For the best nutrition is it all plant based or what?

[lordburnside]

I have taken my T2 seriously and gone from 55 to 42 then back to 45 because I let my guard down!
I have watched maybe 30 youtube videos and read a couple of books and each seem to give similar but not the same advice.
My view is that I should not eat potatoes, bread, pasta or rice. I like meat but tend to go for red meat which is definitely not the best diet.
At the moment I am being a very good boy and this week's meals are mainly fish or chicken with salad or veg but no bacon or steak. I am only having alcohol Friday Saturday and Sunday unless I weaken.
My question is - who is the expert we might follow. Is a plant based diet the best or should it be plant based and fish?
Is meat a no no? There is a US guy on youtube who thinks you should have meat but looking at the meat he eats it looks pretty disgusting! Then there is the US doctor who says plant based only. NHS allow you to eat grains. Some say cheese is bad.
I can see that juicy steaks are not ideal.
For now I am thinking plant based plus fish and sometimes chicken. Bacon on a weekend. Can't do without bacon. I have tried alternatives to potato, low calorie bread, cauliflower rice etc and I didn't like them.

 

[Deb_l]

Veggies and vegans will tell you plant based is best. Carnivores will tell you a meat based diet is OK. Ask ten different people, get 15 different answers!

To be honest, when you ask most elderly people what their secret to long life has been, they will tell you "everything in moderation". Have a drink, but not to excess. Eat cake, but not every day etc etc.

Yes, there a people out there who have smoked 50 cigs a day for 60 years and are still alive. There is however a greater percentage dying of COPD and lung cancer. Same applies to alcohol abuse. Food is no different. Some people can consume 5000 calories a day, weigh 25 stone but have no health issues whatsoever but they are the exceptions to the rule.

You (personally) can only do what works best for you. There's nothing particularly bad about a nice piece of steak but eating it every day is probably not to be recommended.

Again, everything in moderation 🙂

 

[helli]

I agree with everything @Deb_l wrote.
I would add that whatever you chose to eat in moderation needs to be something you like and can maintain.
There is no point forcing yourself to eat a vegetarian diet if you don't like vegetables. You will be miserable and probably not stick with it.

 

[Inka]

The question is what’s the best nutrition for you @lordburnside You might have specific requirements relating to your age, sex, intolerances, lifestyle, etc etc. It also depends on your diabetes and general health. Are you insulin resistant? Are you at risk of heart problems? Etc.

The simplest advice is the well-known quote: Eat food, not too much, mostly plants.

(The ‘eat food’ bit means real food not processed junk, the rest is self-explanatory)

 

[s'nic]

I have tried alternatives to potato, low calorie bread, cauliflower rice etc and I didn't like them.

I tried cauli mashed with some philidelphia soft cheese, that was ok as a mashed potato alternative (herbs/spices could be added if wished)

 

[JITR]

Variety is the spice of life, according to Tim Spector, aim for 30 different plant foods every week.

 

[lordburnside]

Veggies and vegans will tell you plant based is best. Carnivores will tell you a meat based diet is OK. Ask ten different people, get 15 different answers!

To be honest, when you ask most elderly people what their secret to long life has been, they will tell you "everything in moderation". Have a drink, but not to excess. Eat cake, but not every day etc etc.

Yes, there a people out there who have smoked 50 cigs a day for 60 years and are still alive. There is however a greater percentage dying of COPD and lung cancer. Same applies to alcohol abuse. Food is no different. Some people can consume 5000 calories a day, weigh 25 stone but have no health issues whatsoever but they are the exceptions to the rule.

You (personally) can only do what works best for you. There's nothing particularly bad about a nice piece of steak but eating it every day is probably not to be recommended.

Again, everything in moderation 🙂

Thanks for your reply. I will continue as I am and maybe keep a food diary - otherwise I will be a 20 stone alcoholic!
I find that you get used to changes in time. So going for the fish, salad and veg diet with chicken and the odd red meat I think.

 

[lordburnside]

Variety is the spice of life, according to Tim Spector, aim for 30 different plant foods every week.

I got Hugh Fearnley Whiitingstall's book with 30 veg a week in and flicked through it - I think you need to be a chef. If it takes longer than 30 minutes I havent time! So a simple diet probably but I do eat more veg than ever.

