I eat the same thing for breakfast and lunch every day. It's the only way I can keep my protein intake high enough and keep hunger from being a nuisance or distraction. Once upon a time, humans ate for survival and maintenance purposes only. They weren't sad about it or bored with it. They didn't have much of a choice. They didn't need to satisfy their cravings or have variety. Eating was an essential part of life, not an indulgent part. Now all we have to do is take a look around us and we can see that it's completely opposite.
I have worked hard to change my perspective on food. (I also implement this change for my sons.) If I don't constantly look to please myself with it, then it will be so much easier to control what I eat. In spite of the title of this post, I am human and I do indulge occasionally. But the requirement of having to "enjoy" a meal is no longer. During my work week, I eat only to keep hunger away and only to build and fuel my body. I don't need variety and I do not gain pleasure from the food that I eat for breakfast and lunch every day. I look forward to eating mainly to satisfy the nuisance of hunger. But other than that, it's kind of all business.
My breakfast and lunch are pretty simple to prepare. These are the main ingredients:
I combine 1 scoop of protein powder (equal to 1/4 cup) with 1/4 cup of oats and 1/4 cup of lowfat (usually 2%) milk. Then I add a teaspoon of natural peanut butter. Sometimes, if I'm low on milk, I'll use water. (Milk for coffee is more important if that gallon is almost empty.) Sometimes I'll add a teaspoon of flax seed meal. Sometimes I add a few semi-sweet chocolate chips.
This goes in the microwave for 1 minute 15 seconds. It can also be baked in the oven or cooked in a frying pan like a pancake. The consistency is something like a dry oatmeal cookie or a scone. This breakfast is around 300 calories and it has over 30 grams of protein. No, it is not the most delicious breakfast I have ever eaten in my whole life. It does not taste better than Belgian waffles or french toast or an omelet that is saturated with cheese. It (severely) pales in comparison to the Nutella stuffed crepes at IHOP. But it proves that higher protein intake builds a better body. I'm convinced that my leanness and any muscle definition I have has a lot to do with this recipe. Mainly because I can't stay on a strength training regimen right now. (No good reason for that.)
I eat the same thing for lunch. I microwave this in a tupperware container to bring to work and I add 4 sliced strawberries or most of a banana and about 1/3 to 1/2 a cup of Dannon fat free vanilla yogurt. I guess I'm satisfying any cravings for something sweet without tipping the scale of gluttony.
My dinner choices do vary, and I usually have some sort of snack right after work. I'm not *that* boring.
I have tried this recipe with other types of protein powders and it seems to work best with Dymatize Elite Fusion. Anything else can cook up too dry or taste very artificial.
If you try this, let me know what you think.
Wow! I'm impressed. I don't think I could ever do this. I just love eating so much that much discipline. I am trying to eat healthier, since I think my big Friday night meals is part of what's holding me back on my saturday long runs.
ReplyDeleteIt makes carbo loading that much more exciting, honestly. And indulgent meals are so much more fulfilling and enjoyable when you aren't bending to every craving regularly.
ReplyDeleteI had to change my thinking to not celebrate or entertain with food. I enjoy good food but it's no longer my main source of joy or pleasure or my only source for comfort and relief.
ReplyDeleteGreat read that leaves you thinking.
I do the same thing, but only with breakfast, and then I usually do the same thing most of the time with lunch. But for breakfast I make my own granola that is amazing and add fruit. Lunch is a tomato soup with added veggies, (corn, onions, ect.) and eat with a serving of blue corn chips. Its so easy to make the same thing everyday, and very basic and satisfying.
ReplyDeleteDo you eat enough fruits and veggies? Its very to get all your servings of veggies from just dinner. And you need a lot of fruit too
Fruit and veggies are important but it's so easy to pile sugar and carbs into your body with these so I am kind of a minimalist. That said though, my current veggie/fruit combo for dinner is pretty amazing. It's figi apples, broccoli and onions pan seared all together.
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