At this time of year, we make resolutions. Many or is it most of us decide that it is the time to lose some weight, that they gained overindulging over the holidays. I personally don’t like the word diet; I prefer the word the French use which is regime. So it is a way of life not just a time of depriving ourselves.
Dieting is not inexpensive. Just try to do a shop on Adkins, it will cost a fortune all that meat, besides the critics say it is not healthy. I prefer to have a regime like any French woman, which means cutting out all the bad stuff and adding more fruits and vegetables.
So I put my thinking cap on to put together some Lean ideas to help us get leaner.
Breakfast – one of the Leanest breakfasts you can make is oatmeal. A kilo of oats costs under £1 ($1.45) and will make over 20 breakfasts. Now compare that to Special K. I prepare my bowl the night before by measuring the oats and covering it with plastic wrap then in the morning all I have to do is add boiling water when I am making my tea.
Lunch – gets a bit trickier as the call of Itsu beckons with 498 calories noodle soup, so I suggest puy lentil salad. This recipe is from the back of the Merchant Gourmet Puy Lentil box, I could not find one online so I copied it.
You need :
250g Puy Lentils 240g Sunblush Tomatoes
2 tbsp Olive Oil 200g Feta Cheese
1 yellow pepper chopped fresh parsley to serve
Extra Virgin Olive Oil and
Balsamic Vinegar to serveCook lentils as per instructions
Gently cook the chopped peppers in olive oil for 2 minutes add Sunblush tomatoes and cook for a further minute.
Strain lentils then add them to the pepper mixture, stir in well, add the Feta cheese, season to taste and top with parsley.
Before serving, drizzle with extra virgin olive oil and balsamic vinegar.
I know that Sunblushed Tomatoes are quite pricey so here is a recipe for making your own, from Nigella Lawson, the queen of the kitchen.
This is a great and easy salad to make that keeps for days in the refrigerator. Put it in your lunch box and top with rocket (arugla) then flip on to a plate to eat. What are your Lean regime favourite recipes?
It’s definitely a tough time for those of us on special diets! I’m trying to go low-GI, too, but with a mixture of vegetarian dishes and raw vegan cuisine (and occasionally some meat — I’m a “flexitarian”). I’m trying to eat as many fresh fruits and veggies and nuts as possible, but even a few meals of beans or lentils helps the budget.
What’s with the plastic wrap on top of the bowls, though? I hate using plastic wrap if I can help it. I would probably use a small Pyrex bowl with a lid for that, but if I didn’t have those, then I might just stick a plate over it in the microwave to keep it from becoming food for the critters.
You are right about the plastic wrap it is much healthier and Leaner to use a plate to cover the bowl or a bowl with a lid.
I like your description of being a “flexitarian”. I think we all should eat that way. Good luck with your regime.
I’ve enjoyed reading your blog. Most are full of garbage, but this is really interesting – and useful too! I particulary enjoyed the Lean Regime » The Lean Times post. I’ll be back often, starting next Sunday. Kind regards, Lily.
Commenting usually isnt my thing, but ive spent an hour on the site, so thanks for the info
Greetings from Tim. 🙂