inkandsheep Member

Eating healthier in general has really helped me. E.g. I use very little salt and added oil in my cooking and after doing that for some months, I don't really want something greasy and salty anymore (I used to love take away pizzas and chips...). Eating things that help me feel fuller longer helps as well. Substituting…

My feelings are that there's no need to go out of your way to avoid them. I do try to avoid refined carbs - e.g. I would always choose brown rice instead of white, eat rye bread with minimal additives rather than white bread etc. Some grain based foods like pasta are also fairly high in calories so that's one reason to…

Well, it's quite high in refined sugars. Not all cereals are the same. Why not look for puffed rice cereal that is just plain puffed brown rice, with no sugar/salt etc. added? Or have oats instead.

It depends on what you eat as well. If you eat mostly whole foods (e.g. oats for breakfast, lots of fresh veg and fruit, wholegrains, healthy fats like nuts and avocado) you can eat quite a lot before hitting your calorie goal. These foods also keep you fuller longer than some other things (e.g. are you using up calories…

I'm a new vegan too. I've been vegetarian for years and started cutting out eggs and dairy from my diet this summer. I'm pretty much fully vegan in terms of my diet now (except for occasional silly mistakes like buying bread that had milk in it, oops) although I still wear leather shoes and wool, so I don't really like to…

This week I've been having quick oats (the type with no added sugar/salt) cooked in the microwave with coconut milk (I'm vegan) and then 1/2 banana sliced and mixed in when it's cooked, plus a sprinkle of cinnamon. The banana gets all caramelised and lovely in the hot porridge! It's about 250 cals, depending on the milk…

Popchips are pretty tasty. Or you could try salted popcorn? M&S sells dry roasted and salted edamame and broad beans - those are pretty healthy because they're rich in protein too. :)

Some that I've had recently... Falafels with steamed carrots and kale, with some hummus. Butternut squash and red lentil soup spiced with chilli. Homemade red kidney bean chilli with brown rice.

My macros are similar to yours. I don't believe low carb is the way to go (as someone else said, your brain needs carbs!). However, I mostly get my carbs from wholegrains (like brown rice, quinoa and rolled oats), fruit & veg and beans. I try not to eat much wheat or refined sugars.

I haven't seen the film but I've read a lot about it. I've been vegetarian for years and have mostly gone vegan this summer. I find it really easy, but then I don't eat out much and use very few processed foods so it's very easy for me to choose plant based ingredients only. For me cutting out most dairy and eggs from my…

Having some healthy fats with your food/snacks really helps. So try having a couple of nuts with your snack, or some avocado with your lunch. What are you having for breakfast? Oatmeal (or my favourite, overnight oats) is great for low release energy so it keeps you full longer.

Google 'overnight oats'.

I used to be an unhealthy vegetarian at some point and didn't get my 5 a day. Now I eat mostly plant based (vegan) and always get my 5 a day, and I just know I'm making much healthier food choices in general and avoiding processed foods. The sugar in fruit is very different from refined sugars because you're getting the…

I take a Vegan multivitamin (Holland & Barrett's own brand - I'm in the UK so might not be available elsewhere) and an extra B12 tablet. When I remember I take a calcium/vit D/zinc with my dinner. Protein boost wise I use raw hemp protein powder. I actually believe you can get all the protein you need from a plant based…

The wholegrain is best for you nutritionally (as it hasn't had a part of it taken away, like quick oats do). So steel cut or rolled oats, I believe they're also called old fashioned oats in some countries. Quick oats are fine too but make sure to buy the ones without added sugar, salt and chemicals... I just got some last…

Spinach doesn't really add any flavour at all when it's combined with fruit so it's easy to put it in to any smoothie! Kale tastes a bit more "green" but you'll get used to that after a while, too.

It is quite high in sugar. I wouldn't consider it the best breakfast choice (not the worst either) - there are cereals on the market with no added salt or sugar. I love puffed oats - they have literally nothing added. I usually have them with non-dairy milk and fruit.

While it is true that our body changes as we get older, I can't see why you shouldn't be able to get to that weight or even lower again! I'm just under 5ft3 and was 141 when I started, now 125. I haven't been lighter than this since my teens either (I'm 29 now) but I think it's perfectly possible for me to get to a lower…

Why would it be bad? If anything, whole wheat is the best type of wheat as it's the whole grain and less processed. I'm sure Shredded Wheat cereal is full of sugar, though, and probably all sorts of additives, so that would be a good reason to avoid it. It won't be why you're gaining weight unless you're eating lots of it,…

I love kale at the moment... I often steam some if I'm steaming other veg. It goes well in smoothies - I use about a cup of kale per smoothie. And as a salad, try "massaging" it with avocado and a pinch of salt. The technique is just what it sounds like - you can look up tutorials etc. online, though. This softens the…

I mostly steam mine. Mostly because it is best for keeping nutrients in the veggies, and I also prefer the taste/consistency. I mostly have spinach raw or mixed into a food at the last minute so that it wilts (e.g. mixed in with a pasta or rice dish).

Depending on what you usually eat, your body might not be used to the extra fiber. You might notice the same effect if you add more vegetables and whole grains to your diet too. Your body should adjust in a few days. You can also take a digestive enzyme (available from healthfood shops etc.) to help your body digest it…

I read about this with interest the other day because my grandmother had Alzheimer's. She didn't eat junk food as such - but she did use a lot of butter, white flour, white sugar, full fat milk etc. so perhaps those are all "junk" food too... She was always a normal weight and did a reasonable amount of exercise. I think…

I prefer to have fruit with something - so I often make overnight oats with blueberries and banana, or I'll have a green smoothie that has some fruit but also hemp protein and non-dairy milk (I'm eating plant based only). There is no such thing as a food that helps to burn fat faster, though.

I've stuck to what MFP suggested and it has worked for me. I'm short and only had 20 pounds to lose, and I've lost the weight slowly so I'm happy with what I'm doing. If I increased my calorie allowance a lot, I would soon be where I was when I was putting all this weight on and eating too much!

Dates are particularly high in sugar. It's also worth checking your dried fruit has no added sugar - sometimes they do. I would also consider that amount of fruit you list to be more than one serving - if I have dried fruit, it's usually about 30-40grams per day only. I'm actually not too concerned about carbs or sugar…

I use oat or almond milk with mine, not water! And chia seeds are important - they'll absorb most of the liquid. Then just add whatever fruit you like - I've been using 1/2 banana and a large handful of blueberries recently.

Green tea or herbal tea for ordinary tea (no caffeine, and I don't need milk or sugar with it) Quinoa for some dishes I previously had with pasta Puffed grains (e.g. puffed oats, quinoa or brown rice) that has nothing added for cereals/muesli I use apple sauce and nut butter in baking instead of oil and eggs now (to make…

My current favourite is a 3 bean salad - red kidney beans, chickpeas and green beans with red onion and red pepper. I have it with a homemade dressing - usually made with dijon mustard, apple cider vinegar, lemon juice, a pinch of salt and some agave nectar. I eat mostly plant based and have beans in lots of dishes,…

I haven't tried logging it but I notice a lot of things that seem fairly small that actually really upped my calories - like having 4 chocolate biscuits after dinner - that's like doubling the calories of what I have for dinner now, pretty much! Or a sugary iced tea, around 100 calories... (now I have herbal tea without…