<p>I like zesty flavours, too…Trader Joe’s Corn-Chile tomato-less salsa often gets me through the afternoon</p>
<p>What about some low fat ideas? I really resist giving up carbs. I tried an Atkins-type diet once and really hated it-- I wanted my pasta, bread, fresh fruit, etc. That was just not for me. I don’t mean to hijack the thread, but would appreciate some loft ideas, as that seems to work better for me</p>
<p>My doctor friend who has a health blog says it’s better not to have carbs in the morning, that your body doesn’t process them as efficiently. Less insulin or it doesn’t work as well? I forget.</p>
<p>Protein is the best thing for keeping you going until lunch. That and a little fat.</p>
<p>DH loves his carbs and it shows. He also is capable of eating much more at a sitting than I am. Maybe I have a smaller stomach than average, but I tend to snack during the day and eat smaller meals. That also shows. ;)</p>
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<p>That has been my experience. If I don’t eat a good amount of protein for breakfast, I end up overeating for the day. </p>
<p>I eat egg beaters with some veggies thrown in and some laughing cow cheese. I make up a big batch and eat on it for several days so I don’t have to cook breakfast on the mornings I work. This will keep me full almost to lunch. For snack, I will have an apple with a tablespoon of peanut butter and then lunch is some veggies and a chicken sandwich (I buy whole, pre-cooked chickens at the grocery store). Dinner - again, some veggies and a protein (not necessarily a meat). For dessert, a sugar free pudding mixed with some lite cool whip. Greek yogurt and kettle corn popcorn are other snacks that work well for me.</p>
<p>I have found I can’t eat too many carbs without setting off an eating binge but a low carb diet tends to make me feel very ill, same for very low fat. It all comes down to balance for me.</p>
<p>So many people have mentioned the Laughing Cow cheese - I have only bought it once - at Costco but seem to keep forgetting I have it. </p>
<p>Do you like it because of the flavor (and what flavors do you like - I understand that there are new flavors) or because of the serving size being “just right”. How does it melt for cooking??? I did use some in my homemade mac and cheese a few weeks ago and my D said she really noticed the flavor and that it was good!</p>
<p>Since being diagnosed with T2 diabetes, I’ve been eating low carb in order to control my blood sugar. Controlling one’s blood sugar helps not only control energy swings, but hunger and cravings, too.</p>
<p>Many of the things mentioned here are not really low carb and some are also loaded with sugar: bananas in particular are pretty much verboten, almost any of the high fiber cereals, whole wheat English muffins, granola. I would never eat any of them. </p>
<p>I definitely found that a low carb diet resulted in weight loss and dramatically improved lipids too. I do eat fat free Greek yogurt, but I use light cream in my morning coffee, eat eggs and sausages regularly (although most of the meat I eat is lean chicken and fatty fish) and never eat “low fat” cheese and things like that. I limit fats most for caloric reasons, and emphasize olive oil and other sources of Omega 3. I probably derive more of my calories from fat than the nutrition ideologues think is good, but my cholesterol is down, my triglycerides are down to 85, my HDL is up to 58, and I have lost about 30 lbs. As my doctor said, it’s not so much how much fat as which fats.</p>
<p>Widely available low carb/high fiber things to substitute for other products include low carb (4-6 gms each) pitas and tortillas (Joseph’s and The Tortilla Factory make them). Wasa makes a variety of crackers that are low in calories and carbs (9gms or less) and high in crunch and flavor. There is an artisinal bakery in our area, When Pigs Fly, that makes low carb whole wheat bread with about 6 gms of carb per slice. It is very dense and flavorful. Most of the others I’ve had elsewhere are awful, and I would rather do without. </p>
<p>I second the use of salted roast almonds as a snack. Re peanut butter: try Teddie Natural Supercrunch. Teddie was my brand of choice even before the DX: no added sugar or fats, and the texture and flavor are great.</p>
<p>For pasta, I recommend either Barilla’s Plus (lower carb, increased Omega 3 and protein, great flavor and texture) or Dreamfields (processed in a way that sequesters some of the carb from digestion in the stomach, not as good as Plus IMHO and is reputed to give some people the runs, but I’ve had no problem with it).</p>
<p>Keeping some sliced or grilled chicken/turkey around for snacking is a good idea. </p>
<p>I make cauliflower puree that is delicious and doesn’t have any cheese in it: try throwing in a sliced clove of garlic with the raw veggie and cook it in a (very) little chicken broth. Some people I know use a couple heads of cauliflower and one potato to make “fauxtatoes.” I haven’t tried that yet, since I am happy with straight cauliflower.</p>
