Pages

Thursday, January 6, 2011

What's On My Plate?


Today I'm going more into what my diet consists of these days, as I've received a lot of emails from people wanting to know exact meal plans. I understand the dilemma. When I first changed my diet, I didn't know what the heck to eat either, nor did I have the energy for much preparation so I kept it simple - come to think of it, I still keep it simple. While my diet has evolved a little in the past three months, I still eat most of the foods I mentioned in my updated health post, in October. Here's what I've been eating since starting this new sugar free phase, after Christmas.

I mentioned eating a high protein diet, but I realize that it's actually more of a moderate level of protein. Much lower than the protein levels of most fitness models, athletes, and body builders, that's for sure. Relatively speaking, though, this is high protein for me since I'm not used to eating protein rich animal foods. Matt Stone is often quick to remind me that it's important to eat enough carbs. Carbohydrates I do eat - gluten free ones, mostly in the form of vegetables both raw and cooked. I'm not interested in analyzing the ratio of macronutrients in my diet. Instead I'm happy eating a various fresh, whole foods and go by how I feel to gauge my progress. I drink lots of fresh spring water all day long, and sometimes medicinal and herbal teas.

Here are the foods I eat:

- Veggies/nonsweet fruits - romaine lettuce, cucumber, tomato, bell peppers, zucchini, celery, avocado, chard, kale, eggplant, broccoli, cabbage, onion, cauliflower, lemon, lime
- Wild meat, mostly deer/moose/elk
- Wild fish (raw & cooked)
- Sauerkraut
- Plain yogurt
- Eggs
- Seaweed
- Nuts/seeds
- Squash/yams
- Fresh/dried herbs, himalayan salt, miso, apple cider vinegar
- Olive oil, coconut oil, cultured butter

I start the day with 1/4-1/2 cup plain yogurt, as a probiotic. My breakfast is either eggs with veggies, or a salad with meat - and I have the other for lunch. I often make a big enough batch of salad dressing to last a week, or I mash some avocado and a drizzle of olive oil/ apple cider vinegar /salt into my salad. I usually have another salad for dinner - maybe with an egg or two, or fish (if my dad has caught any), or with meat if I haven't had any earlier in the day (I eat meat once a day). Or I might have a combo of raw and cooked veggies for dinner, which sometimes includes yams or squash, either baked or in a soup. For snacks I enjoy nuts (I love cracking nuts these days), plain yogurt, and veggies with dip.

Here are some typical daily meals:

- 2 eggs, cooked in a little coconut oil or cultured butter - scrambled, overeasy, or sunny side up - along with lightly sauteed chard and zucchini, with raw tomato on top (in the past few days I've also been adding a bit of my eggplant dip to my eggs).

- Salad with romaine, cucumber, celery, tomato, avocado, sauerkraut, seaweed, apple cider vinegar, olive oil, and himalayan salt with moose/deer meat which I cook in a little bit of water (on the rare side).

- Baked yam or squash (which I eat with veggies).

- Veggies - roasted, stir fried, or in a soup.

When I write out these meal options it looks plain and boring. But I love love love salads and veggies, so it works for me, plus there are so many things you can do with basic foods. With all the ingredients I mentioned above, I've made various egg dishes, curries, soups, dips, stir fries, and noodle dishes. I'll post recipes soon.

Confession time. In all my humanness I've had one slip in the sugar free journey thus far. After 6 days of being really diligent, I had a few treats to ring in the New Year. The difference is that it had nothing to do with cravings. I was feeling really good with the diet, and when it was time to celebrate, I decided to enjoy a martini (vodka, fresh lemon & lime juice, ginger, peach medicine flower extract, sparkling mineral water), some wine, and 2 small truffles.

Like I said, this plan satisfies me and I'm without any sugar cravings for the first time in my life. Cheers to great health!

Questions? Post a comment :)

9 comments:

  1. Yummy! I love the idea of eggs cooked in coconut oil. I will have to try that. And I have an eggplant waiting for me to roast it up. Which is a new delight for me. When I moved into my place it didn't have a stove/oven and I didn't want one because I wanted to make sure I wouldn't cheat on being raw. But now since changing my diet my mom got me a nice little convection oven for christmas so I am soooooooooooo stoked to be able to bake and roast!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Vegetables are so wonderful and versatile. I eat raw and cooked vegetables till the cows come home and never get sick of them!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Deeeeeeliciious eats!!

    The comment right above me... I see the madness has moved from facebook to your blog now, Heath ;)

    ReplyDelete
  4. Heathy,
    So, will you sometimes have just veggies alone for a meal? I think this is where I get confused and hurt myself. Like having meat and fish and eggs and dairy all in one day -- I'm afraid it is too heavy and I ought to have at least one meal without it. I would love it if you posted a detailed typical 3 days from morning to night. I think that would really help (and inspire and encourage) a lot of us.
    I can't access all these fresh or wild things like you. But doing what I can give my choices and desire to not be obsessive.
    I think my portions are wrong too. Like, I can put a whole half of an avocado in a salad no problem. Or I use a tbsp of oil at a time (per meal). Plus, I've been eating squash and sweet potatoes at maybe 1-2 meals every day. I worry veggies and fruits (i eat fruit and a lot of dairy) are too much. In addition, I might have 1.5+ cups yogurt and some cheese daily. Thoughts? Would be so pleased if you put up a typical 3 days of your life. And your thoughts on the above (veggie only meal, etc). I'm trying to go a month without nuts...eek.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Heathy, I think perhaps I eat too many fats...I'm starting to try to pinpoint things. For example, in a salad, I might have eggs, 1/2 Tbsp oil, and half an avocado...then I'm also eat at least 1/2 tbsp oil along with meats, eggs, cheeses, etc at all the other meals...maybe too much oil to be adding to salads? Along with the avocado?
    And I know I said I would try a month without nuts...but maybe I'm jumping into this too much. My system is completely messed up, and I admire you. But maybe...just maybe I need to slide into it more...so I think I will continue to eat nuts.
    I'm still on the fence with grains...not sure.
    Exercise is a bit problematic also. I'm very spacey..and low weight. I cannot afford to lose weight. I'm a bit mesmerized with it all to be honest.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Cheers to great health-amen!

    I love veggies so much too! I don't think I ever had as sweet a tooth as you, but it feels so freeing (esp up here in AK) to have some cooked veggies. Baked parsnips and yams seem just like dessert to me!

    Love the sound of your eggplant dip too.

    Thanks so much for sharing this.
    love
    Ela

    ReplyDelete
  7. I am so proud of you sweetie. I totally love this blog. Your honesty and warmth comes shining through. I am so happy at the thought of you healing and feeling better. You truly deserve full health and happiness. love and hugs x x x

    ReplyDelete
  8. when hardcore vegans or whatever people like Durian Rider are, act the way they do it just makes the whole 'movement' look WORSE because they come across as judgemental and complete nut bags!

    So even though you are trying so hard durian to get people to stay on 'your side'

    you push them further away......

    ReplyDelete
  9. I really want to try more wild meat!! Love your eats!!

    ReplyDelete