There are many nutritious foods that you can pack in a lunch box. You can choose from such foods such as chicken, boiled eggs, cottage cheese, sprouted mung or beans, all kinds of vegetables, whole grain chapatties or bread, yogurt , fruits and so on. Just make sure that the foods are fresh and natural and cooked with minimum oil. Try to include something from each of the basic four food groups. Foods from :
“The Milk Group” (such as yogurt or buttermilk),
“The Vegetable-Fruit Group” (such as cabbage and apples),
For non-vegetarians “The Meat group” (such as chicken) and for the Vegetarians “The Milk-pulse group” (such as cottage cheese or sprouted Mung) , and
“The Cereal group” (such as whole-grain, bread, rice or chapattis).
An inclusion of foods from various groups will assure a balanced diet.
I like to socialize a lot. I eat away from home most of the time. How can I keep up my reducing diet? Can I still lose weight ?
A popular excuse for failing to adhere to a reducing diet is ‘I’m always invited out, and if I don’t eat what my friend serves, I would appear rude and be unwelcome”. That sounds like a sweet gesture but is as hollow as can be. There is no need to offend your friend by looking at the well laid festive dinner table and saying, ‘I’m sorry, there is nothing here I can eat. I’m on a very strict diet”. This sort of a thing can be very disturbing to a friend who has slaved all afternoon to prepare a treat for you. There is always something you can eat. For instance, pick up the meat and nudge off the rich gravy with a sly sidling spoon motion.
If there is a fried dish say fried chicken, batatawada, bhajiyas, pakoda or any other fried farsan, then remove the delicious outer crust. Leave it on your plate. Eat the inner contents. Occasionally, we may choose the lesser evil when there is a limited variety of foods. When it comes to salads, pile your plate with tomatoes, cucumber and onions. Load your plate with vegetables which are usually passed around. With the mountain of vegetables and salads on your plate there won’t be place for gravied dishes and other rich foods, and you can give the illusion of eating a lot without actually doing so.
Never go to a party, a dinner invitation or buffet on an empty stomach. Have a filler like a glass of skimmed milk, cottage cheese on bread or toast, or a fruit. Then you won’t find yourself indulging (gorging) on greasy and fried foods. Learn to forego the rich foods. Don’t feel guilty. Better let food go waste than to the waist.
Above all, be bold. Make a telephone call and let your friend know about your reducing programme in advance. This always proves helpful.