TA, falafel are kind of veggie 'meatballs' made primarily with crushed chickpeas and spices....I put chopped onions and grated carrot in mine too.
They were nice baked in the tomato sauce, but they mostly disintegrated - not that it made any difference to the taste, it was still really nice.
I made a chicken and butternut squash curry yesterday - it was alright but not one of my best efforts. Having said that, husband thought it was lovely, he ate all his and the half of mine that I left.
Today I'm making a cottage pie with extra lean beef mince, with added grated carrots and courgettes for a bit of moisture, lentils to bulk it out and add more fibre, and some bbq sauce I got out of the freezer, mistakenly thinking it was homemade tomato sauce (I'd written on the plastic tub but it had faded in the freezer). The topping will be a mixture of ordinary spud and cooked mashed butternut squash, to cut the carbs a bit. We'll have it with cauli and broccoli in cheese sauce, which I'll make with half milk, half veg cooking water, to make it healthier. Extra mature Cheddar added, so can use less.
We're eating more pulses now, instead of potatoes - they're slightly less carbs, high in fibre and lower GI (or GL, can never remember the difference!). We've also started reducing the amount of wholegrain pasta we have as a portion, halving it in fact. I always find wholegrain pasta really filling anyway and often leave some of it, so don't know why I've not thought to reduce the portion size before.
I'm not obsessing about my weight at all, but got on the scales yesterday and am pleased to find I've lost a few pounds. I thought I must have done, as my waistbands seem a bit looser.
Sunday, 9 June 2019
Thursday, 6 June 2019
Falafel and must read labels!
The butterbean mash the other day was really nice, think I'll add more onions to it next time though.
Yesterday we had a mushroom omelette for breakfast and ham salad for lunch. Dinner was roasted chicken thighs which I dusted with Cajun spices beforehand, served with roasted butternut squash and aubergine, liberally sprinkled with smoked paprika, and Savoy cabbage and peas left over from the day before.
Today we're having yogurt, oat flakes, chopped fresh apricots and mixed seeds for breakfast. I got a carton of coconut Greek yogurt the other day, have just licked the spoon and realised that, whilst it's very nice, it does have sugar in it....that'll teach me for not reading the label before buying! In future I'll just add dessicated coconut to plain Greek yogurt.
Lunch will be seafood sticks with salad - ok, I know they're not a great thing to have as they're very processed, but these ones aren't too bad (I did read the label) and I do like them! Oh, and they're cheap! I'll make a sort of seafood dressing with a spoonful of mayo, tomato puree and some paprika.
Dinner will be falafel in a tomato sauce. The falafel I'd previously made and frozen, I'll make a sauce using passata, Italian herbs and red onion and bake the falafel in it, with a topping of Mozzarella. Some green veggies to go with it, probably Savoy cabbage and fine green beans.
Yesterday we had a mushroom omelette for breakfast and ham salad for lunch. Dinner was roasted chicken thighs which I dusted with Cajun spices beforehand, served with roasted butternut squash and aubergine, liberally sprinkled with smoked paprika, and Savoy cabbage and peas left over from the day before.
Today we're having yogurt, oat flakes, chopped fresh apricots and mixed seeds for breakfast. I got a carton of coconut Greek yogurt the other day, have just licked the spoon and realised that, whilst it's very nice, it does have sugar in it....that'll teach me for not reading the label before buying! In future I'll just add dessicated coconut to plain Greek yogurt.
Lunch will be seafood sticks with salad - ok, I know they're not a great thing to have as they're very processed, but these ones aren't too bad (I did read the label) and I do like them! Oh, and they're cheap! I'll make a sort of seafood dressing with a spoonful of mayo, tomato puree and some paprika.
Dinner will be falafel in a tomato sauce. The falafel I'd previously made and frozen, I'll make a sauce using passata, Italian herbs and red onion and bake the falafel in it, with a topping of Mozzarella. Some green veggies to go with it, probably Savoy cabbage and fine green beans.
Tuesday, 4 June 2019
Sausages and butterbean mash
Yesterday's stuffed peppers were lovely, we'll have them more often.
Continuing with a low carb, highish fat week until Saturday, then we'll change over to a low fat, moderate carb week on Sunday. I think changing around and having a bit of variety will be good for us. I'm weeing for England at the mo (so is husband, but that's a whole other story!), I always do when I drastically reduce carbs.
Breakfast was yogurt, oat flakes, fruit and nuts again, I really like it but husband's not quite so keen, although he will eat it a couple of times a week. He'd rather have toast or a cooked breakfast.
Lunch is going to be tinned salmon and salad, had a third of a bag of small prawns in the freezer so I've got them out to have as well.
Dinner is going to be sausages, Heck 97% pork ones. I'm going to do butterbean, sage and onion mash - a tin of butterbeans, rinsed of the sludgy water, then simmered in a saucepan with fresh water until very soft, drained and mashed. Will mix in some fresh sage and a large red onion, sliced and caramelised in a tiny bit of oil and a splash of water to stop it from burning. Savoy cabbage and peas with it.
