Diet Meal Plans Q & A

Molly Bickford asked:


If you are truly interested and committed then try switching over gradually. Don’t try to quit cold turkey (no pun intended). Try eliminating one type of meat at a time. Then you will gradually be able to eliminate all the meat from your diet.

Over this time period introduce and increase the number of Vegetarian meals that you consume. You can find some incredible vegetarian cookbooks online and at your local bookstore that are filled with delicious recipes.

Just remember to start slow and take your time. To give you a little push here are some incredible benefits of a vegetarian diet as compared to an orthodox diet.

The Benefits of a Vegetarian Lifestyle

Vegetarian diets, when well chosen, are linked to a reduction in the incidence of chronic diseases. And they are more conducive to better health than your average, orthodox diet.

Chronic Diseases and Vegetarian Diets:

1. Obesity. Among vegetarians there is less obesity. Vegetarians consume more fiber-rich bulky foods so fewer calories are consumed.

2. High Blood Pressure. Vegetarian lifestyle is void of smoking and drinking alcohol. This in combination with regular exercise decreases blood pressure. Also, a vegetarian diet that is low in fat, saturated fats, high in fiber, fruits, and vegetables may also contribute to lowered blood pressure.

3. Heart Disease. Vegetarian diets call for fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and soybeans as a replacement for meat (which is much higher in saturated fats and much lower in fiber, antioxidants). This contributes to a healthy heart. High fiber also helps the digestive tract.

4. Cancer. Meats and other foods not consumed in a vegetarian diet can produce carcinogens which can lead to Cancer.

There are many other benefits to a vegetarian lifestyle:

1. It’s humane as it saves animals from being slaughtered for food.

2. Saves money (as meat is expensive)

Less demanding on the environment

Fit Yummy Mummy!

Trisha L. Elliott asked:


Herbert is sliding a cream-cheese coated piece of bacon into his mouth while boiling his cabbage soup and slurping a Slim-Fast Shake. Herbert is on a diet.
 
He’s a creative man. He’s not about to listen to some crusty guy with letters behind his name in regards to the contents of his fridge. But he will listen to three of them.
 
Herbert is combining three fad diets: The Atkins Diet, The Cabbage Soup Diet, and the Slim Fast Jump Start Diet.
 
The Atkins Diet

Limit your consumption of root vegetables, ban white rice (3 billion Asian people are wrong?), and eat as much greasy meat and cheese you can consume without nausea.
 
The Cabbage Soup Diet

Cook a huge pot of cabbage vegetable soup. Eat all the things specified from Day 1 to Day 7, AND whenever you’re hungry, eat as much cabbage soup as you can stomach (you’ll probably get a sore jaw and a bad gas problem, before you get full).
 
Slim Fast Jump Start Diet

This diet tells you to eat vegetables, salads, Slim Fast shakes, and sugar-free gelatin (that’s bone marrow, for anyone who didn’t go through a vegetarian phase).
 
I don’t have letters behind my name. I’ve got a love handle or two. But Herb: What are you thinking? My opinion is that we should all love the shape we come in, but if your shape is bringing you grief, read on.
 
“The Trisha Diet” (why not?)

Take the insurance off your car, and then walk around downtown looking for a Drive-In Movie Theatre. Attach yourself to the back bumper of a slow-moving vehicle (wear runners). Sell every dish in your house. Break into a serving career (think of each customer as a personal trainer). Take up smoking cigarettes. You’ll have something different to do with your mouth, and you’ll look really cool. Drink coffee and coca-cola whenever you’re hungry and dance in your living room until the buzz wears off. Vacuum the entire house every time you see a crumb (this will also encourage you to not eat all those evil carbs). Spend lots of time with your special someone in a power outage. Start a hobby farm in your backyard and promise to eat only personally slaughtered chicken. Have a baby. George Junior on the hip is like free weight-training and labour is apparently a very good work-out.

Fit Yummy Mummy!

Andrew Grennier asked:


Starting a diet and sticking with it can be extremely hard.  A lot of people choose diets that that contains foods that they just plain do not like.  This is a complete set up for failure.  Unless you are extremely discipline and learn to like these foods over time.  You will not stick to the diet.

You need to look at the meals plans to see if the majority of foods that you will be eating are to your liking.  One of the most flexible diet plans out there is called the Abs Diet.  The Abs Diet uses what they call their power foods.  These are the foods that you make your meals from.

