Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Eat to live, Merry style

Quote du jour: I hate it when my foot falls asleep during the day, because that means it's going to be up all night. ~Steven Wright


By request, a typical day's menu on the Eat to Live six week plan. At least, typical for me. One thing that I like about this way of eating is that you don't have to count calories. (I'm keeping track because it's a way to study my eating patterns, for my own understanding.) The emphasis is on eating beans and greens, especially green leafies, with 4 pieces of fruit and some nuts and seeds.

Breakfast is generally fruit with a bit of protein thrown in. Today, strawberries, blueberries, and a pear, about 3 cups' worth, with a bit of baked tofu on the side. The application I'm using to track calories suggests that I should aim for eating 200 calories and 5 grams of fiber at breakfast. I'm not an especially breakfast or morning type of person, so it might take me a couple hours to eat breakfast while at my desk. If I finish before 10, I call it breakfast.

Lunch is where I go to town on veggies. I usually go for a salad with a couple cups of greens, then beans, mushrooms, sliced carrots, whatever veggie toppings are around. There's a salad bar in the cafe at work, so I tend to cruise it for things I wouldn't usually buy at the store, and add them to my home-brought salad. One thing I've noticed about the beans and greens diet is that my taste buds are much more easily pleased. Used to be I didn't especially notice my food after the first taste of an entree, but now it's different. Suddenly, each bite of something like sundried tomatoes makes my taste buds all join hands and dance around in happy circles. Eating has become a lot more interesting.

For the mid-afternoon slump, I munch on an apple and some almonds.

Dinner is where I throw in any 'bad' food, i.e. anything that's not especially nutritious. Traditionally, I eat very well during the day and blow it after I get home at night. These days, I plan my bad, so I don't go overboard. One thing about this six week plan is that grains and starchy vegetables are limited, so here's where I'll eat some fritos or a baked (nuked) potato with salsa, something like that along with my salad. I'm still trying to find the best way to include flax seed into this diet.

Exercise du jour: 15 minutes elliptical. Yesterday I did a rather long 50 minutes, the day before was resistance. Today is just a placeholder, a quickie. Because I overslept, I get to work late, which means I won't have time to organize the house and exercise both. Inner Slug will be pleased.

Posted from DPad on my iPad

8 comments:

Gina said...

I like the phrase, "Beans and greens." I think I'll put that on the meal-planning menu.

"Hey, family! It's beans and greens night!"

(Yes, I'm easily amused -- especially after a good workout, and I'm all relaxed).

messymimi said...

Plan your bad. That's good.

Keith said...

It's good to please your inner slug once in a while. Otherwise it gets all cranky and tries to take over the rest of your life.

C said...

I would love to eat like this. But I'm too easily swayed to the dark side by sweets and baked goods. :(

Julie said...

I pick up the book this week, so you may end up being a third of the way done by the time I get started, but I'm still looking forward to doing this.

You gave me a great idea about the salad add ons, we have a wonderful orgaic grocery store near by, (has an awesome hot and cold bar)and I always want to stop in there for a salad, but it's uber costly. So, I'll stop in, but just pick up a few "extras" to take home for my pre-purchased greenery. Brilliant!

Yay you for one week down!

Amanda said...

"Inner slug will be pleased" awesome :)

I also like "planning my bad". That's what I tend to do, and you're correct -- it does help keep things in line.

LaShaune said...

Use Chia seed on your salad..same benefit as flax and easier to incorporate into a veggie lifestyle.

I like the "plan your bad".

EcoCatLady said...

Thanks so much for posting this. I'm thinking that perhaps my lettuce allergy could make this sort of eating plan a tad bit difficult.

I am duly impressed though. Would a few ground flax seeds on your salad work? I usually put them on my morning oatmeal or fruit w/yogurt, but since you're not allowed either yogurt or oatmeal... hmmm... You are SOOO much stronger than I am.