Post
by Savannah » Mon May 09, 2011 2:03 pm
Elliot, here's my trick in addition to the exercise bandwagon: I hate wasting food/money, so if I buy a big tub of mixed greens, I'm going to have at least 3 dinner salads in 1 week, though not every day. (Let's not get crazy.) Typical (large) salad:
* organic mixed romaine & spinach
* shredded cabbage (optional, but nice)
* 2 chicken tenderloins, diced (from a bag of frozen ones, microwaved 2:15 each side, your wattage may vary)
* julienned carrots
* red onion, diced
* spoonful of minced garlic (from a jar)
* croutons
* tablespoon of shredded cheese (this ain't Siberia)
* black pepper
* a little Sriracha hot chili sauce (optional)
* Newman's Own Light Caesar (It has enough fat to be tasty, & help me absorb the nutrients from the salad) or even Annie's Goddess Dressing (fattier, oh well.)
Plus a glass of red wine, or glass of low-fat milk (protein).
A male friend of mine with similar fitness goals makes a lot of salads with canned shrimp, and experiments with various dressings.
Another good dinner: Baked or Sauteéd salmon in citrus juice, ginger, garlic, black pepper and maybe a low-sodium sauce, paired with steamed veggies or fresh fruit. Or even a lean pork chop from time to time, and veggies.
If I have salads often enough, I miss the vitamins when I don't. The trick is to not make it so austere that you feel gloomy, or so over-the-top that it's just as bad as a bacon cheeseburger . . . although I've found that even a fancy, not completely low-fat salad keeps me fitter than almost the same caloric amount of 1) processed stuff with 2) fewer vitamins, which just keeps me hungrier.