Reverse Meal Planning

greenbee

So sorry to hear you're going to have to drop your prosecco habit @Pyxis As you say, it's one thing to choose not to drink and quite another to be told not to. 

I've got a few non-alcoholic alternatives - some of the 'non-alcoholic spirits' are very nice and do a pretty good job of filling the space occupied by a G&T. As does the Belvoir juniper. I like their cucumber drink too. Also Robinson's lime and mint is good for pretending you're having a mojito. I also like Kombucha, and because it's fermented it has a similar smell/taste to sparkling wine as a background note. I tried the cans - peach & turmeric and ginger were nice (so was the pink grapefruit, but I'm guessing that's not very helpful...).

Soup for lunch - last week's which is still in the fridge but appears to be OK. Like Pyxis I'm still washing and putting away the last of the veg box (pak choi, which I need to think of something nice to do with!). 

ailz95

Pyxis said:

Please cry with me people....😥😥😥
Last night I had my last glass of Prosecco,  maybe for ever.
In a couple of days I have to start a new medication for an additional health problem I have developed, and alcohol is totally contra-indicated.
😥😥😥😥

While I have given it up for weeks and even for months in the past, and never have it when I’m out, it’s knowing that I just can’t any more that is making me very sad.
Especially while being in isolation.
And especially as it wasn’t very long ago that I found this really nice Prosecco as well, and was getting some delivered with my veg box every week.



Although I found a good alcohol substitute a while back in the form of a sparkling kefir water, ironically my most favourite one, grapefruit, is also on the banned list, as grapefruit is also contraindicated. 

Someone, somewhere has got it in for me!
(cue Kenneth Williams!😁)

I can't drink due to my medication - I sometimes get round it by having a small wine with a large soda water.  There are one or two nice alcohol free wines too.  I just need to find an alcohol free gin & whiskey. 

Pyxis

Baileys_Babe said:

I'm sorry to hear that @Pyxis my OH is the same he is unable to have alcohol nor grapefruit due to his medication, which he has been on 10+ years and will continue taking for the rest of his life. 
He finds it difficult sometimes when we are out for a meal as he also avoids sweeteners, so often the only drinks available are orange juice, water, milk, hot chocolate, tea or coffee.

The range and quality of none alcoholic beer have greatly increased in the last couple of years which has helped him a lot. When ordering we always check as some places aren't very good at seeing the difference between low and no alcohol.

A drink we all enjoy is elderflower cordial and sparkling water, or lemongrass and ginger cordial with sparkling water.

I hope you find drinks to enjoy and celebrate with.

greenbee said:

So sorry to hear you're going to have to drop your prosecco habit @Pyxis As you say, it's one thing to choose not to drink and quite another to be told not to. 

I've got a few non-alcoholic alternatives - some of the 'non-alcoholic spirits' are very nice and do a pretty good job of filling the space occupied by a G&T. As does the Belvoir juniper. I like their cucumber drink too. Also Robinson's lime and mint is good for pretending you're having a mojito. I also like Kombucha, and because it's fermented it has a similar smell/taste to sparkling wine as a background note. I tried the cans - peach & turmeric and ginger were nice (so was the pink grapefruit, but I'm guessing that's not very helpful...).

Soup for lunch - last week's which is still in the fridge but appears to be OK. Like Pyxis I'm still washing and putting away the last of the veg box (pak choi, which I need to think of something nice to do with!). 

Thanks. I expect I’ll survive!

 A year or so ago I gave up alcohol for about 5 months, and during that time looked into lots of alternatives, including the non-alcoholic beers and wines, and spirits, and things like the cordials and kombucha.

I didn’t like the beers because they were lager types and I’ve never liked lager.
I quite liked cordials with tonic water, but am against sweeteners and the sugar ones had loads of calories. 
I also tried the non-alcoholic spirits, but never found one I liked enough to justify the price.

Then I discovered kefir water, which contains probiotics and only 7 or 12calories per 100ml, so that was win win. My very favourite was the grapefruit one......the other flavours were ok but not nearly as nice for me, but they will have to do for now, while I start the search again.

Luckily I never drink when I’m out or in company, so am used to making do with orange juice, etc! 😁😁😁

No matter, my health takes precedence! Worse things happen at sea!

Baileys_Babe

Non-alcoholic beers have come a long way in 5 years.
OH doesn't drink larger either. In the cupboard, we currently have 12 different varieties of beer plus a couple of bottles of cider. These are all ones he likes, they are of various styles.

For sale, there are other beers which he thinks are okay and others he doesn't like at all.

Over time he tried lots of different beers and placed them into 3 main categories: 
Never again
Okay
Yes, please

Have fun experimenting and keeping notes. Most of the major supermarkets keep a range in, some more inspired than others.

Rowan9

Sorry I didn’t see your post earlier @pyxis as I was writing mine. I hope you find some drinks you enjoy

Pyxis

wmf said:

Sorry I didn’t see your post earlier @pyxis as I was writing mine. I hope you find some drinks you enjoy

😁 No problem! 
Looking on the bright side, it will help me lose weight! 

greenbee

Pyxis said:

wmf said:

Sorry I didn’t see your post earlier @pyxis as I was writing mine. I hope you find some drinks you enjoy

😁 No problem! 
Looking on the bright side, it will help me lose weight! 

And save you money!

Suffolk_lass

Oh Pyxis, that is a pain! - my suggestion of homemade elderflower cordial does not help anyone on a low-sugar diet but a pot of tea with mint leaves added and the teabag removed quickly (and the mint left in) is a great infusion, hot or out of the fridge. It certainly tells you when your water needs more effective filtering too - we use a jug with a timer thing on top now, after making this mint tea without realising the filter had expired before.

Last night we were going to have a duck breast but it was nearly nine before we realised so a quick herb omelette hit the spot. Must eat more veg! - radishes will feature - 3 bags from the SM in the fridge and our homegrown French ones coming in thick and fast. Lots of lettuces imminently too

[Deleted User]

ailz95 said:

Pyxis said:

Please cry with me people....😥😥😥
Last night I had my last glass of Prosecco,  maybe for ever.
In a couple of days I have to start a new medication for an additional health problem I have developed, and alcohol is totally contra-indicated.
😥😥😥😥

While I have given it up for weeks and even for months in the past, and never have it when I’m out, it’s knowing that I just can’t any more that is making me very sad.
Especially while being in isolation.
And especially as it wasn’t very long ago that I found this really nice Prosecco as well, and was getting some delivered with my veg box every week.



Although I found a good alcohol substitute a while back in the form of a sparkling kefir water, ironically my most favourite one, grapefruit, is also on the banned list, as grapefruit is also contraindicated. 

Someone, somewhere has got it in for me!
(cue Kenneth Williams!😁)

I can't drink due to my medication - I sometimes get round it by having a small wine with a large soda water.  There are one or two nice alcohol free wines too.  I just need to find an alcohol free gin & whiskey. 

Non- alcoholic gin is available! 😉 seedlip is the one that my bil swears by but there are others too - including pink ones!   

MrsStepford

When we moved in together, we were poor for about five years and our meals were based on offers, reduced things, stuff from our allotment, lots of pasta and rice. Now, I am used to shopping offers for real food eg 3 bags of fish for £10 at Iceland. Since mysupermarket was pulled I must be missing out on so many offers ! I have spent time building up my dried herbs and spices, which helps to produce food from freezer and cupboard. I get a Riverford box which presents me with weird veg. I used to be forever diving into charity shops for old cookbooks, so I have plenty of thrifty recipes to try.