Continuing with a low carb, highish fat week until Saturday, then we'll change over to a low fat, moderate carb week on Sunday. I think changing around and having a bit of variety will be good for us. I'm weeing for England at the mo (so is husband, but that's a whole other story!), I always do when I drastically reduce carbs.
Breakfast was yogurt, oat flakes, fruit and nuts again, I really like it but husband's not quite so keen, although he will eat it a couple of times a week. He'd rather have toast or a cooked breakfast.
Lunch is going to be tinned salmon and salad, had a third of a bag of small prawns in the freezer so I've got them out to have as well.
Dinner is going to be sausages, Heck 97% pork ones. I'm going to do butterbean, sage and onion mash - a tin of butterbeans, rinsed of the sludgy water, then simmered in a saucepan with fresh water until very soft, drained and mashed. Will mix in some fresh sage and a large red onion, sliced and caramelised in a tiny bit of oil and a splash of water to stop it from burning. Savoy cabbage and peas with it.
Monday, 3 June 2019
Stuffed peppers, and loads of daily veg
Yesterday's meals were really nice, the 2 meals and shorter time window (later breakfast than normal, and earlier dinner) worked well. We might try doing that once or twice a week.
For breakfast today we had Greek yogurt with a tablespoon of dry oat flakes, 2 chopped apricots, sprinkle of pumpkin and sunflower seeds and some nuts - walnuts for husband, almonds for me. Delicious.
Lunch was leftover roasted veggies from yesterday's dinner (planned leftovers) with goats cheese and vine tomatoes, with a simple dressing of olive oil and balsamic vinegar.
For dinner tonight we're having stuffed peppers. Red peppers halved and stuffed with a mixture of tuna, cooked brown rice, grated carrot, diced mushrooms, pine nuts, cubed mozzarella and chives, with a little grated Cheddar sprinkled on top before going in the oven. Will have with green beans.
I'm making sure we get more than 5 veg & fruit a day....it's more like 7 or 8. And to think not so many years ago the only veggies I ate were potatoes (in any form, although quite often chips) and peas!
For breakfast today we had Greek yogurt with a tablespoon of dry oat flakes, 2 chopped apricots, sprinkle of pumpkin and sunflower seeds and some nuts - walnuts for husband, almonds for me. Delicious.
Lunch was leftover roasted veggies from yesterday's dinner (planned leftovers) with goats cheese and vine tomatoes, with a simple dressing of olive oil and balsamic vinegar.
For dinner tonight we're having stuffed peppers. Red peppers halved and stuffed with a mixture of tuna, cooked brown rice, grated carrot, diced mushrooms, pine nuts, cubed mozzarella and chives, with a little grated Cheddar sprinkled on top before going in the oven. Will have with green beans.
I'm making sure we get more than 5 veg & fruit a day....it's more like 7 or 8. And to think not so many years ago the only veggies I ate were potatoes (in any form, although quite often chips) and peas!
Sunday, 2 June 2019
Healthy eating mojo back, and an IF day
Yesterday was a bit of a wash out foodwise, as we were out for several hours and I hadn't planned what to do for lunch, so we just grabbed a sandwich and packet of crisps from a shop. And for dinner we had leftovers - the turkey chilli I'd made for the previous day's dinner, but instead of healthy veggies again, we had rice and garlic bread. It was yummy actually, but not something we'll be having regularly now we're back to eating healthily.
I've got my cooking and healthy eating mojo back. We're having a sort of intermittent fasting day today, eating very low carb and in a short time window, to sort of kick start some weight loss.
Two meals today, for brunch around 9 am we had a 4-egg frittata between us, with grated courgette, half a chopped onion and some goats cheese in it, served with a couple of Heck chicken chipolatas and tinned tomatoes.
We did have a piece of fruit and coffee each at midday, as both of us need to take tablets with food.
For dinner, at 5 pm, we're having baked salmon steaks with olive oil, lemon slices and herbs. I'm doing a tray of roasted diced aubergine, courgette and asparagus with them, along with a sort of carb-free cauliflower cheese. I've boiled the cauli, then mashed it with a dollop of Philadelphia cream cheese and a handful of grated Cheddar, with some sage, parsley and a sprinkle of smoked paprika, it'll go in the oven to brown with the salmon and veggies.
I've got my cooking and healthy eating mojo back. We're having a sort of intermittent fasting day today, eating very low carb and in a short time window, to sort of kick start some weight loss.
Two meals today, for brunch around 9 am we had a 4-egg frittata between us, with grated courgette, half a chopped onion and some goats cheese in it, served with a couple of Heck chicken chipolatas and tinned tomatoes.
We did have a piece of fruit and coffee each at midday, as both of us need to take tablets with food.
