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Mary Chris
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| Posted: Feb 20 2008 at 2:46pm | IP Logged
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what do you like to eat for breakfast. Did you notice I didn't use the "D" word, this is about life style changes, not dieting. But I am trying to lose some of this weight, I've been carrying around for the past five years.
I try to have oatmeal, but then I add some maple syrup and craisins. Does that totally defeat the purpose. There is no way I could eat it plain. Well maybe I could but I don't want to! Yes, I did have a pouty face and my arms crossed when I wrote that.
Other mornings I will have an English Muffin with peanut butter, that will get me to lunch.
I actually ate plain yogurt with blueberries last week and I'm still alive to talk about it. I did not think I would ever be able to eat plain yogurt.
I do eat scrambled eggs but usually have to eat them with Canadian bacon, sausage or American bacon (as it is called in our house). Sometimes I will cut up and saute some pepper for the eggs and throw some feta cheese on, but usually only in the spring and summer.
We do smoothies in the spring and summer also.
Of course my kids want pancakes or waffles every morning. We do that occasionally and I grind my own wheat but how healthy are waffles and pancakes every morning.
Honestly, I am so confused about food choices, I really don't know what to eat. Low carb, high protein, Nourishing Traditions, low fat....ugh!
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Blessings, Mary Chris Beardsley
mom to MacKenzie3/95, Carter 12/97 Ronan 3/00 and wife to Jim since 1/92
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Mackfam
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Mary Chris,
I am no paragon of healthy eating, but about 2 years ago we made some MAJOR eating habit changes. My brother is battling brain cancer, my mom is battling breast cancer, my husband has high cholesterol, my dad has type 2 diabetes. I began to connect the dots - and it was nutrition.
At the time (2 years ago) I was 1 year postpartum and having a really hard time getting the excess weight off. Our diet changes were common sense - think whole foods, as whole and real as we could get them. Nothing fancy, no low carbs, no low fat, just real food. I then went a step further, I simply curbed the amount of refined sugar we took in, went to drinking water at every meal, and ate smaller portions for lunch and dinner. I did NOT starve myself!!!! I also ate a healthy size breakfast. The weight came off on its own - 30 pounds over the year.
I do understand the confusion on food - one source says this is healthy, another says it's of the devil. How do you discern??? In the end I just decided it was all about common sense. I wasn't going to go off the deep end, but I was convinced that God had provided in abundance a rich source of foods to nourish our bodies. My goal just became looking for those foods, as close to how God had provided them as possible.
BTW, I see no problem with pancakes every morning! Especially if you are grinding your own wheat! You might just consider nixing the syrup and offering a low or no sugar fruit jelly. It's really yummy, and the fruit is naturally sweet. All of your choices sound great to me. Breakfast is likely not going to break your weight loss goals, it will be snacks, pop, and sugary treats (which, oh by the way, I am craving in excess right now.  ) Watch out for those, and you'll do fine, and you WILL see weight loss results with added health benefits!!!
Good luck! 
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Jen Mackintosh
Wife to Rob, mom to dd 19 , ds 16, ds 11, dd 8, and dd 3
Wildflowers and Marbles
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Courtney
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When I went for my annual dr. appt in August, I was at my most pregnant weight (and I wasn't pregnant!). Since college, I had gradually added about 2 pounds every year. I've never had to really worry about weight, but that was an eye opener!
I immediatlely bought a 2 liter jug (with spout top) and filled it every morning. I make sure I drink it all by the day's end. For breakfast, I usually eat either hard boiled eggs or yogurt mixed with cottage cheese. I heard mixing the two is a good combo of carbs and protein. Dannon makes an all naturals yogurt that doesn't have high fructose corn syrup in it.
I have also cut way back on all grains. I was gluten free for 5 years and then went totally back on gluten two years ago. That didn't help! Now I try not to eat many grains. I gave up sandwiches at lunch and now eat snap peas, tomatoes, avocado and lunch meat and maybe some cheese. I realized how sluggish the grains were making me.
Since August, I have lost 15 pounds and gone down a size. I was amazed how much just changing my eating made such a difference (duh). The weight started coming off before I started exercising. Since November, I walk 3-5 mornings a week for 30 min. on the treadmill.
Overall, I feel much better and have more energy. THe first few weeks were very hard, but now I find I don't crave sugar as much (I still eat sweets, just not the huge quantities that I did). I definitely crave my water and notice if I haven't finished it. I wouldn't consider my eating habits to be total health-nut, but it makes me realize just how BAD they were! I would drink about 6 cups of coffee in the morning and then hit starvation point and eat anything in sight. I've also traded my coffee for Tazo Chai Tea Latte. I only drink one cup in the morning  and maybe one in the afternoon. By the way, you can by a three pack of the Tazo concentrate at Costco for $7.85! Best price I've found for chai lovers like me!
