Glad That’s Over

Posted on April 27, 2012 by Lose Weight and Gain Health

Today started well.  I had a little treat of a coffee from my favourite coffee shop on the way to work.  Flat White Friday 🙂

At work, I enjoyed the breakfast I had brought in of oats, yogurt and 2 fresh figs.

 

These figs were perfectly ripe and unblemished.  Such a relief because at 80p each I would hate to have been disappointed.

This was a breakfast slowly savoured and much enjoyed, eaten while I read emails and planned my day.

The morning was good but busy and I was only left with 20 minutes for lunch.  I raced to the market.  They really need a fast lane for those of us who nip out from work.  Yes, Borough Market is a lovely place to potter about in, hold hands in, browse the stalls, stop and stare and take it in.  But for goodness sake!  Some of us are in a tearing rush so can you please MOOOOVE.

My Raclette infatuation has been replaced by my new love, Arabica.  I’m a very fickle person and my love-in with Raclette is currently over.

I had a serving of lentil and bulgur salad with cheese and thyme salad

and smoked courgette.  These salads are quite heavy with yogurt and oil so not a dieters dream but they are certainly delicious and they keep you feeling full for many hours.  The portions are quite modest so I do not think it was a disaster.  It was so good it was worth every single calorie.

It was served with some flatbread and I also bought a chicken and pistachio kibeh.  They are an unusual shape and they remind me a little of a scotch egg.  The chicken was minced with the pistachios and wrapped in a bulgur wheat casing and presumably then fried.  It was not as tasty as I expected but I think I will try a different flavour before I write them off.

Unfortunately these were very tasty!  I bought a small box to take home and share with James and Harvey who both love baklava.

Unfortunately I had a very demanding and stressful afternoon.  The stress was slightly alleviated by one of these which was amazing.  Birds nest baklava filled with pistachios.

A while later one of these coconut and walnut squares was awesome.

And then on the train several more followed.  Sorry James and Harvey there is only one left.

This was a VERY tough and demanding week.  Glad that’s over.

 

 

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Stressed!

Posted on April 26, 2012 by Lose Weight and Gain Health

I made breakfast last night.   I was motivated as I had put up a new page with lots of ghastly photos of me – have a look!

KERF Overnight Oats

1/2 a cup of oats
1/4 cup of natural yogurt
1/2 cup of almond milk
1 small banana chopped
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 tbsp chia seeds

Mix it up and leave overnight.  It gets thicker overnight and the seeds swell.  In the morning I added a splash of almond milk until it was the consistency I like.  Totally delicious.

I didn’t get out for lunch until 2:30pm.  By which time the salad from Turnip was not as fresh as it could have been.  It was still good apart from the broccoli salad which was too garlicy – very embarrassing back in the office!

A very stressful day.  The worst part was being called by Harvey’s school to say he had badly hurt his finger and I couldn’t go to be with him.  Luckily his Daddy could.  I left as soon as I could and then got stuck on a train for over 2 hours!  It was so good to get home and give him lots of hugs.  School were worried he may have broken it.  It is strapped to the neighbouring finger so he can’t move it and his arm is in a sling.  He is coping well with it and I don’t think a trip to hospital is necessary.  We shall see.

Quick smoothie – mango, banana, yogurt, sesame seeds and almond milk.  I then topped it with some nutty granola as I feel really hungry again.

These perfect fresh figs are lined up for breakfast.

I hope tomorrow is less stressful!

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Lovely Leaves

Posted on April 25, 2012 by Lose Weight and Gain Health

I was starving this morning so I had a chicken and bacon sandwich and skinny latte from Pret.  It was pouring with rain, so I grabbed the breakfast and ran to the office – no photo.

At lunch time there was a break in the rain at 1:30am so I popped out for lunch round the corner and bought a salad with spicy chicken, mozzarella and tuna with a honey and mustard dressing.  I went for lots of protein again as I am so hungry at the moment.  It does work though.  I wasn’t hungry all afternoon 🙂 .

On the way back to the office it rained so hard I literally ran back to work and still got soaked!  It is wet, wet, wet today.

