Protein, Veggies, Healthy Fats, OH MY!

It’s simple, protein, veggies, and healthy fats is all we really need. When people ask me what I can eat if I’m not eating pasta, rice, flour laden products, I’m oddly reminded of when I was vegan oh so many years ago.  There is plenty out there to choose from!  As I’m sure I’ve mentioned before, the hardest part is trying.

I’m well aware that these days many of us have no idea how to cook.  I’m lucky to have learned from a pretty young age, but never fear because you can do it!  With a little trial and error you’d be amazed what you’d be able to turn out; just ask my boyfriend who went from not cooking at all to being able to whip up tasty simple dishes like steak and roasted broccoli or roasted chicken with green salads.

But you want to know something?  Lately I’ve been fond of having the same meals day in and day out.  I know that sounds boring, but I absolutely love steak topped with butter and a small veggie side.  Really I could just have the steak and nothing else.  Because I’m usually cooking for two, I can’t expect someone else to be just as happy as myself eating the same food for someone whom isn’t always craving the same thing as myself.  I’m telling you this to also let you know that it’s totally ok to eat the same thing if that’s what makes you giggle with pleasure in every bite.

Examples of foods to eat:

Protein-
Beef, poultry, pork, game meats, seafood, etc.

 

Veggies-
All but starchy items such as white potatoes or corn.

 

Healthy fats-
Avocado, olive oil, fats from grass fed/pastured animals (yup, totally talking about lard and tallow here!), grass fed butter, and most nuts aside from peanuts and cashews which are considered legumes.

Your “diet” food doesn’t have to be boring. It can be tasty and filling! Take a look at my of my creations below:

dinner:
crispy asian pork belly (coconut aminos and vinegar, maple syrup, sesame seed oil, onions, ginger, garlic, pork belly) on a bed of fresh spinach, topped with toasted sesame seeds

dinner:
grass fed bone in ribeye steak (oregano, salt pepper) topped with sautéed mushrooms, onions, and garlic, served with roasted garlic butter baby artichokes and steamed french green beans

dinner:
kalbi aka korean ribs with cauliflower rice (bacon, peas, cauliflower, and garlic)

Are you sated?

The food we put into our belly is key to health and weight loss.  I say again, food is the key!  There are times when I’m talking to people about food and I want to tell them to just eat home cooked food.  Yes, fast food is cheaper upfront, however when your health fails and you have hefty medical bills, you might start to rethink this idea.

The feeling of being sated, or full, is something that most of us think of after having stuffed ourselves with way too much.  I’ve been there and I’m sure you have too!  You’ve eaten so much that you just want to give in to the food coma that’s creeping within you, and sometimes you do.  However, the issue with eating all of that junk is that you’re not satisfying our body.  Have you ever noticed that within a few hours you’re feeling hungry again?  Weird when you think about it, huh?

It’s hard to think, but simply having real food will change you.  Real food though, what’s that?  Perhaps I mean all that super snobby expensive stuff they sale down at Whole Foods, or maybe some specialty place like that.  Well I’m not.  I personally don’t care to give it a label, though some may call it paleo, primal, low carb high fat aka LCHF, or keto (please note there are tons of eating lifestyles that share similarities with these eating habits), I like to think of it as just eating real clean food.

How do I feel after eating? So full that usually I eat once a day.   Never fear, I’m far from starving!   One thing is for sure, eating the way that I do I feel full most of the day without worry.  My diet, if you will, consists of protein, healthy fats, veggies, nuts, and the occasional cheat food.  Yes, you heard me correctly, I didn’t mention sugar, grains, starches, or processed foods and I’m kept full by eating foods such steak and creamed spinach, shredded pork and fajita style veggies, or bacon and eggs; sounds tasty doesn’t it?!  The hardest part is giving it a try!

Oh where to begin…

We’ve all been there, done that, and got the t-shirt on weight loss.  Many around me and myself included have struggled with all things weight related.  Hours spent in front of a screen reading, scoffing, and hoping that something easy and fast would just drop in our laps.  Well what if we were searching for was right in front of our faces the entire time?

A Girlfriend told me some years ago that it all starts in your mind, and at the time it made a little sense but not as much as it does now.  When you’re set on a cause you will do everything you possibly can to achieve that goal.  However we’re faced with the question of how to start?

Simple, it’s what you put in your belly…