05 October 2010

A treat... and I'm going to enjoy it

Well, there's somewhat mixed news to report. This bloody chest infection is still with me, despite the inhaler and antibiotics, so I still feel considerably less than 100%... although I am a fair bit better.

Because things are not yet back to normal, for some of the time food still isn't really all that attractive (although I did eat like a horse yesterday) and much of it still doesn't taste anything like 'right' at all. This is probably, in part at least, down to the all-pervasive flavour of various throat sweets, sucked madly in an attempt to shut the damn cough up. Moans to herself... why can't they make something which isn't so flamin' sickly sweet - bleh! This leads me to the treat which I'll 'fess up to later.

The lack of enthusiasm for eating, together with an increased liquid intake (since regular mugs of hot water are keeping me going), has had one positive effect. The scales now put me just a whisker under 59kg (the interim milestone I had hoped to reach by mid-October). Sure, I'll admit I'm happy with the number, but rather less so with the method by which it was reached! Still, never look that gift horse in the mouth, eh?

And, speaking of a lack of enthusiasm, wow, am I ever dog tired. So much so I could sleep for England! Exercise is right off the cards for now and the coughing makes even the thought of it challenging - just the walk getting to work is an effort at the moment, but that'll improve I guess.

Ah yes, that treat. Well since it it is now the season of mists and mellow fruitfulness... and chilly mornings, of course... breakfasts have changed from the summer routine to my much-loved porridge! Since I like it so much*, my new treat is a small pot of cold, semi-set porridge for morning break to eat with my customary apple. I can almost hear the 'yuck' from the doubters amongst you, but if you've never tried cold porridge, trust me, it's delicious. Can't say it looks pretty but...

* we make it with jumbo oats, cooked with half skimmed milk and half water... and absolutely NO sweetening at all! Have tried it all ways but this one is the best to my mind. Never could figure why it still tastes creamy... but it does.

I probably won't keep going with this for too long. After all, an apple really should suffice, shouldn't it. But, for now, I'm relishing my morning treat pot.

3 comments:

Vickie said...

I looked (Calorie King) to be sure, but thought you were better off with the oatmeal/milk breakfast. There is a serving (7g) of protein between the two oatmeal ingredients. Is not a serving of protein in an apple. I looked to be sure, because sometimes there is a surprising amount of protein in some odd places. It was the carbs and the protein that I compared between the two breakfasts. Protein is what holds and energizies. And FYI, I actually eat serving of oatmeal/skim milk AND an eggwhite omelet every day for breakfast. The more I eat early in the day, the better I do. Is this the case with you also?

I used 1/2 cup of dry oats in the calculations (below) as well as a 1/2 cup of skim milk. And I used a medium size apple. Obviously check the stats on your own products, but this will give you an idea:

Apples, with Skin, raw
Medium 3", 6.4 oz
Nutrition Facts
Calories 95 (396 kJ)
Total Fat 0.4g 1%
Sat. Fat 0.1g < 0.1%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 2mg < 0.1%
Total Carbs. 25.1g 8%
Dietary Fiber 4.4g 17%
Sugars 18.9g
Protein 0.5g
Calcium 10.9mg
Potassium 194.7mg


Breakfast Cereals,
1/2 cup To Be Cooked:
Oats, Rolled, regular or quick or instant, cooked, without salt
Nutrition Facts
Calories 74 (308 kJ)
Total Fat 1.2g 2%
Sat. Fat 0.2g 1%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 1mg < 0.1%
Total Carbs. 12.6g 4%
Dietary Fiber 2g 8%
Sugars 0.3g
Protein 3g
Calcium 9.4mg
Potassium 65.5mg

PLUS

Milk: Cow, Fat-Free, Skim
1/2 cup
Nutrition Facts
Calories 45 (190 kJ)
Total Fat 0.4g 1%
Sat. Fat 0.2g 1%
Cholesterol 2mg 1%
Sodium 65mg 3%
Total Carbs. 6.1g 2%
Dietary Fiber 0g 0%
Sugars 6.2g
Protein 4.4g
Calcium 158.1mg
Potassium 209.6mg


I am a big hot water drinker too. I squeeze a lot of fresh lemon in mine. Hope things are better soon.

When I was little we ate day old rice (cold) with milk and I remember it being wonderful. And I have heard of people adding bits of chopped apple and raisin to their water/milk and bringing it to a boil before adding oats. There was a crock pot recipe for over night steel cut oats with fruit in it. But it called for dried fruit that is usually processed with sugar (cranberries and apricots) but the same thing could probably be done with diced, raw apples, if you can afford the carbs in your daily food plan. The ratio was 8 cups water to 2 cups steel cut oats in the crock pot on low. (I am not a fan of steel cut oats myself.)

Deniz said...

That's interesting to learn, Vickie.

I may stay with my porridge at break-time then. Although I love it for breakfast, I can't eat much so early in the day (breakfast is usually about 5.30am to 6.00am). Saving a pot with half of it for later in the morning seems sensible.

As to adding fruit etc. I've tried it but prefer my oats plain.

Diane Fit to the Finish said...

I hope that you feel all the way better soon. It is so hard to be sick. Vicki gave you a lot of good information.

 
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