<p>Generally, look for information online about foods with a low glycemic index and low glycemic load.</p>
<p>Maybe a bit of topic. . . </p>
<p>I am also in that magical 50’s zone. Over 10 years ago a naturopath suggested I go on the anti-yeast/candida diet. This was due to reoccurring infections, bloating and digestive upsets. Basically the first phase consisted of eating only meat, yogurt, vegetables and eggs. After that certain fruits and grains were reintroduced. The absolute No-no’s were wheat and any form of sugar (and it hides in so many ways under different names). Soy sauce, vinegars and certain other condiments which encourage yeast growth were also off the table. Without it being the original intent, I found myself losing weight and my energy went up dramatically.</p>
<p>Following the no wheat/no sugar diet was both easy and very hard. Easy because it was simple, no complicated rules. Tough because those two ingredients are absolutely everywhere! I could have corn tortilla chips with cheese, beans and fresh tomatoes but no commercial salsa since it all has sugar. I discovered Rye crisp crackers and homemade popcorn with a bit of cayenne pepper, as a TV snack.</p>
<p>I try to go back to this method whenever things get out of hand and the scales trends upward.</p>
<p>I have noticed that my salt intake during this week has been drastically less on MyDailyPlate. That’s a thumbs up.</p>
<p>Can you explain to me why I should use egg beaters over real eggs??? If I just eat eggs once or twice a week in the form of scrambled or a veggie omelet are the real eggs a problem?</p>
<p>Eggs being bad because of high cholesterol content is Yesterday’s nutritional error.</p>
<p>So I’ve been told.</p>
<p>I eat a dozen or so eggs a week, and it never affected my cholesterol levels. I’m convinced that cholesterol problems are mostly metabolism- related (genetic). I’d rather not eat real foods if they are bad for me than replace it with something artificial (sugar vs splenda, e.g. )</p>
<p>Some people are sensitive to cholesterol in their diet and others are not. If you don’t have a cholesterol issue then don’t worry about eating eggs.</p>
<p>Watching salt intake is also good for your heart. I am very salt sensitive and cutting out salt (plus meds) have totally eliminated the pain in my legs.</p>
<p>I watch my dairy fat carefully since my cholesterol is borderline (actually I have 6 months to decrease it or else…)
I eat low fat yogurt, skim milk. I don’t eat much cheese because of the salt and fat - but will grate hard cheese occassionally or reduced fat cheese.</p>
<p>One good way to increase fiber is beans. They have lots of carbs but they are complex plus lots of protein. Black bean soup is a favorite. Black bean dip or black beans on tacos are terrific too.</p>
<p>One way to cut down on carbs at lunch is to take out the bread. Put that tuna or chicken salad on lettuce and make a salad out of it. </p>
<p>One helped me is realizing that without blood sugar issues - ‘hunger’ is not really ‘hunger’. That ‘I am starving’ feeling at 10 am will go away by 10:20 with or without food. Once I quit resisting the urge to snack I have found I can comfortably go without. I eat three meals/day and keep my lunch calories down if I am sitting all day.</p>
<p>Fiber - there are two kinds, soluble and insoluble.</p>
<p>Soluble fiber helps lower cholesterol and control blood sugar. This is the fiber found in oatmeal, flax dried beans and peas. and psyllium husks. You can also take Metamucil - it contains psyllium. The sugar free orange flavored is not too bad.</p>
<p>Insoluble fiber provides bulk to the GI tract. It is found in vegetables, bran and whole wheat.</p>
<p>Most people consume a ratio of 3:1 insoluble to soluble. To improve cholesterol levels and blood sugar control the goal should be to lower that ratio.</p>
<p>About the bananas: Is the problem sugar? Is the sugar in fruit as bad as the processed stuff?</p>
<p>^Fiber that works very well for me is 3 prunes/day. More than 3 will cause inside revolution. I have them with nuts and a bit of rum or other non-sweat hard alcoholic drink. Yum, the best desert, more so that I cannot have chocolate in afternoon. Well, I have to add that primary source of food for me are fruits, so I am not low carb at all. I eat a little of other foods between continuous munching on fruits whole day long. I am within weight range for my height, I am not inspired to be skinny at all. I found out that to have good weight control one need to stick to your favorite foods, forget others’ advices. Nobody can be on a diet forever, but you certainly can stick to your favorites for the rest of your life. You just need to figure out how much.</p>
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<p>If your goal is fat loss and weight control, then low-fat high carb diets have not proven to be very effective. In fact, a diet high in processed grains and sugars will make weight control nearly impossible.</p>
