Trying to start eating healthy - any suggestions?

Inner Peace · Post by **Inner Peace** » Tue Apr 15, 2008 12:41 am

I’m making an effort to start eating healthy – to really focus on fresh fruits and vegetables and not as much processed foods. Are there any web sites or books that can help? I can eat fresh fruit and salads, even some chicken, but there still seems like there is something “missing” from my meal. I’m looking for suggestions for meals, preferable that don’t take too long to prepare. Any help would be appreciated.

Diann Siracusa · Post by **Diann Siracusa** » Tue Apr 15, 2008 1:19 am

hi Inner....I have also done what your doing.

I have cut out having sugar added snacks and am having high protein foods and snacks. Also I have added fiber into my diet through fruits and oatmeal and switched to whole grain white breads and pastas.

I bought these books becuase the diabetic diet is the type of healthy diet all of us should follow.

Snack Attack by Ruth Glick is filled with great ideas for making good tasting snacks, appitizers, smoothies etc.

The All Natural Diabetes Cookbook by jackie Newgent is a great book of recipes that are healthy and low in fat and added sugar.

The Big Book of Diabetic Desserts by Jackie Miller is a great book with recipies to make for healthy deserts.

Hope these help you. You have the right idea here...ever since eating better I do feel better on a whole. Of course its only been a couple weeks for me so it takes time but its the right thing to do.

Good luck.
Let me know if you come across something you might find interesting to help as well.

(I found my books on Amazon.com they have some good deals on new or gently used books.)

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Tue Apr 15, 2008 6:09 am

I was on Atkins for a few years until I found out I had high blood pressure. Have found a whole new way to eat which is helping me lose a little weight and it's healthy. It's similar to the Southbeach diet.

Lots of salad with baked chicken, about 4 to 6 meals of this a day - 225 to 275 calories each (4 to 5oz of chicken per salad, 30 calories per oz) I use fat free salad dressing. Kraft fat free ranch is 50 cal per 2 tablespoons, as is Kraft fat free honey dijon mustard dressing and both have a good taste to me.

200 calorie soup like chicken noodle or clam chowder.

Low fat sliced meat such as ham or bologna for sandwiches. Low fat cheese to go on the sandwich.

35 calorie per slice bread by Earthgrains or 45 calorie per slice bread by Sara Lee

70 calorie per ounce potatoe chips - low fat but still tastes good. Has less sodium than baked chips.

Del Monte No Sugar Added Fruit ****tail - 140 calories in a whole can (14.5 oz)

8 oz apple = 135 calories

6 oz of baked chicken with barbeque sauce and a vegetable to go with it - about 300 calories

cantalope - 5 oz = about 55 to 60 cal

low cal, low sugar ice cream products such as SkinnyCow fudge bars = 100 calories,
Breyer's carbsmart fudge bar = 100 calories, Dreyer's fruitbars - strawberry/banana = 100 cal, coconut bar = 130 cal, grape = 80 cal

Jello sugar free pudding, 4 oz, various flavors = 60 cal

Nabisco Honey Made Graham Crackers - 65 calories per sheet

Animal Crackers - 120 cal per oz

Water to drink or mix a bottle of water with a 10 cal Crystal Light punch flavor

All of this is low sodium, low sugar, low fat, but enough variety for me to not get tired of it. I shoot for 1900 calories a day and am successful about half the time. Keeps the weight in check and it's healthy.

I keep lookin' to add to my list of good low cal, low fat stuff.

sometimes I'll have peanut butter on bread or a candy bar. But don't eat candy bars very often.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Tue Apr 15, 2008 12:32 pm

I don't know about anyone else, but just being on a diet makes me very anxious. As soon as I get a "hungry" feeling in my stomach, my anxiety level just goes up. Then I eat to "fill" that empty feeling and I feel mad at myself for going off my diet. I have trouble with eating certain foods and I stay away from them. But I tend to nibble all the time, I guess to relieve my anxiousness and stress. Does anyone else do this?
Rob.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Tue Apr 15, 2008 12:35 pm

Inner Peace, I have found this website to be amazing - lots of information, but not a "diet" site per se. Gazoodles of people use this free site and it was featured on many national news programs. You may wish to give it a try. Here is the link. Rob.
<A HREF="http://www.sparkpeople.com/" TARGET=_blank>http://www.sparkpeople.com/</A>

MC Grace · Post by **MC Grace** » Tue Apr 15, 2008 10:16 pm

I have started eating healthy since starting the program. I feel so much better. I first started by getting off the caffeinne. Totally off... it really has made a difference for me. I also limited my sugar intake. I try my best to avoid cookies and baked goods and replaced those cravings with Kashi snacks. They make great trail mix and pumpkin flax bars that are filled with good ingredients. Kashi has some great snack options that are great to take along or keep in your desk at work to ward off cravings. I also take good vitamins. I have started cooking alot of recipes from Ellie Kreiger. You can catch her on the Food Network. She has some great cookbooks that I checked out of the library. The recipes are easy and really come out great. I like that she uses healthy ingredients that are easy to find. I have lost 10 lbs. making these little, easy changes. Most importantly I FEEL GREAT! Now I just have to start exercising! UGH! Best wishes to you all!

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Tue Apr 15, 2008 11:11 pm

Great advise from many smart people here! Also read the labels and stay away from high fructose corn syrup, hydrogenated soybean oil ect. All natural products are not always organic, read closely and yes eating more fruits is good, less caffeine, sugar (though I'll use sugar over those not so great substitutes) and low fat milk. There is so much more including the right kind of vitamins that YOUR body needs (stress related too) and yet the real kicker........EXERCISE. There is a lot out there and you came to a great place to ask, filter through and find what's best for you.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Apr 16, 2008 6:36 am

It sounds to me that you are not really looking to go on a diet, but want some healty recipes. I have a great book called, "Super Natural Cooking": by Heidi Swanson. It has tons of information about how to eat healthy, and has lots of recipes. Just because something is "low Fat", doesn't mean it's healthy for you. Pretty much all major super markets now have an organic food section, where you can buy everything you need. I don't know if you have a Whole Foods or Trader Joe's near you, but those are all organic foods. You should also make sure you buy organic, free-range meats and eggs. Good Luck!

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Apr 17, 2008 4:44 am

You can make pancakes with milled Oatbran and egg whites (or one whole egg) and ground almonds. They taste really good. I use soymilk in lieu of whole milk. You can also use a juicer to juice your own fresh vegetables and fruits. That way there aren't any added sugars.
mainstaymama- That's an interesting idea about an anti- anxiety diet. I wonder if anyone has done any real research on this other than cutting out sugar and caffeine? I haven't seen any.