I don´t know about you, but for me, dieting is just hard. Trying to find a diet plan that I could actually eat and make and that I could serve to my family is pretty much impossible. I´ve accepted the fact that I´ll be cooking separate dishes in many cases. My growing boys need their carbs and I most certainly don´t!
All the diet menus that I´ve come across are so finicky that they turn me off right away. First of all, I love food, so telling me that I can have three peanuts and six grapes for a snack is like danging a baby sardine in front of a killer whale . . . it´s not going to be pretty!
Another thing is that I tend to be pretty picky. I don´t like seafood, so that rules out about 45% of diet menus I´ve come across! I´ll eat meat and veggies, etc. so that part is fine, but so many seem to include shrimp and fish in the diet and I really can´t stand those things.
Finally, I live in Guatemala, so brand names are virtually non-existent . . . at least the ones listed in all those diets! When I see a plan with yummy recipes that I can never make because the ingredients just aren´t available, it´s frustrating.
So I´m down to planning out my own. :S Not necessarily a good idea, since I´m no nutritionist, but if I´m going to drop at least 30 lbs before seeing my family, something must be done. Here´s what I´m thinking . . .
Breakfast Options
- Oatmeal with milk, molasses and banana, apple or raisins
- Smoothie with yogurt and fruit (papaya, banana, pineapple, etc.)
- Poached egg on wholewheat toast with a slice of cheese, plus a piece of fruit
Lunch Options
- Whole wheat veggie sandwich (two slices bread, mustard or avocado spread, top with shredded carrot, sprouts, tomato, cucumber, etc.
- Vegetable soup with pieces of chicken
- Potato salad made with lite mayo
- Corn/Tomato spread on whole wheat toast (bind with blended cooked chard)
Supper Options
- Poached chicken breast with salad and cooked potatoes/carrots
- Boiled egg, salad, baked potato with ricotta cheese
- Wilted greens (spinach, chard, etc.) with ricotta cheese, baked squash
- Potato Leek soup
- Baby squash with a little butter, carrots and green beans
- Boiled beans and poached eggs
Snacks
- Carrot, celery sticks for crunch
- Hard boiled egg
- Fruit (banana, apple, etc.)
- Lime water
- Unbuttered popcorn
As I find recipes to go with this plan, I´ll probably add them. The main thing is to avoid eating much in the way of carbs and to keep my body fueled with vegetables and fruit, mostly fresh, along with some protein, especially at night. Since I love to eat, I´m thinking the ability to nibble on fresh veggies is probably going to be key in this plan.