Being a "foodie" and losing weight

jasmineruth

Since I have lost weight I have become MORE of a foodie. I've learned so much more about food, and instead of eating quick foods, I have fallen in love with cooking and baking from scratch. Food is definitely one of my hobbies and I'm 49 lb down and maintaining.

kshama2001

mooreks81 wrote: »

Maybe it's easier to lose weight when you don't like food, but it's not hard to do it when you do like food.
1) Portion control.
2) As someone else said, snob eat. Don't settle for mediocre chocolate--only the best! That way you won't eat what people bring into work. And savor each bite slowly.
3) If you love cooking you're probably willing to put time/effort into a meal that is healthy but perhaps trickier to make.

Great first post

Portion control and eating slowly have been key for me.

KnitSewSpin

toe1226 wrote: »

Yes Yes Yes!!! I also love being a part of the process of food and have baked breads and made yogurt- but two things that I've done that have allowed me to stay a part of the processing of my food while reducing my intake: pickling things.

Pickled vegetables (and pickled hard boiled eggs!) are lighter than bread baking but still allow you to follow a process.

Also, I make my own nut butters, I know that they are calorically dense but high fat/protein works well with me, plus they keep forever so I don't feel that pressure to eat them right away the way I would feel about bread.

Also, when thinking about making something really decadent, I'll focus on scallops or a light fish instead of something really dense.

Finally, I realized that I had these roadblocks in my mind of what I perceived others expected from my foodie cooking- and they weren't true! I've been shocked to go on dates or dinner parties with friends who end up making really nice, light meals. There was a period of time where I felt like everything had to be a bacon wrapped date stuffed with cheese (so good!) but there are a lot of creative ways to lighten up the foodie process.

I make my own fermented pickles and sauerkraut. I Garden and "put by" a lot of food for the winter. Nothing like opening a jar of pickled beets from your garden to enjoy on a snowy Minnesota winter day

One thing I need to get better at is lightening up some of my cooking. I tend to use a lot of full fat dairy, stuff like that. While that is perfectly fine and can fit into my calories for the day, I can get better at cooking lighter so I can eat bigger portions.

I thoroughly agree on being a food snob. I don't like putting mediocre food in my mouth. I drive my husband crazy because I'm very selective where I'll go out to eat!

WinoGelato

Step 1: Fire weight loss coach
Step 2: Use money saved from weight loss coach fees toward work out clothes and/or gym membership
Step 3: Read the stickied Most Helpful forum posts in the Getting Started section
Step 4: Set up MFP using accurate stats and a reasonable weight loss goal
Step 5: Cook the foods you enjoy, experimenting with sites like SkinnyTaste, Cooking Light, etc to help you modify the recipes you already love into ones that will better fit within your calorie alotment.
Step 6: Track everything you eat, ideally using a food scale to weigh your foods.
Step 7: Workout if you enjoy it, eating back at least a portion of your exercise calories.
Step 8: Continue to bake and enjoy treats as you can fit it into your day, exercising portion control and moderation.
Step 9: Be patient.
Step 10: Post any great recipes and food pics you have here in the forums!

amusedmonkey

Actually being a foodie and a good cook will help you lose weight. Why? Because you have enough knowledge to create lower calorie meals that are amazing and have enough "foodie-ness" to be satisfied by a meal that tastes fantastic, regardless of calories. I'm not a foodie per se nor a good cook, but I'm someone who doesn't mind experimenting. I discovered dulce de leche flavored "oatmeal brulee" lately and it feels like a 1000 calorie delicacy when it's actually sub 300.

Cobourg

I would think that enjoying to cook food would make it easier to lose weight. I have the opposite issue, I don't like cooking or preparing food and must do it anyway. Just one of those things like exercise and brushing your teeth. Wish to did enjoy it more.

SingRunTing

I enjoy my food more now that I'm paying attention.

