Thank you Jimi.
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Diet tips and tricks
- Thread starter Bliss Doubt
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Thank you Jimi.
Here's another poison artificial sweetener that shouldn't be on the market for human consumption
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| CONSUMER ALERT: Splenda Releases Toxic Dioxin When Heated |
| A review on the synthetic sweetener sucralose (marketed as Splenda), published in the journal Toxicology and Environmental Health, overturns widely held misconceptions about the purported safety of this ubiquitous artificial sweetener. |
Thank you Jimi. The artificial sweeteners are important concerns in healthy eating.
Organic Consumers article: How bright morning light can influence weight loss efforts:
organicconsumers.org
How Bright Morning Light Can Influence Your Weight Loss Efforts - Organic Consumers
June 25, 2024 | Source: Mercola.com | by Dr. Joseph Mercola If you need a good reason to go out and spend more time in the sun, here’s something that may help convince you — getting enough sunlight during daytime could potentially help you lose weight. An article published in
organicconsumers.org
|
These are very helpful for between-meal peckishness. Flavorful, 10 calories per piece, so if you measure out 10-15 of them in a bowl, you have something to munch on for a while:
Actually I like celery as a boat for cream cheese spread or peanut butter, but after one meal of that I forget it's in the fridge, and a few weeks later I throw away rotten celery.
Yes and celery is loaded with vitamins and minerals
Happens to me all the time with pretty much any vegetables that go in this part of the fridge.
I totally get where you're coming from with the diet and health focus. I’ve been down the smoking cessation path too, and vaping was a lifesaver for me. Tried quitting smoking multiple times with gum and cold turkey, but always ended up eating more and gaining weight. Vaping helped me curb those cravings without the extra calories, and I’ve been smoke-free for almost 10 years now.
One of my favorite low-cal finds is 45 calorie hot dogs. Hebrew National beef franks and Ball Park turkey dogs are both great. I cut them into thirds, roast them in the oven till they’re crispy, and serve them with mustard and relish at parties. They’re always a hit and super easy to make.
One of my favorite low-cal finds is 45 calorie hot dogs. Hebrew National beef franks and Ball Park turkey dogs are both great. I cut them into thirds, roast them in the oven till they’re crispy, and serve them with mustard and relish at parties. They’re always a hit and super easy to make.
I'm right there with you on those 45 calorie dogs. There's nothing wrong with them either. You'd never know unless you read the label. They roast and blister nicely in the oven, and taste great. They're in my first post on this thread, and here are some appetizers I make with them now and then, cutting each dog into thirds and threading on a pick with pineapple:
I thought this was interesting. Vinegar As a Depression Treatment? Vinegar has also been shown in the past to possibly assist in weight loss, lowering blood sugar levels, and lowering cholesterol levels. Of course drinking a spoonful or two of vinegar may not be appetizing but if you eat salads a basic vinaigrette is simple to make and can be modified in a variety of ways:
1 part vinegar
3 parts oil
salt and pepper to taste
Put it all in a small jar, close the lid tight, and shake to mix. I generally mix mine with a bit less oil than the 3:1 ratio, and sometimes add a bit of lemon juice, vary the seasonings, but it's all a matter of taste. 3:1 is generally used as the guide but I think closer to 2:1 works fine if you are worried about the amount of oil.
A couple notes. The best way to do a taste test is to dip your salad greens into it, tasting it on it's own might mislead you about the flavor. It will separate when stored, so if you make up a batch for the week be sure to shake it up again each time you use it. Generally I store it in the fridge, but if you use only vinegar, oil, salt and pepper, it should actually be OK to store on a counter or in a cabinet. Here are some ideas for additions, but it's mostly about finding a combination that you like the taste of so play with it and see what works for you.
Dijon mustard
Miso
Fresh herbs
Minced garlic
Minced shallots
Honey
Maple syrup
Anyway, if you are going to try to consume vinegar for the health benefits, may as well make it tasty.