Sorry I've gone off on a tangent. Breakfast for me these days is pretty plain, but I find I have more energy throughout the morning.
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Courtney in Texas
Wife to Mike since 3/94
Mom to Candace 10/97,Christopher 4/00 and Connor 11/11
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insegnante
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We would have our pancakes topped with plain yogurt with fruit mixed or blended in -- bananas, frozen pineapple, frozen organic blueberries. Banana is most helpful for making the plain yogurt mixture taste milder -- even my husband who likes sweeter tastes than I do thinks it's tasty without added sweetener. We used to have from-scratch whole wheat pancakes (courtesy of my husband) that were OK with that topping but more recently he's switched to a 50-50 whole wheat/unbleached white flour recipe that is more palatable even when less thoroughly covered with topping.
Also we've had whole grain peanut butter pancakes that I think were from one of the LaLeche League cookbooks (I could track down the recipe if anyone is interested.) They freeze really well and don't need a topping to be tasty.
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Theresa
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SusanJ
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Mary Chris,
Maple syrup is actually a decent sweetening choice because it's unrefined (you are talking about the real stuff, right?). It's also about the most expensive sweetener there is, but we use a lot of it anyway. We only use white sugar for making kombucha in our house
I have really high ideals about nutrition and food choices but when the rubber hits the road I have a really, really hard time implementing them. I have found that taking baby steps helps the most. Maybe start with all whole wheat pancakes if you aren't already and then do yogurt once a week. Maybe yogurt a couple times a week after that. Eggs are very healthy and a good source of protein. We often have scrambled eggs for lunch if we haven't had them for breakfast. I keep my bacon in the freezer, hack off an inch or two at lunch time, chop it into little pieces and fry that. Then I drain off the excess fat and cook the eggs right into the bacon. It stretches the bacon and makes it taste better. Good bacon is not bad for you (Niman Ranch is at Trader Joe's and very tasty!).
I have heard really conflicting things about coffee but I have cut back to one cup a day and it is making me feel better. Juice is pretty much junk food, though fruit has fiber in it, so eating the whole fruit is a lot better than just juice. But cut back slowly. Your tastes will change over time not overnight.
Susan
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Mom to Joseph-8, Margaret-6, William-4, Gregory-2, and new little one due 11/1
Life Together
[URL=http://thejohnstonkids.blogspot.com]The Kids' Blog[/UR
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Rachel May
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1/2 bagel, toasted
1 tbsp cream cheese
1-2 oz smoked salmon
5 prunes
1 c coffee
1/4c whole milk
...every....day....
I love it, and it's easier for me to not mess with breakfast choices much.
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Rachel
Thomas and Anthony (10), Maria (8), Charles (6), Cecilia (5), James (3), and Joseph (1)
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Mary Chris
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I think a lot of it is the amount  I eat. I am trying to eat half of my usual serving and no seconds.
I do, for the most part, have all the right things in the house.....whole grains, real maple syrup, seldom do we have juice or soda in the house, we don't have a lot of convience foods. We use to eat out a lot, sports practices at dinner time do me in. I am trying really hard now to eat at home or make sandwiches to take with us.
I know it is going to take a while to lose the weight and I'm fine with that. I put the weight on five years ago, right before Carter finished chemo I became a mad eater, truly for 3 months I ate non-stop. Then the next year I broke my leg, had surgery, and ate again. In two weeks we go for Carter's five year appoiontment, so it is time for me to let go of this weight.
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Blessings, Mary Chris Beardsley
mom to MacKenzie3/95, Carter 12/97 Ronan 3/00 and wife to Jim since 1/92
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DeAnn M
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Hi,
I think oatmeal is a great choice for breakfast. As long as it's the real thing, it should keep you fuller longer as the steel cut oats take longer to digest. Maple syrup is fine, but I recently discovered a great sweetener called, Agave nectar syrup. It's low on the glycemic index so it won't cause your blood sugar to spike.
Eggs are great too. If you can find some fresh, farm eggs there is a huge difference in the taste and amount of nutrients. I mix mine with veggies and a little cheese.
