Archive for the ‘Healthy Eating:Meal Plans’ category

Goodbye Mr Chips

January 19th, 2010

Cut back on fat and you’ll reap rewards on your bum and your thights.Try some simple and painless ways to reduce fat in your diet.

If you’re reading this,no doubt your priority right now is on your behind.And,given that being overweight is a major factor in cellulite,it’s time to slash some of the naughty stuff from your diet.Let’s start with some home thruths about dietary fat:

Weight for weight,fat contains twice as many calories as sugar.

1 g of fat contains 9 calories,while 1 g of sugar contains about 3-4 cals – so one of the best ways to cutback on calories bis to reduce your fat intake.

Fat calories make you fatter than carbohydrate and protein calories.

That’s because fat is closest to the form it needs to be for storage – to metabolise it requires 3 calories for every 100 calories you eat.That leaves a whopping97 to be stored in your fat cells.

Compare this with the number of calories required to metabolise carbohydrates,about 10-15 calories which leaves only 85-90 to be stored.Proteins wins hand thought; it requires an amazing 20 calories to use it.So if you want to boost your metabolism,stick to protein and carbs and go easy on the fat.

Try sticking to a moderate fat restriction eating plan (where it accounts for between 30and 32 % of your total calorie intake).You are more much likely to keep the weight off this way than by restricting it to 20-25% because it’s more palatable and therefore easier to stick with.

You don’t have to suffer on a fat-free regime to lose weight.There are plenty of painless ways to cut back:

  • Ban margarine,butter or cheese in your sandwiches (and use tuna,turkey and low fat ham as fillings).Mustard and low-fat dressing make good alternatives to spreads.
  • Reduce red meat consumption by adding beans or root vegetables such as parsnips and turnips to casseroles or horpots to bulk up your servings.
  • Keep away from food preservedin oil; check the labels and stick to brine or fresh water instead.
  • Stop frying food ; instead barbecue/griddle or grill your fish or meat.
  • If you’re making meat casserole,leave it to go cold,then remove any fat on the surface.
  • Never add butter to your potatoes; try mustard or fromage frais in the mashed potatoes instead.
  • Drink clear broths or vegetable soups instead of creamy ones.
  • Never add cream to pasta sauces or soups.

Try these swaps:

  • Instead of steamed puddings and cream,opt for crumbles;they’ll keep your fruit intake high.Plus if you swap heavy crumble mixture for brown-breadcrumbs and a sprinkling of brown sugar you’ll keep it lower calorie still.
  • Instead of toast smoothered with butter try hummous – it’s a good source of protein,plus it’s high in soluble fibre which lowers cholesterol levels.
  • Love roasts?Swap red meat for white meat – and use spray olive to add taste and oils and balsamic vinegar and cut back on fat.

Microwaving made easy!

December 3rd, 2009
What's the difference between George Michael and a microwave oven? = A microwave stops when you open the door.

What's the difference between George Michael and a microwave oven? = A microwave stops when you open the door.

Overcooked again? Most microwave recipes give you a range of cooking times; choose the shorter duration then check for doneness to avoid overcooking.
Veggie cooking 101. Plastic wrap is the best for covering veggie because it wraps tightly, holding in heat and steam. Pol Martin, author of Supreme Cuisine suggests puncturing the wrap to allow steam to escape, preventing it from splitting. Fresh greens cook quickly with minimum water, so they retain their nutrients, taste, colour and texture.
Cooking speed varies. Dense foods cook more slowly than porous ones. E.g., mashed potatoes cook much faster than baked potatoes and ground beef quicker than steak, says Ann Creber, recipe author for World’s Finest Foods.
Containers. Shallow round and oval shapes allow the most even cooking. Square and rectangular ones may cause food to overcook in the corners because more energy is absorbed there

Meal plan : Day 1

June 30th, 2009

meal-plan-101190420081047

BREAKFAST

1 cup Kashi cereal or Cheerios ………………….. 120 calories

1 cup low-fat milk …………………………………… 110 calories

1 peach ………………………………………………… 45 calories

SNACK

1 banana ………………………………………………. 110 calories

water

LUNCH

2 slices whole-wheat bread ……………………… 200 calories

4 slices lean turkey or other lean deli meat…. 40 calories

1 tbsp Light Miracle Whip or light mayo or mustard…. 35 calories

tomato, lettuce, other veggies …………………. 25 calories

1 apple ………………………………………………… 80 calories

1oz baked chips (9-12 chips) …………………… 120 calories

water

SNACK

a handful of mixed nuts ………………………….. 164 calories

water

DINNER

1 cup of Spaghetti with sauce ……………………………. 300 calories

2 cups tossed greens with veggies ……………………… 50 calories

10-15 baby carrots …………………………………………. 45 calories

Total: 1554 calories