Dieting and healthy eating on a budget
Discussion
As some of my own PH posts will attest, I'm a fan of pies and fatty, unhealthy foods in general. Unfortunately that time has come where I have to stop eating pies and start eating healthily. Oh, and to exercise, but that's another matter....
However, therein lies the problem - We've been eating better (not eating at 8/9pm, lighter meals, salads/wraps for lunch, etc) but there's that empty feeling after a meal that I'm not sure how to deal with - usually, I'd eat until I'm full (usually of rice, chilli, chips, etc) but with meal sizes reduced, it means that we/I don't feel quite so full.
How do you combat this - how do you diet effectively? How do you eat healthy, light meals and not feel like you need a great big steak afterwards? Is it just self control?
Another question is how to eat healthily on a budget? Having not been into healthy meals, it'd be nice to get some hints and tips of menus that we can have for the evening meal and lunch from the PH masses.
Thanks
JTW
However, therein lies the problem - We've been eating better (not eating at 8/9pm, lighter meals, salads/wraps for lunch, etc) but there's that empty feeling after a meal that I'm not sure how to deal with - usually, I'd eat until I'm full (usually of rice, chilli, chips, etc) but with meal sizes reduced, it means that we/I don't feel quite so full.
How do you combat this - how do you diet effectively? How do you eat healthy, light meals and not feel like you need a great big steak afterwards? Is it just self control?
Another question is how to eat healthily on a budget? Having not been into healthy meals, it'd be nice to get some hints and tips of menus that we can have for the evening meal and lunch from the PH masses.
Thanks
JTW
selection of tips:
make own healthy bread, pittas, tortillas, pizza bases you just need wholemeal flour, water and yeast ( for bread ).
wholemeal rice/pasta
lots of snacking foods - sultanas much cheaper than raisins
make humus from chickpeas,seasame seeds, garlic, oil for pittas dipping / spreading on stuff
go for value ranges and spice up with fresh stuff - eg sainsburys curry sauce is 9p and has all natural stuff in - throw in some wild gralic picked for free and a chilli and its fine
turkey slices are good
cheap fruit / veg at supermarkets
+ the usual - skimmed milk, no butter, lots of olive oils
i too miss the "full" feeling but get round this with the home made pittas / flat bread. real coconut is quite good to chew on too as it quite meaty. oh and lots of fish
hth
make own healthy bread, pittas, tortillas, pizza bases you just need wholemeal flour, water and yeast ( for bread ).
wholemeal rice/pasta
lots of snacking foods - sultanas much cheaper than raisins
make humus from chickpeas,seasame seeds, garlic, oil for pittas dipping / spreading on stuff
go for value ranges and spice up with fresh stuff - eg sainsburys curry sauce is 9p and has all natural stuff in - throw in some wild gralic picked for free and a chilli and its fine
turkey slices are good
cheap fruit / veg at supermarkets
+ the usual - skimmed milk, no butter, lots of olive oils
i too miss the "full" feeling but get round this with the home made pittas / flat bread. real coconut is quite good to chew on too as it quite meaty. oh and lots of fish
hth
Thanks - Fish and "value" veg is something that we are having, not to mention picking up chicken in the "reduced" sections and roasting that (for a stir fry or to go into a wrap).
A big part of the problem is daytime snacking - The company I work for gives you free fruit (bananas, apples, oranges and pears), but the temptation of chocolate is great (I can, however, get over that simply as I only really like dark chocolate which isn't a vending machine offering).
How healthy is the likes of Hummus and/or chick peas anyway?
A big part of the problem is daytime snacking - The company I work for gives you free fruit (bananas, apples, oranges and pears), but the temptation of chocolate is great (I can, however, get over that simply as I only really like dark chocolate which isn't a vending machine offering).
How healthy is the likes of Hummus and/or chick peas anyway?
james_tigerwoods said:
Thanks - Fish and "value" veg is something that we are having, not to mention picking up chicken in the "reduced" sections and roasting that (for a stir fry or to go into a wrap).
A big part of the problem is daytime snacking - The company I work for gives you free fruit (bananas, apples, oranges and pears), but the temptation of chocolate is great (I can, however, get over that simply as I only really like dark chocolate which isn't a vending machine offering).
How healthy is the likes of Hummus and/or chick peas anyway?
not sure on calories but im on a no fat / no cholesteral diet so its super healthy for that.A big part of the problem is daytime snacking - The company I work for gives you free fruit (bananas, apples, oranges and pears), but the temptation of chocolate is great (I can, however, get over that simply as I only really like dark chocolate which isn't a vending machine offering).
