Asparagus season is here ...

There's nothing quite as tasty as really fresh, new season asparagus! Thanks to the exceptionally warm spring weather, we are enjoying our first pick of the season. The flavour and texture is something you have to savour.
Lunch then was poached eggs, bacon and a few asparagus spears for luxury. A slice of warm toast on the side adds a nice bit of crunch.
Asparagus this fresh takes very little cooking - we boiled ours in salted water for 3 minutes.
Perfect poached eggs are quite easy to make, although you'll need really fresh eggs. Just add a dash of vinegar to the water and bring to the boil, turn down to a simmer and add your eggs. Simple as that. Lose weight eating delicious food.

Be who you want to be.

Do you know how many calories you can eat each day?

Our very first blog post about our weight loss journey - back in 2011.

You'll find our successful WEIGHT LOSS STORY here. Tweak what you eat and lose weight.

Copyright © forget dieting forever (2015), all rights reserved.

Please do not copy any of this material without our express permission.

Smoked cod and poached eggs

Have you ever eaten smoked cod with poached eggs? We've occasionally eaten smoked haddock and poached eggs, but never cod. The supermarket was selling smoked cod loin at a very reasonable price.
If you're not a fan of smoked fish, you might find this cut of fish interesting. Compared to smoked haddock the cod was less smoky and more delicate, and went perfectly with spinach and poached egg. All very moreish.
The fish was very easy to cook. Place the cod into a small saucepan and cover with milk. Turn up the heat and simmer for around 4-5 minutes (we had two 150g fillets). Turn off the heat while you prepare the rest of the ingredients. We used frozen spinach, as it is economical and there is no waste. The bacon added a lovely crunch to the meal.
This meal with a slice of toast was around 450 calories.
Just like everyone else, we have indulged over Christmas and the New Year. Our weight has fluctuated over the festive season by a couple of pounds here and there. We've addressed this by thinking about what we are eating and in the last few days we've returned to our pre-Christmas weight.
It's around this time of year when we notice the bits and pieces of 'leftover' nuts, biscuits and chocolates lurking around the house. Noticing what's around us was how we originally came up with the weight loss idea.
Four years ago I noticed my other half would pick up a mince pie (or two) and munch on them as he wandered around the kitchen. These mindless snacks can have a big impact on weight. Just two mince pies amounted to 500 calories - enough calories for a whole meal. He wasn't necessarily 'enjoying' them either, but eating them so they wouldn't go to waste. We now choose to eat whatever we want to eat, but (roughly) within our daily calorie allowance.

****

Be who you want to be.

Do you know how many calories you can eat each day?

Our very first blog post about our weight loss journey - back in 2011.

You'll find our successful weight loss method and a few tips and tricks here: WEIGHT LOSS STORY.
Tweak what you eat and lose weight.

Copyright © forget dieting forever (2014), all rights reserved.

Cheese and mushroom omelette

Fast food couldn't be easier. A cheese and mushroom omelette is very satisfying and this was around 400 calories. I used three eggs, 10g strong cheddar and lightly fried mushrooms.
Today we used the freshest of eggs from a nearby farm. We were struck at how vibrant and yellow the egg yolks were, and the creamy texture of the omelette.
We tend to eat intuitively these days, and noticed it's been a while since we have eaten an omelette. Although the omelette contained just 10g of grated cheese plus the Parmesan on the salad, it's been a long time since we fancied a meal based on a lot of cheese or a 'cheese board'. After some thought, we wondered if this was down to the fact we have been eating more yoghurt (for breakfast). Perhaps our body is getting enough calcium from a regular dose of yoghurt. During the summer months, especially when it's hot, we usually opt for plain Greek yoghurt and fruit for breakfast, followed by toast. Having experienced an absence of cheese cravings of late, we wonder if your body can eliminate cravings - once you are eating a good balance of all food groups. We think this has helped us keep the weight off.

***

REMEMBER: We all have a calorie allowance - do you know yours?

We began our weight loss journey in January 2011 - and began our blog in June 2011. Here's a link to the first post. (here's the link).

Read about our UNIQUE METHOD of weight loss and find out how you can lose weight eating the food you love.

