Diet/food program?

[InnerStrength]

Hello all
I was thinking on my way to work this morning how it might be neat if we all started some sort of nutritional/diet/food program together. Almost like a weight watchers thing but more focused on eating things that promote healthy minds, decreasing cravings etc. I dont know about anyone else, but my eating habits are not the best and sometimes I find myself 'floundering' over what the best choice would be as a meal. Especially given how important nutrition and amino acids and different vitamins are to our well-being and recovery, I think this might be a good idea. I am not sure how this might work in practice, but i was just thinking that we could each (when we have a chance and if we want) contribute meals or foods that are particularly good for cravings or achieving what we are trying to do with this program. For example, perhaps we could even achieve a whole program of breakfasts/lunches/dinners that may be ideal to promote the best blend of vitamins/minerals/amino acids etc for cravings etc. Now, I know we are not doctors but given the amount of research we are doing and our collective interest in getting well, I just thought it might be fun. We could even assign 'points' to certain foods if we wanted, you know some foods better than others in terms of cravings or promoting health etc.? What do you guys think???? Anyone on board???
Hugs - happy Monday all
Love all
Jen:h :l

[wwbarb]

Diet/food program?

My commercial

I follow the Weight Watchers program - I also work for them. I have been doing it for over ten years.

I don't know if there are any foods in particular that lessen or rid cravings. All I know is that when I eat a balanced, healthy meal, I feel better and treat my body better. Usually at 8:00 at night is when I crave my drinks (if I hadn't started already ). Having a healthy substitute works for me - either a snack or a beverage that I enjoy. I'd love to hear everyone's input on this.

Barb

[InnerStrength]

Diet/food program?

Me too

My danger zone is from when i get home from work (around 6pm) until about 9:30 or so and then I am okay usually... but those 3 hours or so can be hard. Anyone have any tips? Sometimes for me its just the "comfort" of having that drink beside me.....adn a pop doesnt cut it!
Any suggestions??

[InnerStrength]

Diet/food program?

Although

Things have gotten a lot easier since this program/topa - and exercising does help - so thats my first suggestion - exercising (doing a class etc) seems to help a lot - thats waht I have been trying - but then there is still that space of time after.....

[YoungAtHeart]

Diet/food program?

I have incorporated the hypno suggestions that instead of craving alcohol, I am craving healthy food and beverages. It works a bit, although I haven't completely convinced myself yet, LOL! I'm getting a bit tired of cranberry and ginger ale though. I do love a good cappucino, so I am thinking of investing in an expresso maker and having decaf cappucino in the evening--a nice way to treat myself.

I am also finding that when I take the time to make a healthy meal for myself, even if it is very simple, it really helps with cravings, too. I'm definitely a HALT (hungry, angry, lonely, tired) drinker!! (Then I can also forget about dinner, too--just terrific for my health... ) I will buy a pound or two of the good-quality, precooked frozen shrimp at the grocery store, take out a good handful, defrost them in a bowl of warm water while I make a nice salad and voila! A nice dinner. Another healthy, quick dinner that I like is a nice omelet with mushrooms, onions, chopped broccoli or spinach and low-fat cheese folded in.

Also, I recently bought an industrial size bag of broccoli florets at Costco, and almost every night have steamed two good-sized handfuls, added some butter spray, salt, pepper and a teaspoon of fried shallots from the oriental grocery, and, again, a tasty veggie in about 10 mins. total!!

Although I adore cooking, I don't have the patience for a long drawn-out process when I am just cooking for myself, so these are just a few of the things that I do to keep it simple, but still keep it tasty. (I get bored easily in the food department, too.)

Hugs,:l
Kathy

[InnerStrength]

Diet/food program?

Thanks Kathy

What a fantastic start Kathy - exactly what I was looking for.
Hugs
Jen:h

[happycamper68]

Diet/food program?

My hubby and I are definitely mostly into whole grains, high fiber and proteins. I always feel better after I eat meat. We usually cook a a big pot of marinara sauce with canned tomatoes from Italy and fresh basil and olive oil and freeze it into separate portions for the week (little portions for Sophie) and then make pasta (whole wheat pasta) dishes with it or sometimes just top broiled chicken with the sauce with a little low fat cheese and broil it & eat that with some spinach salad or arugula greens with balmsamic olive oil, whatever salad dressing you like just no creamy dressing because too fattening.
Kind of like chicken parmesan but not fried and still yummy and no guilt. :-)

[Picklelili]

Diet/food program?

Diet/food programme

Having now done my first AF month, I have found that the alcohol free wines have helped enormously. Mind you, they're not cheap! BUT they do fill that gap that fruit juice, water etc can't do. I happily went off with friends to see Il Divo at Petworth - they were all clutching their chardonnays and merlots and I had mine. Didn't feel left out and now, after a month, I've even begun to take to the flavour (like watered down wine). I can glug a whole bottle and the calories are around 150 as against 900 in the real thing. Takes a little while to adjust but give it a try - well worth it.

[gateway]

Diet/food program?

i have noticed in a few of mwo respones - a few of you type in LOL what does this mean?

[InnerStrength]

Diet/food program?

Gateway - means Laugh out loud

[cv1]

Diet/food program?

Many diets/sample menus

Hey Jen, all,

Here is a link to a GI site that contains probably 30+ different types of diets, most with sample menus...Pick the one you want and go from there...:l

http://www.gicare.com/pated/edt0001.htm

[InnerStrength]

Diet/food program?

CV how much do I love you???

As usual, LOTS!!!!
Thanks!
Jen:h :l

[sujul]

Diet/food program?

Great Thread, Jen!

For me, THE most important diet change I have made is NO SUGAR!! I know that CV has posted all sorts of info/research on the relationship between sugar and alcohol, and I just want to say that in my experience cutting out sugar completely has changed my life almost as much as quitting drinking...This means reading ALL labels because sugar is in EVERYTHING! And often it comes in different guises: maltose, dextrose, corn syrup, etc...they break it up and label it all these different ways so that "sugar" does not appear to be as significant an ingredient as it really is....it just looks like there are miniscule amounts of all these different "sugars"--so read carefully!

Also, I try to eat mainly organic fruits and veggies, free-range/organically fed chicken/eggs and meat without antibiotics, etc...I limit my dairy intake but try to use milk that comes from cows that have not been given growth hormone and antibiotics (most of the meat/dairy in the US has this crap in it!)

It is really difficult to eat a healthy diet because the food and agriculture industry are not interested in our health--they are interested in getting us to eat HUGE amounts of cheaply (and inhumanely) produced sh*t...no WONDER here in the US we are a nation of fat, unhealthy people! (And I hear that Britain is on its way...)

So, try to avoid sugar (and white rice, white flour, etc.), stick to healthy fruits and veggies, fresh fish, naturally fed chicken, limited amounts of meat and dairy and so on...you really WILL feel better eating like this!

As a replacement beverage (no soda/pop--even diet!), I have found Fuze low-cal fruit drinks to be wonderful, as well as fruity teas which make great iced tea!! (If you can't get really fancy, exotic teas, something like Celestial Seasonings is good--try iced Red Zinger!)

Oh--and did I mention NO SUGAR!!!

:h
susan (Oh, and I've lost 15 lbs since I started this about 3 mos ago...! )

[InnerStrength]

Diet/food program?

Thanks

Thank you Susan!
Fantastic contribution!
Hugs
jen

[sujul]

Diet/food program?

AND, another measure of how important it is to cut out the sugar, etc.--6 mos ago I was diagnosed as diabetic...NOW my blood sugar is normal!! How great is that=??!!

susan