How healthy is the likes of Hummus and/or chick peas anyway?
get really really dark chocolate as you dont need as much. usual thing of drink loads of water
its bbq season so get low fat stuff like venison, fish and sling it on and have with salad with new potatoes or bulgar wheat etc
having a vending machine is a mare the only way i can do it is to have no unhealthy stuff at home whatsoever.
james_tigerwoods said:
The vending machine is easy to avoid too as I'm trying to cut unnecessary spending too.
Venison might be out as it's expensive, but I like the BBQ plan
It's the best thing to do to avoid a trip in the ambi...Venison might be out as it's expensive, but I like the BBQ plan
Easier to do than not do. Good food (in terms of simple things) is cheaper than ready meals. You just need to know the basics of how to cook. I moved out of home, bought a few simple cook books and went from there. For me to get organic fruit, veg and meat for 2 people is only about 35 quid a week. And could be done cheaper.
james_tigerwoods said:
..We've been eating better (not eating at 8/9pm, lighter meals, salads/wraps for lunch, etc) but there's that empty feeling after a meal that I'm not sure how to deal with..
Breakfast cereal is your friend. A bowl with skimmed milk, as big as you like, anytime during the day when you get the nibbles will do the trick. I buy supermarket brand bran flakes, cornflakes and dried fruit from the baking section to add sweetness. Even if you aren't that keen on cereal, just stick it down your neck! You also need to get your metabolism going, so ten minute walks before or after meals, or indeed anytime you can will help. It also gets you away from the fridge and larder - out of sight, out of mind! Once your stomach begins to contract a bit, you'll get full quicker, and begin to eat little, but more often.
It'll get easier as you get fitter, you just can't see past feeling hungry at the moment!
Oh, and drinking plenty of water will help, so always have a bottle with you.
Edited by pacman1 on Monday 26th April 09:55
Colonial said:
james_tigerwoods said:
The vending machine is easy to avoid too as I'm trying to cut unnecessary spending too.
Venison might be out as it's expensive, but I like the BBQ plan
It's the best thing to do to avoid a trip in the ambi...Venison might be out as it's expensive, but I like the BBQ plan
Easier to do than not do. Good food (in terms of simple things) is cheaper than ready meals. You just need to know the basics of how to cook. I moved out of home, bought a few simple cook books and went from there. For me to get organic fruit, veg and meat for 2 people is only about 35 quid a week. And could be done cheaper.
Ah well, at least I'm not in a hole with that like this guy....We never do ready meals but we enjoy fatty/bad foods - well, me more than her... Doing things cheaply can be difficult as we have a 2 year old that seems to rocket our shopping bills somewhat!
pacman1 said:
james_tigerwoods said:
..We've been eating better (not eating at 8/9pm, lighter meals, salads/wraps for lunch, etc) but there's that empty feeling after a meal that I'm not sure how to deal with..
Breakfast cereal is your friend. A bowl with skimmed milk, as big as you like, anytime during the day when you get the nibbles will do the trick. I buy supermarket brand bran flakes, cornflakes and dried fruit from the baking section to add sweetness. Even if you aren't that keen on cereal, just stick it down your neck! You also need to get your metabolism going, so ten minute walks before or after meals, or indeed anytime you can will help. It also gets you away from the fridge and larder - out of sight, out of mind! Once your stomach begins to contract a bit, you'll get full quicker, and begin to eat little, but more often.
It'll get easier as you get fitter, you just can't see past feeling hungry at the moment!
Oh, and drinking plenty of water will help, so always have a bottle with you.
I'm also trying to get fit again, so I'm currently running twice a week (I'm hideously unfit, so the plan is to get to 3-4 times and/or cycling too - We've got a bike-child seat too so toddler-JTW can join us/me
) which will help my metabolism more too. Not to mention using the car less when doing things like picking up toddler from Nursery which is about half a mile away (and making her walk back too!) Another good thing is porridge. Supermarket brand is rediculously cheap, and it's particularly good in the winter months at keeping you going throughout the morning. I usually make a pan in the evening that will last me two days and put it in bowls, ready to microwave with milk and brown sugar, which makes it easy. If you've got to fanny around in the mornings, you'll end up not bothering.
And there will come a time when you wake up and think, feck me not porridge again! On those days I just gulp it down and get it out of the way, but it's great for what you want to achieve, and cheap as chips. Even doing this four days a week with maybe a fry up on friday will help, and give you something to look forward to. On the subject of fry ups, grilled spam is great and far cheaper then bacon.
