African foods high in carbs but I love them help me!!!

darkskinbull
darkskinbull Posts: 3 Member
in Introduce Yourself
Hellooooo everyone,
I am originally from Africa just had a baby 6 months ago . Was 189 went down to 163 and in two months I am back at 174 .if I don't take control of it now I will not be a happy camper. Let's just say I am my own worst enemy , I don't like brown rice or whole grain breads . All I eat is white bread and white rice our stews are filled with oils and palm oil.I know palm oils are good but not in the quantity we use them for soups.Tried different types of rice and breads and nothing I can stomach .is anyone out there that can relate???

Replies

  • shaye092
    shaye092 Posts: 5 Member
    I'm with you on the whole grain bread. Couldn't stand it but then I tried a white wheat. The one I eat is by bunny bread. And I use to eat awful. I still have my days, I started eating more vegetables as snacks during the day to keep from feeling hungry. That way when I do eat something bad I've been able to cut down the portion but still get the tasty lol hope it works out for you.
  • darkskinbull
    darkskinbull Posts: 3 Member
    Will look for it and give it a try.Vegetables huumm does 2 carrots a week count :( thanks for the advice cheers!
  • shaye092
    shaye092 Posts: 5 Member
    Lol yes it counts. The vegetables came easy for me because I love them. I also get 90 calorie fiber one bars when my sweet tooth acts up. I've never tried any but there's supplements. The only thing I've done that could be categorized as a supplement is I know take magnesium. I'm really high stress and they say it he's refuse cortisol which put your weight gain in your stomach area. It seems to be helping.
  • pebble4321
    pebble4321 Posts: 1,132 Member
    There are a few things you can try:
    - keep eating the things you like (rice, bread etc) but cut down the quantities. I measure out half a cup of rice, and while it doesn't look like much, it actually is enough if I have a range of different things on my plate.
    - Or change your priorities. If you want a cup of rice, then have than but have less stew. Or no dessert. Or a lighter lunch. Logging a full day worth of meals in MFP really helps me to see how I can balance out my day but still enjoy the things I want to eat.... tonight is pizza, for the first time in ages!
    - can you cut the amount of oil in the dishes you make? I know they add lots of flavour, but maybe you will still get the flavour if you half the amount of oil.
    - use the recipe builder in MFP to see how many cals are in a dish and how many servings. I know it's not so easy if you don't use recipes, but it's a really interesting exercise to weigh and measure everything and enter it all in the recipe builder so I can see the difference it make to reduce the oil and bump up the veggies, for example.
    - try adding veggies to your recipes. Things like zucchini, baby spinach, tomato pretty much disappear in a stew, but you get extra nutrition and volume and less calories per serve.

    It's hard taking traditional recipes and changing them, but keep at it until you find a compromise on things that taste good to you but are a bit healthier.
  • jgnatca
    jgnatca Posts: 14,464 Member
    I have family and friends from east Africa. I suggest you keep the best from your heritage and borrow from the best from your adopted country. Do you make anything from Kale? My Sudanese friend took all the kale I would give her from my garden.

    I think you can eat the foods you are used to, simply changing the portions. There's some great African stews I have enjoyed. Add more onions and tomatoes and reduce the oil by about a quarter. Eat the breads and rice the way you enjoy it, just watch the portions.

    Make friends with fruits and vegetables.
  • darkskinbull
    darkskinbull Posts: 3 Member
    Love all the tips. Will start reducing the oils and stop eating rice 4 times a day

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