Before I would shovel down anything that I could get my hands on. Now I need to be picky about what I eat. Because I only have x calories to spend on food, I'm only eating things that I find delicious.

ARGriffy

KnitSewSpin wrote: »

I would describe myself as a foodie. I love cooking shows, collect cookbooks, and get very excited about planning our weekly menu. I cook our bread products from scratch. I cook most of what we eat from scratch even yogurt and sour cream. Have not tried cheese yet.

I was told by a weight loss coach last summer that I'll never be able to lose weight and keep it off being a foodie. Especially a foodie with children.

I know intellectually this is not true but it was a bit demoralizing and since I am a very slow loser sometimes I think I should not focus so much on the pleasure of food. It lets doubts creep in. Like I'm doing smthg wrong.

I wouldn't say it's an obsession. But it's a hobby for me like the knitting, sewing, and gardening I do.

So can you be a food lover, lose weight, and keep it off, while keeping your love of all things food and cooking and baking?

Biggest load of balls I've ever heard! ! I'm obsessed, OBSESSED with food. I made a recipe book for Xmas, I post on a food blog, I cook beautiful meals nearly every night and I go to restaurants about twice a month (as I'm broke right now!) And I've lost. .. then maintained since then! ! You will find you become heavily involved in making amazing food that doesn't bust the calories but believe me, you can very much be a foodie and lose weight! Feel free to add/message me

QueenofHearts023

I'm a foodie too and I lost 28lb. I think restraint is necessary, but that's a good thing. When you savour your cooking, focus on every sensation you get from eating it.

I think practicing moderation has turned me into even more of a foodie, I'm much more picky and
I try to focus on it when I eat, the smell, the taste, the texture. It just makes it better.

Francl27

LHWhite903 wrote: »

I like this but 'one bite' of the best creme brulee ever? Not happening. Are those people for real?

frannyupnorth

Check out the Hairy Bikers http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/programmes/p00vq8c6 they both changed to healthier diets and lost weight and in fact made a series around it, coming up with healthier versions of UK favourites.

LHWhite903

Francl27 wrote: »

I like this but 'one bite' of the best creme brulee ever? Not happening. Are those people for real?

You can always save the rest for later.

cerise_noir

I love to cook and eat as well! So, I basically still eat the food that I enjoy, just less of it. I agree with snob eating...only the best!

WalkingAlong

Francl27 wrote: »

I like this but 'one bite' of the best creme brulee ever? Not happening. Are those people for real?

Some are. Giada De Laurentiis says she 'tastes everything and eats nothing', or something to that effect.

I personally am happy with a bite of dessert but I'm not a dessert nut. A few perfect fries would be hard for me.

Meganthedogmom

Basically, what everyone else said
For me it's much easier to be conscious of how many calories I'm eating, when I'm the one who cooked it. I know exactly what's in there and I can control it. Unlike going into a restaurant where everything is overly saturated in butter and salt.

fitdaisygrrl

I agree with everyone here and someone may have already piped in with this, but I'll add that I think being a foodie makes it easier! You already love to cook and try new things- so now you turn the focus on healthier recipes and making healthy more fun (ie: making vegan cheese or trying different baked veggie chips). I think being comfortable in the kitchen and open to different foods and cooking styles is a huge advantage compared to someone who eats out a lot or prefers simpler foods. Enjoy that "snob eating" and don't let some "weight loss coach" discourage you.

melonaulait

Light cooking can be absolutely amazing too. Full fat dairy and butter are not the only things that make food great. We, as food lovers, have the benefit of a lot of knowledge and curiosity!

kshama2001

amusedmonkey wrote: »

Actually being a foodie and a good cook will help you lose weight. Why? Because you have enough knowledge to create lower calorie meals that are amazing and have enough "foodie-ness" to be satisfied by a meal that tastes fantastic, regardless of calories. I'm not a foodie per se nor a good cook, but I'm someone who doesn't mind experimenting. I discovered dulce de leche flavored "oatmeal brulee" lately and it feels like a 1000 calorie delicacy when it's actually sub 300.

