Does anyone here eat real food?

FoxyLifter

Someone brought these into work today, and let me tell ya... that is NOT food!

NOM NOM NOM!

I will not discriminate! I will eat all teh foodz!

Quirky_but_nice

My lunches mainly consist of a grilled lean protein (pork loin/chops, chicken, turkey breast), sweet potato or rice, and a steamed vegetable (broccoli, frozen stirfry mix, green beans, broccoli/cauliflower/carrot mix, etc.).

LOL, are you me?? This is about 50% of my diet.

To the OP:

I live in England too. I'm fortunate enough to have a Waitrose at the bottom of my road. 99% of what I buy comes from the first three aisles: Fruit and veg, dairy and the reduced section for meat for my freezer. The most processed food I eat is tinned tomatoes and dried pasta (maybe the odd fishcake ) I cook everything I eat from fresh ingredients.. I even make my own cereal (granola and muesli). If I'm not going out with workmates for lunch then I almost always bring something healthy from home.

If you can see the recipes I've entered, or you take a look at my food diary, then you'll get a good idea of what I eat for main meals, things like:

Chicken curry + rice
Chicken thighs in spicy tomato sauce + rice
Chicken and bacon lasagne
Pork/lamb chops + potato or sweet potato + steamed veg eg cabbage, leek, carrot, broccoli
Pork/lamb meatballs in spicy tomato sauce + rice
Fried salmon + steamed veg + potato or sweet potato
Fishcakes + steamed veg + potato or sweet potato
Fried chorizo and veg + rice
Cold meat + salad

The rice dishes and the lasagne can be frozen, they end up being my work lunches. I'm lucky enough that we have a kitchen with a fridge, a freezer and 2 microwaves at work so it's easy to eat healthy lunches.

I also cook a mean kedgeree but my housemate hates the smell of smoked haddock so I don't cook that much any more ;-) I cook a few other things from time to time like risotto, chicken chasseur, chicken/pork in pepper sauce, sunday roast with all the trimmings and good old english fry ups :-)

If you're interested in any of the recipes above let me know :-)

Yum! Friend request sent

DR2501

Real food is the only way to go. Lean meat, portioned according to your protein allowance. Fresh veggies, some raw, some steamed. Love broccoli, spinach, collard greens, bell peppers, cucumbers,zucchini, squash, fresh tomatoes. Carbs can be portions according to allowance: rice, noodles, pasta, potatoes, sweet potatoes. Don't forget about fresh fish: We eat salmon and tilapia bought fresh from Kroger. Don't like the frozen fish because no idea how old it is. Fresh tastes much better. Sprinkle a bit of Mrs. Dash and some parmesan/romano cheese on top and bake. Delicious!

Can I just say, since the fillets are flash frozen shortly after being caught, they're actually nutritionally 'younger' than the fresh stuff you buy

MassiveDelta

if my non real food is fake how come im fat?

AsaThorsWoman

Right now squash and onions are in season and super cheap here.

I take about a table spoon of coconut oil and caramelize 2-3 onions (add first, cooks slowest), 2-3 squash and an entire freaking head of garlic (add that last, it cooks fastest) to my 5-quart fryer and viola it is so good.

The onions are 2lb/$1 and squash is at $0.68/1lb, garlic heads about $0.12/apiece.

Very inexpensive and very "real."

Quirky_but_nice

Can I just say, since the fillets are flash frozen shortly after being caught, they're actually nutritionally 'younger' than the fresh stuff you buy

Frozen fish is usually the best option away from the coast, but as I live in a very good market town the fish caught last night is on my plate the next evening!

Keepcalmanddontblink

Someone brought these into work today, and let me tell ya... that is NOT food!

What sort of jerkwad would ruin snap peas like this?? This doesn't even sound appetizing.

Quirky_but_nice

1. Steamed fish - on a large piece of tinfoil place a pile of sliced mushrooms and a fillet of fish (any - I tend to like trout). Add seasoning and fresh herbs to taste (parsley mainly, but tarragon is delicious as well). Fold the foil over, like a pasty, making sure the ends are scrunched. Place in a moderate oven (GM6, 180C) for about half an hour. Serve with steamed veg / potatoes / rice / whathaveyou. If the tin foil idea is a bust, you can do the same thing with any ovenproof pan/dish with a lid - just watch the liquid levels.

I use parchment paper to get the same result as I can put that in the compost after.
Thanks for the ideas. Please keep them coming.

Quirky_but_nice

Right now squash and onions are in season and super cheap here.

I take about a table spoon of coconut oil and caramelize 2-3 onions (add first, cooks slowest), 2-3 squash and an entire freaking head of garlic (add that last, it cooks fastest) to my 5-quart fryer and viola it is so good.

The onions are 2lb/$1 and squash is at $0.68/1lb, garlic heads about $0.12/apiece.

Very inexpensive and very "real."

It's a bit early for squash here yet, but I could try this with courgettes which always seem to come in droves. My squash will be ready next month, sweetcorn the month after.

JoRocka

what's wrong with left overs?

All I eat is what I cook for dinner and then eggs- I typically don't eat breakfast- so lunch is either left overs- or scrambled eggs- or a can of tuna.

You're over thinking this.

woodml1

I love zucchini noodle salad as a side dish. It's so simple and insanely delicious!

