Some help please :)

FeebRyan

Right so to be honest, i have been a bit rubbish at this in the last week that i have been logging, but its probably been around 2 weeks of rubbish in total.

I have realised 2 things in that two weeks

1. that i have been eating too little and too much rubbish in the last few years, so basically keeping my body in starvation mode whilst filling up on crap

2. that i am a little bit intollerent to wheat.

Other revelations have been that i actually dont like red meat very much.


So what do i need?

I need some cheap alternatives to things like bread and pasta.
I need to find foods that i can eat that will nourish me and my family on a very meagre budget.

bonus's are that i live near a thriving English charter market where i can buy very cheap nuts, seeds etc
that my husband gets paid next week so we will have some money to spend on a newer healthier diet

Til then we will struggle on, there is nothing i can do about that.

so. Please could people pass on some ideas of meals/snacks and so on that would fit in with the above?

perhaps if there are more wheat intollerant folk i could have a look at their diaries?

thanks so much x

sandhillsmom

I use very little wheat products. the occasional whole wheat cracker serving. granola bars. I use potatoes instead of bread for a starch for meals. Parsnips, Turnips, sweet potatoes make low cost alternatives for startches. Bulgar, quinoa, barley, brown rice help out as well in small servings. There are so many ways to fix chicken for protein, fish, eggs that red meat doesn't need to happen often. Beans and legumes work well also for carbs and proteins. I have lots of salads with cucumbers and tomatoes a little vinaigrette dressing. Gives lots of fill up power with little calories beyond the dressing. matched with protein and a potato and I'm full!

Hope that helps.

FeebRyan

Jacket potatoes and beans for lunch then. Rather than bread - thats a good swap

Might look for some wheat free pasta

I am going to buy a ridiculous amount of mixed beans and sprouting mixes when we get paid...

The salads sound yummy but i really need to up my food count. I am seriously not eating enough!

caribougal

I don't eat wheat or any grain. Feel free to view diary.

FeebRyan

Thanks, i will take a look x

RickBrand

Good job noticing what's going on with your body and diet. Awareness is huge when we look at change.

You might check out a book, Eating Right for Your Type. It considers our genetic makup and suggests what diet needs for your system has been programmed to excel. It gives lists of foods that fit different diets. I hope you find it useful.

http://www.dadamo.com/

Cheers,
Rick

FeebRyan

Good job noticing what's going on with your body and diet. Awareness is huge when we look at change.

You might check out a book, Eating Right for Your Type. It considers our genetic makup and suggests what diet needs for your system has been programmed to excel. It gives lists of foods that fit different diets. I hope you find it useful.

http://www.dadamo.com/

Cheers,
Rick

Thanks Rick but unfortunately i am unable to feed myself lunch today due to no money so buying a book won't be possible x

I think i can swap my toast of a day for a potato and i can swap cereal for some porridge. Then really it just swapping pasta for wheat free pasts!

melaniecheeks

Rice is a good alternative - cheap and filling. And if you want to make a stir fry, you can find rice noodles. Rice cakes are my favourite for snacking on - with some cheese, or a scrape of marmite.

trud72

Why do you need to swap them at all just leave them out? you still get carbs in other ways? other than potatos and SOME types of cracker based items not alot out there for carbs! not sure about tofu/poleta personaly i dont like it!

FeebRyan

Why do you need to swap them at all just leave them out? you still get carbs in other ways? other than potatos and SOME types of cracker based items not alot out there for carbs! not sure about tofu/poleta personaly i dont like it!

Ii am not sure what you mean. I need to eat something. Are you suggesting i just have baked beans alone without a potato. Or tuna and sweetcorn from a tin but no pasta?

Bit confused by your post sorry x

melaniecheeks

I think that is what they mean. When I started reducing carbs I tried to just find alternatives, whereas now I'm quite happy with only fish+ veg for a meal, no need for any potato/rice/pasta type element. But it can be difficult to jump straight into that, so if you want to research good swaps first that's a very sensible approach.

FeebRyan

sorry am i missing something... why are we removing carbs?

jenneal89

Quinoa, lentils, beans, chick peas, veggies, fruit, cous cous, barley, brown rice, etc etc. you can have a look at my diary as well. We spend £150 per month on food for 2 adults and 1 toddler that eats nearly an adult sized portion. I plan all meals at once and order groceries online so I don't end up buying stuff I don't need. I also make things homemade (it's easy and dinner rarely takes me more than 30 mins to make!) look on bbcgoodfood.com it's great. We eat a lot of vegetarian meals because meat can get expensive. When we do eat it, I use less and add beans and stuff to bulk it up so food goes further.

chunkiedunker

not sure if this helps but check out speghetti squash. i made this for the first time the other day and had it last night. its really pretty decent. i was a little skeptical at first, but def worth it at 21 cals per half cup. it is a little higher in carbs if i remember. good luck.

