Ideas for healthy meals.

Hello All,

I'm always looking at ways of improving my diet to make it healthier and tastier.

I recently came up with a yummy lunch of steamed broccoli with ranch dressing and a slight grating of parmesan cheese, but I would really love to get some different ideas. I particularly want to increase greens intake and maybe get some exciting (!) ideas for tofu.

Maybe if we get enough it could be the start point for a fundraising recipe book for Ovacome perhaps..... Let me know what your favourite recipe is or tell me what you have tried that didn't work for you!

Best Wishes to you all,

Joelle

[wendydee]

Great idea, Joelle!

We love having a mish-mash of tinned beans (kidney/haricot/chick peas --whatever you have), green beans, tinned tomato/tomato paste, veggie mince, sliced broccoli, diced aubergine, diced mushrooms and courgettes, with garlic, ground coriander and cumin added to taste --- all simmered and stirred up in a wok or large saucepan for about 30 min. I sometimes add low-fat creme fraiche or yoghurt and serve with pitta bread or rice. Easy cos it fits in with what you have in the fridge!

Wendy xx

[AngelaAbell]

It is a great idea Joelle. We are alwasy interested in swapping recipes ideas and our conversation always sems to steer back to food. Can' think why except that it has always been a hobby with us.

Our current favourite, which is very easy and uses up things in the fridge, is lettuce/salad, pea and mint soup. The main stay is lettuce, frozen peas, onion and mint boiled in a good vegetable stock. But I add any salad ingrediants left over and if it is the remains of a dressed salad that goes in too as it adds to the flavour. I generally use fresh mint from the garden but dried mint works and I add any fresh herbs that are lingering in the kitchen. After approx 15man - when peas are cooked - liquised until a sludge and reheat with the juice of a lemon an a teasoon of sugar. I serve with a dollop of natural yoghurt. It has passed the grandsons and their girlfriends test - even if it is a bit green.

Another favourite which is quick and easy is chicken noodle soup. Doesn't necessarily tick the high greens intake box but does have lots of ginger and coriander which is good.

love Angela

[ScardyCat40]

You could always get some greens into your chicken noodle soup by thinly slicing some green cabbage.

Another recipe idea Thai Green Curry using chicken and some green veg.

I also like to add a fresh copped tomato and fresh spinach to scrambled egg for a healthier breakfast

[wendydee]

Ooooooooh!Yumm! There was a recipe book produced by Ovacome for the Member's Day a couple of years ago. Ruth Griggs would probably be able to help with that. You can contact her via Ovacome website ..... looked it out yesterday!

[Eleni]

Hi Joelle

the recipe book idea is a really good one. I'd happily contribute.

My recent exploration was to make a gnocchi using sweet potato. I initially used just a pesto sauce but think that it'd be better with a tomato sauce (perhaps slightly spicy) or even mushroom. they were yummy anyway and I've still got half the mixture in the freezer.

Good luck

Eleni x

[sarah1963]

Hi all

These recipes sound delicious but low in calories. I am struggling to keep my weight up, in fact it keeps falling. I don't think this is sinister (am being checked every 3 weeks) Is there such a thing as fattening food that is 'healthy'? Yes may be a tall order but having read the anticancer book I feel as though I either lose weight or eat food that could make ill.

thanks

Sarah

[BusyLizzie in reply to sarah1963]

Hi Twin,

Anticancer book says green light is given to dark chocolate with >70% cocoa. As I have mentioned before, green and blacks 85% is rather nice and if you wait they often have 2 for £3 offers or BOGOFs it will not break the bank too much. I love choccy on it's own and I love fruit on it's own (not together) but if it is your thing, you could dip various fruits e.g. strawberries or cherries in melted chocolate and then do a Nigella sultry sucking the chocolate off a strawberry!

Love Lizzie

X

[sarah1963 in reply to BusyLizzie]

Hi lizzie

Thank you for these suggestions. Because of the diarhoea I am a bit wary of fruit. Oh yes I consume a lot of dark chocolate. I treat myself to Hotel Choc stuff occasionally.

I was thinking of you on Monday. How did it go? don't go into details if you dont want to re- live it.

I saw a registrar rather than a consultant on Mon. She printed out and gave me my MRI report. Too much information. It brought it home to me just how many tumours I have got! It brought me back down to earth again with a bump. The pills are still working I think. More scans again in 3 weeks time.

Freezing in Norfolk this week. My hubby has a nasty cold but is working up his ladder again today. I must try to be nice to him when he comes home! Big son(15) set off on a school trip to Germany last night. -17 there! Hope he has the sense to wear his thermals.

Sorry I am rattling on!

Love v talkative Twin

[BusyLizzie in reply to sarah1963]

Hi V Talkative Twin,

I do like a v talkative twin! I had anti-biotics because of the biopsy on Monday and so although I think I caught my husband's cold, it has been very muted. The care during my biopsy was exemplary (unlike when I was drained). I almost cried because they were so considerate. They can't win can they? LOL. A little sore there now, but they decided to only take one sample. I didn't look down at the site but the Dr said she wouldn't take a second because of the bruising and it has a big plaster on it. To be revealed tomorrow when the district nurse comes (I am only looking if she says it looks fine). It was bit like a nail gun I thought which amused them to think I knew what a nail gun felt like. Just been for bloods for chemo on Friday and snow is still on the ground. Husband dropped me off a few roads away so I could have a little walk back whilst he went off to work. Still horribly bloated, but not anxious to repeat my drain experience although I know I can be more in control this time knowing how this hospital does it (wheelbarrow method as opposed to rolls royce when I had it done last May at another hospital). Still hoping the caeylx will kick in during the next few weeks - but hopefully won't fall apart if it does not. Is your Son skiing in Germany, if not what are they doing? Oh and on a food note, I am about to have 2 celementines. Fave breakfast these days is 2 slices of Allisons Wholemeal Bread with a hardish boiled egg roughly chopped on top followed by 2 clementines. Eat your heart out Raymond Blanc.

Love Lizzie

X

[sarah1963 in reply to BusyLizzie]

My goodness if the nail gun was better than the drain you really did suffer!

I like the sound of your breakfast. Its good to hear that you are prepared to make an effort for yourself. The author of anti-cancer would have a fit if he saw what I've just bought from the butchers - stewing steak and fresh suet for dumplings. That's definitely one for the naughty list. You see I do try to pile on the calories but it doesn't do much good.

No skiing for son just a German exchange as he is doing German GCSE.

Fingers and everything else crossed that the Caelyx does its stuff. Will it be 2nd dose on Fri?

Love Sarah

[BusyLizzie in reply to sarah1963]

He'd probably have a fit about my wholemeal bread - I think it's supposed to be sourdough bread. Yes, Friday is dose #2. Does this mean you'll have to entertain a German youth in return? You can introduce him to stew and dumplings but don't mention the war. Hope you manage to pile on some calories and that the magic pills keep working.

Love Lizzie

X

[SuD73]

How about one for my low fibre diet, I'm told not to eat fresh fruit or veg. I've been on this diet since July and could murder a salad (although that was what got me into this mess in the first place). My OC caused thickening of the bowel which has really messed up my digestive system.