hi Silver,

Old cheese is cheese that has aged a couple of years. I believe the oldest is aged for 3 years. It is dark orange and salty and it breaks when you want to slice it, and I like it much. The constistence is a bit like parmesan cheese, that is also an aged hard cheese but with a different taste. Possibly it is not known outside of holland. I have noticed that the dutch cheese for sale outside of holland, the Edam and Gouda, is the nondescript almost tasteless "factory cheese" type of thing. Maybe aged cheddar would do for you ? or do the welsh have a cheese tradition of their own??

Rabbit

You can get the Oude cheese at markets at Christmas time, and sometimes Manchester has a European market at other times. I completely missed that you live in the Netherlands!

I loved cheese when we were in Amsterdam, even the supermarket cheese is really good. And the bread choices are so much better, wholegrain breads are a lot more prevalent than here, although our choices are improving. It makes me mad that we have two bakeries in our village but all they make are pies and white bread.

The Welsh also do great cheeses! I like a good caerphilly. (Hmmmmm I think my cheese habit plays no small part in my ability to get to 262 lbs!)

Thanks, rabbit. That does sound so very nice. I love that kind of cheese (rather than the factory stuff. That Edam and Gouda is pretty horrible and so is our own factory cheese). Yes, I think that mature cheddar might have the same kind of effect.

Kylie's right: there are a lot of very nice cheeses here in Wales. And she's also right about the effect of cheese. I treat them with extreme care. Hard, crumbly, tasty, salty, creamy, strong, blue. They are all so delicious. I certainly haven't given up cheese. It's a delight. And what's life about, after all?

The only thing I have given up in the cheese department is the low fat plasticated rubbish. If I'm going to have it, I have the best!

My current favourite is a Lancashire bomb that I get from the farmers market locally. The best thing about it is that it's in a wax ball and keeps for a month or longer. (the farmers market is once a month) and then I'm not tempted to munch on it just because its going to go bad!

Frus - when you're down at Borough market, do you ever call into the Neal's Yard cheese shop? It's along that narrow street parallel with the river - Park Street, I think. Yummy cheese there and I'm sure you could have tasters. I like Mrs Kirkham's Lancashire, Mrs Appleby's Cheshire and Quickes cheddar. And others too.

Very tasty stuff and all good for sandwiches, in moderation!

Oh wow! That sounds NICE! I think we walked past it on Saturday, I was going to treat myself to some Neal's Yard smellies, but DF was there and he just doesn't see the point in "wasting" money on luxury bubble bath!

We did get some lovely caerphilly cheese samples in the market. I will check out the cheese shop next time!

Make sure that your lunch includes some protein. All-natural, sugar free peanut butter is a good source of protein when you are on the run. Just make a sandwich with it or eat some with vegetables (it's so thick it doesn't classify as dip, does it? ) What about lowfat yogurt sprinkled with some oatmeal or granola?

I work from home, so I'm not much help. I can easily heat something up if I want. I make a lot of salads with grilled or baked chicken breast and lots of veggies. Yum!

Nelie,

Your time invested in reading bread labels resonated loud and clear with me!

I've found a great (I feel) bread at Whole Foods market. It's the ww organic rustic loaf - and they'll slice it any way you like it. Pricey at 3.99 but worth every delicious morsel.

Jean

jill - I've NEVER ever found all natural PB over on these shores! I read labels on PB and they ALL have palm oil in. But yes if I could find some it's be good! I keep adding to this little list I have in my "inspiration book" and I check up before I pack my weekend snack bag!

It's available, look in wholefood shops. Suma makes some and so does Meridian. Crunchy, smooth, with salt or without salt.

Lunch today is tuna, with some celery, olives and scallions, salad, FF plain yogurt and strawberries. Every once in a while I just got to have my tuna. Oh just realized I forgot the capers.