<p>The “Atkins” diet has given carb control a bad name. The diets that seem to really work for fat loss are largely based on cutting way back on processed foods made with white flour and sugar. Honestly, if you are trying to control calories, it’s almost impossible if you don’t cut those back. The candies and the crackers and the snacks and stuff are so high calorie.</p>
<p>I have been eating fairly low carb this year, but I have had pasta (or pizza or a sub) on average once a week for dinner for the entire year. I just don’t have it more than once a week. I eat a turkey on rye sandwich or eggs with toast a couple days a week. I just don’t eat bread for lunch every day. I’ve had a bowl of fresh fruit as a snack many, many days. I’m not trying to avoid carbs like the plague. I just don’t nosh on fruit all day every day.</p>
<p>Here’s the danger with going obsessively “lo-fat”. You end up cutting out a lot of filling, satisying proteins and replacing them with pastas and grains. Honestly, a piece of salmon or a few slices of roast pork is going to help you more with weight control than a plate of pasta. The fats (some olive oil, some cheese) make eating large salads a very satisfying meal, which is good when you are trying to feel really full without eating a 16 ounce sirloin for dinner or paired with a small pasta portion. A pat of butter in white wine makes a lean piece of fresh haddock into a real treat. Beyond that, many of the “lo-fat” versions of processed foods (like salad dressings) simply replace fat with sugar. They really don’t get you anywhere in terms of total calories.</p>
<p>My recommendation would be to not try to eat “low” anything in a weight loss diet. </p>
<p>1) Just cut out the junk food calories. Period.</p>
<p>2) Try to cut calories around the margins, skip the slice of cheese on your hamburger. Don’t put cheese in your scrambled eggs. Cut your portion of salad dressing by a third. Use one spoon of sugar on your cereal instead of two. Each “habit” you reduce is a positive change; lots of little changes add up while leaving you with a satisfying, familiar diet. If your weight is steady, you only need to find 500 calories a day to cut out to start losiing 1 pound a week – which is pretty incredible weight loss over time. That’s one pat of butter, one slice of cheese, a Reece’s Peanut butter cup, a glass of wine, and 5 chips and salsa. It’s really not that hard for an overweight eater to cut out 500 calories. Every day doesn’t have to be perfect. You just have to look at opportunities to reduce calories over the course of a week.</p>
<p>3) Track your calories (all your calories) for a few weeks and see if you are losing weight/fat or weather you need to make another change.</p>
<p>To reinforce i-dad’s point:</p>
<p>[Professor</a> loses weight on junk food diet | KING5.com | Seattle Health News, HealhtLink](<a href=“http://www.king5.com/health/Professor-loses-weight-on-Twinkie-diet-.html]Professor”>http://www.king5.com/health/Professor-loses-weight-on-Twinkie-diet-.html)</p>
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<p>I work at a healthcare institution. Today, they offered a free lunch to employees:
A hot dog and bun
Macaroni salad
Chips
Cookie
Beverage - Water or Pop</p>
<p>Needless to say, I stuck with my own lunch from home. To me, ^^that lunch was a lesson in what NOT to eat!!!</p>
<p>abasket–^wow.</p>
<p>idad–portion control is also important. I laugh at people who scrupulously use sugar substitute in their coffee, saving a few calories, but they’re having a plate-size portion of cheesy potatoes, or mac 'n cheese. </p>
<p>Moderation in all things.</p>
<p>I apologize if this has already been said – I didn’t read the entire thread, which is awesome, BTW.</p>
<p>Any suggestions for vegetarians to get over the afternoon hump while not adding huge amounts of fat?</p>
<p>I don’t eat cheese or meat but still can’t drop the extra weight, even with exercise.</p>
<p>It’s hard to imagine a worse lunch. It’s the combo that the killer. I mean, I have eaten a hot dog on a hot dog bun for lunch from time to time over the course of the months I’ve been losing weight. Not routinely, but as a change of pace. One dog and one bun is within my daily calorie targets. But, to then add a pasta salad, potato chips, and a cookie! For lunch! Now, you could be pushin’ 1000 calories for lunch and none of it nutritionally worth a damn. </p>
<p>It’s like my favorite fast food treat: a Wendy’s spicy chicken filet sandwich on a kaiser roll. It’s 500 calories, so I can work that into my daily target for the occasional treat on a day when I’m not having bread or pasta for dinner. But, I can’t then add the baked potato and butter to the chicken sandwich for lunch. I can’t add a coke. Not if I want to have any prayer of ending up at 1800 calories for the day. So I have the sandwich with a glass of water, and feel like I’m cheating my diet with a big splurge. Or, it’s hard to feel deprived with the turkey on pumpernickle with mayo sandwich I had for lunch today. Again, 500 calories and hardly “diet deprivation”. Tomorrow I’ll have 300 calories of soup. Mix it up.</p>