Need Foods To Fill Me Up!

[MidwesternGal]

I need food suggestions to keep me feeling full. Here's the story:

I have been trying to eat healthier ever since DS was born. I am BFing him, so I want to be sure he gets all the nutrients he can. However, my prior life of really really poor eating often gets in the way--bad habits are hard to break.

That being said, I have been doing great for about a month. The only problem is, I have not only hit a loss plateau, but I'm STARVING. And it seems like I eat all the time, so I don't really know why I'm so hungry. I get up, have a bowl of cereal (like Special K or a bran-type cereal), then have whole-wheat pasta with red sauce or lowfat alfredo sauce (or tuna sandwhich or steamed mixed veggies) for lunch. . . usually a midday snack that's my "treat" of ice cream or chips, something of that nature. . . and have supper with DH, usually meat with beans or potatoes, something like that. If I'm still hungry, I often make a peanut butter sandwhich in the middle of the day/later in the evening.

I realize I could be eating a heck of a lot better, but seriously, this is pretty good for me, who used to live on cold meat and frozen pizza everyday!

The first few weeks went really well, but I've fallen off the wagon this week, because it seems like I'm starving all.the.time. I haven't upped any "workout" of any sort, or anything like that.

Can anyone give me suggestions for foods that fill me up?? I know a lot of you will mention my diet is lacking in fruit, but I pretty much hate all fruits (even the ones I like usually go bad before I eat them). So any veggie, carb, meat suggestion is welcome!!

Thanks so much!!

[heather1029]

Fat is the ultimate filler. As long as you stray away from most vegetable oils/fats and their very very unhealthy hydrogenated counterparts, fat is awesome for a healthy diet as long as it's in moderation.

Also, it is so important to get all your vitamins while breastfeeding. Vitamins A, E, D and K all come from fat. (They are "fat soluble" vitamins, as opposed to "water soluble" vitamins like C.)

walnuts with organic raisins
1 boiled egg (from free range chicken) & dried cranberries
organic apple with peanut (or other nut) butter
glass of full fat organic milk
organic cheese & dried apricots
tall latte made with organic milk (they have this at Starbucks)
yogurt & whole grain crackers
Larabar ( larabar.com) ...These are made with straight nuts and fruit, no weird or unnatural ingredients!

[AmandaLeigh]

It sounds to me as if you are eating a lot of carbohydrates. Maybe you could mix some high protein items in to help you feel full longer. Here are a few that I enjoy.

Yogurt with fresh fruit or granola
Celery with peanut butter or cream cheese
Apple slices with peanut butter
Small bowl of chicken soup
sliced turkey and any veggies wrapped in a lettuce leaf
Trailmix with dried fruit and nuts
hot milk with honey and cinamin

[Amuse Bouche]

Fiber and protein. -- Chickpeas are great and easy in salad (or in hummus) and pretty filling. Also try a bowl of lentil soup or chili for lunch. Lean protein and more veggies would help too.

[MidwesternGal]

Thanks for the suggestions! I'm going grocery shopping later this week, so I've added new items to my list all ready!

[Niobe]

Hummus and whole wheat pita bread is a great daytime snack, lots of protein in the hummus. I make a big batch and keep in the fridge.

Kashi cereal is good to snack on, especially the Go Lean. I love the Honey Almond Go Lean Crunch. No corn syrup, it's all sweetened with evaporated cane juice, and it's got a lot more protein and fiber then regular cereal. All whole grains too. I've found it at Target for way less then normal grocery stores charge.

[MidwesternGal]

Niobe--Ooh, I like Kashi! I'll have to check Target out, because it's too expensive at our local grocery store, and I quit buying it.

[kimbyj]

I always eat an apple when I feel hungry - the fiber is good for you and it fills you up (well, at least until I am able to stop and think about a what next to eat!)

[Katie&Micah]

Dairy seems to really fill me up. Yogurt, a glass of milk or some cheese really help me when I'm starving.

[ysolde]

Have you tried having a a cup or bowl of low-fat broth-based soup before lunch and dinner? You can add lots of veggies to this, which makes it easier to get your veggies in. It is really filling, and yummy.

[villanelle75]

Onc eof my favorite, filling, low cal snacks is a slice of whole wheat, high fiber bread (I like Oroweat Double Fiber) with a Laughing Cow spread cheese wedge and a few slices of thinly sliced turkey. The whole thing only has about 140 calories but with 6 grams of fiber and a small bit of fat, it really fills me up.