I start my Calorie Counting tomorrow (Nov. 1st) and wanted to see if y'all could give me some ideas of what you put on your grocery list besides veggies and fruit. What about some good sites that have low calorie recipes?
Are there any blogs you could share that has people's food journals?
One other question?? If I did really bad today and tonight (too much candy, and then we went out for supper and I ordered what I really wanted on the menu without worrying about it)
Should I eat lower calories tomorrow, and start later in the day to give my body a rest in the morning?
I stopped eating tonight around 9 pm.
So do I wait 12 hours to start my "new" day?
Just get right back on track with your eating. I usually have a snack about an hour before bed - you don't have to do that, but if you normally do, then you should. Then just get up in the morning and continue eating healthily.
As far as shopping, I tend to eat the same things for breakfast, lunch, and snacks and then mix it up for dinner.
I love to cook. I collect cookbooks, read food blogs, and subscribe to a couple of different magazines. I tend to have a stockpile of dinner recipes that I want to try and so I make my weekly menu from those. Everything else is pretty routine.
My shopping list also tends to vary with the season. During the summer I make more salads and we grill a TON outside on the grill. During the winter I tend to make stews, soups, beans, and a lot of stuff in the crock pot. So what I buy is going to be different from season to season.
And finally, I buy a lot of basic stuff in bulk at either Sam's Club or Costco. For example, last time I was at one of the stores I got 2 packs of chicken breast tenders (35 tenders per pack), a case of tomato paste, a case of diced tomatos, Worcestershire sauce, shredded cheese, eggs (3 dozen), 6 lbs of extra lean hamburger, 6 lbs of lean ground turkey, 2 whole salmon sides (filleted), and a whole pork loin. When I get home, I repackage all the meat using my Foodsaver and freeze it. So I buy meat about once every two months, if that.
Then once a week I hit the grocery store for the other stuff that I might need. This past week I bought:
steel cut oats
veggies (onions, broccoli, cucumbers, squash (3 kinds), asparagus, cabbage, baby spinach, carrots, garlic, celery, mushrooms, kale)
fruit (apples, pears)
yogurt (Fage 2% in the single serving containers)
sour cream
block sharp cheddar cheese
eggs
beans (for bean soup and for chili)
french bread
bottle of red wine
I tend to like to eat a protein bar as a snack at least once a day -- usually in the morning. They take care of my chocolate fix in a fairly healthy way and most are between 180-250 calories -- so they are the perfect size for a snack. I am particularly fond of plain old Balance Bars -- especially the Caramel Blast ones. Oh, if you are a carb craver type though, you might want to stay away from them.
I also eat a lot of whole wheat bread, eggs, low fat yogurt mixed with a cut up apple and a high fiber ceral (Like All Bran Buds). I like to buy roasted chickens or grill skinless chicken breasts at home and keep them around for slicing up in salad.
I buy tons of soy products--morningstar "sausage" and "chicken" ...I also get PB2 (I love the chocolate one!). I make breakfast sandwiches a lot so I usually keep some lower carb bagels or english muffins on hand. Soymilk, spinach, romaine, joseph's pitas, tuna (although I'm starting to wean myself). I keep luna bars on hand and I also try to keep some vitamuffin choc. muffin mix on hand---for when I need my fix.
You can check people's FitDay links for food journals...just beware that what you are seeing might not have been a stellar "On Plan" day. This would be mine for the last coouple months.
For breakfast - plain oatmeal - the big ole can. Nuke for 3 minutes with cinnamon and splenda and 1/2 c of fruit.... Plain nonfat yogurt or cottage cheese mixed with fruit or sugar free jam. Low carb bread (40 cals a slice) with a tablespoon of natural peanut butter.
For lunch - I've been into soup lately, I love the Imagine soups (Trader Joe's has their own brand - also good)that come in the carton...tomato with roasted pepper, butternut squash, I just got one of pea soup that I haven't tried yet...but 80-100 calories for a cup. Sometimes I mix in some protein powder. Wraps - WW low carb tortilla, slice of lowfat mozzarella, sliced turkey, some mustard and bean sprouts or lettuce to bulk it up. String cheese, Laughing cow cheese, I eat a LOT of mixed greens salad...either with spray on dressing or Newman's Own.
Dinners are fairly plain most of the time, lean meat paired with a big pile of veggies... and calorie counters! Don't stress too much over the details at first - you will learn as you go along. If you go off plan, just get right back on plan. Don't do the "Oh I've blown it - I'm a bad person and I can have the whole cake and start again tomorrow" thing. It's an excuse and it does no one any good.
Thanks everyone for some great ideas!!
I will compile some of the items I really like and maybe put together a "menu" with the calories listed.
It's going to take me a little time to figure out calorie counting. Even though it's not hard to do, I can get a little OCD with counting and tracking. Then I find myself at the end of the day with 700 calories still to eat
I like to be conservative on things and I like to "save." Just like when I was doing points, I always saved them during the day because I was so worried about running out of points. The best thing for me to do is to go ahead and plan out what I'm going to eat for the day with the calories listed, that way I'm making sure I'm eating enough but not too much.
I wish we had a section here on the list where we could journal our food diary. Then we could feel like we were having accountability plus get ideas of what others are eating. Is there a link to something like that? I know Dotti's Weight Watchers Board has a thread like that.
