Learning to eat fiber-rich foods I like

Mission accomplished:  I am learning to eat foods that have fiber that are good for me.

Breakfast:

Miche whole wheat bread from Panera's, almond nut butter from Target, banana slices and 1% milk.

Also mission accomplished:  I found dates at the grocery store.  I had been looking for several trips now, but couldn't find them.

On the days that I'm not working on this, I'm both eating the new good-for-me foods and (less) of the old, regular (low-fiber) foods.  Bottom line:  the new foods are efficient but I can't eat them like candy AND eat everything else.  I'm not hungry but even when I'm not hungry, sometimes I'm still eating, especially favorites and old-time foods.  Still haven't moved the snacks out of the downstairs living room.

Smaller waistline

My clothes are fitting a little different and the proportions are shifting favorably.  Yet I gained 1 1/2 pounds in the last two weeks.

I realize that sitting in front of the T.V. in the evening is a cue for me - "eat anything."  While it is O.K. to completely take a break and splurge, maybe I need to store all the treats away from the living room.  Make it more intentional and less quantity.  I do like treats.

We are eating more fiber.  Success was finding a dinner that has fiber:  beef stroganoff on spinach leaves and East Indian bread naan (bought as a seasonal item at Aldi's.)  The stroganoff had little cream sauce, moderate Parmesan cheese and mushrooms, cooked with the meat instead of sauted earlier in butter.

I ate two Flat-out flatbread quesadilla yesterday with hummus and 1 oz cheese.  Very filling.  The flatbread came from Target and has 9 g of fiber each, so a total of 18 plus 1.5 for the hummus.  19.5 g of fiber for lunch!  Oh, yeah!

Also discovering that being behind, hurried, tired is not when I am likely to tackle eating well.

Also learning from Dr. Oz that the types of fiber can cause stomach upset:  too much insoluble or too much soluble.  One comes from grains and the other produce, I think.

Solution was to eat an apple with the quesadillas yesterday and added a mini yogurt.  I love the feeling of being full.  Some of these high-fiber meals/foods I have been trying definitely fill my tummy.

I could eat this all day

Whoa - this is fantastic!

Literally, I just heated up a second bag it was so good!

OK - Green Giant Steamers Brown Rise Risotto with carrots, Peas, Onion and Kale in a Parmesan Asiago sauce

the ratios are some of the best I've seen, especially for something that others would also like:  4 g fiber to 4.5 g fat.  It smells good before it finished cooking, it tastes great.  300 calories, which doesn't tank my 1600 recommended daily number.  

Fridge food storage and defrosting bagels

One interesting thing:  my refrigerated food storage plan is not working.  The fresh produce takes more space than boxes on a shelf or pasta or canned veggies.  I have had to throw away spoiled fresh food because it also is more sensitive and goes bad before my to-do list gets done.  Imagine that.

Solution:  mason jars in pint and a half size with wide mouth storage, found at Target.  The contents are easily seen and I will be able to store many of them on a fridge shelf.  Freezing one person servings probably will work also - when frozen it is the right shape to be reheated in a bowl in the microwave.

I need storage for cauliflower florets, leftovers, and watermelon.  Perhaps in these containers I can grab them easily and do the prep work ahead of time when there isn't much time to put into a meal.  My goal now is to find five minute meals - it has to fit into life.  Maybe freezing things ahead of time will make it easier to grab.

How to defrost a bagel:  put on top of toaster and turn over a few times.  Then slice and toast normally.  It does taste good.

On the quick

Off the wagon...
Busy...
relying on oatmeal/walnuts/craisins/raisins for breakfast
lunch:  heated-up orange chicken over baby spinach with black rice
dinner fried chicken, one biscuit, cole slaw and rice with beans, mashed potatoes

At Target:  Amy's burritos, enchiladas, and steam-in-the-bag veggie mixes (all frozen) for quick lunches.

Yea!

23 g of fiber yesterday and I didn't think it was going to be a high number!

Yesterday was really crazy and there wasn't much time.  Running out of the house I grabbed a handful of sweetened shredded wheats in the afternoon and had part of an oatmeal/raisin Clif bar until dinner.  Chick-Fil A was a treat for dinner and I didn't order anything strange.

23!

Yea.

I'm using a new app that tracks food consumption.  It's branded by UnderArmour, free, and called My Fitness Pal.  It is very easy, although technology and I are not fast friends.

I've also learned that my goal for fat grams was way too low.  50 g is probably a good target;  I previously thought 25 g.  The app showed me how it all works together with calories, which I am not tracking.

Off to the races!

Not tired anymore

I wonder if yogurt comes with fiber.  Or, if grinding up seeds could be added to yogurt.

Today, being a Tuesday after a holiday Monday, I've had 1 1/3 T flaxseeds (= 4 g fiber) for breakfast and yogurt on the side.

For the time being, I'm sprinkling them on top of my yogurt.

Side note:  I'm not tired anymore.  I have been tired at 8:30 p.m. for a good year now, if not longer and all of a sudden I'm not tired, even at 9:30.  What is going on?  I don't know.