@amusedmonkey I'm intrigued. Recipe?

Francl27

amusedmonkey wrote: »

Actually being a foodie and a good cook will help you lose weight. Why? Because you have enough knowledge to create lower calorie meals that are amazing and have enough "foodie-ness" to be satisfied by a meal that tastes fantastic, regardless of calories. I'm not a foodie per se nor a good cook, but I'm someone who doesn't mind experimenting. I discovered dulce de leche flavored "oatmeal brulee" lately and it feels like a 1000 calorie delicacy when it's actually sub 300.

100% agreed there.

megbugs

I agree with everyone on here! I love ina garten and food network and cooking in general and adapt everything to fit my calorie ranges on here. I also like to pre log my meals when I'm doing my shopping list and meal plan and it becomes like a jigsaw puzzle to figure out what to eat which days. This week I've made breakfast quiche, turkey and lentil soup with homemade turkey broth, shepherd's pie, shish kabobs and tahini sauce, al pastor tacos, and this weekend I'm making homemade gnocchi. I eat 1400-1500 calories a day and am losing weight. It's doable and a great hobby! I find recipes in a variety of websites from bon appetite, food & wine mag, cooking light and blogs like skinnytaste, skinnymom, gimme some oven, eating well, nom nom paleo, etc. Good luck!!!

amusedmonkey

kshama2001 wrote: »

amusedmonkey wrote: »

Actually being a foodie and a good cook will help you lose weight. Why? Because you have enough knowledge to create lower calorie meals that are amazing and have enough "foodie-ness" to be satisfied by a meal that tastes fantastic, regardless of calories. I'm not a foodie per se nor a good cook, but I'm someone who doesn't mind experimenting. I discovered dulce de leche flavored "oatmeal brulee" lately and it feels like a 1000 calorie delicacy when it's actually sub 300.

@amusedmonkey I'm intrigued. Recipe?

A tablespoon of dulce de leche is about 60 calories, a tablespoon of sugar is about 50, a cup of 1% milk is 100 calories, and 1/3 cup of oats is 150. Total 360. If you want to go lower, make mock dulce de leche from fat free sweetened condensed milk (by slow boiling it in the sealed can after removing the label for 3-4 hours - lasts well in the fridge), use skim milk or water for cooking and use a narrower container to serve to be able to use half the amount of sugar needed to caramelize.

I make my oats as usual, with milk reserving about 2-3 tablespoons of the milk. Remove about 1/3 of the oats and put aside, mix in about 2/3 of the dulce de leche with the 2/3 of the oats and until it dissolves completely. Layer the dulce de leche oats first, then mix the reserved heated milk with the remaining dulce de leche to form a light sauce that can be poured and spread on top. I then add the plain oats and smooth the top. If still hot I wait a bit until it forms a membrane to prevent sugar from melting. I then sprinkle brown sugar on top and torch it.

Alternatively I sometimes lightly sweeten the oats with an artificial sweetener and use the whole tablespoon of dulce de leche (mixed with hot milk to make pourable and spreadable) as a middle layer.

Breaking the sugar is so satisfying! That alone is worth the prep. It sweetens the plain oats, then you dig into the lower layer of happiness.

mnshanbhag

Same problem here, also I love eating out + vino.

ElizabethOakes2

Your coach is wrong. This was my husband's greatest fear- that 'eating healthy' would mean no longer eating delicious foods. I've been going out of my way (somewhat insanely) to prove to him that we can eat delicious, wonderful tasty food EVERY DAY and still meet our dietary requirements. I learned to switch out ingredients to make our favorite foods healthier and still tasty (non-fat yogurt whole wheat waffles every Saturday morning!).

