Re: Hot cereal suggestions and other food favorites

[Guest guest]

Hey Chris

About 3 years ago I switched from rolled oats (5 minute cooking) to

steel cut oats and oat groats. I cook up a mixture of the two (50%

steel cut; 50% groats) 1:4 with water, a dash of salt and a

tablespoon of brown sugar. One cup of dry oats cooks into 4 cups

cooked in my steamer and lasts about 4-5 days. I have found that

very small portions are all I need to make it to lunch. It is a very

calorie dense food but the calories are from complex carbs and in

small doses I don't feel as though my blood sugar is being elevated.

In the past I've eaten much larger portions and felt hungry well

before lunch; with smaller portions this doesn't happen.

For lunch I eat a canned fish sandwich. Usually tuna or salmon on

100% whole wheat. A can usually makes 2- 2 1/2 sandwiches. I also

eat about a 1/2 cup of low fat cottage cheese. My afternoon snack is

two cups of green tea and sometimes a plain yogurt.

For dinner I vary my diet a bit more. It usually includes a spinach

salad with tomatoes, feta cheese and a spattering of ranch dressing.

Sometimes I'll have half of a chicken breast grilled or half of a

pork chop. Often I'll opt for a bowl of beans instead of meat.

Right now I'm eating a pinto bean soup made with large chunks of

Vidalia onions and seasoned with purple garlic. I might add a slice

of whole wheat bread with butter or a piece of cornbread. If I need

a dessert or late night snack I'll have some mixed nuts, a glass of

cranberry/grape juice, a few strawberries or other fruit.

Portion control is key. I fill my kitchen with healthy foods and

then try to control the quantities that I eat. When I lose my will

power and overeat at least I'm eating healthy. I haven't figured out

how many calories this adds up to but I dropped from 195# to 175# in

about 6 weeks. My blood pressure dropped, I definitely feel cooler

and I don't sweat so easy (a bonus here in Florida). All my pants

fit me like clown pants and I'm on the last notch in my belt (36's

were tight and now 34's are loose, I wore 32's in high school). I'm

also sleeping better and I seem to be having fewer allergies.

In all honesty I have the hardest time sticking to the regimen in the

evening hours. I have to be busy otherwise I tend to wander in the

kitchen. Occasionally I'll lose complete control and just cook

things. Since there is no convenience food in the house I'll find

myself baking biscuits or pie dough just to satisfy my cravings.

However, even with the occasional loss of self control I still lost

weight and I feel like I'm in " survival mode " more often than not. I

think the occasional binge gets processed through the body rather

quickly. I notice the change in bowel movements the next day.

Regards

Greg

>

> Hey, all, I've got a request. I've already posted that I often eat

oatmeal

> with banana for breakfast. Well, I could continue this ritual, or

I could

> broaden out. I know that some of you avoid grain type stuff, but

I'm

> soliciting suggestions for good hot cereal/fruit combinations.

I'll tell

> you what we have here: ground whole wheat, oatmeal, cornmeal,

buckwheat

> groats, manna (which is a sort of farina, cream of wheat thing),

and that's

> pretty much it. Any ideas? It doesn't have to be fruit, I guess,

just

> something to dress up the old porridge.

>

> thanks in advance,

>

> (|-|ri5