You know, I think I've read every sort of health/diet book on the planet--from weight watchers, to nourishing traditions, to raw foods diets-- and have stressed a great deal over what to eat and how much to eat and when, as well as what foods combine well with one another. I don't think any of this has been time-wasted. I am certainly more aware of everything I put into my body and how it affects me. I think for most of us this weight battle begins in the mind, anyway. I think you have the right attitude and are doing all of the right things. Honestly, it may take a little longer for you to lose weight this way but remember that right now you are making choices that will change the way that your entire family eats for a lifetime. Sounds like you are really trying to renew your body and your mind. Maybe the appointment in two weeks will be a catalyst for helping you to let go of some fears and hurts from the past. (I'm really not some sort of nut case...I just know that there are a lot of connections with our weight/food issues and difficult and hurtful times.) God, of course is the only true Healer. Anyway, I have probably overstepped by bounds. Keep up the good work!
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MarilynW
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- oatmeal with real cream and maple syrup
- homemade waffles with lemon juice and sucanat
- chicken sausage and turkey bacon with an egg
- sourdough bread with sunflower seed butter
- homemade morning glory or blueberry muffins
- toasted cheese and ham sandwiches
- yogurt and berry smoothy
All with 3 cups of strong British tea with milk (and if it has been a rough night I take blackstrap molasses in my tea)
..the adage goes that we should breakfast like kings...(queens?)
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Marilyn
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happymama
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minor change to Rachel's recipe: (this is from Men's health magazine, they recommend it for breakfast):
english muffin, toasted
lite cream cheese
avacado slices
smoked or pan-fried salmon
it's amazingly delicious! Re:oatmeal - I often mix in chopped walnuts, too, and cook raisins and apple chunks into it. Then it requires less sweetening.
Consider flax oil or fish oil capsuls, whey protein shakes to keep you fuller, longer. Also, if you exercise, it helps me a lot to do it in the morning - get that metabolism up and helps you focus on "good" cravings!
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mary theresa
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A friend of mine is reading/using "Eat Fat, Lose Fat" by sally fallon and another woman. I don't know if you are into the whole sally fallon thing or not  but it has some really good breakfast recipes in it.
One thing it says to do is eat 2 Tbsp of coconut oil in tea (or on a spoon) 20 minutes before every meal, but especially breakfast. It speeds up your metabolism for the day.
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Mary Theresa
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Elizabeth
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I have a cup of tea when I get up. Then, when other people are awake and it's okay to make noise, I make breakfast.
The juice of 4 carrots
the juice of two small apples
A big handful of frozen pineapple
a big handful of frozen peaches
a big orange, peeled
1 teaspoon coconut oil
a tbsp flax seeds
All in the Vitamix until it's a smoothie. It makes enough for me and Mike.
I have one poached egg with it. I bring Mike two eggs on a whole wheat English muffin with his smoothie. He usually shares his breakfast with Karoline so he doesn't eat ALL of that by himself
I really like the salmon on English muffins idea. I might do that for Mike and make it into a lettuce wrap for me. Maybe with sprouts...
Oh, and I tend to not eat much for lunch or skip it altogether if I get busy with a big kid. It's easy for me to work with him when everyone is is busy with food at lunchtime.
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Elizabeth Foss is no longer a member of this forum. Discussions now reflect the current management & are not necessarily expressions of her book, *Real Learning*, her current work, or her philosophy. (posted by E. Foss, Jan 2011)
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Matilda
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Mary Chris,
My husband is not a big oatmeal fan either and when he does eat it, it has to have butter and brown sugar, etc.... but he does like oat bran. He can eat that with just salt and pepper, maybe a tiny bit of butter.
I am at a point again where I need to get the weight off. I have done it before. I gained weight after I had a miscarriage, so before I conceived my youngest, I worked really hard to lose 30 pounds. I refused to call it a diet plan as well, but rather healthy eating and exercise. I had to do both together. Anyway, during that time, I was eating all kinds of things for breakfast... omelets with broccoli, ham and potato cubes; left overs from dinner; hard boiled eggs, oat bran, turkey bacon, etc... it was my big meal of the day. Eating a good hearty breakfast helped me to put lunch off until around 1 or 2 when I would eat a large salad with all kinds of good stuff in it. By the time dinner came around, I was only hungry for a small meal like a fruit and yogurt parfait or a smoothie. It really worked for me to swap breakfast and dinner. I never felt hungry or deprived.
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Charlotte (Matilda)
Mom to four (11 , 10, 9 & 5 ) an even split for now
with bookend boys and a double girl sandwich
Waltzing Matilda
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hmbress
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Mary Chris, I know the struggle to take and keep weight off. I struggled with it my whole life, but finally managed to gradually lose 60 lbs and get to a normal, healthy weight for the first time in my life about 3 years ago. For me my problem was on the level of actual food addiction, so I found participation in a twelve-step group (OA) helpful. This, because for me it took addressing the spiritual and emotional roots of the problem in addition to the physical symptoms. But, that being said, what I learned about the physical part is something that I think could be helpful to "normal eaters" who struggle with weight from time to time.