For dinner, at 5 pm, we're having baked salmon steaks with olive oil, lemon slices and herbs. I'm doing a tray of roasted diced aubergine, courgette and asparagus with them, along with a sort of carb-free cauliflower cheese. I've boiled the cauli, then mashed it with a dollop of Philadelphia cream cheese and a handful of grated Cheddar, with some sage, parsley and a sprinkle of smoked paprika, it'll go in the oven to brown with the salmon and veggies.
Friday, 31 May 2019
An unexpected weight loss!
Apologies for the lack of food posts recently....as those of you who read my main blog will know, our life has been a bit of a rollercoaster again recently, and healthy eating tends to go out of the window then.
Nice as bangers and mash, or pizza and chips, etc, is, it doesn't do my guts or joints any good, I soon begin to feel so uncomfortable, sore and unwell that I welcome healthy eating again.
I went to my GP the other day, a routine thing for a referral to a sleep programme. During the consultation, she checked various aspects of my health, including weighing me, then remarked that I'd lost quite a bit of weight. 'Really?' I asked. She said I'd lost a stone in the past 18 months and congratulated me. The thing is, I didn't even know - the weight has come off quite painlessly and without me even noticing. I have been aware of losing the odd pound or 2 here and there, on the rare occasions when I do weigh myself, but have also put on a couple of pounds now and then, so I assumed it all balanced itself out...however, I've obviously lost more than I've gained, happily! It's spurred me on - well, that and the fact that my joints, back and hip are really aching lately - to get back pronto to the healthy eating.
So today I've just had plain Greek yogurt with a couple of sliced apricots and some almonds and mixed seeds for breakfast. Husband is having the last of his wholemeal seeded bread toasted. For lunch we'll have sliced avocado and goats cheese with salad. For dinner I'll make turkey chilli, we'll have it with cauliflower 'rice' and a green veg.
Nice as bangers and mash, or pizza and chips, etc, is, it doesn't do my guts or joints any good, I soon begin to feel so uncomfortable, sore and unwell that I welcome healthy eating again.
I went to my GP the other day, a routine thing for a referral to a sleep programme. During the consultation, she checked various aspects of my health, including weighing me, then remarked that I'd lost quite a bit of weight. 'Really?' I asked. She said I'd lost a stone in the past 18 months and congratulated me. The thing is, I didn't even know - the weight has come off quite painlessly and without me even noticing. I have been aware of losing the odd pound or 2 here and there, on the rare occasions when I do weigh myself, but have also put on a couple of pounds now and then, so I assumed it all balanced itself out...however, I've obviously lost more than I've gained, happily! It's spurred me on - well, that and the fact that my joints, back and hip are really aching lately - to get back pronto to the healthy eating.
So today I've just had plain Greek yogurt with a couple of sliced apricots and some almonds and mixed seeds for breakfast. Husband is having the last of his wholemeal seeded bread toasted. For lunch we'll have sliced avocado and goats cheese with salad. For dinner I'll make turkey chilli, we'll have it with cauliflower 'rice' and a green veg.
Saturday, 18 May 2019
Bacon & butterbean salad, Veggie dhal fakeaway
Husband likes (well, we both do) some kind of fakeaway on Saturday evenings, he especially likes Indian food so tonight I'm doing my interpretation of a sort of dhal (dahl? daal? dal?).
For lunch we'll have a bacon and butterbean salad - lean bacon medallions grilled and cut into pieces, mixed with a tin of drained and rinsed butterbeans, chopped tomatoes, cucumber and radishes, some crumbled feta and a simple mustardy dressing, consisting of EVOO, cider vinegar and Dijon mustard. Will serve it on a bed of mixed leaves.
For the dhal I'm going to boil Puy lentils, then add some bulgur wheat towards the end of cooking, to soak up the remaining water. I'll gently cook sliced onions and finely chopped carrot in oil until they're caramelised, then add in some curry spices and sliced mushrooms and fry off, before mixing it all in with the lentils/bulgur. I have some leftover boiled potatoes in the fridge, will dice them up and cook them in a tablespoon of tikka masala paste to make sort of Bombay potatoes, to have on the side. I might make some onion seed flatbreads, will see how I feel about that later.
For lunch we'll have a bacon and butterbean salad - lean bacon medallions grilled and cut into pieces, mixed with a tin of drained and rinsed butterbeans, chopped tomatoes, cucumber and radishes, some crumbled feta and a simple mustardy dressing, consisting of EVOO, cider vinegar and Dijon mustard. Will serve it on a bed of mixed leaves.
For the dhal I'm going to boil Puy lentils, then add some bulgur wheat towards the end of cooking, to soak up the remaining water. I'll gently cook sliced onions and finely chopped carrot in oil until they're caramelised, then add in some curry spices and sliced mushrooms and fry off, before mixing it all in with the lentils/bulgur. I have some leftover boiled potatoes in the fridge, will dice them up and cook them in a tablespoon of tikka masala paste to make sort of Bombay potatoes, to have on the side. I might make some onion seed flatbreads, will see how I feel about that later.
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