1 part vinegar
3 parts oil
salt and pepper to taste
Put it all in a small jar, close the lid tight, and shake to mix. I generally mix mine with a bit less oil than the 3:1 ratio, and sometimes add a bit of lemon juice, vary the seasonings, but it's all a matter of taste. 3:1 is generally used as the guide but I think closer to 2:1 works fine if you are worried about the amount of oil.
A couple notes. The best way to do a taste test is to dip your salad greens into it, tasting it on it's own might mislead you about the flavor. It will separate when stored, so if you make up a batch for the week be sure to shake it up again each time you use it. Generally I store it in the fridge, but if you use only vinegar, oil, salt and pepper, it should actually be OK to store on a counter or in a cabinet. Here are some ideas for additions, but it's mostly about finding a combination that you like the taste of so play with it and see what works for you.
Dijon mustard
Miso
Fresh herbs
Minced garlic
Minced shallots
Honey
Maple syrup
Anyway, if you are going to try to consume vinegar for the health benefits, may as well make it tasty.
I posted this on the cooking thread earlier this evening, but once I got thinking about the calorie content of this splendid, satisfying, filling hot dish, I decided to move it here.
My supper tonite, half an organic spaghetti squash. The other half goes in the fridge for tomorrow:
It looks like pizza because I mixed up the squash shreds so thoroughly with garlic & herb cream cheese, extra crushed garlic, salt and red pepper flakes. Baby tomatoes on top.
I find it easier to stab the whole squash in a couple of places and bake it uncut for 25-30 minutes, so I can cut it open without severing my arm or sending the whole squash across the room. Every time I make it I say "never again". You need a hatchet to open it up if you don't bake it first, and if you do bake it first, it's hot as molten lava to handle, but you want it hot, to melt the garlic-herb spread you're scratching into it. You have to get out all the seeds. Not worth it. Or is it... I made a piece of garlic toast to go with it. Can justify garlic bread if your spaghetti isn't made of wheat.
So the calories:
Half a spaghetti squash, less than 100 calories from what I can read in multiple online sources.
The Laughing Cow garlic herb spread, 35 calories per wedge (and they make an almond milk based vegan version of the garlic herb spread, same 35 cal. per wedge. I used 3 wedges per squash half = 105 cal. the serving.
The little grape tomatoes on top, don't count those calories
Crushed garlic, red pepper flakes, fresh thyme, negligible calories.
Total calories: 205
Wow. I ate 2.5 hours ago and I'm still feeling stuffed.
Possible add-ons: pepperoni, 7 slices = 70 calories, and there are vegan pepperoni and sausage products available too.
Marinara mixed in to make the garlic-herb cream cheese into a rose sauce.
Olives: 5 to 7 calories per olive, depending on size. If you love them, add them on top.
My supper tonite, half an organic spaghetti squash. The other half goes in the fridge for tomorrow:
It looks like pizza because I mixed up the squash shreds so thoroughly with garlic & herb cream cheese, extra crushed garlic, salt and red pepper flakes. Baby tomatoes on top.
I find it easier to stab the whole squash in a couple of places and bake it uncut for 25-30 minutes, so I can cut it open without severing my arm or sending the whole squash across the room. Every time I make it I say "never again". You need a hatchet to open it up if you don't bake it first, and if you do bake it first, it's hot as molten lava to handle, but you want it hot, to melt the garlic-herb spread you're scratching into it. You have to get out all the seeds. Not worth it. Or is it... I made a piece of garlic toast to go with it. Can justify garlic bread if your spaghetti isn't made of wheat.
So the calories:
Half a spaghetti squash, less than 100 calories from what I can read in multiple online sources.
The Laughing Cow garlic herb spread, 35 calories per wedge (and they make an almond milk based vegan version of the garlic herb spread, same 35 cal. per wedge. I used 3 wedges per squash half = 105 cal. the serving.
The little grape tomatoes on top, don't count those calories
Crushed garlic, red pepper flakes, fresh thyme, negligible calories.
Total calories: 205
Wow. I ate 2.5 hours ago and I'm still feeling stuffed.
Possible add-ons: pepperoni, 7 slices = 70 calories, and there are vegan pepperoni and sausage products available too.
Marinara mixed in to make the garlic-herb cream cheese into a rose sauce.
