Healthy Eating

Hello I’m Sabrina and have struggled with eating junk food for years and would like to know some top tips for eating healthy and cheaply please?

[LexusC]

I found when I started the c25k my attitude to food changed. I started cooking more.

I didn't go off junk food completely and it was a struggle at times but I lost a stone in 6 weeks through C25K just by cutting down on junk food naturally. I think your body craves more sustenance due to the exercise. Movement is the kry

[margary]

Hi Sabrina. I have halved my shopping bill by shopping in Aldi. Great quality food.

Don't buy ready meals and cook your own. Fibre is the key to weight loss. Fruit, veg all the way and lots of water.

[Zest]

Hi Hidden

This previous post has quite a few links and responses that you might find helpful within it - so may be worth looking through for ideas:

healthunlocked.com/healthye...

Zest

[andyswarbs]

My top tip is possibly the cheapest, easiest, most filling, most slimming, most satisfying and healthy meal on the planet. Buy a bag of lentils and veg and rice and you are all set.

Put your largest heavy pan on the hob on a low heat. Add water and the lentils, at least half of a small bag. The lentils should cover the bottom of the pan in a heap. Add chopped onions, garlic and top up with water as it gets absorbed. Add chopped veg, root veg first, cruciferous last. Top up with more water to ensure all veg are covered & stir regularly. Add salt, pepper and any other herbs you like. Taste as you go, and if you feel it needs more taste then add more as you wish. When all chopped and done the pan should be pretty full. Put the lid on and leave for say 30 mins. If in a hurry turn the heat up, but stir more frequently.

If you wish you can add the rice to the main pot, that way you have a one-pot solution, akin to a biryani. If you are cooking for guests/family then a large pot of rice on the side would be best.

Serve in large bowlfuls, have seconds and this will vastly reduce your cravings for junk food in the hours to follow. Add a side of dark leafy greens for an extra omega-3 etc hit.

If you are not used to no-oil cooking you might decide to use some oil, that's fine, but it won't be as utterly healthy or slimming. But just learn to reduce the amount of oil meal by meal and replace it with water. Remember we cannot live without water, so every time you are consuming oils/fats you are reducing the amount of water that is going into your body.

Any leftovers can be frozen in meal-sized plastic containers so you have ready-meals for the days and weeks ahead.

After all the countless millions of skinny chinese who lived this lifestyle for centuries cannot be far wrong, can they?

[ClareFC in reply to andyswarbs]

What sort of lentils do you use andyswarbs?

[andyswarbs in reply to ClareFC]

Any that are the cheapest, mostly red lentils. They cook quickly from a standing start.

If I want more texture then green or puy lentils come into their own. These can take a bit more cooking and if I want a read-meal quickly then I buy them canned.

[ClareFC in reply to andyswarbs]

Thanks.

[Hidden]

Thanks for your tips