It's complicated

[lizziep]

Morning. I'm looking for some advice please. I am struggling on a couple of things but I know I'll get some pointers here ☺. Firstly I live in a village and don't drive so I get a shopping delivery once a week, problem is fresh fruit and veg. I order some but it is only good for a couple of days. Second problem is I have to eat gluten and egg free meals. Thirdly I am in a bad habit of eat very little but if the wrong things for convenience, e.g. Gf porridge pot for breakfast. Small can of tomato soup and a yogurt for lunch and a salad or tuna snack pot for dinner. Snacks are a packet of crisps , gf biscuits and a chocolate bar. I don't exercise which I know is a problem too.Help !!!!

[Hidden]

Hi, have you thought about frozen fruit and vegetables, I have been having frozen summer fruits with my porridge warm it all up and it’s a bit like a pudding. Not sure if you can have bananas but they are great frozen, eaten frozen they are a bit like an ice lolly. If you have a sweet tooth liquorice tea is great ( my favourite is mint & liquorice) I find it takes the sweet cravings away.

[Tiggerr]

Regarding your fruit... we must shop in different places. I've found a lot of fruit appears to never even ripen The only one I can think of that ripens fast for me is bananas so we get them when they're green (not sure if you can get your deliverer to supply them like that). Grapes, blueberries, apples and pears last a week for us.

It occurs to me... do companies deliver their really ripe fruit... it would make sense from their perspective I suppose.

[lizziep Restart August 2023 in reply to Tiggerr]

You're right it may be because it's delivered. I have just thought that I could add a request on the order asking for under ripe fruit perhaps that would work

[Tiggerr in reply to lizziep]

Cool. Hope that pans out.

[kesmcg Healthy BMI]

I always have frozen veggies and fruit in the freezer. The frozen berries are great in porridge. You could batch cook fresh vegetable soup and freeze it. Worth looking online for gluten free recipes. Perhaps also start exercising. A brisk walk is a good way to start! Good luck!

[Nikabi]

Snap. Rural and Tesco deliveries. I make a lot of batch meals when the veg is fresh - soup, cottage pie, bolognaise and chilli sauces etc. I also use frozen berries to add flavour to porridge, zero Greek yoghurt and smoothies. I buy frozen kale and spinach to add that green boost to the above soup and smoothies. I have a bag of mixed frozen veg which is icky on its own but mixed with rice and prawns or chicken and fried (in frylight or a little olive oil) and it’s yummy. When my veg starts to go a bit wobbly, it is made into smooth soup and individually frozen.

[Ceals]

Hi lizziep how right you are to turn to the forum for advice I am sure you will get loads.

Is your yogurt full fat natural/Greek? It is the best yogurt to eat and it keeps you satisfied for longer. Lots of vegetables will last a while in the fridge - butternut squash, swede, carrot I am sure there are others. You could also roast a tray of veggie and then they would keep in the fridge for a few days and you can keep coming back to them. Many your own soup with them too - much better for you than tinned soup.

Don't order the crisps and you won't be able to eat them.

[lizziep Restart August 2023 in reply to Ceals]

Oh Ceals your comment about the crisps has made me laugh, of course it's the obvious answer but I just didn't see it !!!!! Lots of brilliant suggestions already, what a great forum.

[Ceals in reply to lizziep]

It is such a good forum, someone always has advice to share. Glad you weren't offended about the crisp comment. They used to be a massive problem for me and I just stopped buying them - everyone else had to get used to it!

[lucigret]

Help lizziep I noticed you say you only eat a little, take a look at the BMI calculator to see what your calorie range is, eating too little won't help you loose weight, your body will just hang on to it.

You have already had some great advice regarding fruit and veg.

It should be easier to avoid the foods you shouldn't be eating, just don't order them.

I sometimes do as Ceals suggested and make a lot of roasted vegetables and I freeze them, it works really well😊

Maybe it is time to have a total food make over, there are some lovely recipes on the forum, I am sure there will be gluten free ones there as well, if not there are bound to be a wealth of them on line. Discovering new things and flavours can be quite exciting.

Wishing you good luck on your journey😊

[jennilou Restart Jan 2024]

Hi lizziep nice to hear from you. Its a problem when vegetables go off so quickly but after a couple of days mmm are they left in the sun or heat? I also keep frozen vegetables and fruit. Also instead of the crisps and chocolate bars try eating the fruit as snacks. Have a great day

[lizziep Restart August 2023]

Thanks everyone. I have just been adding lots of frozen veg to this weeks order and I removed the crisps !! Looks like a cooking weekend for me as I am going to do lots of batches as suggested. Have a lovely day, Lizzie

[Hidden]

When I go camping I take certain things that I know will last a week without a fridge:

Potatoes (keep away from sunlight)

Onions (again keep somewhere dark)

Baby gem lettuces - keep the bases in shallow water and a small bag over the top - they stay lovely and crisp

Tomatoes - as long as they don't get squashed/damaged they're fine

Carrots - if they dry out cut into long lengths and crisp up in water

Apples - these keep for months

Green bananas

Ripen at home avocados

People think I'm mad of course! But I do like my fresh veg even on holiday As well as buying things underripe, stocking up on root veg and getting frozen fruit/vegs, don't forget pickles and preserved veg - vacuum packed beetroot, pickled cucumbers, pickled onions, olives, tinned sweetcorn etc. Also you could maybe grow some windowsill rocket and herbs for extra greens...

[lizziep Restart August 2023]

I have just made 6 individual shepherds pies with turkey mince and loads of veg topped with carrot, swede and potato mash. 6 portions of Chilli again with veg and turkey mince and the freezer is stacked with frozen veg. Thanks for the ideas.

[anniedogwalker]

Wow lizziep! What fantastic reaction to all those suggestions, well done!