And there will come a time when you wake up and think, feck me not porridge again! On those days I just gulp it down and get it out of the way, but it's great for what you want to achieve, and cheap as chips. Even doing this four days a week with maybe a fry up on friday will help, and give you something to look forward to. On the subject of fry ups, grilled spam is great and far cheaper then bacon.
Edited by pacman1 on Monday 26th April 10:04
pacman1 said:
Another good thing is porridge. Supermarket brand is rediculously cheap, and it's particularly good in the winter months at keeping you going throughout the morning. I usually make a pan in the evening that will last me two days and put it in bowls, ready to microwave with milk and brown sugar, which makes it easy. If you've got to fanny around in the mornings, you'll end up not bothering.
And there will come a time when you wake up and think, feck me not porridge again! On those days I just gulp it down and get it out of the way, but it's great for what you want to achieve, and cheap as chips. Even doing this four days a week with maybe a fry up on friday will help, and give you something to look forward to. On the subject of fry ups, grilled spam is great and far cheaper then bacon.
I'd not thought about making porridge in the evening - I have been eating it, specifically the value oats which, let's be honest, is just oats. And I've not bothered recently because it is just messing about....And there will come a time when you wake up and think, feck me not porridge again! On those days I just gulp it down and get it out of the way, but it's great for what you want to achieve, and cheap as chips. Even doing this four days a week with maybe a fry up on friday will help, and give you something to look forward to. On the subject of fry ups, grilled spam is great and far cheaper then bacon.
But grilled Spam - I'd not thought of that...
Tonight might be homemade burgers with jacket potatoes - The burger will be just mined beef and onion, grilled.
One of my favourite main meals is grilled spam, jacket potato, loads of veg and gravy.
Spam is great! It's so versatile.
I've just started running again too. I used to do marathons and off road races, but currently I'm doing little and often as I'm not very fit. I've got this nice half mile gentle gradient route that I run up and down, taking about 10 minutes. As I get fitter, I'll start to do it twice, but I don't make that decision until I'm actually running. If you decide to do it before you go out you're less likely to do it, so I just focus on getting out for the quick run, and if I go further, then it's a bonus. It's all about conning yourself that something which takes a bit of effort is easy!
Spam is great! It's so versatile.
I've just started running again too. I used to do marathons and off road races, but currently I'm doing little and often as I'm not very fit. I've got this nice half mile gentle gradient route that I run up and down, taking about 10 minutes. As I get fitter, I'll start to do it twice, but I don't make that decision until I'm actually running. If you decide to do it before you go out you're less likely to do it, so I just focus on getting out for the quick run, and if I go further, then it's a bonus. It's all about conning yourself that something which takes a bit of effort is easy!
Edited by pacman1 on Monday 26th April 10:33
pacman1 said:
One of my favourite main meals is grilled spam, jacket potato, loads of veg and gravy.
Spam is great! It's so versatile.
I've just started running again too. I used to do marathons and off road races, but currently I'm doing little and often as I'm not very fit. I've got this nice half mile gentle gradient route that I run up and down, taking about 10 minutes. As I get fitter, I'll start to do it twice, but I don't make that decision until I'm actually running. If you decide to do it before you go out you're less likely to do it, so I just focus on getting out for the quick run, and if I go further, then it's a bonus. It's all about conning yourelf that something which takes a bit of effort is easy!
That's the problem I have - the first half mile is the hardest and I sometimes want to turn back and give up.... The better runs have been those where I just go and do it and not build myself up to it.Spam is great! It's so versatile.
I've just started running again too. I used to do marathons and off road races, but currently I'm doing little and often as I'm not very fit. I've got this nice half mile gentle gradient route that I run up and down, taking about 10 minutes. As I get fitter, I'll start to do it twice, but I don't make that decision until I'm actually running. If you decide to do it before you go out you're less likely to do it, so I just focus on getting out for the quick run, and if I go further, then it's a bonus. It's all about conning yourelf that something which takes a bit of effort is easy!
Make the supermarket offers work for you.
I only try to buy stuff that's on a really good offer which I always use. Courtesy of Morrisons, I ended up with a years worth of PG Tips for half price. I drink a lot of tea, so for me that's around fifty quid saved!
