Tag Archives: diet

Aug 28 2011

New Adventures in Scratch Cooking

Here’s the short version of what is a long and ongoing story.  I decided a few weeks ago that in order to lose weight, live healthier and save money I would create my own diet.  My plan is based on the theory that scratch cooking (meaning eliminating all processed and packaged foods from our diet) will lead to weight loss, better overall health, more energy and save a lot of money on groceries.  Stay tuned for additional posts in the weeks ahead as I begin the transition to all scratch cooking.

Sneak peak at the kinds of things I will be cooking (and sharing of course):

Yep, that is wheat bread made from scratch. And it tasted as good as you imagine!

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Jan 27 2011

Diet Derailed

I’ve been doing the South Beach Diet since January 2nd.  I got off track last week with my husband out of town and the kids driving me crazy.  I ate some cookies, fast food and not enough vegetables.  It took a couple of days but I’m back to where I was before cheating.  What I learned was that although the junk tasted good while I was eating it, I felt terrible afterward.  Not guilty terrible-I mean physically terrible.  I got a headache and just felt run down.

Although this cheating was a set-back to weight loss, the more important thing I learned was junk food makes me feel awful.  That’s the kind of “lesson learned” reinforcement I needed to get me back on track.

I got my new cookbook a few days ago ”South Beach Diet Quick and Easy Cookbook”.  I’m really excited about the recipes in it.  They are much simpler and less time consuming than the original cookbook with all meals ready within 30 minutes.  I noticed that most of the ingredients are easy to find.  That was one of my complaints with the first cookbook from 2004 – it was common for the recipes to have 15-20 ingredients, some of which were more health-food store than supermarket.  That made cooking some of the recipes daunting to me.

I made the Pesto Chicken last night – so simple.  I served it with a side of wheat rotini pasta and steamed broccoli.  The next one I want to try is a Ginger Chicken with Snow Peas.  My mom has this cookbook and she’s really enjoying it too!

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Jan 21 2011

First (minor) Slip Up

In any diet, or any new habit, there’s bound to be some slips along the journey to making it a permanent way of life.  Last night I was tired and unprepared to cook dinner.  I looked in the pantry, the freezer and decided on tacos.  I know tacos are not really a good example of South Beach meal ideals, but I made them as healthy as I could.

I had a package of whole grain crunchy taco shells, a bag of Morningstar Farms Crumbles (vegetarian ground beef substitute), some baby spinach, fat-free sour cream, and shredded cheese.  I crisped the shells in the oven, heated the crumbles and seasoned them with taco seasoning.  I warmed up a can of fat-free refried beans and served them on the side with some Tostitos Multigrain Tortilla Chips and salsa.

All and all I didn’t stray too far from the approved foods list.  The taco shells and tortilla chips were probably the worst of it, and at least they were mulitgrain!

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Jan 19 2011

Recent South Beach Meals

So what have we been eating?  Salads and protein shakes?  No way!  Here’s what I’ve made for dinner recently:

  • Gilled pork loin chops; sautéed zucchini and a mixed green salad
  • Boca burger on a Oroweat Sandwich Thins roll, with cheese, sliced tomato, mayo; steamed edamame in the shell; tomato salad (cut cherry tomatoes, olive oil, balsamic, basil and grated parmesan)
  • Chicken breasts w/ onions; faux mashed potatoes (cauliflower); salad
  • Turkey hot dogs on wheat buns; salad
  • Boca burger with cheese, sprouts, sliced tomato, sliced avocado
  • Chicken stir fry
  • Wheat pasta with meat sauce (extra lean ground beef + jarred sauce w/ low sugar content)
  • Turkey kielbasa sausage and cabbage

Probably the most difficult thing on the South Beach Diet is all the cooking you need to do.  I say difficult because some people don’t like to cook, and others are just too busy.  Dont’ let the idea of cooking your own meals stop you from trying this diet.  All it takes a little planning to make sure you have the right ingredients on hand.  It’s also a good idea to have one of the South Beach cookbooks for guidance.  Even if you don’t make it exactly the way they describe, it’s a good staring point.  You can make substitutions to fit your taste as long as you stay with foods on the approved list.

The key is to keep the variety going so you don’t get bored.  Get one of the cookbooks, or join South Beach Diet online (it is a paid site) for more recipe ideas.  I’ll also keep posting my recipes to share with all of you.

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Jan 11 2011

Why YOU Should be on The South Beach Diet

bell peppers

Fresh Veggies!

Can I say that I love this diet?  Sounds funny, I know.  But it is working well, I’m not hungry and my sugar and fast food cravings are gone.  I’ve tried many diets in the past 15 years – Weight Watchers (2 times), Diet Center, Nutisystem and doctor-supplied drugs.  All with limited success.

I’m on day 9, of the first phase and down over 5 lbs so far (and probably closer to 8 since I didn’t get to weigh right before I started).

REASONS WHY YOU SHOULD TRY THIS:

  • Eating a nutritionally sound diet comprised of vegetables, lean meats, low-fat dairy and whole grains
  • Not being hungry – on this plan you eat a normal portion and if you are still hungry you should have a little more
  • Three meals a day, plus two snacks and a dessert = not hungry and keeping blood sugar stable
  • No gimics, pills, counting points or calories!
  • Follow their weekly menu or create your own meals from the “foods to enjoy” list
  • Unlike fad diets, this plan is designed to become a permanent new way of eating.

I’m already feeling better and have more energy! 

THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE SOUTH BEACH DIET

  • Phase One is challenging, since you cannot have any fruit, bread, pasta etc.  But it’s only for two weeks and then healthy carbs are added back to the menu.
  • You have to have an open mind about trying new foods.  If you eat the same salad for lunch every day you are going to get bored pretty quickly.  Use the recipes in the book or online (f you have a subscription) to keep your menu varied.
  • If you are married or have kids you need to get their support, especially if they are not going to follow the plan.  Try to limit the amount of unapproved foods in your house so you will not have the temptation.
  • There is an online version of the plan that provides the food lists, recipes, shopping lists, weight and inch tracker, message boards and inspiration.  If you have the funds to pay for it, this can really help.  Otherwise, just get the book, plus one of the cookbooks.
  • When you get to Phase Two, reintroduce the carbs slowly.  This is where I ran into trouble when I followed this diet five years ago.  Reintroduce only one or two servings per day at first, slowing increasing the amount to a level that allows you to continue losing weight and doesn’t trigger cravings.

If you need some motivation and support I will be posting regularly on this topic, and have added a separate page on the blog just for The South Beach Diet.  I will share my recipes, tips, triumphs and mishaps.  I encourage you to comment and follow along.

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