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Old 06-21-2005, 06:39 PM   #1 (permalink)
Crazy
 
My repertoire- Needs improvement.

Well, this will be my 4th year of college. Up until this point I've been in the dorms, which means I've been on the campus meal plan. It wasn't horrible, but my tastes yearned for more. Now, however, I've got my own place, and I can go nuts.

Here is a list of my foods that I eat.

Misc (Snacks and/or things I eat every day):

Daily multivitamin.
Vitamin C multivitamin (every primate on earth is recommended 1000+mg of Vitamin C per day. Why does the FDA recommend 250mg for humans?)
Orange Juice - Calcium fortified.
Silk Soy Milk - Calcium fortified.
Granola (bars, loose, etc.)
Red Grapes
Bannanas
Apples (with lemon or lime juice on the slices)
Carrots

Dishes:
Frozen Pizzas - Whatever is on sale for 5/$10
Burritos - Meat or Tofu + Cheese + Tortillas
"Pasta" - Tomato Sauce + Cheese + Garlic Bread Sauce may or may not have veggies in it depending on if I'm lazy.
Polish Sausage - A.K.A. "Ring Bologna" + Rice
Macaroni & Cheese (SPIRALS!)
Eggs + Cheese + Polish Sausage.
Thai Curry (Curry sauce + Coconut Milk) - Tofu (thinly sliced) + Veggies + Ramen Noodles
Plain Ramen - no side.
Fried Rice - Veggies + Rice + Random leftovers.
Sauteed Mushrooms - Sliced Mushrooms + Butter + Red Wine + Random side (usually ramen)

As you can see, I'm very much a hippie. Surprisingly, I don't smoke pot. I prefer organic counterparts when reasonably priced. I'm a stickler for Vitamin C now that I've learned about how much other primates consume it. (I drink at least 48oz of orange juice a day. I need to cut back because it's very acidic and there is a history of ulcers in my family) I try to eat healthy whenever I can. My goal here is to improve my diet and the dishes I'm able to prepare.

Notes:

-I eat lots of cheese- I want to cut back cheese servings to 2-3 per week.
-I eat meat, but I would prefer to not eat beef and instead replace it with fowl and fish because it's apparantly healthier (Is it?). Regardless, I want to add more fish into my diet.
-Lots of my foods require oil to cook. I want to cut back on this.

Whew... that was a lot of writing. I basically needed to sift through my thoughts. Anyway, I was wondering if anybody had any suggestions for foods to incorporate into my diet. I have plenty of time to prepare complex meals- I'm just not creative enough to come up with things on my own. I get bored with my limited options. I want more variety- more fish, pasta, and grains dishes. I believe adding more of those three will make my diet healthier. Am I moving the right direction? More importantly... any hippies around with yummy unique hippie dishes to share? :P

Sincerely, Robaggio the "I'm so far right wing I'm liberal", hippie.
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Old 06-22-2005, 10:16 AM   #2 (permalink)
Filling the Void.
 
la petite moi's Avatar
 
Location: California
Why not try salad? Spinach, tomatoes, avocado, croutons, and bleu cheese dressing is delicious and healthy! Also, why not make FRESH pasta sauce? You chop up tomatoes, spinach, green bellpeppers, and garlic and sautee them all together. Of course, you'll need a little olive oil, but that is actually a good fat if you use it in moderation. If you want less fat in your diet (I'm guessing since you said less oil), you could always get a George Foreman grill! A grill is excellent for fish and chicken preparation, as well as beef.
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Old 06-22-2005, 03:05 PM   #3 (permalink)
Daddy
 
Location: Right next door to Hell
I would recommend a george forman type grill, salmon, or any hearty fish is easy in there, finer white type fish do not hold up as well, unless there is skin.

Fowl (chicken, turkey breast etc..) cooks up easily in there, and you can add it to your repitoire
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Old 06-23-2005, 11:37 AM   #4 (permalink)
Kick Ass Kunoichi
 
snowy's Avatar
 
Location: Oregon
Your diet seems to be sorely lacking in whole grains.

My recommendations? Curried couscous with lentils is excellent, as is brown rice with black beans. Vegetarian chili is also good--mix together kidney beans, corn, canned tomatoes, tomato paste, garbanzo beans, and another bean of your choice with chili seasonings and voila. I also like to use pitas instead of wheat bread--though never underestimate the power of whole-wheat toast with natural peanut butter--to make sandwiches. I stuff the pita with some sliced turkey, sliced cucumbers, mushrooms, grape tomatoes, tzatziki sauce, and hummus. Mmm. Soo good. Just hummus and pita is also an excellent snack, or hummus and vegetables. Crispbread is also a good whole-grain bread substitute.

Also, chicken is very easy if it's seasoned right. One thing I like to do is cover a skinless chicken breast in Yoshida sauce or some other teriyaki sauce and microwave it until cooked thoroughly. Make sure the container is covered with wax paper or plastic wrap though, otherwise you'll overcook the chicken. Typically I buy chicken pieces that still have skin, ovenroast them, and then take the skin off so that the meat is still moist but there is less fat.

Egg dishes are good--yes, they may be a bit on the fattening side, but the nutritional density of the egg is tremendous. A frittata with some fresh veggies--mushrooms, tomatoes--and a handful of baby shrimp tastes really fancy and rich but is easy to make and will keep you full for a loooong time. Eggs have staying power.