Spaghetti's half price at the mo, so I've got 10 packs in the cupboard. 50p a pack rather than a pound, for something I always use is a true bargain. I am fortunate enough to live a 5 minute walk from the supermarket, and regularly go in half an hour before they close. I can pick up potatoes for almost no money, just because they will be out of date the following day. How stupid is that? They then live in my cupboard for a fortnight! And you get lots of packed veg like dwarf beans cheap too that will last a week in the fridge.
Fray Bentos pie in a tin is £1 at the mo. The best meat content one is the 'Just Steak' one. In the local Spar shop, they're £2.89! But Spar Lurpak is a pound each if you buy two, so it pays to shop around.
I only try to buy stuff that's on a really good offer which I always use. Courtesy of Morrisons, I ended up with a years worth of PG Tips for half price. I drink a lot of tea, so for me that's around fifty quid saved!
Spaghetti's half price at the mo, so I've got 10 packs in the cupboard. 50p a pack rather than a pound, for something I always use is a true bargain. I am fortunate enough to live a 5 minute walk from the supermarket, and regularly go in half an hour before they close. I can pick up potatoes for almost no money, just because they will be out of date the following day. How stupid is that? They then live in my cupboard for a fortnight! And you get lots of packed veg like dwarf beans cheap too that will last a week in the fridge.
Fray Bentos pie in a tin is £1 at the mo. The best meat content one is the 'Just Steak' one. In the local Spar shop, they're £2.89! But Spar Lurpak is a pound each if you buy two, so it pays to shop around.
Edited by pacman1 on Monday 26th April 10:30
Beware that stuffing your face with fruit/yoghurt/cereal may leave you satisfied, but probably won't see you losing that much weight. It still has calories after all, and a huge bowl full of Special K might have 350-400 calories, plus those in the milk, and the fruit. That sort of eating isn't really helping a diet, is it...
I think you should probably be looking at why you eat, and why you allow food to dictate your lifestyle and daily decisions. Pull together a list of meals that are low-fat (fatty foods are a waste of calories), high fibre (don't bother eating carbs if they are not giving you fibre), and that give you an appropriate amount of calories to meet your daily target (if you haven't worked this out by now, then you should do so), and stick to them religiously. This will result in weight-loss, I would virtually guarantee.
You may have to accept that by eating a reduced-calorie diet, that you can't always eat until you are full/stuffed/satisfied. That's an unfortunate fact, and probably an attitude which has led to you needing a reduced-calorie diet.
You should be comfortable with feeling hungry occasionally - it won't kill you, and the feeling isn't fundamentally unhealthy.
Ultimately, it's worth remembering that you have spent a reasonable amount of time eating until you are full, and not really watching your diet; so now is the time that you redress this balance. Losing weight isn't easy, and certainly will never be as easy as putting it on in the first place.
Please don't ignore this as patronising - This is coming from someone who was once 5st heavier than I am now (a very healthy bodyshape and weight). My weightloss came from realising that I was living a fundamentally lazy and unhealthy lifestyle, and realising that getting away from it wouldn't be easy.
I think you should probably be looking at why you eat, and why you allow food to dictate your lifestyle and daily decisions. Pull together a list of meals that are low-fat (fatty foods are a waste of calories), high fibre (don't bother eating carbs if they are not giving you fibre), and that give you an appropriate amount of calories to meet your daily target (if you haven't worked this out by now, then you should do so), and stick to them religiously. This will result in weight-loss, I would virtually guarantee.
You may have to accept that by eating a reduced-calorie diet, that you can't always eat until you are full/stuffed/satisfied. That's an unfortunate fact, and probably an attitude which has led to you needing a reduced-calorie diet.
You should be comfortable with feeling hungry occasionally - it won't kill you, and the feeling isn't fundamentally unhealthy.
Ultimately, it's worth remembering that you have spent a reasonable amount of time eating until you are full, and not really watching your diet; so now is the time that you redress this balance. Losing weight isn't easy, and certainly will never be as easy as putting it on in the first place.
Please don't ignore this as patronising - This is coming from someone who was once 5st heavier than I am now (a very healthy bodyshape and weight). My weightloss came from realising that I was living a fundamentally lazy and unhealthy lifestyle, and realising that getting away from it wouldn't be easy.
All diets still require a spot of self control on quantities and foods and a period to adjust your stomach/brain to the new way of thinking, but alot of it is just simple common sense and cutting out the bad in favour of the good. You needent starve.
Just a few hints I've found work really well.
Do eat breakfast. Very important. Don't think skipping it will do you favours. It won't. You'll feel hungry all morning, will be lacking energy to get going and won't get your metabolism going. I tend to alternate between museli and porridge depending on the season. Dirt cheap for the supermarket stuff. Use sweetener instead of sugar.
