Former Fat Guy Blog

Real People Real Results - Understanding how food, fitness and mental attitude affect weight loss

Eating At The Table – Food For Thought

It wasn’t until today that I decided that I need to revitalize a old tradition from my childhood and reminiscent of the Thanksgiving or recent – Eating at the table.

Eight weeks ago, we purchased a gorgeous dark wood pub style table and chairs for our kitchen.

We live in a smallish condo. perfectly comfortable for two with no designated dining area. I chose the table because of the dark wood and it gave the area special warmth. A place for us to dine together. Until then, we had a tiny table not suitable for two.

40% of North Americans eat with their family at home each night each week

eating in front of the tvUntil then and even after we had the table, we shuffled our plates on our laps while we unconsciously, almost zombie like, sat to watch a sit com, the news or whatever reality tv show was on. After a busy day at work and especially throughout the Christmas season, it was our time to relax and our time to rest.

After recently talking to a couple at a party, I learned that they too would quite often watch tv with tv trays. Not only the two of them but their children as well.

Now, I suspect that we aren’t the only ones doing this.

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Recipe: Edamame Beans, Chickpeas, Shiitake Mushrooms and Spinach

High protein Edamame beans and nutrient dense spinach make make up the bulk of this high fiber nutritious hot salad. It’s been FAR too long since we shared a new recipe with everyone and we’re sure you missed us. This is the first of what I hope will be 2 new recipes each month as once a week was too much to keep up with in our busy lives. I’m sure you can all relate.

We love color in our foods and varied textures as well. This one caught my eye in Extra Vegan Za as I was flipping around looking for something new the other day. I fills both those criteria, and tasted great!

Edamame beans are green beans in large pods commonly known as Soy Beans. They are great eaten right out of the pod and you find them quite often as a starter in Japanese restaurants. You can also buy them frozen in the pod or shelled. For snacking I buy IN the pod, for recipes like this I buy the shelled ones. They are loaded with fiber – 1 cup along yield about 8 grams of fiber or almost one third the recommended daily amount. They are also great for folate, manganese, Vitamin C and K, and iron. (Source Nutritional Data)

Adding to that the fact that 1 cup of chickpeas has 12 grams of fiber – and this dish packs a punch most people are lacking these days. Fiber is much needed to help move food through the colon and keep us healthy.

Edamame beans, chickpeas, shiitake mushrooms and spinach

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Poll: How Far Ahead Do You Plan Your Meals?

I was just talking with my friend, a personal trainer from Toronto and author of The Fit Bastard and The Fit Chic, Scott Tousignant, about his current goals of getting to 5% body fat.

I asked him what method he’s using to reach his goals and he replied “My Fit Bastard Workouts” and Jon Benson’s Every Other Day Diet. I caught him while he was making a tuna salad meal and asked him how the rest of his program looked and if he was on target to reach his goal. He’s three weeks out and 2% away from achieving it.

meal planningI realized that I’ve got my next 6 weeks of cardio and training planned and I’m following my own Reverse Caveman Diet on which Fat Loss Fundamentals is loosely based. I know what I’ll be eating for the next 6 weeks and I have it mapped out on my calendar.

It got me thinking about this poll, asking that very question – about how far ahead you plan your meals. Do you know what you’ll be eating for the day, or tomorrow? If I asked you what you’re having for lunch tomorrow, how would you answer? What about next week on Wednesday? is it a re-feed day? a low carb day? A meat day? a cleansing day?

I’d like to know how far ahead you plan your meals and what sort of reasons or results you get from the format you follow

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As always, leave your comments with your thoughts.

As a side note, Scott and I were talking about the Fit Chic workout program and all it has to offer. It sounds like it’s quite the kick ass program for women wanting to get in shape. I’ll be doing a review of it soon. In the mean time, check out The Fit Chic women’s workout program.

As of today, the results of the last poll had coming in as the #1 choice.

Interesting

Inspiration


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Determination


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Satisfaction


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