I was so happy it stopped raining this evening and I left on time so I could spend some time at home with Harvey.  We went in to the garden and I had a lovely potter about, looking at my seeds and plants growing.

I picked some rainbow chard and spinach for supper.  As demonstrated by my young assistant, these leaves are massive!

I went for a supper that was full of vegetables and goodness.  And vegan.  I didn’t intend to be vegan and I have no intention of becoming vegan, but when I eat really healthily, I have observed a lot of my meals are vegan and very delicious.  This was no exception.

I had sweetcorn, spring onions, cherry tomatoes, sugar snaps,

broccoli and black eye beans for protein and fibre.

I stir fried it with the rainbow chard and spinach and served it with coriander.

This was so tasty.  I only lightly stir fried it so the vegetables were crunchy but just warmed through which is how I like it.

Love those lovely leaves.

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Look At The View

Posted on April 24, 2012 by Lose Weight and Gain Health

Something a little bit different for breakfast – cereal with smoothie!  First I made the smoothie with frozen berries, frozen banana and soya milk.

It was so thick.

Just like ice cream 🙂

I added some unsweetened muesli, mixed it up, popped it in my bag and headed off to work.  It tasted lovely and made a change from having either a smoothie or cereal.  It was still really cold when I ate it, about an hour and a half after I made it which I liked.  That is one to do again.

I went for a brisk 10 – 15 minute walk at lunch time to M&S.  I needed some new socks so I walked in a different direction to usual.  The streets behind my office are quite residential.

It is more peaceful here than the hustle and bustle of the market.

I bought a salmon and noodle salad.

But I was so hungry I knew that wouldn’t be enough so I also bought some ham and prawns.

I never eat this much protein in one sitting but I am really hungry and don’t want to be tempted to eat something bad and I am still struggling with will power.

Just as well I did because I had another late night in the office but that lunch sustained me until I got home.  Before I left the office, I decided to take some photos.  These are the view from my office looking East, taken at about 7 pm.  This is looking at London Bridge Station and The Shard.

Looking down over The Anchor.

Looking East towards London Bridge and Tower Bridge.  London Bridge is in the middle of the photo and has the red London bus on it and hundreds of commuters, racing across the bridge to the station.  Tower Bridge is in the background towards the right.  In the far distance is Canary Wharf and behind the 2 red cranes is the Tower of London.

This is he same view but panned out.  The railway bridge in the foreground is the one running between London Bridge and Cannon Street stations.  Unfortunately I can not open the windows and there was some glare which has produced some pale grey boxes.  But you get the idea.  I love the views from this office.

At home I wanted something quick and easy so it had to be a smoothie.

Pink Grapefruit Smoothie

  • 1 pink grapefruit, peeled
  • 1 banana, peeled
  • 400 ml almond milk
  • 1 tsp sesame seeds

Place all ingredients in to a blender and blitz until smooth.

 

It was gorgeous.  Runnier than I usually make them so more like a milk shake than ice-cream.  It was delicious and I would have this again.  Hard to tell from the photo but it was a lovely pale pink colour with a delicate grapefruit flavour.

Time to relax 🙂

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Organised Me

Posted on April 23, 2012 by Lose Weight and Gain Health

The last 3 weeks have been bad.  I have eaten lots of healthy food but lots of bad food too.  I don’t mean the occasional brownie I succumb to because they are freshly made and not full of chemicals and the like.  But I have eaten other things and in the last week, way too many snacks which I have not confessed to.

So last night I prepared for today to be a healthy start again.  When I came downstairs this morning, there were some vegetables ready washed beside the chopping board, peeler and knife.  All laid out ready from the night before.

In the fridge was the 1/2 can of rinsed black eye beans in a lunch box with some cherry tomatoes.  To which I added sugar snap peas and celery.

Plus carrots and spring onions.  I made a dressing of 1 tbsp olive oil, 1 tbsp white wine vinegar, salt, pepper, 1/2 tsp Dijon mustard and the juice of half a lemon.

I also took in some strawberries, blueberries, 20g oats, 100 ml soya milk and 1 tbso chia seeds.  When I ate it, the seeds had swelled up and absorbed all the liquid!

