Whilst I was away on holiday, I let my low carb lifestyle slip a little. It was just sometimes easier to find a sandwich than a salad, and one night we really fancied fish and chips!
However, back to it now. I watched Dr Michael Moseley talking about low carb eating (or more specifically, eating a lowish carb Mediterranean diet) and realised this was what I have been naturally moving towards. He says we should be avoiding refined carbs and sugar. Instead we should be eating lots of fruit and veg, along with healthy fats, such as olive oil.
Our reliance on cereal products and sugary food has really accelerated since the 1950s, but he feels they are causing an obesity and diabetes epidemic. Saturated fat was made the villain by the experts, but now if seems that sugar is the thing that is most likely to kill you.
If you want to see this particular talk on You Tube, you can find it here. It’s quite entertaining!
The Mediterranean diet is delicious too. Lots of oily fish, olive oil, fresh vegetables, fruit and nuts, with moderate amounts of diary, chicken, eggs and even red wine. What’s not to like? Better still, Mr S likes to eat like this, but wasn’t comfortable eating high fat and low carb, so it will suit both of us.
As ever, I don’t want to bust my budget, but pretty much everything I need will be available in Aldi.
Mediterranean diet meal plan
Saturday
We will continue using up all of our delicious home grown tomatoes with a chicken bake, something like this one. I will probably use chicken thighs rather than breasts, as I prefer them and they are cheaper.
A nice green veg like steamed broccoli will go well with this dish and maybe some new potatoes.
Sunday
We both love fish and try to eat it at least a couple of times a week. Today I will try a new recipe, creamy garlic, lemon and spinach salmon.
Instead of the spinach, I will defrost some of the home-grown chard from the freezer. I also tend to buy frozen salmon, as it’s cheaper. If it’s defrosted before you cook it, you can’t taste the difference.
Monday
Sweet potato and chard curry (something like this one). I might have a little brown rice with mine, but if I want to keep the carbs lower, I will make keto garlic bread.
Tuesday
Chicken chasseur from A Girl Called Jack: 100 delicious budget recipes
Wednesday
Mediterranean fish stew, made with cheap white fish from Iceland and a few prawns.
Thursday
Home made pizzas using Lo-Dough for the base. I have tried this a couple of times and it’s not a bad substitute for real dough, as long as you add some interesting toppings and cook your pizza nice and crisp.
We will have a large green salad with this.
Friday
I will use up the last of the salad and have some halloumi cheese and avocado with it. The cheese will be cooked quickly on my George Foreman grill*
Snacks and drinks
I am going to try to switch from my favourite white wine to red this week. This is actually encouraged on the Mediterranean diet.
I don’t drink much, but can’t anyway as red wine gives me a headache after one glass. Snacks will be nuts, olives, fruit and Greek yogurt. I go for the full fat variety, often served with seeds and berries. Actually, that is my favourite breakfast too!
I will also allow myself the odd chocolate Atkins bar. They are made with artificial sweeteners, so aren’t great for you, but I think they are better than cracking open a Mars bar…
Anyone else drawn to the Mediterranean diet?
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I am joining in with Katy Kicker’s meal planning linky. Check out her meal plan this week too. You can see more of my favourite food ideas and recipes here.
Moira Sutherland says
Have just watched the vidio, and we eat like this, my husband has lost 7kg and I 6kg by cutting down our carbs to one serving a day and eating more protein, We never did the low fat thing as we were living in Africa and the adverts never got to us, as we had no tv and the internet had not been invented. At one point I tried low fat cheese but it was like rubber so never again.
During lockdown, we were not alowed to exercise or leave the house except to shop or do essential bussiness so put on a few kilos, plus we had put on a few extra before that, but now after 6 weeks we are now back at our normal weight, without starving, also after the first couple of weeks we started going out for lunch once a week, pizza fish and chips etc which we ate in moderation and still list weight.
Katy Stevens says
Sometimes you just have to give in to the fish & chips! Hope this week goes well for you.
Louise Fairweather says
I have gone low carb but am really struggling this week. We have to have time off sometimes. I think it is all about being sensible and the mediterranean diet sounds a good one for you both. I have certainly changed my way of eating long term and wont go back to how I used to eat. The salmon dish sounds lovely
shoestringjane@outlook.com says
The cold weather makes me want to eat carbs!
Kim Carberry says
The Mediterranean diet sounds so good and what a fab meal plan. I love the sound of your salmon dish x
Sarah - Mud Cakes and Wines says
We love Mediterranean diet its so nice and fresh all your meals sound great