Olives: 5 to 7 calories per olive, depending on size. If you love them, add them on top.
I know it's been a while, but I’ve found that keeping it simple with natural food makes all the difference regarding diet tips and tricks. It’s not just about losing weight but feeling good overall. I try to stick to whole, unprocessed foods as much as possible—fruits, veggies, lean meats, and whole grains. Cooking at home also helps; you know exactly what’s happening in your meals. I also find that planning meals ahead of time keeps me on track, and I always make sure to stay hydrated. It’s easy to reach for snacks when you’re just thirsty. And don’t forget to treat yourself occasionally—it’s all about balance, not deprivation.
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Sorry you feel that way, aluminum is considered a heavy metal and toxic to the endocrine system in your body, yes I have researched it and it has been proven.
Jimi, he's going to say "is that why you're replying to me on a post from two years ago"?
But good, maybe that will call him back to VU. Don't know whatever happened to Frogger.
It's that time of year when I'm looking at expiration dates on my prepper food stores, and eating up 2024. It isn't always enjoyable. Sauerkraut and dried beef sausage, not so fun, but a dish I love and look forward to is an easy ravioli soup I make.
I use one can organic cheese ravioli, 310 calories. I'm just using stock photos of the canned goods because it's easier. Annie's makes an organic ravioli too, but hers is 360 calories for the same size/weight can. I use the HEB.
I just heat it in a pan with a can of these lovely cherry tomatoes, negligible calories, but they make it a more plentiful serving, a big bowl.
Heat it all together with some salt and red pepper flakes. Here is my breakfast-lunch today, which I snapped before shaking some grated Italian cheese on top, which adds another 35-50 calories:
It's very filling.
I use one can organic cheese ravioli, 310 calories. I'm just using stock photos of the canned goods because it's easier. Annie's makes an organic ravioli too, but hers is 360 calories for the same size/weight can. I use the HEB.
I just heat it in a pan with a can of these lovely cherry tomatoes, negligible calories, but they make it a more plentiful serving, a big bowl.
Heat it all together with some salt and red pepper flakes. Here is my breakfast-lunch today, which I snapped before shaking some grated Italian cheese on top, which adds another 35-50 calories:
It's very filling.
High Fructose Corn Syrup Linked To Cancer | NaturalHealth365
(NaturalHealth365) High fructose corn syrup has been bad for our health since it entered the market; now, it's been linked to tumor growth.
www.naturalhealth365.com
Just for those who don't know
That makes every kind of good sense. The "tips and tricks" angle, for me, is about devising treats that will help avoid temptation and failure, finding the good stuff you didn't know was low calorie, and feels rich and indulgent.
Anything can look good on paper. I was listening to a ridiculous podcast about the carnivore diet. The host said "I put on a flannel shirt for this interview, for the feeling of manliness in having a diet of red meat".
I tried that carnivore thing a couple of times in high school and college, the days of my diet-binge-diet cycles. Carnivore does result in rapid weight loss, but I wanted a two-way podcast so I could say that when you're eating carnivore, you dream of that tasty rainbow of plant foods, the watermelon, baby bok choy, tomatoes, cantaloupe, all of the delicious stuff. You can do a restaurant buffet on the carnivore diet, but you have to just look away from the desserts in flaky crusts, and even worse, you have to stay away from the salad bar.
So in the end, you're totally right, though it seems more men than women can make a permanent lifestyle of the carni diet.
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Pretty as a picture.
These little mini mantecada cakes are 135 calories apiece. They're small but not tiny. I'm showing this on a luncheon size plate, not a full size dinner plate:
The beautiful raspberries and blackberries are of negligible caloric value, but you can count them if you want. The fat free whipped topping is 10 calories per tablespoon. A light dusting of powdered sugar would add about the same 10 cal., but I skipped that. Here is a beautiful dessert that looks and tastes rich and fattening, but is very light:
These little mini mantecada cakes are 135 calories apiece. They're small but not tiny. I'm showing this on a luncheon size plate, not a full size dinner plate:
The beautiful raspberries and blackberries are of negligible caloric value, but you can count them if you want. The fat free whipped topping is 10 calories per tablespoon. A light dusting of powdered sugar would add about the same 10 cal., but I skipped that. Here is a beautiful dessert that looks and tastes rich and fattening, but is very light:
Thought you might like this here
www.naturalhealth365.com
Weight Loss Benefits Of Walnuts Revealed | NaturalHealth365
(NaturalHealth365) Discover how walnuts support weight loss by promoting satiety and reducing hunger. Learn what researchers found.