    Almonds and Nuts eat with the skins on.
    Beans and Legumes
    Spinach and Green Vegetables

    Dairy: Milk, Yogurt, Cheese etc…  They should be low fat.
    Instant Oatmeal: Unsweetened, unflavored
    Eggs
    Turkey or lean meats such as Chicken

    Peanut Butter – Make sure it is sugar free and natural.
    Olive Oil
    Whole-Grain Breads and Cereals
    Extra-Protein – Whey recommended
    Raspberries and Berries (good antioxidants)

You notice the “ABS DIET POWER?”  I do not know if that is just a marketing ploy or just an acronym to help you remember the foods.  To give you an idea of what a typical day might look like I prepared a sample meals for a typical day.

Breakfast

Abs Diet Ultimate Power Smoothie – This should be 8 to 12 ounces (contains 5 power-foods)

1% milk – 1 cup
Low-fat vanilla yogurt – 2 tbsp
3/4 cup instant oatmeal – microwave it in water
Peanut butter – 2 tsp
Whey protein chocolate – 2 tsp
6 ice cubes, crushed

Snack #1

Raw vegetables (All you can eat)
Peanut butter – 2 tsp

Lunch

Turkey sandwich on wheat or whole-grain bread
1% milk – 1 cup
1 apple

Snack #2

Almonds – 1 oz
Berries -1½ cups

Dinner

Mas Macho Meatballs (contains 3 power-foods)
Extra-lean ground beef – 1 lb

Saltine crackers – ½ cup crushed
1 onion chopped up
1 clove garlic minced
Whey protein or flaxseed – 1 tbsp
Tomato sauce – 16 oz jar
4 hoagie rolls – whole-wheat
Shredded mozzarella cheese reduces fat – 1/2 cup
You are going to mix the ground beef, flaxseed, crakers, garlic and onion in meatballs about the size of a ping pong ball. Use medium heat to cook the meatballs in either a skillet or frying pan.  Drain the fat and then all the tomato sauce. Cut the hoagies in half and scoop out some of the bread in the middle to forma ridge.  Once the mixture is warm scoop the meatballs with some sauce out of the skillet and place it in the hoagie.  Sprinkle the mozzarella cheese on top.Makes 4 servings

Snack #3

8 to 12 ounces Abs Diet Ultimate Power Smoothie – Same as a breakfast

I know that there is some work to be done preparing meals.  That is just something that you will have to schedule in.  What you do to save some time is make enough for a few meals so it is just a matter of reheating.  The plus side of this diet is that it offers a large variety of meals and does not have too many restrictions.

Fit Yummy Mummy!

Amy Leonard asked:


A lot of times people find themselves in a position where they are pressed for time and must eat. During these times it can be easy to fall into bad eating habits which is why you should always plan ahead! Here are 7 easy and fast low calorie meals on the go.

#1 Premium Caesar Salad with Grilled Chicken From McDonald’s – Comes in at only 220 Calories and only 6 grams of fat!

#2 Taco Bell’s Crunchy Fresco Taco – This taco is one of my favorite quick snacks. It is only 150 calories and 7 grams of fat. Great for a quick energy pick up and light on calories!

#3 Cantina Chicken Sammie Sandwich from Quiznos – Another favorite of mine. With this I also get a cup of chicken noodle soup and in iced tea. All together comes in at 335 Calories, and 7 grams of fat.

#4 Chargrilled Chicken Sandwich from Chick-Fil-A. This sandwich comes in at 260 calories and ONLY 3 Grams of fat. Great for when you are watching your fat intake.

#5 Broccoli and Cheese Soup from Atlantic Bread – Only 250 Calories for 1 and 1/4 cup and its 17 grams of fat.

#6 Burger King’s 6 Piece Chicken Tenders – 270 Calories and 16 grams of fat

#7 Wendys Mandarin Chicken Salad – A total of 180 calories with Only 2 grams of fat!!

It is always important for you to stay balanced in your diet. You should eat 4-6 small meals a day, the smallest meal being your last one before you go to sleep. If you are always on a tight schedule it might be a good idea for you to plan your meals ahead that way you do not end up eating unhealthy all the time.

Fit Yummy Mummy!