Ribboned or Julianned zucchini (use a regular veggie peeler for ribbons or a julianne peeler for 'noodles')
equal parts olive oil and fresh lemon juice
salt and pepper
Parmesan cheese (optional but very tasty)

DR2501

Can I just say, since the fillets are flash frozen shortly after being caught, they're actually nutritionally 'younger' than the fresh stuff you buy

Frozen fish is usually the best option away from the coast, but as I live in a very good market town the fish caught last night is on my plate the next evening!

Fair point, eat lots of nice fresh fish then!

Meerataila

I'm slowly learning the esoteric art of actual cooking. I even made my own peanut butter last week. I used to think gourmet luxury was going to the grocery store and filling my cart with every boxed sweet I could get my hands on, then going home and stuffing my face with it. Now I know real gourmet luxury is having time to find a tasty, healthy recipe online, buy the ingredients, and prepare it.

I should have figured that out decades ago, but all that shiny snack food packaging seduced me!

chalk_and_chaturangas

Have you checked out Ezekiel Bread? It's still bread, but it's minimally processed and 100% whole grain. They make English Muffins and Pita Pockets, too. I use the pita pockets for sandwiches at lunch. They're only 100 calories.

klroemen

what's wrong with left overs?

All I eat is what I cook for dinner and then eggs- I typically don't eat breakfast- so lunch is either left overs- or scrambled eggs- or a can of tuna.

You're over thinking this.

Boy, I bet your farts smell wonderful!! :noway: LOL!!! :laugh:

bajoyba

Not a clean eater, but last week I made a baked sweet potato stuffed with black beans, smoked cheese, fresh greens dressed with lemon juice, and topped with an over easy egg. It was pretty amazing, high in protein, and contained almost an entire day's worth of fiber.

I also eat a lot of pizza, a lot of taco salad, a lot of regular salad (really big ones, and always with protein), and a fair amount of stir fry.

I also had 14 pints of Ben & Jerry's in my freezer at one time.

AllOutof_Bubblegum

Nope. Only plastic food for me, thanks.

Lofteren

Real food is over rated. I only eat the plastic fruits that people use as centerpieces.

Ahhh! ^She beat me to it

AllOutof_Bubblegum

Someone brought these into work today, and let me tell ya... that is NOT food!

What sort of jerkwad would ruin snap peas like this?? This doesn't even sound appetizing.

They're actually very good. You food judgement is not welcome in this space of friendship.

CorlissaEats

Try this recipe: http://aiplifestyle.com/creamy-crockpot-lemon-chicken-kale-soup/
I will admit, Lemon chicken kale soup did not sound appealing to me at first but this one is now a family classic!

All I eat is real food...but you have to be a friend to see my diary. I am dealing with extensive food allergies so most of my plates tend to be 40% meat, 40% veggies/fibre, and 20% starch. Perfectly steamed "naked" veggies take some getting used to but now I cannot eat them in sauces or covered in butter. One trick I use for getting whole food ideas is actually to google/search "gluten free vegan recipes"...then I just add or serve with meat.

chalk_and_chaturangas

I'm looking for more ideas for my lunches and dinners, BUT I only eat things that could be prepared in an ordinary kitchen using items that our ancestors would readily recognise apart from minor diversions when I go out to eat! (Ben and Jerrys!):bigsmile:

Also, try researching the Paleo diet (http://thepaleodiet.com/). Its basically what you're describing. minus the Ben & Jerry's and all other dairy. Receipes are easy to find by Googling any recipe name, but adding "Paleo" before it.

IpuffyheartHeelsinthegym

no, I only eat plastic food. Nom....

WinoGelato

What calorie counting and recipe sharing websites did your ancestors use?

More power to you for wanting to find new recipes and cook more at home with fresh ingredients, with the occasional Ben and Jerry's thrown in. I think you will find some sensitivity toward the wording of your title and your responses from people who don't label their food, yet in practice, follow many of the same habits you are trying to instill.

HornedFrogPride

Today's lunch-frozen bbq pork (it better thaw fast!) atop organic spinach. Kale smoothies every day-food doesn't get more real than the kale smoothies. Thanks for the lemon chicken kale recipe! ^^^^^^^^^that sounds awesome! can't wait to try it. :bigsmile:

Hornsby

In for the "chemicals are bad" discussion.

Quirky_but_nice

Have you checked out Ezekiel Bread? It's still bread, but it's minimally processed and 100% whole grain. They make English Muffins and Pita Pockets, too. I use the pita pockets for sandwiches at lunch. They're only 100 calories.

Sounds good, but not currently available at my local shops.
I eat bread btw!

auddii

I have venison stew in the crock pot right now. Yum.

Other favorites that I like (I do most of these in the crock pot in huge quantities and then freeze in individual portions):
Pulled pork or chicken with BBQ sauce
Balsamic vinegar braised chicken
Sauerkraut chicken
Salsa chicken

Quirky_but_nice

In for the "chemicals are bad" discussion.

You are welcome to eat chemicals, even better eat LOADS of them. I choose not to, that's all.

Hornsby

In for the "chemicals are bad" discussion.

You are welcome to eat chemicals, even better eat LOADS of them. I choose not to, that's all.

Yes, I know. Please tell me what your fresh unprocessed food is made of?

odusgolp

Someone brought these into work today, and let me tell ya... that is NOT food!

What sort of jerkwad would ruin snap peas like this?? This doesn't even sound appetizing.

They're actually very good. You food judgement is not welcome in this space of friendship.

It's like a Pea Cheeto Puff! LOL After a few, my tongue felt funny. Just like Cheeto's.