New life, new me......

WelshWoofer

Been swimming - was quite pleased with the time, 33 mins for a mile (64 lengths).:)

Went to Aldi on the way home for a few tins and a bit of F&V (seem to be chomping my through it at an alarming rate - think all the crappy food has caused by body to crave vitamins and fibre!).
I ended up spending £13 but all things that will either get eaten this week or for the storecupboard because they were cheaper than Mr Ts. Absolutely minmium spending allowed next week!:o

On the postive side - I picked up a cheese selection reduced to £1.75 - can freeze the hard cheeses if necessary.

WelshWoofer

Another successful day diet and fitness wise - plenty of F&V, a swim, some dog walking and well within the cals for the day so far.

Just taken a quorn spag bol out of the freezer for tomorrow so that's tea planned.
Hoping for a NSD tomorrow - can't think of anything I need so fingers crossed.
Off to watch some telly....

WelshWoofer

Walked the dog and been for a 5k run - felt easier today and the time was a bit better so pleased with that:).

A lady on myfitnesspal told me about Tae Bo and a man called Billy Blanks - just googled him and watched a bit of a YouTube video - it looks fab (but quite hard work). Apparently for a 40 min workout (on youtube) you can burn 450 cals - sounds good to me! May have a go later when my legs are working again after the run.:D

pavlovs_dog

inspired by one of your earlier meal plans we have veggie enchilladas for tea last night. OH was amazed that something meat free could taste so could. Made a huge pan so have surplus to freeze, and it left me feeling full for ages afterwards. Managed to resist all of the choccies etc in the house.

Just wondering whether there were any other veggie dishes you'd particularly recommend. Seems a pretty pain free way to curb the grocery budget if it tastes that good!

WelshWoofer

That made me laugh - I am the worst cook ever, but I manage to feed myself (hence the diet!).:rotfl:





Other things I make from time to time that fill you up and are actually nice (and used to be eaten by my carnivore ex husband) were...

1. 5 bean chilli - very filling and can have with nachos, rice or on a jacket spud - grate a bit of cheese on the top and its yummy
2. spinach and potato curry - use sweet potatoes to make it a bit different
3. quorn or veggie mince shepherds pie - if you use an oxo cube you can't taste the difference
4. gnocchi in a tomato based sauce with loads of veg (onions, peppers, mushrooms etc) (buy gnocchi from any supermarket, get the one in the pasta aisle rather than the fresh, much cheaper)
5. veggie fajitas - onions, peppers, mushrooms etc (maybe some kidney beans) with sour cream and cheese and salsa if you fancy it - I use a cheap packet of fajita mix (Mr Ts is fine)
6. a big pot of chunky soup - I call it mexican soup - with kidney beans, tinned tomatoes, veg, chilli powder and a big handful of dry pasta twirls flung in to cook towards the end - very filling and good for teas or lunches for work

Will have a think to see if I can come up with anymore - you've reminded me of some things that I haven't done for ages that are cheap, fairly healthy and filling.:)

Forgot veggie pizzas - either buy or make the bases and then sling a load of passata, chopped veggies and cheese on the top - cheap and can be as big as you like!

pavlovs_dog

we've both said numerous times in the past that we should eat more veggie stuff, for the health and financial benefits, but it has never really got off the ground. Last night was a whim (REALLY fancied them after seeing it on your meal plan). We both thoroughly enjoyed it, and despite us both having a hearty portion there is a good portion left to go in the freezer.

5 bean chilli sounds good - something simple to cobble together and leave to simmer in the SC whilst I get on with more exciting things like marking Do you buy your beans in mixed tins or individually?

WelshWoofer

I usually buy three separate tins - kidney beans, aduki beans and any other one you fancy and a small tin of mixed beans.
This is my very basic method...

Fry off onion, peppers and mushrooms, sling in 2 tins of cheap chopped tomatoes, all the drained beans and some sweetcorn if you like it and enough chilli powder to your taste. Cook it for about 30 mins (could probably get away with less time as everything is already cooked really). Serve it with some grated cheese on top (goes all melty and stringy). I do it in a big pan on the hob - it makes tons of it but it can be frozen and used for a few days if kept in the fridge.

It does look nice - lots of colour and textures.

pavlovs_dog

we used kidney beans, chick peas and el cheapo lidl baked beans (because they were cheaper than butter beans). have bags of various lentils and legumes in cupboard that were bought with good intentions but never touched.

2013 could be my year of elective semi-vegetarianism Off to google

fedupandskint

Same here - I don't like eating meat every single day of the week and don't usually apart from this week which has been due to using up leftover turkey - last meal is tonight reheating the stirfry a nice and easy meal at least then its bye bye Christmas turkey until next year!

Think I will make a note of a few of the veggie suggestions above and aim to use up some of the dried bean in the cupboard too

Not much else to say apart from had my last minty hot chocolate for Christmas today and said goodbye to the seasonal drinks then its back to a cappa once a fortnight!

WelshWoofer

Had a good frugal day today....

• A total NSD - very rare for me, have joined the Jan NSD challenge to try to encourage me to do more
• Started using new moisturiser (Xmas pressie) seems nice
• Free exercise (run and walks)
• Started the school marking - hate that job
• Food used up from the freezer and fridge and have stuck to diet so far and am currently full (its the 9pm time that I find difficult and have to resist picking naughty things)
• Just about to do a mini super frugal budget to get me from now to payday on the 15th (won't be pretty reading)

Looking forward to Ripper Street at 9pm - will potter around the house until then.