Copyright © forget dieting forever, all rights reserved

A sort of … omelette

This vegetable and chorizo omelette made a welcome change. We had planned a salad, but the weather turned cold, and we fancied something warm for lunch.
I washed 250g of new potatoes, which were more waxy than old potatoes, and took slightly longer to cook. I sliced them thinly and let them sauté (covered with a lid) in a small amount of oil and butter in the frying pan.
After 10 minutes, I added chopped onion and sliced pepper. The vegetables took a total of around 20 minutes to soften and cook through. Finally I added minced garlic and a few peas for colour, and cooked for a couple more minutes.
In a clean pan, I fried about 25g of sliced Chorizo for a minute or so before adding the cooked vegetables. I then whisked up four eggs (for the two of us), seasoned with salt and pepper and poured over the vegetables and cooked for a couple of minutes until set. A sprinkle of grated cheese was added before popping under the grill to finish. We served with a small side salad.
It was very filling and we would estimate about 450 calories per serving. The photograph shows half of one serving.
Copyright © forget dieting forever, all rights reserved.

Asparagus with poached eggs

With English asparagus season upon us - we are looking forward to more dishes like this.
Asparagus with poached eggs needs nothing else, other than a touch of seasoning. We've added toast and rocket salad for a more filling experience under 400 calories.
The main secret to a good poached egg is to have the freshest possible eggs you can lay your hands on. Boil a saucepan of water, turn down to a simmer (no big bubbles) and add a dash of vinegar. We don't swirl the water as some people do, just gently lower the eggs and cook for around 2 minutes.
We've managed to grow a few asparagus plants of our own, in a very small (half a square meter) part of the flower border! Much tastier than the roses they share the bed with… When the asparagus appears, which can literally be overnight, they do look like alien vegetables. Not the prettiest thing in the border, but certainly the tastiest. We love experimenting and growing whatever we can, where we can. Sometimes, we're amazed at the results and how little room you need to grow some vegetables. We planted just one courgette seed last year, in the flower bed, and we were invaded, with round courgettes for most of the year! It also made a lovely structural plant - plus you get the courgette flowers to play with, which we might do this year.

Do you know how many calories you can eat each day?

Here's a link to our very first blog post about our weight loss journey, which we began in January 2011. We started this blog as a way of recording what we ate while losing weight. The blog is a food diary, and contains lots of recipes, tips and ideas about losing weight.

You'll find our WEIGHT LOSS PLAN here. 

Copyright © forget dieting forever (2014), all rights reserved. Please do not copy any of this material without our express permission.

My breakfast hunger cure

I was ravenous when I woke up - so headed straight to the fridge. Breakfast was a bit eclectic, but as I could eat whatever I really fancied, I went with my instinct. In an odd sort of way, I usually feel so much better when I do.
Boiled eggs and toast are one of my favourites, but I wanted something tangy too. The strawberries are delicious if you chop them up and  sprinkle a little bit (not a lot) of sugar and leave at room temperature for 5 minutes. This suited me as I was boiling eggs. A couple of spoonfuls of Greek yoghurt - nice and creamy, drizzled with just a touch of honey…. and you have the perfect pillow for your fruit.
The cheese - well there's 10g here - was just enough, and yes, I dipped it into my egg. A small slice of toast satisfied my urge for something crunchy. All this for under 350 calories! What a nice way to start the day. So which would you eat first?

***

Do you know how many calories you can eat each day?

Here's a link to our very first blog post about our weight loss journey, which we began in January 2011. We started this blog as a way of recording what we ate while losing weight. The blog is a food diary, and contains lots of recipes, tips and ideas about losing weight.

You'll find our WEIGHT LOSS PLAN here. 

Copyright © forget dieting forever (2014), all rights reserved. Please do not copy any of this material without our express permission.

Poached eggs

Someone asked me about POACHED EGGS the other day. They were unsure how to get the best results.
This has to be one of my favourite quick fix lunches. Low in calories - 80 calories per egg - and very satisfying.
The method I use is very quick and easy, and I wished someone had told me about it earlier!
We served ours with a couple of slices of hot buttered toast, and lunch came to around 400 calories.
Here's my tip on achieving a perfect poached egg:

Steak, egg & potato wedges

Colourful steak, egg & potato wedges was our way of relaxing after almost a week away. We decided to share a steak with some oven baked wedges, fried egg and salad.
Weight loss doesn't have to mean giving up your favourite food.
We've lost lots of weight eating all types of food but generally avoiding processed food, especially low-fat processed food. Why not just enjoy fresh, honest food?
After our short break, we found our weight was the same before and after. We no longer think a holiday is an excuse to eat and drink everything in sight. Instead, we've learned to eat and drink whatever we fancy every day.
Our meal tonight was possibly around 650 calories, but it was very filling and a nice way to end some fabulous days away.
REMEMBER: We all have a calorie allowance - do you know yours?