Even though I (thought I) knew tons about nutrition, I finally went to a good nutritionist and found out that my biggest problems in the past, when I had tried all the different types of diets (and believe me, I had tried them all) were two things: eating too little, and eliminating essential food groups. I was shocked when the nutritionist gave me an 1800 calorie food plan to lose weight (I am 5'8" and at that time was 187 lbs). I thought in order to lose weight I needed to be at around 1200 calories, which always felt like deprivation. But as my nutritionist explained, when I ate that little I just set myself up for binges because I was legitimately hungry. It also threw my metabolism out of whack, so it made it even harder to lose weight.
My first two weeks on my new food plan, I actually had trouble finishing all my food - it was a ton on the plate, it was more even than my husband ate! I thought there was no way I would lose weight, but I did. It was gradual, 2-4 pounds a month, but I never felt deprived, and it has stayed off.
I also don't avoid any food groups. The only thing I do not eat is refined sugar. Everything else is okay, as long as I have the proper portion and it fits into my food plan. I follow a diabetic food plan (even though I'm not diabetic) which is designed to balance my blood sugar throughout the day, and I weigh my portions 95% of the time. That is what works for me, I don't think normal eaters necessarily need to do that but might find it helpful to do so for a while to learn proper portion sizes.
Anyways, I hope that is helpful to you. To answer your original question, my breakfast is 2 protein exchanges, 3 starch exchanges, 1 fruit, and 1 dairy (this is to maintain, it was only 2 starches while losing). Typical breakfasts are:
1) 3/4 cup dry oats cooked in 8 oz milk with 2.5 oz sliced ripe banana mashed in, plus 1 egg with 1 oz total ham/sausage/cheese scrambled together
2) 45g worth of carbs of any low-sugar breakfast cereal w/8 oz milk and a fruit, plus same scrambled eggs/meat/cheese
3) 14g protein worth of ricotta cheese mixed with 6 oz plain yogurt, 4 oz diced granny smith apple (or 1 exchange of any fruit), and 45g carbs worth of Grape Nuts or low-sugar granola. I sweeten this with Stevia to take the tang out of the yogurt.
Those are my normal weekday breakfasts, but I have also figured out how to have pancakes, french toast, waffles, you name it - these are just what I turn to for a quick and easy breakfasts on the run.
Hope that helps!
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Heather Rose (ds13, ds10)
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DeAnn M
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Hi There,
O.K. now that someone else has mentioned juicing/smoothies I'll add that to my suggestions above. I got a juicer with some Amex points last year. It has been so much fun juicing everything. I am what one might call a, "low energy" person...even coffee rarely picks me up in the morning. Anyway I found a juice recipe that sounds yucky, but is so tasty in the morning and it actually gives me energy through through most of the day. Sometimes I eat breakfast 30 min. after the juice, sometimes I don't. We call it, "green juice." Not very creative, but my kids will even drink this stuff!!
If you ever come across a juicer at a yard sale, get it! It's worth it!
Here's the recipe just in case anyone's interested:
You kind of have to play around with the ingredients and, of course, it's always best to use as much organic as possible.
Kale, spinach, or Romaine Lettuce
2-3 stalks of celery
1 lemon--I try to peel most of the skin and leave the white part.
1 apple--depends on preference, Fuji and Gala make sweeter juices
1-2 cucumbers
slice of ginger root (sometimes I leave this out)
Juice it and drink! Even though the kale is bitter, the lemon and apple really balance it out and sweeten the drink. I can't believe I actually look forward to a vegetable drink in the morning. It's not me. Trust me, this is coming from someone who grew up on Coke and Little Debbies.
Anyway, when I started to drink this regularly, I noticed a difference in my energy level...which meant I actually wanted to exercise, and my weight loss efforts. I felt good about what I was putting into my body and that had far reaching effects...mentally and physically.
Sorry for the babbling...kids' snack time is over so I need to go!
DeAnn
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JennGM
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| Posted: March 15 2008 at 9:54am | IP Logged
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Rachel May wrote:
1/2 bagel, toasted
1 tbsp cream cheese
1-2 oz smoked salmon
5 prunes
1 c coffee
1/4c whole milk
...every....day....
I love it, and it's easier for me to not mess with breakfast choices much. |
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Revisiting this thread to tell you thank you for the smoked salmon suggestion. I removed eggs from my diet to see if it would and getting the protein in the morning was my big dilemma. I'm so happy to have an alternative, especially on Fridays of abstinence. 
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Jennifer G. Miller
Wife to & ds1 '03 & ds2  '07
Family in Feast and Feria
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4Real Forums : Our Lady of Good Remedy and Care
Topic: So you healthy eating role models
