Plant-based diets?

[Atlas]

If by "plant based" you switch to fruits and veggies, then GREAT! But it's VERY easy to fall into the trap of eating lots of starchy breads, cereals, grains, potatoes, etc, all of which are just fine on a vegetarian and oftentimes even on a vegan diet. That will not aid in weight loss (ask me how I know this... )

This is such a great point. We try to eat a lot of vegetables and home cooked meals but I have several vegan friends who rely on meat/cheese substitutes and while those don't have the cholesterol and saturated fat that the real things do they still aren't what I would call healthy. I don't know what your meals are like now and if a plant-based diet would drastically change that or if you already eat a variety of veggies. Someone else mentioned checking out cookbooks from the library and I agree with that. There's one called Appetite for Reduction by Isa Chandra Moskowitz. It's all whole food based with lots of whole grains, legumes, and veggies. It also has the nutritional information on all the recipes.

[shootingstar]

Most important is figure out healthy combinations of food for each day. And eat up to only 80% full (in how your tummy feels). Instead of a prescibed "type" of diet.

As for the meat vs. no meat. I don't create an absolute but instead just only have lean meat /seafood 3-4 times per month. A fistful of meat portion each time or less.

I know that TE discusses here and enough members use the nutrient replacements in their liquids, etc. But I've never tried them.
I just picked up a freebie energy waffle shaped snack from a bike store info. table at bike to work week. I guess I'll save it for a 100 km. ride or so.

Perhaps try eating breakfast and lunch decently. Then eat alot less for supper. Unless you're going out for a long ride in evening. Eat supper no later than 7:00pm if you can.
I found for a job with a ridiculously long commute, I didn't eat until 8:00 pm and hadn't eaten much during the day. As a result, I didn't lose weight. My body adjusted to this insane starvation pattern!

Join in our thread under this forum topic category to see the running thread of what other people eat.

Severely cut down on processed foods. ie. Instant noodles has a ton of salt and other chemicals. Not as tasty as light pasta with some veggies.

[Susan Otcenas]

There's one called Appetite for Reduction by Isa Chandra Moskowitz. It's all whole food based with lots of whole grains, legumes, and veggies. It also has the nutritional information on all the recipes.

This is an EXCELLENT resource. I love this book! I'm not vegan or vegetarian, but I am "meat lite", as in meat or seafood at dinner 1-3 times per week. Many many of my meals are vegetarian and not a small number are vegan. The recipes in this book are all very approachable, well flavored, and made out of generally common ingredients. I also appreciate that she doesn't use fake meats.

I've no ethical reasons for not eating much meat, but I do have plenty of environmental concerns surrounding the meat industry, so for me, "meat lite" is a good compromise. (And, I buy only organic meats, much of which is local.)

[indysteel]

This is such a great point. We try to eat a lot of vegetables and home cooked meals but I have several vegan friends who rely on meat/cheese substitutes and while those don't have the cholesterol and saturated fat that the real things do they still aren't what I would call healthy. I don't know what your meals are like now and if a plant-based diet would drastically change that or if you already eat a variety of veggies. Someone else mentioned checking out cookbooks from the library and I agree with that. There's one called Appetite for Reduction by Isa Chandra Moskowitz. It's all whole food based with lots of whole grains, legumes, and veggies. It also has the nutritional information on all the recipes.

Thanks so much to you and Susan for a head's up on this book. It's now on my wish list. I am neither vegetarian nor vegan, but I try to make half of our weekly meals vegetarian, and many of them are vegan. I find myself in food ruts though, so this will help, especially with summer produce on the way.

[VeganBikeChick]

Thanks so much to you and Susan for a head's up on this book. It's now on my wish list. I am neither vegetarian nor vegan, but I try to make half of our weekly meals vegetarian, and many of them are vegan. I find myself in food ruts though, so this will help, especially with summer produce on the way.

It really is a great book. You won't be disappointed.