The First Weekend

The first weekend on plan is usually the hardest. You have a day to spend together at home with the child. You don't want to spend time in the kitchen. You normally don't even eat proper meals. You just eat junk and keep going until one of you admits defeat. Full fry-ups, coffee with sugar, chocolate, crisps, pizza. Oh, the shame.

But not today. Being organised with healthy food in the kitchen, and being in an environment that I enjoy, I've had no problem cooking on a Saturday. I've even been shopping. I did pick up chocolate bars but there's method in the madness: they're already in a big plastic box and I will be writing the Syn values on the side so that when I have an abundance of Syns left over, I can simply grab one for a real treat. The Emergency Box, if you will. Trust me, it's probably the only way I'm going to get any Syns into my diet.

I made more of the Tomato, Lentil and Vegetable soup today. It's a proper heart-warmer and filling to boot. It gives me a great big smile everytime I put a hot spoonful in my mouth. It's just that good. No kidding. Even the kid likes it. I could tell when she was mooching off me and I gave her a taste to get rid of her. More fool me - she had half the bloody bowl gone. No wonder she's growing like a weed.

I had a craving for something sweet today too. Instead of reaching for the Emergency Box, I had a bowl of the tomato, veg and lentil soup I made the other day (not the one I made today - same stuff, but that's for tomorrow and the beginning of the week!) and then had some chilli I had left over from last night along with boiled rice. I stopped halfway through because I wasn't hungry anymore. I was satisfied. If I had finished the bowl, it would have been pure greed. That's the habit I need to break. After all that healthy, free food, I popped the kettle on, had some milk from my measured allowance - didn't even realise how much milk I take in my tea until right now - and grabbed a Chocolate & Fudge Alpen Light bar from the Healthy Extra box. Three Syns are better that 5 or 10 or whatever, so I'm still guilt free today.

I decided to start measuring my milk and putting it in a plastic bottle so I know I've had all my allowance. Just like I've measured out all the cereal I had in the house. It's all in little bags in a box. My cupboard is pretty well organised, and full to the gunnels now. (Gunnels - is that just a North East Scotland word, or does it exist outwith? Who knows?)

There's some turkey and pork in the fridge needing used up so I think I'm going to use 2 pork fillets to make my fried rice again and bulk up on the veggies, and then cook the rest with spices and keep it cold for snacking on. It's makes a change from chicken thighs. Those may be used for making curry or a roast dinner tomorrow. We will see what I can be bothered doing. Maybe a roast will be easier than I expect. Chuck everything in the oven, roast tatties as well. Loads of veg on the side and make my own gravy for 1 Syn per serving (I think? Will need to check my book!)

So far, I'm delighted with the plan but as always, the proof will be on the scales on Thurday.

Super Speedy Fried Rice

This was supper from last night. It was amazing, quick and so filling! I will definitely be making this anytime I need a speedy Speed-Food filled meal for us.

Serves 2 hungry adults
Syn Free

2 pork sizzle steaks
2 peppers, finely sliced
6 spring onions, sliced thinly diagonally
3 large mushrooms (or 6 normal sized), halved and sliced
1/2 courgette, cut into matchsticks
1 carrot, cut into matchsticks,
3 cups cooked and cooled rice
1 egg
2 tbsp soy sauce
1 tsp grated ginger
2 cloves garlic

Fry the pork in a couple skooshes of fry light.
Meanwhile, heat stir-fry pan with some fry light over medium high heat. Add all veg, reserving some spring onions. Stir-fry for a couple of minutes, then cover and allow to steam stirring now and then.
Make a well in the centre. Add egg and LEAVE IT until it's almost cooked. Stir with veg, add ginger and garlic and keep moving.
Add soy sauce and mix well, then add rice. Stir until piping hot.
Slice the pork. Spoon rice mix into bowls, top with pork and spring onions.

Yummers!