So, a very healthy and tasty breakfast and lunch.  All I had besides that was 2 cups of tea, lots of water, an apple and a pear.

I worked very hard today and long hours.  I left home at 6:25 am and didn’t return until 8:30pm.  And no, that wasn’t because I had managed a glass of wine on the way home!

I knew I would be hungry when I got in but wanting to spend time with Harvey so I bought supper in M&S and ate it on the train.  The train went very wobbly when I tried to take this photo!

It was ok actually.  Lovely salmon with a thick pepper crust, plenty of green leaves which I really enjoy and the potato salad was ok.

At home, I just had a cup of Rooibos Chai tea which is wonderful.  Phew, I ate well all day.  But I missed Weight Watchers again because I was too late.  I confess to being relieved though because I think I have put on 2-3 pounds which I am determined to lose by next week.

 

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A Pie Fit For a Shepherd

Posted on April 22, 2012 by Lose Weight and Gain Health

I felt very tired when I woke up today and would have liked to stay in bed but there was too much to do.  First of all, before I even had a cup of tea, I started making a shepherd’s pie.

How I wished I was relaxing in bed with my kindle and a cuppa, gently easing myself in to a day of gardening.

My little man, who rarely complains, did point out the other day that he had not chosen dinner for a long time.  It is true.  Before I embarked on my healthy eating regime,  we used to discuss what to eat and choose together but now I tend to decide.  So I asked what he wanted and he decided on shepherd’s pie.  If that is what my son wants, then that is what my son gets.

Can you see what these are?  I like the photo round at quiz nights 🙂

Yes, a stack of foil cartons.  Working Mother’s guilty conscience was in over drive so I made shepherd’s pie for supper tonight plus 5 more for the freezer for midweek suppers.

While I was boiling potatoes and frying the carrots, leeks and onions,

Harvey, who is nearly 10 years old (he asked me to point that out), made himself a delicious smoothie which I was allowed a small glass of.  He put in strawberries, blueberries, a banana and apple juice.  It was lovely and I would like to have been allowed a little more.

I tried to make the shepherd’s pie as healthy as possible.  I drained the fat from the meat to reduce the saturated fat content of the meal and added extra goodies, starting with a layer of raw kale in the bottom of the dish.

I then added a can of pinto beans, for extra fibre and to make the meat go further.

The meat and vegetables were added with some thickened stock to make a gravy

and finally the mashed potato.

I made extra portions for Harvey but without the kale and beans in the bottom of the dish.  There was no kale left and I was not sure if beans would free well.

And this lot is destined for the freezer.

We fed William some dandelions – his favourite food.  We have been a bit worried that he is not eating very well so we tried to entice him out of his flowerpot house with some treats.

Finally we could have breakfast.  I made porridge which I have not had for ages and it was lovely.  For two of us I used 1 cup of oats, 1 and ¼ cup of soya milk, 1 cup of water, 1 tbsp chia seeds and 1 banana chopped up.   When it was ready I topped it with strawberries, blueberries, pumpkin seeds, Goji berries, an almond and some dried fruits.

We couldn’t decide if it was a delicious bowl of nutritiousness or a nutritious bowl of deliciousness.  Probably both, it was fabulous.

It was sunny, warm and bright outside and I wanted to spend the day in the garden but we had to go to Ramsgate.  To tell the truth, I was really annoyed about having to spend the day cleaning up after our latest guests instead of nurturing my vegetables and relaxing at home.

When we were there, I kept looking out of the window and thinking the view was so amazing and the harbour looked so lovely in the sunshine that I needed to photograph it.  The water was sparkling and the boats bobbed up and down.  Unfortunately, by the time I got my camera, there had been a torrential down pour of rain and it was cloudy and looked miserable.  I felt miserable too and had eaten some Kit Kats the previous visitors had left.  I have eaten so much chocolate and poor quality food recently!