We began our weight loss journey in January 2011 - and began our blog in June 2011. Here's a link to the first post. (here's the link).

We like to post our main meals to give you an idea of just how far calories can go! It's up to you what you eat.

Read about our UNIQUE METHOD of weight loss and find out how you can have the food and drink you love while losing weight. 

Copyright © forget dieting forever, all rights reserved.

Gammon & egg muffin

GAMMON & EGG MUFFIN. Breakfast or lunch. It's been a long time since we ate an English muffin as part of a meal.
They make a perfect base for many combinations of ingredients.
We chose to cook some off cuts of gammon with a poached egg and mustard dressing. I cooked some cheesy mushrooms and served with a green salad. The whole meal came to around 450 calories.
The muffins were slightly chewy - like a bagel I suppose, but much lighter.
We served ours with a side salad and cheesy mushrooms. I made a mustard dressing too, which was perfect. Here's the recipe for that mustard dressing.

Smoked haddock with poached egg

This was the perfect dinner - quick and easy to prepare and ready in less than 15 minutes. Fast food using fresh ingredients.
The smoked haddock was served with barely wilted watercress, spinach and rocket, toasted croutons and a mustard dressing (which was very tangy and cut through the creamy egg yolk nicely).
Usually we would cook some spinach thoroughly for this dish, but I fancied a salad rather than a 'mush' of greens, so we enjoyed the meal as a warm salad instead.
I would roughly estimate this dish at around 500 calories per portion. We tend to estimate the calories in all of our meals now, because we believe that calories count - yet we prefer not to be obsessive about them!
You have to remember, this is a lifestyle, not a 'diet' and roughly calculating each meal is enough for us to keep the weight off. Even if you just get to grips with the calories in the main part of your meal - you will begin to recognise what it is you are eating that can affect your weight.
Back to this delicious recipe - now if you love strong flavours then this is one for you to try. Here's our recipe:

RICOTTA FRITTATA

RICOTTA FRITTATA is a very easy lunch option - make more than you need and put some in your lunchbox?
The recipe below made two good servings - at just 250 calories per person! This photo is one serving. We had some ricotta to use up, and this is a great way to eat it.
This is a BUDGET meal too - as ricotta can be bought in 250ml tubs at around £1 each. A great way to use up the odd bits and pieces you may have lurking in your fridge. If you don't like ricotta, just add your favourite cheese. Keep it vegetarian or add bacon/ham.
We ate ours with an avocado salad to help increase the number of calories and fill us up. I thought some cubed ciabatta (toasted) would have added a nice crunch too.

Smoked salmon

Here's our quick lunch - smoked salmon with scrambled (duck) eggs. The richness of the eggs complimented the salmon perfectly. We estimate this dish at around 450 calories - including the toast.
Losing weight doesn't stop when you reach your 'goal'.
Because we have lost weight slowly, we found we learned a lot about the foods we like to eat. We know how many calories they contain and we can now roughly calculate a plate of food just by looking at it. This is helping us keep the weight off.

Asparagus with duck egg

There's nothing quite like new season asparagus. We served ours with a duck egg, watercress and hot buttered toast. A low calorie lunch at around 350 calories if you have one slice of toast. Why not serve with a few slices of ham? Asparagus is quite often wrapped in parma ham and fried.
This dish was ready in no time - so if it's fast food you're after, then here it is.
Later we will be eating a favourite of ours - bbq beef brisket, with roast potatoes, sweetcorn and salad.

REMEMBER: We all have a calorie allowance - do you know yours? 

We like to post our main meals to show you what CAN be eaten. You won’t find us posting every last morsel though – but we hope this gives you an idea of how far calories can go!

Read about our UNIQUE METHOD of weight loss and find out how you can lose weight eating the food you love.

Copyright © forget dieting forever, all rights reserved.

Omelette

We haven't eaten an omelette for some time. It's one of our 'can't think of anything to eat' dishes.
This three egg cheese and mushroom omelette with a tasty side salad was around 400 calories, and to bulk it out I ate mine with a crusty roll.
We like to dress our salad - because the dressing helps fill us up for longer. Use whatever you prefer - oil, mayo or salad cream.
I have saved the soup I made earlier today for tomorrow's lunch. It always tastes better after it has had time for the flavours to infuse.
Lose weight eating the food YOU love!

