I originally had this page for a list of recipes but I don't really make anything
fancy, so instead why don't I list what the best foods are to eat, or actually
what I prefer to have in my kitchen?
Do you ever think about what you are going to eat and then "no, that doesn't
sound good". Or do you sometimes just eat because it makes you feel better. The
trick to losing weight is to try and avoid this pattern. Don't just eat because
you want to and it tastes good. Eat to live, not live to eat or whatever you want
to say. I've always heard that some people are overweight because of emotional eating.
I definitely think this can be true.
I eat rather simply. Here are some foods you should always have in stock.
Eating healthy is very cheap (but somewhat boring):
Instant Brown Rice
I was always told to go with brown rice instead of white rice. I'm not sure
of the exact reason. Probably because white rice is refined? I really hate the
taste of brown rice and can't eat it plain, so I have to put something on it. I
prefer to purchase the boiling bags but if you have a rice cooker get the cheaper
kind in the larger sized bag.
Bags of Skinless/Boneless Chicken Breast
You can't eat much chicken that is fried or has the skin on it, so always stock
up on these. Beware of very cheap bags found at some stores. The quality is
pretty low. The best deal can be found at Wal-Mart. An entire bag is only $7.99!
I eat my chicken breasts plain or with a little seasoning. I grill them on my
George Foreman grill. If you don't have a George Foreman grill I suggest getting
the large size since the one I have is only big enough for grilling one piece of
chicken at a time.
Vegetables
The green ones are probably your best bet. I eat green beans, salad, broccoli
and my favorite which is a sweet potatoe. You may also want to buy potatoes.
Fruit
To be honest, I myself do not eat much fruit. You can go with grapes, apples
or oranges, or whatever else you prfer. It's probably best to avoid the kind
of lots of sugar like Pineapple. Small boxes of raisins also make a good snack.
Fish
I don't really care for fish. The only fish I will eat is tuna fish
and Mahi Mahi, that's it. For tuna fish it's best to get the kind packed
in water. They also have this new product out called Tuna Creations. It's just
lightly marinated tuna in a small pouch. As you may know, tuna has a lot of
protein.
Whole Grain Bread, Bagels
I don't eat many bagels and I try and avoid too much bread, especially at
night.
Oatmeal, Grits, Whole Grain Cereal
I think breakfast is one of the most important meals of the day. I gave up
cereal a long time ago. I probably haven't eaten cereal for breakfast in probably
six months. I will usually eat Oatmeal or make an Omlette with Egg Beaters or
Egg whites. The trick is to use fat free butter or fat free olive oil spray in
the pan and only use fat free chedder cheese. Along with these meal you may
want to add a slice of bread or another carb. Don't forget the water too. For
the first few weeks of using the Bowflex I always drank the shake found below.
Somedays if I am lazy or don't have time for a big breakfast I will just have
a Meal Replacement or a protein shake. I'll admit to even skipping breakfast
more than I should. Grits are also popular with some people. Right now i'm just
trying to come up with a way to make them taste better.
Fat free milk
I gave up milk a long time ago. I would also use it for my protein powder
but it got to the point where i'd drink it way to much and it'd get
expensive. I also did not realize how much sugar Milk has in it. It sure
doesn't seem like it would!
Yogurt
Yogurt causes me to overeat and want more of it so I don't buy it anymore.
Whatever you do, try to get the sugar free or low sugar kind of yogurt.
Sometimes you can make plain Yogurt taste ok by adding Sweet 'N Low but
really the low sugar version is fine.
Cottage Cheese
This is by far one of the best sources of protein there is. Make sure you
get the low fat version though! Some people mix it with yogurt or add fruit
but I myself find that disgusting if you can believe that!
Deli Sliced Lunch Meats
If I want a sandwich I will just go to Subway instead. I usually get the 6"
Turkey with everything except for Mayo, Oil and Vinegar. You can also add into
it a bag of Baked Lays and a Diet Pepsi. Some people suggest skipping the chips
and adding a Meal Replaement (ready-to-drink) to the meal for extra protein.
Or simply getting double meat. I have no need for that because a 6" sub with
chips and a large drink fills me up. 2 hours later i'll usually just eat a
protein bar or something instead. Right now I probably go to Subway about
2 days a week.
Eggs
Another excellent source of protein. Just be sure to remove the yolks. I
usually make omlettes with them or make scrambled eggs. Eggs are my favorite
food to eat for breakfast. They even have turkey bacon now to go with it if
you like. I myself HATE Turkey Bacon and think it tastes like rubber.
These are good to have around:
Fat Free shredded chedder cheese, butter, mayo and salad dressing
Splenda, Equal or Sweet 'N Low
Salsa
Natural Peanut Butter
Must own products:
The George Foreman Grill
High quality Rice Cooker (I found one for $4.00 at Wal-Mart once!)
High quality blender
Banana Orange Shake
This is a very good recipe for those that are low on money and can't usually afford
to buy all those expensive protein shakes or simply just don't want to waste their
money on them! I drank these as a breakfast replacement for weeks. They're not
to bad tasting really. Each has about 300 calories each and is exactly what
you need for breakfast. They also give you a lot of energy!
1 cup of Orange Juice
1 cup of Fat Free Milk
1 tsp Safflower Oil (this is a MUST)
1 Large Banana
2 TB Wheat Germ