www.naturalhealth365.com
Remember it's only once a year so:
I agree totally. The trouble has been reminding myself not to adopt that rule for Christmas eve eve yesterday, or Christmas eve today, and to save it for tomorrow.
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And now I have a hankering for a grilled cheese sammich...
Because I elected to spend Thanksgiving 2024 alone, to avoid the political and religious rackets, I didn't get to have some of the traditional dishes I like. Going through my prepper foods for expiry dates, I came across a can of organic sweet potato puree. I decided to make Thanksgiving sweet potatoes for cheat day.
Sweet potato puree, one can - 350 cal.
One praline candy, 240 cal. - I'm showing two, so you can see the back of the pkg. with calories, but I only used one. I used the creamy smooth kind of praline, but the chewy kind would probably work just as well. If there aren't any pralines in your store, there are usually glazed or candied pecans you can substitute. Anyway, the praline contains pecans, but not enough, so...
Pecans, one cup - 700 cal. Measure the cup of whole pecan halves before chopping them, for an accurate calorie count, then chop them a little bit, not finely, but just enough to break them up. Or leave them whole, whatever
Two tablespoons butter = 100 per T = 200 cal.
1 tablespoon bourbon = 65 calories Brandy or rum would work equally well, even Kahlua.
Salt
Total calories for the whole dish: 1555
You don't need to grease your pan.
Chop the pralines fairly finely. That sugar base needs to go throughout the dish. Add them to the sweet potato, add the melted butter, add the pecans, the bourbon, salt to taste. Stir it all up and pour into your small baking dish (I used 5.5" x 8.5"). You can start with a cold oven, I always do. Bake at 350 about 25 min. just to heat through, melt the pralines and cook the raw pecans.
It makes enough for 4-6 as a side dish or dessert. It's creamy on the plate. If you want a more sturdy custardy dish, include an egg in the mixture, or use fresh sweet potatoes, injure yourself peeling and chopping them, and bake them before making the casserole.
So for a cheat day breakfast on its own, one quarter of the total 1555 calories is 389 calories rounded up. Not bad for a cheat day breakfast.
Sweet potato puree, one can - 350 cal.
One praline candy, 240 cal. - I'm showing two, so you can see the back of the pkg. with calories, but I only used one. I used the creamy smooth kind of praline, but the chewy kind would probably work just as well. If there aren't any pralines in your store, there are usually glazed or candied pecans you can substitute. Anyway, the praline contains pecans, but not enough, so...
Pecans, one cup - 700 cal. Measure the cup of whole pecan halves before chopping them, for an accurate calorie count, then chop them a little bit, not finely, but just enough to break them up. Or leave them whole, whatever
Two tablespoons butter = 100 per T = 200 cal.
1 tablespoon bourbon = 65 calories Brandy or rum would work equally well, even Kahlua.
Salt
Total calories for the whole dish: 1555
You don't need to grease your pan.
Chop the pralines fairly finely. That sugar base needs to go throughout the dish. Add them to the sweet potato, add the melted butter, add the pecans, the bourbon, salt to taste. Stir it all up and pour into your small baking dish (I used 5.5" x 8.5"). You can start with a cold oven, I always do. Bake at 350 about 25 min. just to heat through, melt the pralines and cook the raw pecans.
It makes enough for 4-6 as a side dish or dessert. It's creamy on the plate. If you want a more sturdy custardy dish, include an egg in the mixture, or use fresh sweet potatoes, injure yourself peeling and chopping them, and bake them before making the casserole.
So for a cheat day breakfast on its own, one quarter of the total 1555 calories is 389 calories rounded up. Not bad for a cheat day breakfast.
How to build a better banana split.