On the way home, we had to drive through an extraordinary storm.  The rain poured down so hard it was hard to see through the windscreen and the thunder was frighteningly loud.  Then it hailed.  All very extreme.  James tends to morph in to Victor Meldrew in the car so there was an element of criticising everyone else’s appalling driving so I retreated in to my kindle.

It was good to get home and a relief to know dinner was ready.  It just needed popping in to the oven and it was pret a mangez.  Oh look, my half seems to have cheese on it 🙂 .

This is totally nursery food.

I do like meals with the meat, potato and veggies all in one dish.

I serve mine with Branston pickle.  Harvey likes ketchup.  Unfortunately James is feeling unwell so was unable to eat his.

So that was rather a dull day, despite the glorious sunshine of earlier, which I enjoyed from a distance while I tidied, cleaned and moped about mopped.  Thankfully Harvey enjoyed his shepherd’s pie.

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I ♥ London

Posted on April 21, 2012 by Lose Weight and Gain Health

The green leaves from the garden (Beetroot, rainbow chard and spinach)

The other flavours (plum, apple, ½ avocado, 1 tbsp sesame seed and an aloe vera leaf)

Blended with 150 ml almond milk and 150 ml water.  The consistency was perfect but the flavour was rather bland.  I ate it anyway to benefit from all those fresh ingredients.

I received some very lovely comments about how much better I am looking these days so here is another picture of me with my cherubs.  We went on an hour long walk in the woods and fields opposite us.

The bluebells are beginning to come out and the sunshine was so warm it was beautiful out there today.

After walking through the woods and across the fields we came out on a lane near our house.

This is a new walk for us (thank you Annette for showing it to us) and I had never realised we were so surrounded by sheep farms!

I enjoy living in the country and wouldn’t swap it for living in the city but I love visiting London.  We had to go up today to take Lara to King’s Cross as she is heading back to University 😦 . Her train was at 4pm so we got there in time for lunch.

We went to Ciao Bella, an Italian restaurant on Lamb’s Conduit Street which is near Great Ormond Street Hopsital.  We have often eaten here and it is near King’s Cross so convenient.  And appropriately named too I have just realised as I often call Lara “Bella”. We were served mixed olives and Parmesan when we sat down.  This was to share by the way, not each!

I had chicken with blue cheese and salad which was delicious

followed by veal escaloppe, broccoli, carrots and chips.  A lovely treat.  Helped along with a couple of glasses of wine.

I ♥ my children.

Before we knew it, we had to rush off so Lara could catch her train.  Does saying good-bye ever get any easier?

King’s Cross station has an extraordinary roof!  I ♥ the roof.   Even better – it changes colour.  Awesome.

And of course, the very famous platform 9 and ¾ !

We were not in a rush to get home, the weather was fine so we decided to amble back to Charing Cross station.  We went in to the

and admired this enormous statue of Newton.

This is the British Library with St.Pancras in the background.

The area South of King’s Cross is so peaceful and quiet with pretty residential streets which have a mixture of architectural styles.

What number is this house?  Every door in this crescent had 2 numbers on the door.

We walked along quaint shopping streets.

Past this memorial plaque

and in to Tavistock Square.

A statue of one of my all time most admired people.

I enjoy being in Bloomsbury as it has so many happy memories for me from being a student here.  Wandering around is great fun when you don’t have to be in a particular place by a set time.  It gives you time to stop and look at things you pass and like.  Such as these spring flowers in the black London railings

and this clock with little characters chasing each other round the bottom.

Nearly at one of my favourite areas of London,

Monmouth Street and Seven Dials.  I ♥ Seven Dials.  It is busy and bustley here but not jam packed.  The shops are unique and interesting boutiques and there are several lovely coffee and cake shops – which I veered away from today.

We wandered in to the colourful craziness of Neal’s Yard.

It is so colourful and fun here.

Round the corner is the amazing cheese shop but I resisted.  Still too full from lunch rather then managing to exert will power.  Check out those truckles!  I  ♥ cheese.

I  ♥  this pub entrance.

We walked towards Trafalgar Square,

past the stunning Coliseum, home of the English National Opera.

After a delightful 2 hour meandering walk, we arrived at Charing Cross station where we caught our train home.