FeebRyan

Quinoa, lentils, beans, chick peas, veggies, fruit, cous cous, barley, brown rice, etc etc. you can have a look at my diary as well. We spend £150 per month on food for 2 adults and 1 toddler that eats nearly an adult sized portion. I plan all meals at once and order groceries online so I don't end up buying stuff I don't need. I also make things homemade (it's easy and dinner rarely takes me more than 30 mins to make!) look on bbcgoodfood.com it's great. We eat a lot of vegetarian meals because meat can get expensive. When we do eat it, I use less and add beans and stuff to bulk it up so food goes further.

Excellent thanks! We also have a toddler (and a new born but he won't be eating anything for a while!

Would love to see your usual shopping list! lol

jenneal89

Quinoa, lentils, beans, chick peas, veggies, fruit, cous cous, barley, brown rice, etc etc. you can have a look at my diary as well. We spend £150 per month on food for 2 adults and 1 toddler that eats nearly an adult sized portion. I plan all meals at once and order groceries online so I don't end up buying stuff I don't need. I also make things homemade (it's easy and dinner rarely takes me more than 30 mins to make!) look on bbcgoodfood.com it's great. We eat a lot of vegetarian meals because meat can get expensive. When we do eat it, I use less and add beans and stuff to bulk it up so food goes further.

Excellent thanks! We also have a toddler (and a new born but he won't be eating anything for a while!

Would love to see your usual shopping list! lol

Squash
Fry light
Sweet corn
Brown rice
Risotto rice
Oxo
apple sauce
raisins
basalmic vinegar
Flaxseed
Light soy sauce
Mirin
sweet chili sauce
sugar
butter (for baking)
Flora Light
Low fat yogurt
cheddar cheese
parmesan cheese
broccoli
Spinach
mushrooms
sausage
turkey mince
peas
lentils
soup
whole wheat spaghetti
chopped tomatoes
almond butter
honey
eggs
onions
sweet poatatoes
rapseed oil
olive oil
malpe pecan crisp
granola
cheerios
pita bread
proscuitto
pesto
almonds
walnuts
cranberries
canned fruit
pommegranates
frozen fruit
pinto beans
Chickpeas
Cous cous
Black beans
Black eyed beans
Spelt flour
Porridge oats

This is my list from last month. I don't buy everything very month because I usually have leftover of at least a few things. We get 1-2 packs of turkey mince and 3 packs of half fat or light sausages. Everything else we buy Tesco everyday value if it's available. It doesn't look like a lot but we always have yummy, filling, and healthy food. I also make my own granola/granola bars for snacks.

Edit: I go weekly and get veggies otherwise they would go off but it only costs me about £5/week or so

melaniecheeks

We're not removing carbs - I'd used my experience of that as a way of avoiding wheat based products, because someone else said why do you need alternatives at all, just do without!

FeebRyan

Quinoa, lentils, beans, chick peas, veggies, fruit, cous cous, barley, brown rice, etc etc. you can have a look at my diary as well. We spend £150 per month on food for 2 adults and 1 toddler that eats nearly an adult sized portion. I plan all meals at once and order groceries online so I don't end up buying stuff I don't need. I also make things homemade (it's easy and dinner rarely takes me more than 30 mins to make!) look on bbcgoodfood.com it's great. We eat a lot of vegetarian meals because meat can get expensive. When we do eat it, I use less and add beans and stuff to bulk it up so food goes further.

Excellent thanks! We also have a toddler (and a new born but he won't be eating anything for a while!

Would love to see your usual shopping list! lol

Squash
Fry light
Sweet corn
Brown rice
Risotto rice
Oxo
apple sauce
raisins
basalmic vinegar
Flaxseed
Light soy sauce
Mirin
sweet chili sauce
sugar
butter (for baking)
Flora Light
Low fat yogurt
cheddar cheese
parmesan cheese
broccoli
Spinach
mushrooms
sausage
turkey mince
peas
lentils
soup
whole wheat spaghetti
chopped tomatoes
almond butter
honey
eggs
onions
sweet poatatoes
rapseed oil
olive oil
malpe pecan crisp
granola
cheerios
pita bread
proscuitto
pesto
almonds
walnuts
cranberries
canned fruit
pommegranates
frozen fruit
pinto beans
Chickpeas
Cous cous
Black beans
Black eyed beans
Spelt flour
Porridge oats

This is my list from last month. I don't buy everything very month because I usually have leftover of at least a few things. We get 1-2 packs of turkey mince and 3 packs of half fat or light sausages. Everything else we buy Tesco everyday value if it's available. It doesn't look like a lot but we always have yummy, filling, and healthy food. I also make my own granola/granola bars for snacks.