REMEMBER: We all have a calorie allowance - (see our page on calories) and we like to post our main meals to show you what we are eating. You won’t find us posting every last morsel though – but we hope this gives you an idea of how far calories can go!

Read about the UNIQUE METHOD of weight loss and find out how we have lost weight eating the food we love.

Copyright © forgetdietingforever, all rights reserved.

Mushroom and cheese omelette

A real his and hers lunch today. This was his. A three egg omelette with cheese and mushroom. Simple.

PASTA WITH RUNNY EGG

We let the rain get on with it, and stayed indoors. My partner loves making his own pasta - and I love eating it. This RUNNY EGG RAVIOLI was inspired by the Channel 4 programme 'Simply Italian' we saw last week.
We recall the recipe used smoked salmon, but we preferred to use just spinach and ricotta because it's a nice combination. I think the Chef was using truffles, but we didn't use this as it's not our usual store cupboard ingredient!
To make the ravioli, we rolled out the pasta then laid a pastry cutter on the sheet, and spooned the spinach/ricotta/parmesan mix into it. We made a well, then added the egg yolk.
The ravioli takes about 3 minutes to cook.
I griddled some asparagus (yes I did do something) while all this was going on.
Serve with a sprinkle of parmesan and a splash of oil, salt and pepper.
We would estimate this dish at no more than 500 calories, although it could be slightly less, but we generally over estimate if we are not sure.
INGREDIENTS FOR 2 SERVINGS
FILLING
150g ricotta
150g wilted spinach (dried out and chopped),
10g parmesan,
pinch of nutmeg,
touch of lemon juice,
salt and pepper.
PASTA
The pasta was made with 60g worth of pasta flour and one egg - which we think is enough for two.

If you would like to know more about how we achieved our fabulous weight loss see OUR IDEA

Read how we put our idea to the test  -  Our Experiment

Copyright © (c)forgetdietingforever 2012, all rights reserved.

Pork for dinner

We were in a bit of a rush, so wanted something quick. This pork, eggs and scalloped potatoes was all I could think of, and it was easy enough to put together. We cooked the potatoes from raw - frying them in a good tablespoon of olive oil. 150g of scalloped potatoes, 130g pork steak, and egg and side salad amounted to around 550 calories, which is about right for a 'good' dinner.
Remember - eat what you love. If you don't - you'll crave it. Our recipes are based on what we love to eat. For example, we love olive oil on our salads, but if you don't then just replace it with whatever you like. Mayo, salad cream.... anything - just roughly work out the calories and add it to the total. Most of all, don't fret about every last calorie. If you would like some other recipe ideas then have a look at our MENU PLAN.
Click here if you would like to know more about OUR IDEA.

Spinach, eggs and bacon

Fresh eggs. That's the secret. As I'll be baking this weekend - I took a trip to the local farm. Our spinach, poached eggs, bacon, cheese and toast. Drizzled with a little olive oil and a scattering of toasted pine nuts, this came to under 500 calories. It was delicious and hit the spot.
If you want some other recipe ideas then have a look at our MENU PLAN.

Click here if you would like to know more about OUR IDEA.

Read more about Our Experiment

If you have any questions - feel free to email me on forgetdietingforever@gmail.com.

Copyright © forgetdietingforever 2012, all rights reserved.

Simple lunch

Just a few simple ingredients and I was looking at my tuna, egg and cheese salad with new potatoes... with delight. At under 450 calories, this is a perfect lunch. Very filling and delicious.
If you need to take a packed lunch, the potatoes are great eaten cold and coated with a small amount of mayonnaise.
Had we been out, we may have opted for a supermarket version, and adapted it a little - to suit us.
Read Our Idea to find out what we did to lose so much weight while eating what we love to eat.

Gammon, egg and chips

This was lunch - GAMMON, EGG AND CHIPS.
The gammon slice from the butcher was so big, that we decided to share! This half slice of gammon was around 150g in weight - plenty for a good lunch.
The chips were our own - cooked in the oven. I didn't fancy beans, so a little side salad completed the dish.
For our fabulous method of cooking the chips, see our homemade chip recipe.
We estimate this meal at around 600 calories.

Losing weight eating the food you love! Yes, it's possible - we lost 7 stone in weight with our method.

REMEMBER: We all have a calorie allowance - and we like to post our main meals to show you what we are eating. You won’t find us posting every last morsel though – but we hope this gives you an idea of how far calories can go!

Read about OUR UNIQUE METHOD of weight loss and find out how we have lost weight eating the food we love.

Copyright © forgetdietingforever 2012, all rights reserved.