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magical thyme

(14,881 posts)
14. easy, easy, easy
Tue Oct 23, 2012, 09:55 AM
Oct 2012

I don't feel like I'm dieting, just living better. No calorie counting. I weigh food right now only because I want to be able to replicate recipes. Early on I weighed it to get a sense of how much raw versus cooked veggies; then I gave that up because I just eat as many "good" veggies as I want until I feel filled. A large carrot is ~3 ounces. 1/2 avocado is 3-3.5 oz. Etc. Also, I tend to make things in large batches and freeze the leftovers in meal-size bags to take to work.

I don't have a smoothie maker or anything like that. Thought about getting one, but my budget is too tight right now. I also enjoy cooking, especially while I'm experimenting with recipes.

I don't feel like I'm dieting. I don't feel like I'm missing anything. The biggest thing I'm cheating on is I don't eat half my veggies raw when the weather gets really cold and I do fry some things with olive oil. Also I still use some salt, but I have extremely low blood pressure (100/60 -- any lower and I'd be unconscious) and I work up a sweat with the dogs, the horse and work.

But really, it's just about doubling or tripling the green/orange veggies and halving or thirding everything else.

I cheat and don't worry about it because 90% or so of my eating is healthy. Every couple of weeks I'll treat myself to an omelet with fried potatoes. In a way it's nicer than before because it's more of a treat.

I already ate oatmeal with fruit in it for breakfast in the winter, but it didn't hold me until lunch and I got in a habit of a "second breakfast." Adding a couple tablespoons of either raw seeds or cashews or almonds to my oatmeal made it much, much hardier. And instead of a 2nd breakfast, I started eating a piece of fruit at 10am. Then I'm comfortable until lunch.

Lunch on warm days is raw, usually a wrap overloaded with greens (fresh from my garden -- late October and I *still* have sorrel!), tomatoes, maybe half a sliced avocado and/or half a cup or so of chili beans. Or carrot sticks with guacamole dip. On cold days, a large bowl of hot, thick soup loaded with veggies, and a single slice of whole grain bread. Or a couple fried green tomatoes made with cornmeal.

White beans cooked down and mashed make a great stock for hearty "creamed" soups. Same with mashed cauliflower. Even better is to use both of them

Dinner may be rice pilaf with a ton of veggies mixed in, or stew, or bean patties with a ton of veggies on the side.

Funny I should see this thread - I just came over here chalky Oct 2012 #1
Wow! (edit) OneGrassRoot Oct 2012 #2
ok, that blog is riding off the real Eat to Live magical thyme Oct 2012 #5
Thanks, magical thyme. I read more after my initial post... OneGrassRoot Oct 2012 #6
coolness... FirstLight Oct 2012 #17
Is it a vegetarian diet? Matariki Oct 2012 #3
I wondered the same thing and looked it up. kentauros Oct 2012 #10
I don't thrive on a meatless diet. Matariki Oct 2012 #12
Sorry to hear you got sick, kentauros Oct 2012 #13
it isn't meatless unless you want it to be. magical thyme Oct 2012 #15
it's a "nutritarian" diet magical thyme Oct 2012 #4
Lentil soup couldn't be easier--learning to cook from scratch is very important shedontlike..rogaine Oct 2012 #18
according to Dr. Fuhrman, who has studied nutrition for over 2 decades magical thyme Oct 2012 #20
Post removed Post removed Oct 2012 #21
Read up on what's in the lining of cans Matariki Oct 2012 #19
For simpler recipes, and a smidgen of meat... teenagebambam Oct 2012 #7
you can google lots of "Eat to Live" recipes for free too magical thyme Oct 2012 #8
Another wow! OneGrassRoot Oct 2012 #9
One major question: kentauros Oct 2012 #11
easy, easy, easy magical thyme Oct 2012 #14
Thanks for that detailed reply! kentauros Oct 2012 #16
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