The best thing for me to do is to go ahead and plan out what I'm going to eat for the day with the calories listed, that way I'm making sure I'm eating enough but not too much.
This is what I do. I mentioned it in another thread - I enter my entire day's meal plan into the Daily Plate first thing in the morning. That way I know exactly what my plan is and how much I can eat for breakfast, lunch, snacks, etc. And then throughout the day, I tweak it if I need to. If I wind up not eating one of my snacks, or if I go out to lunch with a friend, or whatever. But by entering everything in the morning, I don't wind up "saving" calories and starving myself throughout the day.
I eat the same as the family for the most part and watch portion sizes. Of course I've cut out lots of the extra fat in most meals for everyone. I find the low fat Laughing Cow cheese very good to have on hand. It makes a dandy spread on toast instead of margarine. The only thing is that it's fairly expensive so I don't eat it everyday. I try to stretch out a container for at least 2 or 3 weeks. Another cheese product that I like to keep on hand are low fat cheese strings or sticks. The ones I have now are only 50 calories and really come in handy when I'm "starved" and can't wait another minute for my next meal.
I use The Daily Plate everyday. I started logging my calories in August and since then i've dropped 27.5 #s. I usually eat the same meals for breakfast like Thomas's Lite Multigrain Muffins (100 cal. 8gr fiber) with an egg white, yogurt, oatmeal and high fiber cereal with soy milk. For lunch, usually a salad with some type of leftovers from the day before. I love making soups this time of year. I make big batches and freeze them in individual servings.
Here's a list of what i like to keep on hand besides the usual meat & veg:
Egg Whites-I used to by whole eggs but felt i was wasting the yolk by throwing it out. Thomas's Lite Multi grain muffins - Uncle Bens Whole Grain converted rice - I also by riceland brown rice but seems it takes forever to cook. I use Uncle B's often. Low Sodium Veg. or Chicken broth - I make my own but when i can't, i always have some in the pantry. Healthy Life Wheat bread - A little pricey compared to the store brand but with only 35 calories a slice, it helps save some calories. Dry Beans - All kinds of beans. Pinto, Kidney, garbanzo etc.. Corn tortillas - The ones I buy are 50 cal. Waffles - Whole Grain Salsa - Green tomatillo or red chunky
If you have a Trader Joe's in your area. They have these Chocolaty Cats Cookies, 15 cookies are 110 calories. I allow my self a serving when I want something sweet.
I pretty much cook llike i always have for my family. I just change the veggies i eat. I eat more green while they eat more corn and potatoes. They are not green fans except for peas and beans. Im working on them slowly.
I buy yogurt for my breakfast along with raisin bran cereal. I buy string cheese weekly..its a great snack and stays with me. I used reduced calorie ww bread. Frozen fruit to make smoothies out of with my yogurt for breakfast or a snack.m
I eat off of a salad plate at meal time...it makes me eat less and still feel like i filled my plate.I also use a smaller fork and take smaller bites making sure i chew more.
I drink crystal light to go packs but use one in a 64 oz cup of water. It just leaves a hint of lemon. Alot cheaper and I like it better.
I also bought the tuna creation packs this week and cant wait to try the 3 different flavors i bought.
hugs to all
On Saturday I sit down and plan what I'll be cooking for dinner in the coming week as well as what I'll have for breakfast and lunch that week. I will eat the same thing for breakfast and lunch all week but change it up week by week. Then Sunday I hit the store.
So for example this week I did...
Breakfast: double fiber english muffin with slice of cheddar cheese and 1c milk to drink
Lunches: 4 oz baked chicken, sandwich bun to make it a chicken sandwich, steamed zucchini and squash
Dinners:
Turkey meatballs, brown rice, green beans
Low cal bbq chicken, broccoli, baked potato
Turkey burgers, cabbage, fries (for DH)
Lean sirloin steaks, salad, potato
Mondays we go out to a deli that has healthy options and then the weekend we decide on the fly to either cook at home or visit a favorite restaurant that has options I can have.
So basically my list contains everything I need for the above choices. Plus I add in fruit, yogurt or cottage cheese, string cheese, and other things for my mid day snacks.
I am usually in and out of the store quickly because I have it all planned out. Plus it helps me a ton to stay on track during the week.
I eat the same as my family with a few exceptions. I eat way more raw veggies. I do not eat butter or mayonnaise. In the morning I eat Fiber One cereal w/a cup of blueberries. Otherwise, I eat the same as everyone--just less.
Also wanted to mention--the one thing I do buy is the friggin' frozen meals from Smart Ones or Lean Cuisine or whatever. I use them in an emergency--gotta eat quick or I am gonna eat something bad moments. I love the Ethnic Gourmet Indian entrees. Palak Paneer is 240 calories. YUM..OMG.
Grocery List
(too much candy, and then we went out for supper and I ordered what I really wanted on the menu without worrying about it)
Plain nonfat yogurt or cottage cheese mixed with fruit or sugar free jam. Low carb bread (40 cals a slice) with a tablespoon of natural peanut butter.
and calorie counters! Don't stress too much over the details at first - you will learn as you go along. If you go off plan, just get right back on plan. Don't do the "Oh I've blown it - I'm a bad person and I can have the whole cake and start again tomorrow" thing. It's an excuse and it does no one any good. 
