CARBS, CALORIES AND SUGAR

So, I am in stuck in a rut of eating less than 1000kcal a day. Before you all have a go at me, I am trying to eat more...the problem is, I seem to be eating all of the wrong stuff! :s

I don't usually consume many calories but I always seem to hit my sugar/carbs goal. I don't usually hit my fats, protein or vitamins. I eat either cereal, cereal bars or yogurt for breakfast, fruit and/or for lunch and snacks (with something like rice cakes or crispbread if I'm hungry), meat and veg for dinner and whatever's available for an evening snack. (sorry for being so vague)

I do prefer sweet food to savoury! o:)

What foods would be best for me to eat that will provide me with less carbs/sugars but more calories? I know of nuts but, I don't like many types...what else is there? Quick breakfast ideas that will keep me full for 4-5 hours will also be appreciated.

Thank you! :D

(In-case you wanted to know, I have lost quite a bit of weight and I'm nearing the 'maintaining' stage of when I will slowing start increasing my cals. Just preparing myself...and failing)

Replies

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  • diannethegeek
    diannethegeek Posts: 14,776 Member
    Greek yogurt is higher in protein than regular yogurt, if you like it. Add some high protein cereal, granola, or nuts to it if you like a crunch.

    Eggs are a great protein and fat source.

    String cheese is one of my go-to snacks for a protein boost.

    Look for the higher protein snack bars. You don't have to get the fancy body-builder bars if you don't want to (although I get them sometimes). Check out all the different varieties.

    Milk is a good protein source and there's nothing wrong with chocolate milk if you need the sweet.

    Also, look around at open diaries to get ideas. A lot of the really successful people around here keep them public and many of them are hitting 100+ grams of protein a day.
  • TeaBea
    TeaBea Posts: 14,517 Member
    Greek yogurt has good protein numbers....2% will help bump calories a bit. To stay full longer you can add high fiber cereal & chopped nuts (of your choice) to that.

    Do you like avocado? That will help you hit fat goals. Yum....string cheese.
  • lozzyhunxx
    lozzyhunxx Posts: 47 Member
    Greek yogurt is higher in protein than regular yogurt, if you like it. Add some high protein cereal, granola, or nuts to it if you like a crunch.

    Eggs are a great protein and fat source.

    String cheese is one of my go-to snacks for a protein boost.

    Look for the higher protein snack bars. You don't have to get the fancy body-builder bars if you don't want to (although I get them sometimes). Check out all the different varieties.

    Milk is a good protein source and there's nothing wrong with chocolate milk if you need the sweet.

    Also, look around at open diaries to get ideas. A lot of the really successful people around here keep them public and many of them are hitting 100+ grams of protein a day.

    Thank you! When I say yogurt, I mean Greek yogurt haha - I love that stuff! I need to buy some eggs and cheese, though
  • SueInAz
    SueInAz Posts: 6,592 Member
    Yes, it sounds like most of what you're eating is very high in carbs. That's not to say that MFP's sugar goal isn't a little silly, because it is. Frankly, I ignore it and track my total carb intake instead. Sugar by itself isn't a good indicator of how you're eating because there's sugar in fruit and milk just as there is in candy. Watch total carbs, fat, and protein for sure. I also have mine set to monitor calcium and iron because those are important to me.

    I try to keep my carb intake to a minimum because the more I eat the more I crave. Pre-MFP I'd eat carbs all day long, minimize fat and not really get enough protein. I had to break that cycle and once I did I don't crave sweets hardly at all.

    If you're not eating plain, Greek yogurt you should be. Most fruit-flavored yogurts are low in protein and have a lot of added sugar in them that you don't need. For breakfast, I love Fage 0% Greek yogurt. I throw in a handful of frozen raspberries and either a packet of Splenda or some agave syrup to sweeten it. I let the berries thaw on my way to work then stir it all up and eat it.

    For lunches, focus on lean proteins and veggies. My lunch is often a whole 6 ounce tin of albacore tuna with 30 grams of Light Miracle Whip (tangy mayonnaise) and a half of a cucumber diced up small. I stir it all together and eat it with a fork. Otherwise I'll have a salad with diced turkey, a sliced hard boiled egg, etc. Another favorite is a turkey burger with a slice of cheese and no bun. I throw a bunch of shredded lettuce and tomatoes on top and eat it with a fork and knife.

    Snacks are usually string cheese, nuts, popcorn, beef jerky, an apple or clementines. I often have some sugar-free mints or chocolate around for when I get a sweet tooth.
  • Multi-vitamin + protein shake
  • melimomTARDIS
    melimomTARDIS Posts: 1,941 Member
    if you are low on fats and calories, why not peanut butter? Or nutella?
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  • lozzyhunxx
    lozzyhunxx Posts: 47 Member
    SueInAz wrote: »
    Yes, it sounds like most of what you're eating is very high in carbs. That's not to say that MFP's sugar goal isn't a little silly, because it is. Frankly, I ignore it and track my total carb intake instead. Sugar by itself isn't a good indicator of how you're eating because there's sugar in fruit and milk just as there is in candy. Watch total carbs, fat, and protein for sure. I also have mine set to monitor calcium and iron because those are important to me.

    I try to keep my carb intake to a minimum because the more I eat the more I crave. Pre-MFP I'd eat carbs all day long, minimize fat and not really get enough protein. I had to break that cycle and once I did I don't crave sweets hardly at all.

    If you're not eating plain, Greek yogurt you should be. Most fruit-flavored yogurts are low in protein and have a lot of added sugar in them that you don't need. For breakfast, I love Fage 0% Greek yogurt. I throw in a handful of frozen raspberries and either a packet of Splenda or some agave syrup to sweeten it. I let the berries thaw on my way to work then stir it all up and eat it.

    For lunches, focus on lean proteins and veggies. My lunch is often a whole 6 ounce tin of albacore tuna with 30 grams of Light Miracle Whip (tangy mayonnaise) and a half of a cucumber diced up small. I stir it all together and eat it with a fork. Otherwise I'll have a salad with diced turkey, a sliced hard boiled egg, etc. Another favorite is a turkey burger with a slice of cheese and no bun. I throw a bunch of shredded lettuce and tomatoes on top and eat it with a fork and knife.

    Snacks are usually string cheese, nuts, popcorn, beef jerky, an apple or clementines. I often have some sugar-free mints or chocolate around for when I get a sweet tooth.

    Thank you so much;I'm going to change my lunch to tuna salad on Monday instead of fruit, so that should help. I do eat Greek yogurt but I have flavoured ones at the moment as they were on offer (I'm so tight lol) but I'll be back to plain when I run out. Thanks for sharing your story and advice - I really appreciate it!