 

[helli]

I got Hugh Fearnley Whiitingstall's book with 30 veg a week in and flicked through it - I think you need to be a chef. If it takes longer than 30 minutes I havent time! So a simple diet probably but I do eat more veg than ever.

At first I was scared by the idea of 30 different plants a week but when I realised that includes nuts and tea and coffee and wine and all herbs and spices and herbal teas and chocolate and most oils and seeds and fruit and veg, I realised it wasn't that bad and the meals don't have to be that complex.
I have previously mentioned my salmon parcels
- a fillet of salmon
- finely sliced leek
- a handful of peas
- generous shake of dried tarragon
- dollop of creme fraiche.
Wrap it all in baking parchment and shove it in the microwave for 5 minutes.
Add potato (or substitute) and a small salad on the side with olive oil and lemon juice dressing
Serve with tea or coffee or beer or wine
That's eight o more plant based ingredients in one meal taking less than 15 minutes to cook including chopping.
Hey, if you are feeling indulgent you could follow it up with more creme fraiche and a selection of berries and/or a portion of dark chocolate to add a few more plants whilst still keeping it relatively low carb.
I can easily cover 10 different plants in one day

 

[Martin.A]

So going for the fish, salad and veg diet with chicken and the odd red meat I think.

Which pretty well describes my diet, with the addition of berries with Weetabix or overnight oats for breakfast and occasionally a sandwich for lunch.

 

[Inka]

Breakfast is easy too: if you have Greek yoghurt, add a mix of two or three berries and 3 or 4 different seeds, along with a few nuts.

 

[lordburnside]

Breakfast is easy too: if you have Greek yoghurt, add a mix of two or three berries and 3 or 4 different seeds, along with a few nuts.

I sometimes have similar but I like scrambled eggs some days. I used to have bacon but I think that's banned for now.

 

[lordburnside]

At first I was scared by the idea of 30 different plants a week but when I realised that includes nuts and tea and coffee and wine and all herbs and spices and herbal teas and chocolate and most oils and seeds and fruit and veg, I realised it wasn't that bad and the meals don't have to be that complex.
I have previously mentioned my salmon parcels
- a fillet of salmon
- finely sliced leek
- a handful of peas
- generous shake of dried tarragon
- dollop of creme fraiche.
Wrap it all in baking parchment and shove it in the microwave for 5 minutes.
Add potato (or substitute) and a small salad on the side with olive oil and lemon juice dressing
Serve with tea or coffee or beer or wine
That's eight o more plant based ingredients in one meal taking less than 15 minutes to cook including chopping.
Hey, if you are feeling indulgent you could follow it up with more creme fraiche and a selection of berries and/or a portion of dark chocolate to add a few more plants whilst still keeping it relatively low carb.
I can easily cover 10 different plants in one day

That I can manage. I'll dig out the tarragon (probably out of date by a few years) and buy some creme fraiche. I always have salmon - used to be 3 x 2 steaks for £10 - bit more now! I like two but that's a few calories.
Fruit makes me snack at night but OK for breakfast.

 

[nonethewiser]

Can't argue with what @Deb_l said above, sensible reply.

Try to have one day off from meat each week, usually its a Wednesday, not for any reason in particular as still enjoy meats of all description.

Never been swayed by any diet inparticilar, no food group is bad & no diet trumps overs as far as I'm concerned, so middle of the road it is.

 

[Leadinglights]

I sometimes have similar but I like scrambled eggs some days. I used to have bacon but I think that's banned for now.

Not sure why you think bacon is off the menu as it is pretty well zero carbs and if grilled well not too much fat.

 

[Inka]

I presumed the OP was referring to the cancer risk re bacon:

Processed meats do cause cancer - WHO

Processed meats - such as bacon and ham - do cause cancer, according to the World Health Organization.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[Drummer]

I simmer bacon for a minute or so before frying it, to remove the soluble preservatives as it is too salty for my taste. I just pour on boiling water from the kettle, keep it on a low heat, then sieve it out, wipe the pan and then cook it as usual. It was normal to soak or simmer salted meat and fish back in the day when it was a common method of preserving.

 

[Colinnnnn]

Chicken Breast and fish are also good choices