We only drink skimmed milk now. Again, if you get through alot of milk, cutting down to skimmed even from semi will cut down your fat intake.
Sugar dropped in favour of sweetener as above (big help if you take sugar in your tea/coffee and are a big drinker)
Drop butter/marge/spread. It is rarely I use butter or spread in my sandwiches. I just use something else to moisten things up ie. tomatoes or a low fat dressing.
Cut out fizzy drinks as a drink, and only enjoy diet fizz with your favourite spirit.
Drink water. Loads of it. It helps to fill you up, during the day and at mealtime.
Eat slower. When you are hungry you tend to wolf food down as a means to fill a hole. Eat slower, chew more and you'll feel when you are full. Don't feel you have to finish a meal either.
Cut out drinking booze in the week. Totally. Even just a cheeky G&T when you get in from work daily does you no favours.
Exercise. Again, it isn't rocket science. Exercise more.
I appreciate that it is hard to eat well AND adhere to a strict budget, especially when a huge Fray Bentos pie costs less than a small broccoli and a pasty can be had for 60p in a supermarket, but it really is as simple as cutting down/out the bad stuff and eating more healthy stuff. Apple instead of a chocolate bar. Ham instead of cheese in your sandwich. Cut out crisps.
Just a few hints I've found work really well.
Do eat breakfast. Very important. Don't think skipping it will do you favours. It won't. You'll feel hungry all morning, will be lacking energy to get going and won't get your metabolism going. I tend to alternate between museli and porridge depending on the season. Dirt cheap for the supermarket stuff. Use sweetener instead of sugar.
We only drink skimmed milk now. Again, if you get through alot of milk, cutting down to skimmed even from semi will cut down your fat intake.
Sugar dropped in favour of sweetener as above (big help if you take sugar in your tea/coffee and are a big drinker)
Drop butter/marge/spread. It is rarely I use butter or spread in my sandwiches. I just use something else to moisten things up ie. tomatoes or a low fat dressing.
Cut out fizzy drinks as a drink, and only enjoy diet fizz with your favourite spirit.
Drink water. Loads of it. It helps to fill you up, during the day and at mealtime.
Eat slower. When you are hungry you tend to wolf food down as a means to fill a hole. Eat slower, chew more and you'll feel when you are full. Don't feel you have to finish a meal either.
Cut out drinking booze in the week. Totally. Even just a cheeky G&T when you get in from work daily does you no favours.
Exercise. Again, it isn't rocket science. Exercise more.
I appreciate that it is hard to eat well AND adhere to a strict budget, especially when a huge Fray Bentos pie costs less than a small broccoli and a pasty can be had for 60p in a supermarket, but it really is as simple as cutting down/out the bad stuff and eating more healthy stuff. Apple instead of a chocolate bar. Ham instead of cheese in your sandwich. Cut out crisps.
Thanks - I'm currently munching, slowly, on a 3x bean and Pasta salad with a red pepper and sweetcorn.
Part of the problem really is the "list of meals" to eat - I'm not really sure what to eat as I'm so used to having less-than-healthy meals. I'd like to lose weight (a stone would be nice) but I'd rather have a balanced, healthy, diet that works than anything else.
I've been making a point of eating breakfast at home and today had 2 bananas for a morning snack - I suspect I'll have a couple of apples this afternoon too.
I know that I've not been healthy, I just need to get my brain set to eat healthy and be full on good food, rather than bad.
Part of the problem really is the "list of meals" to eat - I'm not really sure what to eat as I'm so used to having less-than-healthy meals. I'd like to lose weight (a stone would be nice) but I'd rather have a balanced, healthy, diet that works than anything else.
I've been making a point of eating breakfast at home and today had 2 bananas for a morning snack - I suspect I'll have a couple of apples this afternoon too.
I know that I've not been healthy, I just need to get my brain set to eat healthy and be full on good food, rather than bad.
Dave200 said:
All this fruit eating is nice, but do you have any calorie targets?
Not yet, I need to get used to the idea of eating healthily - I'm not religiously calorie counting as I mainly need to cut back on the crap I eat. For example, I've got some Mr Kipling fruit pies in the cupboard and I like them a lot, but I've looked at the pack and there's something like 250 calories per pie - and I can comfortably eat 3 or 4 in one go - that can't be good.Dave200 said:
Do you know how much you should be eating to maintain/lose weight?
No, not really.Gassing Station | Food, Drink & Restaurants | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff