Good Recipes for Dieting

[Amby 490]

Hey everyone! I keep asking for recipes from people for things that are good but low calorie like the banana bread and the chicken meatloaf (poultry loaf for pedro). I thought I would start a thread so people can add on their favorite diet recipes or even favorite food ideas for dieting. Everyone share their recipes please!!!!

eta: I'm a chef I can make all sorts of stuff really good with lots of fat (flavor) and seasonings. I'm so used to all of these really decadent things that when I make the low cal ones I'm just like ewwwwwww not right not right. I'm constantly in search of good recipes for low cal!

Edited February 23, 2008 by Amber&Neil

[Nessa 23]

I'd say eating low fat low cal is an acquired taste

Really, I startedwatching what I eat when I was like 16, and I'm so used to never eat white sugar, or the fat milk, things like that I used to do. Plus, I put so much pepper and seasoning in my food they taste really good to me.

I'll post some recipes probably tomorrow when I'm bored, today I'm just bumping the thread. I gotta leave soon.

[Fandango 1,439]

I am rushed off my feet lately, now working 2 full time jobs. So I don't have a lot of time at all!

Anyways, since I'm usually rushing from the second I get up, I went back to my old staple of protein shakes. I bought Soy Protein powder from Vitamin World, and I make one as soon as I get up. Then I make a double batch for the day.

I also drink close to a gallon of water a day. Vitamins are a must as well! I have this vitamin powder that's an energy additive to water....it's like red bull, but minus all the #######!

By the time I get home, it's usually after 9, so I don't eat. I never eat within 3 hours before going to bed.

I feel great, and I've lost weight as well. Bonus that it's easy peasy prep wise.

ETA: Sundays, I go in at 12, so I have my mornings free....this am is a small bowl of Cheerios, then the usual PS for lunch and dinner....

Edited February 24, 2008 by LisaD

[Krikit 1,164]

This tasty recipe is from Weight Watchers and is worth 0 points. In other words, you can eat as much as you want. It also freezes very well. My version has now strayed off from this original recipe (some changes include ground beef, tinned tomatoes, black beans, and kidney beans).

GARDEN VEGETABLE SOUP

Recipe from WW Getting Started Book

4 servings

0 points per serving

2/3 cup sliced carrot

1/2 cup diced onion

2 cloves garlic

3 cups fat free broth (beef, chicken or vegetable)

1 1/2 cups green cabbage leaf -- diced

1/2 cup green beans

1 tablespoon tomato paste

1/2 teaspoon dried basil

1/4 teaspoon dried oregano

1/4 teaspoon Salt

1/2 cup zucchini -- diced

In a large saucepan, sprayed with nonstick cooking spray, saute the carrot, onion, and garlic over low heat until softened, about 5 minutes. Add broth, cabbage, beans, tomato paste, basil, oregano, and salt; bring to a boil. Lower heat and simmer covered, about 15 minutes or until beans are tender. Stir zucchini and heat 3-4 minutes. Serve hot.

[Kazan' Tiger 1]

The best diet recipe is what ever you have always enjoyed. Just eat less! Don't deprive yourself your favourite food. Rabbit food does not help. This is a huge reason diets fail. You give up foods you enjoy, feel deprived, and binge on ice cream at 2 AM. The diet i've heard about lately that makes the best sense is the "5 Bite Diet" Nothing is disallowed.

[Krikit 1,164]

The best diet recipe is what ever you have always enjoyed. Just eat less! Don't deprive yourself your favourite food. Rabbit food does not help. This is a huge reason diets fail. You give up foods you enjoy, feel deprived, and binge on ice cream at 2 AM. The diet i've heard about lately that makes the best sense is the "5 Bite Diet" Nothing is disallowed.

I absolutely agree with you. When I wanted to lose weight, I found that the best diet was to cut my food intake by half. Coupled with a good exercise regime, of course. I found that, eventually, my stomach shrank so that I would feel full faster. And I would also not feel like I was being denied anything, either, so it eliminated any cravings I might potentially have. Worked for me, anyway.

[Kazan' Tiger 1]

Yep! That's exactly why this diet has been successful. You retrain your body to feel full after eating less. The added exercise speeds up you metabolism. It's the best winning combination!

The best diet recipe is what ever you have always enjoyed. Just eat less! Don't deprive yourself your favourite food. Rabbit food does not help. This is a huge reason diets fail. You give up foods you enjoy, feel deprived, and binge on ice cream at 2 AM. The diet i've heard about lately that makes the best sense is the "5 Bite Diet" Nothing is disallowed.

I absolutely agree with you. When I wanted to lose weight, I found that the best diet was to cut my food intake by half. Coupled with a good exercise regime, of course. I found that, eventually, my stomach shrank so that I would feel full faster. And I would also not feel like I was being denied anything, either, so it eliminated any cravings I might potentially have. Worked for me, anyway.

[Caladan 19]

The best diet recipe is what ever you have always enjoyed. Just eat less! Don't deprive yourself your favourite food. Rabbit food does not help. This is a huge reason diets fail. You give up foods you enjoy, feel deprived, and binge on ice cream at 2 AM. The diet i've heard about lately that makes the best sense is the "5 Bite Diet" Nothing is disallowed.

Sing it, brother. I've been thinking through my recipes, and almost all of them involve butter or cheese. I find that if I have good cheese or yogurt, I need a much smaller amount to feel satisfied. Half a teaspoon of freshly grated Parmesan makes the world go round (and I've lost five pounds since January just by watching the snacking, alcohol, and getting back in an exercise routine. Only five pounds to go! Maybe ten, if I want to push it.)

I also agree with Nessa; more spices and flavor helps you feel less deprived.

Still, in the spirit of comity, I offer a recipe:

Shrimp, Portabello Mushroom & Pasta.

Slice mushroom caps into 1/4in slices. Thaw uncooked shrimp if indeed. Chop up garlic & red pepper if you have it.

Boil up some spaghetti; whole-wheat is good, if you like it.

While the spaghetti's boiling, put some butter or olive oil into a saute pan. The mushrooms take a little longer to cook than the shrimp, so add them first, and then the shrimp.

Toss with pasta. Sprinkle with a small amount of parmesan cheese and fresh ground black pepper.

[Jasman0717 9]

When I lost weight before I ate about 1500 calories a day with under 20 grams of fat and went to the gym three to five times a week. I am struggling now because of a medication I am on.

[Alex+R 0]

Portion control and exercise are important, but ain't nothin' wrong with seeing if your taste buds might be interested in some healthier fare.

When I eat fatty foods, even a small portion, I feel gross for a few hours. I don't digest it well.

Learning to eat healthier food can help you change your lifestyle. That way, when you're not actively trying to lose weight, you have one more strategy in your arsenal for not gaining weight back.

Edited February 25, 2008 by Alex+R

[Cassie 8]

I like taking chicken breasts and using a variety of marinades. Soak them nice and long, dredge them in panko bread crumbs (other prepared crumbs usually have a ton of additives and junk in them), and bake. I serve them with good veggies like sweet potato, carrots, etc etc. The flavour from the marinades keeps it from being the "same old chicken" every time.

[Peikko 1,575]

Mr Pants posted an excellent article on the myths and fads associated with diet. The low fat and no saturated fat diet is pure nonesense from a nutritionally healthy standpoint. As omnivores, we should eat a variety of foods including some of the tasty fats that come from animals. The article gave good reasons why one should eat a lot of leafy material and also to eat meat that comes from leaf eaters (not the ####### that they often feed livestock). It was a good article and I believe it is true that the food industries' obession with profit over nutrition has driven many of the scandelous practices that we now have to put up with and which have a role in the increase in obesity.

[Caladan 19]

Portion control and exercise are important, but ain't nothin' wrong with seeing if your taste buds might be interested in some healthier fare.

When I eat fatty foods, even a small portion, I feel gross for a few hours. I don't digest it well.

Learning to eat healthier food can help you change your lifestyle. That way, when you're not actively trying to lose weight, you have one more strategy in your arsenal for not gaining weight back.

That's definitely true. I'm mostly just against low-fat cheese.

[Amby 490]

I made a roast chicken last night and instead of my usual butter and herbs under the skin I tried this seasoning called montreal chicken (low sodium) and it actually turned out really well! I just caked it on the inside of the bird and then on the outside of the skin. when the chicken was done I took all of the skin off and threw it away really quick so I wouldn't be tempted to eat any the real test was if neil liked it and he did!

eta: I'm really into things that are healthy and super quick! I'm with alex if I eat something not healthy I feel gross for a few hours after. last week I decided I would get a taco from taco bell just because I hadn't had one for so long and I felt so gross I didn't even finish it!

Edited February 25, 2008 by Amber&Neil

[Alex+R 0]

Portion control and exercise are important, but ain't nothin' wrong with seeing if your taste buds might be interested in some healthier fare.

When I eat fatty foods, even a small portion, I feel gross for a few hours. I don't digest it well.

Learning to eat healthier food can help you change your lifestyle. That way, when you're not actively trying to lose weight, you have one more strategy in your arsenal for not gaining weight back.

That's definitely true. I'm mostly just against low-fat cheese.

Oh yeah, if there's something you love and crave, you gotta go for the real thing.