I also really like oatmeal--get some PLAIN oatmeal (flavored oatmeals are packed with added sugars) and add the things you like to it (I usually add a teaspoon of maple syrup or some dark brown sugar) as well as a tsp. of ground flaxseed (you can get this at any health food store in the bulk section). That will increase the amount of whole grains you are getting while also adding omega-3 fatty acids to your diet.

Don't be afraid of dairy, especially cheese. Good cheese helps you get fuller faster so you actually end up eating less. Try this: have a couple cubes of cheese before your next meal. You'll notice that you do fill up faster and stay full longer. The key with cheese is to only eat a little at a time--don't go hogwild. And make it WORTH it--a little goat cheese on crispbread is excellent You DO need fat in your diet, just in moderation. So make the moderation worthwhile.

Another note: If your aim is to eat healthy, get rid of the sausage. Sausage is packed with extra fat (unless of course you have the means to make it yourself or buy turkey sausage instead). Frozen pizza is full of sodium. Instead buy pizza dough at the grocery store (most grocery stores have it hanging around somewhere) and make your own with skim mozzarella and veggie toppings. You can also make your own pizza dough fairly easily provided you're not afraid of yeast. Also, it's OKAY to use oil in your cooking--just be careful as to which KINDS you are using. I personally use extra-virgin olive oil and canola interchangeably depending on what I'm cooking. Switching to non-stick pans means you'll use less oil. Also buy some good non-stick spray--I recommend Mazola's corn oil spray as it leaves no taste behind and works well. I use it frequently when making omelettes.

Oh, and get rid of the granola unless it's low-fat. Typically granola bars have lots of sugar (be it from refined sugar or honey or whatever) and fat. Instead try Kashi (replacing loose granola) and Clif bars (replacing granola bars).

Keys here:
1) Fresh fruits and vegetables (5 or more servings per day, be aware a glass of OJ is a serving, and you're better off having an orange than a glass of OJ--more fiber and less sugar)
2) Whole grains are a must (be it whole-wheat toast, whole-wheat pita, wheat pasta, couscous, black beans, kidney beans, any kind of legume, crispbread, etc)
3) Processed foods are BAD for you (yes, they're EASY but if your goal is to eat healthier, that's NOT the way to do it)
4) Dairy and eggs are good sources of protein but must be eaten in moderation
5) ALWAYS start your day off with a good breakfast
6) Be aware of hidden sources of fat--ramen noodles, fried rice, sausage.

I hope that was helpful.
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Old 07-01-2005, 09:27 AM   #5 (permalink)
Crazy
 
Amazing! Thank you guys!
And snowyowl especially! That was a detailed response!

I"ll definatly incorporate some of these ideas into my diet. I just love to eat different things. Later on in life when I'm out of college I might just take some culinary art classes because I love to cook. We'll see though. Anyway, Thanks again!
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Old 07-12-2005, 02:12 PM   #6 (permalink)
Upright
 
Good response. I completely agree that your diet is lacking in a few key areas. I have been reading a lot of the Paleo/Origin diet books lately (primarily to dredge up arguments against my PETA-admiring girlfriend) and find that I agree with a lot of these ideas (which advocate returning to a diet more consistant with that which we evolved to thrive on). That being said, I think you should definitely eat more salads and more whole fruits and vegetables. Whole grains, while certainly not an "ancient" food, are definitely a healthy addition. You should choose those meats which contain "good" fats such as fish and wild game. I definitely wish you the best of luck with your new culinary adventures!
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Old 07-17-2005, 08:41 PM   #7 (permalink)
Insane
 
Location: Chicago
Fish is probably my favorite. Soak it in some seasoning, for instance a vinegar based salad dressing (try Newman's parmagean or an italian), for a little bit. Grab a pan (skillet? I don't know the names) and melt some butter/margarine on it to grease it up. Throw the fish on and cook it on medium till it's done all the way through. Takes about 15 minutes and is quite good. The same can be done with chicken. I prefer fish since it's higher in protien and less fat.

One of the best things I did when I moved into my apartment was to help my mom cook when I went home during the holidays and summer. No one does fast/easy stuff better than a parent who's always cooked for a family. Get the family recipes written down.
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Old 07-21-2005, 07:32 AM   #8 (permalink)
Fancy
 
shesus's Avatar
 
Location: Chicago
Also, don't forget about potatoes. They are cheap and can be fixed in so many ways. We do baked potatoes a lot, just make sure you have the time (about an hour+ to bake). Then you can top it with mushrooms, steamed brocolli, cheese, sour cream, or whatever you want. I sometime just eat them with butter, salt, and pepper.

I also make potato salad. I use my own recipe:
2 potatoes, boiled and cool
1 hard boiled egg
celery
mayonaise
mustard powder
garlic
pepper
salt
paprika
I am not sure of the measurements because I just throw it in. However, I found that if you mix the egg, celery, and spices together in a smaller bowl and then put in with the potatoes, you have more flavor.

Of course bread is a wonderful staple. Toast with real fruit spread (blueberry and apricot are my favorite) or peanut butter.

Natural ice cream (365: French Vanilla from Whole Foods is good) with fresh blackberries, raspberries, strawberries, or your fruit of choice. I usually mash the berries. The blackberries are my favorite.

My other suggestions of pasta, rice, and beans have already been mentioned. Hope that helps a bit.
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