What (in your opinion) is a healthy diet?

NewShadow

PasturesNew wrote: »

I make something like that, but a smaller quantity.... in fact, now I fancy it too

It's been cooking all night and I'm tempted to have a bowl for brunch (given I've not had breakfast yet)

Only issue is - as you say - volume. Constrained by the size of the tins.

It just doesn't taste the same if you make it from 'real' ingredients

Keeps well, freezes well and the leftovers make a nice pie filling

System

a healthy diet is something cooked from scratch at home. If ever we eat out both hubby and i regret it for hours afterwards, wind (him) and bloat (me).

lush_walrus

To me a healthy diet is one which isn't faddy and isn't based around foods that don't grow. As long as it grows and the end product is close to its original state I eat it, whether it's tea, fish, meat, vegetables, nuts, pulses and fruit. I don't ever drink coke or squash etc. I do eat bread, cakes and biscuits as long as they are made by us and therefore I know do not contain preservatives and buckets of salt.

As others have said it's horses for courses on some things, if you live in a country that is hot and sweaty then salt is fine, if you live in U.K. Probably not. If you spend your day hunting then lots of sugar and fat is fine, less so if you sit at a desk.

System

Judi wrote: »

a healthy diet is something cooked from scratch at home. If ever we eat out both hubby and i regret it for hours afterwards, wind (him) and bloat (me).

We will regret it later. We are eating out.:D

katkin

A healthy diet for me is the right amount of nutrients for my body within the calories that I need. Protein, fats, carbs, vitamins, minerals, fibre and of course water.

It's tricky to get that right as I run hungry as a human!

Generally I think we all probably need differening levels of that depending on lifestyle, health, activity levels etc.

It's easier to get nutrients right eating fresh foods but I wouldn't say it's wrong to use processed foods sometimes too. I use tinned tomatoes, cook and bake and that in itself is processing my food.

Food is more than just fuel for me too, it's a social and cultural thing, part of self care and enjoying lovely things in life. The sensory delight that comes from trying new things, new cuisines is wonderful. We are blessed to live in a time with plenty and the ability to access global markets for produce, take cheap holidays abroad etc that allows us to enjoy new foods and cooking ways.

I'm also a glutton, bit of a hedonist when it comes to putting lovely food in my mouth:rotfl:

GreenFairy

Lots of fruit and veg, both for vitamins and fibre. Sensible portions, not too much salt or sugar, largely unprocessed and changes depending on the time of year and what's in season. Oh, and the odd big slice of homemade cake

Doom_and_Gloom

For me it's a vegan diet.
I'm not afraid of carbs, though not much refined, and I eat fat too but mostly in it's whole form such as nuts, seeds, avocados etc. A tub of vegan margarine takes me months to get through as I just don't eat it a lot. My OH usually finishes it when he's run out of his and he can't be bothered to go to the shops. He nabs it knowing that I won't miss it.
I try to eat mostly unprocessed foods, as close to its natural state as possible. So pulses, rice, potatoes, buckwheat, qiunoa, oats, nuts, seeds etc. With plenty of fruits and vegetables (I usually have over ten portions a day without trying).
I drink plenty of water and teas. Though I do drink coffee nearly daily; bean, hand grinder and 'French press' no sugar or vegan milk/cream. A carton of plant milk will usually last me a week.
Protein mostly from pulses, nuts, quinoa etc. I sometimes have tofu or tempeh.
I do still indulge. I have vegan ice cream in the freezer most of the time for example. I do drink vodka with lemonade. There is always at least a bottle of vegan red wine in the flat. I have vegan chocolate from time to time to.
Basically I abide by the 80:20 format. I eat well most of the time so I can have treats from time to time.

maman

I follow the Slimming World Healthy Eating plan.

Originally I did it to lose weight but 5 years on I'm still using it as it's a great framework for healthy eating.

It's common sense really. The basic plan is lean meat or fish, carbs and plenty of fruit and vegetables. Enough dairy and wholemeal bread or cereal for health but not too much. Then a measured amount of treats. Nothing is banned, you can have wine or crisps or cakes or whatever but you have to choose and not too much.

SW have introduced a few ready meals for convenience but cooking from scratch is best.

Soworried

NewShadow wrote: »

Interested in people's opinions, is this healthy?

A tin of stewed steak
A tin of minced beef
A tin of mushrooms
A tin of sweetcorn
A tin of baked beans (in sauce)
A tin of mixed beans
A carton of passata
4 chopped carrots
4 chopped potatoes
topped off with water.

All cooked together in a slow cooker and served with a slice of crusty bread (serves around 6/8).

I only ask as I'm really fancying it this weekend (weekends are never planned and I've got all the bits).

My grandmother made this almost every weekend (but she used tinned carrots, 2 tins of baked beans rather than mixed, peas rather than sweetcorn, and probably about 6 oxo cubes in place of the passata) and lived to her 90's thin as a rake.

That looks good to me, more veg than meat and pulses are great fibre.

YORKSHIRELASS

NewShadow wrote: »

Interested in people's opinions, is this healthy?

A tin of stewed steak
A tin of minced beef
A tin of mushrooms
A tin of sweetcorn
A tin of baked beans (in sauce)
A tin of mixed beans
A carton of passata
4 chopped carrots
4 chopped potatoes
topped off with water.

All cooked together in a slow cooker and served with a slice of crusty bread (serves around 6/8).

I only ask as I'm really fancying it this weekend (weekends are never planned and I've got all the bits).

My grandmother made this almost every weekend (but she used tinned carrots, 2 tins of baked beans rather than mixed, peas rather than sweetcorn, and probably about 6 oxo cubes in place of the passata) and lived to her 90's thin as a rake.

So glad that people arent critisising you for the tinned meat, although I am guessing that there will be quite a lot of salt in your stewing steak and beans so I wouldnt want to add any more. There are far worse things that you can be having!

For me a sensible balanced diet is key, I dont believe that any food is necessary "bad". I eat lots of fruit and veg, small amounts of lean meat and try and get some oily fish in every week. As much as possible I cook from scratch and avoid food out of packets, tins and jars, mainly because of the salt and sugar content. I dont eat cake, biscuits, crisps and the like during the week and save my treats for a weekend.

I think eating breakfast is really important and I try not to eat late at night.

I have never liked fizzy drinks and dont drink much alcohol but my one weakness is proper coffee. I do drink water and herbal teas.