As a foodie, take this a fabulous challenge! Look at recipes and see how you can alter them to make them healthier (and in some cases, tastier!). The only food I've given up that I really miss is fabulous cheeses, but that's only because I can't trust myself not to eat a quarter wedge of brie in one sitting.

scolaris

I was that sort of foodie too... homemade bone broths, jams, pies, etc etc etc. And it was for my family.
Both opposing opinions are right. In some ways, sure you can. And in others, sorry but you can't.
Of course you can change your recipes & control yourself around the food. Doh!
For me it was the time involved. Too much time in the kitchen doing things for others. I needed to put myself higher on my list. I spend more time walking, hiking and at the gym. That time had to come from somewhere. 'Somewhere' for me was time previously spent food shopping, prepping, cooking and cleaning the kitchen like a restaurant...
So now I shop less and cook simpler meals. There are no little extras like homemade cookies and scones and jams lurking in my cupboards. When a recipe calls for stock I open a box. I only make bone broth now & again for a friend with cancer, not weekly like I used to.
Sorry. We only get one life. I want to spend mine thinner & fitter.
My salads are gorgeous. I take dark chocolate dipped fruit to potlucks. When Facebook kicks up an old picture of some fabulous & involved homemade whatsit I made I smile & shake my head. I'm not that person any more...

mariak16

I am a total foodie and I've successfully lost and kept off 50 pounds. There are tons of healthy food blogs out there when you need some inspiration or need help tweaking a recipe. My family eats very good food, rarely eats the same meal twice in a month, and we eat healthy and clean. Healthy food is delicious when it's prepared right and since you enjoy cooking I have no doubt you can cook delicious, healthy meals and lose weight. If you're making something more decadent for dinner serve it with a huge side of veggies. Good food doesn't have to be off limits, you just have to keep your portions under control. It also helps me to freeze everything. If it's on the counter I will eat it because I don't like food going bad. So when I make bread I slice it and then freeze it and we'll take out however many slices we need at a time. Same with bagels. We love homemade bagels so I'll make a batch and freeze them so I don't feel the need to have one every day. Most desserts freeze great too. On the rare occasion I made dessert I'll freeze the leftovers in individual portion sizes. Then when my kids want a treat it's there and I don't have to make an entire cake or a whole batch of cookies.

lulalacroix

I love this thread and am so happy to say that your weight loss coach is wrong.

I am losing weight. I eat good cheese and will NEVER turn down a well-made and delicious creme brulee, I just make sure they fit into my calorie allotment. I may be dieting, but I am not dead.

gawworthington

My household is foodie. My husband has graduated from culinary school and bakery school - I am the cook at home more than him. He works as the baker for a local college and in a restaurant. He has not lost weight but I have lost 90 lbs since April 21st!

suzynam

Yes! I think being an experienced home cook makes it easier. I know how to create flavorful, satisfying meals without tons of calories. I'm open to trying new ingredients and my family is, too, because they are used to eating new things with me. I do a lot with veggies, legumes, fresh herbs lately (thank you ottolenghi). It's hard to eat out but that's true whether you're a "foodie" or not.

kommodevaran

I've started to enjoy food and gained a lot of confidence after I joined MFP and truly realised that weight is determined only by how much I eat. So, I can eat anything as long as I watch my portions -> but what I eat will influence how easy it will be to stick to my allotted calories -> this forces me to prioritize -> I learn to choose quality over quantity -> I learn to not fear fat -> I learn to cook real food -> I enjoy cooking -> I love healthy food.

courtneylykins5

I am wondering if your coach is trying to sell you their eating plan for weight loss.

One thing I have learned here is that you can cook and eat any darn way you like, at any time of day. It's the calories that matter.

For me when I indulge my foodie side, the challenge is lightening up those rich dishes. Reduce the amount of butter and cheese. Find out if stock works as well as cream. Tweaks and changes. This keeps my favorite hobby fun and fresh for me. I'm sure you will pick up your own kitchen tricks for weight loss in due time.