First - I can afford it. When you add up the coke & french toast brekkies, the varied lunches complete with yet another coke, and the dinners I almost never cook at home and end up buying expensive take-out because of my odd working hours - I'm fairly sure I'm spending well over $20 a day on food, and that's if I don't buy myself a yummy caramel latte or decide on something like Chinese or sushi for dinner (Why are the healthier options always so much more expensive?). So for less than that, I can get a calorie and portion controlled menu of three meals a day plus morning and afternoon tea. Do the math B. I can't believe I've been this stupid.
I also can't make everything they provide in their meal plans at home. I costed doing a 1 week grocery shop to include everything that is on the menu and it is fair to say it is completely ri-donk-ulous. Not only can I not buy just one fruit muffin or individual serving sized tomato salsa from the supermarket - the prep time would be hell and I would need a freezer the size of a queen sized bed if I wanted to freeze the extra bread, muffins etc for later weeks. Combined with the fact that my partner does not eat anything that isn't a potato or was previously a walking, breathing animal - the amount of food wastage would be huge. As my Nan always used to tell me, "Think of all the starving children in Ethiopia who would love what you leave on your plate". The day someone starts a supermarket marketed to singles that sells only individual sized servings - I'm buying a butt-load of shares. Hell, if I had the capital I'd start one myself.
My last excuse, the one that kept me hanging on longer than the rest - it's healthy and good for you so it must taste like a bucket of crap - well. . . I can only happily say I was just as wrong about that. The food is really, really tasty. I'm finding myself looking forward to tomorrows culinary delights (I'm sure the fact that my afternoon tea consists of a warm apple crumble sweetens the deal). I'm told that the dinners are particularly good and I'm looking forward to working through the 50+ options. The baked chicken & mushroom sauce I had tonight was excellent. I will definitely be having that again.
Not that I don't have my complaints. It seems whoever packed my delivery neglected my fruit muffin and gave me a normal muffin. Small issue I know, but when all you've got to have on it margarine - I was kind of looking forward to the spicy, fruitiness of the muffin. Also, I am admittedly a bit of a tomato snob. I'm one of those people that normally insists on the truss kind - you know, the ones that are vine ripened in the glorious sunlight, not banana gassed to turn red before their time. It seems Lite n' Easy don't believe in truss tomatoes. I'm sure I'll get over it - but there's just something spectacular about the texture and flavour of a perfectly ripe tomato.
I'm also perfectly aussie in the sense that if it ain't iceberg lettuce - it's a weed. No offence intended to those out there who enjoy a bit of rocket or baby spinach in their salads, but I'm of the opinion that lettuce should be crisp, juicy and fresh - not tasting like a flower. So it looks like I'll be avoiding the salad options in future. I'm not one to force myself to eat something I don't enjoy. No matter how good for me it is. I love my food. I'm not in the business of ruining the experience for myself.
The other choice I made (which I think is kinda smart on my part), is I chose the lower calorie meal option. This has many benefits in my eyes. First, at the moment I'm not getting a whole lot of exercise except walking to and from the bus station - although I have taken up swimming a couple of times a week and will add a Zumba class or two down the line. Second, I can indulge in a social beverage or two when called upon. My office engages in the beer-o-clock ritual every Friday and while I don't go every week - it's nice to know I can still go and enjoy a low-carb beer instead of sitting there nursing a glass of ice water because I don't want to blow my diet. Third, if I feel like a chocolate biscuit - I'm damn well going to eat one. I've long since learnt that depriving myself of the things I enjoy does not work in my favour as I tend to chuck a tantrum from my sweet deprivation and gorge an entire packet of Tim-tams. A little treat every now and again will prevent me blowing the whole thing in the long run. In my job I assess risk everyday - call this one my risk mitigation strategy to blowing my diet and gaining another 5kgs.
So I think I'm onto a good thing. I've switched to light milk and Natvia natural sweetener (only 0.6 calories per serve!) and have cut out soft drinks - lie, I had a coke zero today at a farewell lunch. Mind you, I did extremely well watching everyone else eat their steak & chips, pastas and lamb shanks smothered in gravy without batting an eyelid. I suppose once I get used to minimal sugar (you don't realise just how much your body craves it til you stop - the pounding headaches have already arrived) and the smaller servings (admittedly, I'm a little hungry about now), it will become just a natural thing to order, unpack and eat my allocation each week. Fresh, yummy food with minimal fuss. Easy, convenient. If only I had given up my piss-poor excuses years ago!
If you're wanting to check it out or give it a try, head on over to the Lite n' Easy website http://www.liteneasy.com.au/nova/index.html There's no start up fees (except $6 for your first esky), lock in contracts or commitments to order. It's convenient and cost effective, especially for singles or people with fussy partners who eat next to no variety or work nights 3-4 days a week like me - hope he enjoyed his ham and cheese toastie for dinner cause that's about as sophisticated as it's going to get unless he cooks dinner for himself.
Also, it you'd like to learn more about Natvia - an all natural sugar replacement, head to their website http://www.natvia.com.au/ Bonus points because the company is Australian owned - and the product is made in Australia. A couple of key points:
- Natvia is perfect for people on calorie controlled diets to help control sugar cravings without the use of artificial sweeteners (which have known health effects)
- Natvia does not promote tooth decay - your dentist will love you and so will your wallet
- Natvia is suitable for most diabetics (always seek advice from your doctor)
- You can use Natvia in your coffee, tea, cooking and baking and it does not have the bitter taste of most artificial sweeteners and sugar substitutes
x B
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