I haven't had a banana split in years. We didn't often have them growing up. It took an indulgent aunt to make them for us, or a doting uncle to take us out for one. As an adult, I found it wasn't as much fun as I thought it would be to walk into a Braum's or a DQ and get a banana split without any parental tsk tsk. Haven't done that in maybe 15 years.
Online calorie counts give from 762 to 895 per banana split. What I recall is a banana halved lengthwise, three scoops of ice cream placed in the middle, a pineapple topping on one scoop, a strawberry topping on the other scoop, and on the middle scoop a chocolate or caramel drizzle, all topped with whipped cream, sometimes chopped pecans or sliced almonds, crowned with a cherry on top.
A banana split can be a nice dessert the way I'm doing it, or it can be a meal, but without much protein unless you substitute yogurt for ice cream. The way I'm showing it is an excellent dessert to follow a meal of beans, since it helps with the, er, difficulties of bean digestion (but don't include the nuts).
Anyway, start with a perfect banana, peeled and halved lengthwise. Use your smallest scoop for ice cream, not the regular size.
I used Halo Top vanilla bean. The whole pint is 290 calories, so three of the small scoops won't amount to 100 calories.
Top with your beautiful fresh organic berries, slivered almonds or whatever nuts you have. I didn't have any whipped topping, but Truwhip vegan is 35 cal. for two T (17.5 cal. per tablespoon), so add it if you have it. I topped with sliced almonds and the last of a bag of dark chocolate chips, just one tablespoon, but they added that expected chocolate element.
Calories (as a meal)
Banana 121
Ice cream 100
Berries: negligible calories, I don't count them
Sliced almonds, 1/4 cup 180 = 4 tablespoons, and I used only one tablespoon, so sliced almond calories 45
1 Tablespoon chocolate chips = 70
Total calories: 336
So if you have the whipped topping, yeah use it. If you have the maraschino cherries, help yourself. Those are only 5 calories each. A tablespoon of the caramel drizzle instead of the chocolate chips, go for it.
The diet trick, if you have this for dessert, is to skip the nuts, skip the ice cream, add the whipped topping and the maraschino cherry on top. That brings the calorie count down to 161, but the challenge is this: Put that in front of a kid, just that way, the diet version, and watch their eyes light up.
I haven't had a banana split in years. We didn't often have them growing up. It took an indulgent aunt to make them for us, or a doting uncle to take us out for one. As an adult, I found it wasn't as much fun as I thought it would be to walk into a Braum's or a DQ and get a banana split without any parental tsk tsk. Haven't done that in maybe 15 years.
Online calorie counts give from 762 to 895 per banana split. What I recall is a banana halved lengthwise, three scoops of ice cream placed in the middle, a pineapple topping on one scoop, a strawberry topping on the other scoop, and on the middle scoop a chocolate or caramel drizzle, all topped with whipped cream, sometimes chopped pecans or sliced almonds, crowned with a cherry on top.
A banana split can be a nice dessert the way I'm doing it, or it can be a meal, but without much protein unless you substitute yogurt for ice cream. The way I'm showing it is an excellent dessert to follow a meal of beans, since it helps with the, er, difficulties of bean digestion (but don't include the nuts).
Anyway, start with a perfect banana, peeled and halved lengthwise. Use your smallest scoop for ice cream, not the regular size.
I used Halo Top vanilla bean. The whole pint is 290 calories, so three of the small scoops won't amount to 100 calories.
Top with your beautiful fresh organic berries, slivered almonds or whatever nuts you have. I didn't have any whipped topping, but Truwhip vegan is 35 cal. for two T (17.5 cal. per tablespoon), so add it if you have it. I topped with sliced almonds and the last of a bag of dark chocolate chips, just one tablespoon, but they added that expected chocolate element.
Calories (as a meal)
Banana 121
Ice cream 100
Berries: negligible calories, I don't count them
Sliced almonds, 1/4 cup 180 = 4 tablespoons, and I used only one tablespoon, so sliced almond calories 45
1 Tablespoon chocolate chips = 70
Total calories: 336
So if you have the whipped topping, yeah use it. If you have the maraschino cherries, help yourself. Those are only 5 calories each. A tablespoon of the caramel drizzle instead of the chocolate chips, go for it.