Edit: I go weekly and get veggies otherwise they would go off but it only costs me about £5/week or so

Thats really helpful thanks

Is Spelt flour not wheat?

I thought it was unprocessed wheat flour but i might be wrong?

home-made granola bars sound fantastic
Will definitely be looking up your diary! xx

FeebRyan

We're not removing carbs - I'd used my experience of that as a way of avoiding wheat based products, because someone else said why do you need alternatives at all, just do without!

I am still confused by this, surely if you have a meal that is pasta/tuna/sweetcorn (for example) and you just 'do without' your pasta, you are just eating tuna and sweetcorn, so no carbs? Therefore removing the carbs?

jenneal89

Oh yea, I forgot about that part of your post sorry. Spelt flour is a relative of wheat and unprocessed do it's easier to digest. There are lots of different options for flour: almond meal/flour, corn flour, rice flour, potato flour....

sandhillsmom

I am still confused by this, surely if you have a meal that is pasta/tuna/sweetcorn (for example) and you just 'do without' your pasta, you are just eating tuna and sweetcorn, so no carbs? Therefore removing the carbs?

Corn has carbs in it as well. A one cup serving of sweet corn has 123 grams of carbs in it.

Say the meal has:
1 cup of pasta (spaghetti) 43 grams carbs 220 calories
1/2 cup of sweet corn 62 grams carbs 302 calories
3 oz tuna 0 gram carbs. 99 calories
Total calories consumed = 621 calories.


IN the one meal you are consuming 105 grams of carbs
If you change out the pasta for say - green beans you are reducing the carbs intake to 8 grams versus 43 AND you are consuming only 34 calories for the beans versus 220 calories for the pasta.
the total calories consumed by changing out the green beans is 435 calories.

Change the corn for green beans and you save even more calories.

Carbs are in vegetables as well as grains and pasta. the idea is choosing healthier, more nutritious carbs with a lower calorie level to help lose weight.

Kalynx

your body uses carbs for fuel immediately, and if you do not need it, it turns to body fat. other foods, like protein and fats take longer to digest and can be burned for energy later on. I would rather load up on healthy natural fats and proteins than be addicted to sugar cravings, crash after lunch and have a harder time losing weight.

ZiezieO

Isn't it amazing how MFP can call us out on our true diets?

Great to see the effort to change.

I tend to stay away from gluten products and meat because I like things that are crunchy.
Also if you're on a tight budget, try adding spicy things to your meals, they will help fill you up and stay full feeling.

FeebRyan

I need help increasing my calories not reducing them though!

Plus i have a husband and toddler to cook for, there is no way i am going to completely cut carbs out of our diet, i really think they are necessary in a healthy and realistic diet.

I will definitely load up on Quinoa and Bulgar Wheat and mixed beans, sprouting mixes and fresh veggies to make us all healthy, alternative lunches.

Going to see about making some cheap granola and seed/fruit bars too.

I love the idea of jacket potato for lunch, I can have that with tuna pasta AND its good for my husband to take to work.

For dinners i think i will continue with the no red meat thing, we really aren't feeling it, though we may allow ourselves a couple of meals a week with chicken or with fish, but that is money dependent. Probably one meal of fresh fish and one of tinned tuna/frozen tuna.

I'm going to stock up on nuts, dried fruits, porridge oats and try and make various things with those

Quite excited by getting some money on Monday now so we can get on our wheat-free diets

FeebRyan

Isn't it amazing how MFP can call us out on our true diets?

Great to see the effort to change.

I tend to stay away from gluten products and meat because I like things that are crunchy.
Also if you're on a tight budget, try adding spicy things to your meals, they will help fill you up and stay full feeling.

Thanks for the tip! Unfortunately when i eat spicy things, my baby gets the most awful indigestion! so can't do that Will remember it for a couple of years when i stop breastfeeding though!

emmaamme2

There are some good recipe groups here that might be helpful. A couple of things that I find helpful with keeping on track with food intake and costs are to cook in bulk where possible. I find recipes that can be doubled and frozen easily and make some extra to keep in reserve for nights when I am really busy. Some foods are much cheaper when bought in slightly larger quantities. Using leftovers for lunches the next day also helps with making sure that you're eating good food not just grabbing easy rubbish foods.