lean mince) you can just bring out of the freezer, defrost and microwave. Same with curries etc.

I recommend you eat healthy as poss all week but allow yourself one junk day. A Saturday for me. That way you won't feel you're depriving yourself.

[alanfinal]

Think I will keep doing my ribs on a Sunday,even after a year of doing the same thing I love them,and roast for one is a bit pointless,but luvly when you go out or eat at a friends,crap writing that made me realise how much I miss Sunday roast :

[crin766]

Who needs a roast when you have RIBS! Have you had jack daniel's ribs at TGI'S? AMAZING!

[Phoenix .]

You don't have to miss out on a Sunday roast. I live alone and buy joints of meat .I cook the meat, cook the veg for 2 meals, plate up 1 meal up save the vegs ( keep for a couple of days in the fridge) you have enough for another meal in the week. Freeze the remainder of the joint.

I also have a slow cooker, great for doing cheaper cuts of beef/chicken this also freezes very well .

Porridge oats are a good source of vitamins have them with dried /fresh fruit, I get the Oats so Simple 2 mins in the microwave, healthy breakfast. Cut down on the bread, cakes and fattening snacks ie crisps , nuts,ready cooked meals and processed foods will help towards getting rid of the belly fat.
If you have an Aldi near you I would use it, they do stuff much cheaper than Tesco and most of it is comparable to branded goods, especially their tin salmon, fresh veg and chickens.

I have not shopped at Tesco for months now and I can tell you I have saved £ss.

[alanfinal]

Yus crin have a TGI'S just down the road from work and yes agreed

Phoenix don't put the other half in the freezer,I will be round Sunday