The diet trick, if you have this for dessert, is to skip the nuts, skip the ice cream, add the whipped topping and the maraschino cherry on top. That brings the calorie count down to 161, but the challenge is this: Put that in front of a kid, just that way, the diet version, and watch their eyes light up.
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Cheat day or hope day?
I feel that the discovery of "cheat day" has been the secret of sustained success in my eating and weight goals. It got me permanently off the endless restrict-binge-restrict-binge cycle. I won't say I'm 100 percent there. I would still like to lose a few more pounds, exercise more, be more healthy in all systems, but it's the sustained change in clothing sizes that continues to thrill me.
"Cheat day" is a theme I embraced from YouTube, an excuse to eat massive amounts of food in videos hosted by beautiful, thin people. It's about food and restaurant reviews, eating challenges, and big meals in the parked car (where the acoustics are always favorable). I don't make videos. I just watch them with enjoyment.
Cheat day gives me a built in out on Friday nights, when restaurant dinner with friends, or the burger & a band scenario, is in play. Or I can save it for Saturday night. Whatever. Cheat day is there as a tool for enjoyment without worry.
But I was thinking today, after having a normal breakfast-lunch of some Indian food leftovers, "oh yeah, it's cheat day. What do I want?". I usually lay in the cheat supplies earlier in the week, but this week I forgot. So I made my own rich coffee drink. Lately cheat day has less and less importance. I can no longer even finish the big Mexican plate with one of everything on it. Nowadays my normal Mexican restaurant plate is one enchilada, one taco, dab of guacamole. I find myself permanently in that place I used to envy of normal weight people who ordered that way.
Cheat day is still an important tool, but today I was wondering if I should instead call it "hope day" or "comfort day". If I'm having mad cravings during the week I can just say to myself "hold your horses, stay behind the line, Friday cheat day will come". Cheating at a card game is something you do to others. Cheating on your diet is something you do to yourself. By having a designated day for it you minimize your self harm while still enjoying your treats. Hope day, comfort day or cheat day, whatever you call it, I believe in it more than I have ever believed in anything, because it has given me peace.
Wishing everybody a tasty weekend.
I feel that the discovery of "cheat day" has been the secret of sustained success in my eating and weight goals. It got me permanently off the endless restrict-binge-restrict-binge cycle. I won't say I'm 100 percent there. I would still like to lose a few more pounds, exercise more, be more healthy in all systems, but it's the sustained change in clothing sizes that continues to thrill me.
"Cheat day" is a theme I embraced from YouTube, an excuse to eat massive amounts of food in videos hosted by beautiful, thin people. It's about food and restaurant reviews, eating challenges, and big meals in the parked car (where the acoustics are always favorable). I don't make videos. I just watch them with enjoyment.
Cheat day gives me a built in out on Friday nights, when restaurant dinner with friends, or the burger & a band scenario, is in play. Or I can save it for Saturday night. Whatever. Cheat day is there as a tool for enjoyment without worry.
But I was thinking today, after having a normal breakfast-lunch of some Indian food leftovers, "oh yeah, it's cheat day. What do I want?". I usually lay in the cheat supplies earlier in the week, but this week I forgot. So I made my own rich coffee drink. Lately cheat day has less and less importance. I can no longer even finish the big Mexican plate with one of everything on it. Nowadays my normal Mexican restaurant plate is one enchilada, one taco, dab of guacamole. I find myself permanently in that place I used to envy of normal weight people who ordered that way.
Cheat day is still an important tool, but today I was wondering if I should instead call it "hope day" or "comfort day". If I'm having mad cravings during the week I can just say to myself "hold your horses, stay behind the line, Friday cheat day will come". Cheating at a card game is something you do to others. Cheating on your diet is something you do to yourself. By having a designated day for it you minimize your self harm while still enjoying your treats. Hope day, comfort day or cheat day, whatever you call it, I believe in it more than I have ever believed in anything, because it has given me peace.
Wishing everybody a tasty weekend.