We were home by 7pm.  What’s for supper?  Nothing – we are all too full from lunch still. Apart from saying good-bye to Lara, which I hate doing, we had a great time pottering about in London.  It really is such an amazing city.  I  ♥  London.

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Headhunter

Posted on April 20, 2012 by Lose Weight and Gain Health

I had something different for breakfast today.

From Pret, one of my favourite coffee shops because their produce is fresh and the milk and coffee is organic, I had a Bircher Muesli with apple grated in it, pomegranate, pistachios and dried fruit with a skinny latte.  The bircher muesli with toppings was delicious.

I managed to miss the rain when I popped out at lunch time and I found a new smoothie bar in the market.

I chose the Exotica – mine’s the one with the pink straw.

Apparently it will help my digestion, immune system and cell regeneration.  It tasted really good too 🙂

Then I found the wonderful Arabica Food and Spice Company which I have never seen before and will definitely want to be seeing again!  I didn’t have one of these aubergine kibeh’s but next time I will as they sound great.

I went for the mixed salad bar and chose smoked aubergine, cherry tomato and cheese with thyme and tabbouleh.

It was served with a flat bread and I ate it at my desk.  It was absolutely delicious and I will definitely be going back there.

Supper was a disaster.  Loads of rubbishy snacks for which I am disgusted with myself.  I have eaten way too much this week and it has not all been healthy.  I left work much later then I wanted to.  I snacked on the train and then rushed to the cinema where I had a very large glass of red wine with a bag of chocolates.

The film was great – Headhunter.  Based on the Jo Nesbo book which I read recently.  I enjoyed the book and was looking forward to the film which didn’t disappoint.  It made me jump, made me laugh and kept me interested all the way though.  So the eating was dreadful this evening but Headhunter was fun.

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Hubby Birthday

Posted on April 19, 2012 by Lose Weight and Gain Health

Happy birthday Mr Bennett.

I had to go in early again today and did not manage to make breakfast at home so I ducked in to Pret by the office and bought a latte with a ham and egg sandwich.

Today is market day – yay.  I only had 20 minutes so I rushed to Turnip for a salad.

Look at these gorgeous micro greens.

I wanted tomatoes but there was no time.

I did get sidetracked by a cheese covered pretzel.

Yes, there really was a pretzel under there.  It was good.  And it only cost £1.

But not as amazing as the salad which was just as fresh and delicious as I was hoping.

After a dreadful journey home, thanks to a lightning strike that knocked out the signals in Grove Park and Chislehurst plus a train that broke down just outside London Bridge, we made it home nearly an hour later then planned and headed out for dinner.  James always chooses a curry when he selects the restaurant.

The beauties

and the beasts 🙂 .  Only joking boys, you’re gorgeous too.

Tonight we went to The Spice Lounge in Coxheath.  We started with poppadoms and accompaniments.  These were excellent.

Followed by “chicken roll’ which was mediocre.

Then a plate of mixed tandoori lamb and chicken, sag paneer (spinach with cheese) and Bombay potatoes with some naan bread.

Finished off with an Irish coffee.

All very tasty but I am toooo full up.  Happy birthday hubby.

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Packet Food

Posted on April 18, 2012 by Lose Weight and Gain Health

Nearly everything I ate today was from a packet – not very healthy is it?

Latte and porridge for breakfast.

The porridge had apples, sultanas and almond in it which was rather tasty.

Lunch was a tuna sandwich followed by fruit compote, yogurt and granola.

Supper was 2 glasses of wine in The Anchor after work, a packet of Quavers and an Eat Natural bar with peanuts.  Oh my goodness.  Single people may get “beer goggles” and fancy anyone after a couple of drinks.  I had “wine belly” so when the trolley on the train came by I grabbed the Quavers and nut bar which I definitely did not need.

At home I made a smoothie.

I fancied red berries which I had with coconut, almond milk, frozen banana and soya vanilla yogurt.

It came out very thick so I poured it in a bowl and added some granola and ate it as if it were a fruity bowl of cereal.  Not bad actually.

Too many packets today.  Must do better tomorrow.

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