Can you be healthy and frugal?

Dear reader, Firstly here is the list so far of the losing pounds challenge. I am trying to think of a really good name for us all. Any ideas? We now have Pam, Rambler,VC,Katie-Jane,Highlandhearts,Maria,Emma Watts,Miss Piggy bank,Jan,Helen Mortimer,Donna Scott,Welsh Poppy(sorry I missed you) AlisonB43 and Treaders. I have been going through recipe books, old diet magazines and looking for inspiration online for healthy meals and packed lunches. Today I had 2 Weetabix with semi skimmed and granulated sweetener. It looks a bit weird like the stuff in a snow globe and I could just blow it away but it gives me sweetness without the calories.

 When I got to work, the bitches (the skinny ones on the other side of the office in the size eight jeans!) had brought in two types of chocolate cookies, the chewy type, and chocolate brownies followed by a coffee cake. "Oh just help yourself" they chirped, in their skinny jeans, high heels and lip gloss. All sweetness and light- I'm not fooled. I stayed well away. I had a cup of tea and for my treat I had an Alpen light bar. The only cereal bar I have found that isn't laden with fat and calories. Try them, nice flavours. I like cherry bakewell. For lunch I had last nights lamb biryani, an apple and a no fat fruit yogurt. (Lidl) I got a bit hungry about 4pm so I had one of those mug shots. The cheese and pasta one. Low fat and it was nice. Takes a while for the pasta to go soft but filled me up. 

Tonight I had a jacket potato, half a tin of baked beans and a tiny bit of cheddar. I would usually have had a so lodge of butter, plenty of salt, loads of grated cheese and a dollop of coleslaw. Now I have to admit it was a bit bland so to add flavour I splashed Worcestershire sauce on it, much better. My concern with food in our shops is that the cheapest foods seem to be unhealthy. The crisps, the biscuits, the cheap bread, chips and pizzas. I think you can get an own brand of digestive biscuits for the same price as one orange. Pizzas can be had for one pound and chips 87p for a huge bag of frozen ones. It takes a lot of organisation to be prepared, to have meals ready and to get something healthy on the table especially if you've been at work all day. Who wants to start chopping, peeling and baking after 8 hours plus travelling? Not me! I read on someone blog although I can't recall who, that they cooked a batch of jacket potatoes then froze them ready to get out, heat in microwave, stuff with something lovely and eat. What a great idea. The jacket spud, a wonderful food for cold winter nights. Full of carbs though. Now what's best? Low carbs, high protein (but could play havoc with arteries), low fat, low calorie or a healthy mix of all food types with low fat in mind? I think that's the one I fancy. I love my pasta, potatoes and pulses and I also enjoy meat and fish. I don't fancy eating high protein and I just don't think you can eat loads of cheese and cream and it be good for you. I am just waiting for Big man to replace my scales batteries and I will post my weight. I'm not shy and I know we are all friends and you won't judge me because you are all lovely. I'm sure the small changes I've made so far will make a difference. I am also going to take measurements of top of arms (bingo wing area) top of thighs (the wobbly bit) waist and hip areas. I think that will be a good way to see myself melting. Some of the challenge list are doing brilliantly, some have lost weight already and some are going to join in the New Year. I already have a giveaway arranged with weight loss cooking in mind. I will do the giveaway on Sunday but you must have joined the weight loss challenge and be on the list to enter. So send me your name and I will add you. We are going to do so well!