Like weight loss before and after photos but of your new diet !

I'm especially interested in before and after meal photos (take a pic at the point you feel restriction) but it can be of recipe substitutions, your refrigerator/pantry/shopping cart/etc

VSG2017 HW 249 SW 238 CW 167

5 hours ago, Spinoza said:

Also I've never heard of cake donuts.

Mmm, best kind IMO!

On 6/8/2025 at 2:08 PM, SpartanMaker said:

Mmm, best kind IMO!

I agree!

Couscous, pickled beets and crispy chicken nuggets

Farro salad with balsamic vinaigrette. Has spinach, tomatoes, red pepper, black beans, pistachios, pine nuts, shaved parmesan and probably some other stuff I'm forgetting... ? The bread is an olive sourdough.

10 hours ago, SpartanMaker said:

Farro salad with balsamic vinaigrette. Has spinach, tomatoes, red pepper, black Beans, pistachios, pine nuts, shaved parmesan and probably some other stuff I'm forgetting... ? The bread is an olive sourdough.

Looks delicious. We call Farro, Barley. Lovely stuff, great in winter stews. I make a salad with it and roasted vegetables. So inexpensive and tasty

2 hours ago, summerseeker said:

Looks delicious. We call Farro, Barley. Lovely stuff, great in winter stews. I make a salad with it and roasted vegetables. So inexpensive and tasty

Interesting that it's called barley in the UK!

We have a different grain we call barley, but the word "farro" is really odd here in that technically there are 3 different varieties of wheat berries we call farro: emmer, spelt & einkorn. These are all really ancient wheat grains that predate modern wheat. The word "farro" is obviously a loan word from Italian and we can thank the large Italian immigrant contingent here for it (and for bringing over some tasty ways to prepare it).

Regardless, I agree that it's such a wonderful grain and sadly underutilized here in the states. I think our traditional barley is mostly used in soups and stews here, but farro is more common in salads like I made, or sometimes as a side dish similar to how you might make a risotto (another wonderful Italian dish).

Sorry for going off on a tangent a bit, but I'm a huge food history geek and find it fascinating how what we eat has evolved and changed over time!

On 6/12/2025 at 12:43 PM, SpartanMaker said:

Interesting that it's called barley in the UK!

We have a different grain we call barley, but the word "farro" is really odd here in that technically there are 3 different varieties of wheat berries we call farro: emmer, spelt & einkorn. These are all really ancient wheat grains that predate modern wheat. The word "farro" is obviously a loan word from Italian and we can thank the large Italian immigrant contingent here for it (and for bringing over some tasty ways to prepare it).

Regardless, I agree that it's such a wonderful grain and sadly underutilized here in the states. I think our traditional barley is mostly used in Soups and stews here, but farro is more common in salads like I made, or sometimes as a side dish similar to how you might make a risotto (another wonderful Italian dish).

Sorry for going off on a tangent a bit, but I'm a huge food history geek and find it fascinating how what we eat has evolved and changed over time!

Spelt is the new in name that is being used in bread here. Probably sounds bettter than the old fashioned word. Emmer is a very old word I recognise from really old cook books, so we used that here back in the middle ages, peasant food. Porridge mostly. I love antique cook books.

While in Medillin Colombia, I will eat like a Colombian.... today's meal is Mandango soup (it would be ian acquired taste you would have to like beef tripe. I was raised off of that type of food), plantains, beans, and such ❤️? ? yum

Popped into the local grocery store yesterday to pick up some yoghurt & on my way to the arctic zone I spied a garlic and Parmesan chicken parcel ready meal. I hesitated but picked it up. Can’t say it didn’t puff well but maybe that’s where the 19g of protein listed on the nutrient panel was. It certainly wasn’t in the almost non existent barely 2 level tablespoons of the creamy garlic Parmesan chicken filling. I have no idea where the chicken actually was either - I saw two or three small shredded pieces. And it tasted unpleasant. I know why I avoid these mass produced processed ready meal foods. The second one is in my fridge though it may be in the bin later today. At least my usual vegetables were yummy.

9 hours ago, Arabesque said:

Popped into the local grocery store yesterday to pick up some yoghurt & on my way to the arctic zone I spied a garlic and Parmesan chicken parcel ready meal. I hesitated but picked it up. Can’t say it didn’t puff well but maybe that’s where the 19g of Protein listed on the nutrient panel was. It certainly wasn’t in the almost non existent barely 2 level tablespoons of the creamy garlic Parmesan chicken filling. I have no idea where the chicken actually was either - I saw two or three small shredded pieces. And it tasted unpleasant. I know why I avoid these mass produced processed ready meal foods. The second one is in my fridge though it may be in the bin later today. At least my usual vegetables were yummy.

Ouch! Live and learn.

18 hours ago, Arabesque said:

Popped into the local grocery store yesterday to pick up some yoghurt & on my way to the arctic zone I spied a garlic and Parmesan chicken parcel ready meal. I hesitated but picked it up. Can’t say it didn’t puff well but maybe that’s where the 19g of Protein listed on the nutrient panel was. It certainly wasn’t in the almost non existent barely 2 level tablespoons of the creamy garlic Parmesan chicken filling. I have no idea where the chicken actually was either - I saw two or three small shredded pieces. And it tasted unpleasant. I know why I avoid these mass produced processed ready meal foods. The second one is in my fridge though it may be in the bin later today. At least my usual vegetables were yummy.

Eughhhh. I hate when store bought food doesn't even try to live up to its promise. Yeah I agree, chuck that second portion - life's too short!

21 hours ago, Arabesque said:

Popped into the local grocery store yesterday to pick up some yoghurt & on my way to the arctic zone I spied a garlic and Parmesan chicken parcel ready meal. I hesitated but picked it up. Can’t say it didn’t puff well but maybe that’s where the 19g of Protein listed on the nutrient panel was. It certainly wasn’t in the almost non existent barely 2 level tablespoons of the creamy garlic Parmesan chicken filling. I have no idea where the chicken actually was either - I saw two or three small shredded pieces. And it tasted unpleasant. I know why I avoid these mass produced processed ready meal foods. The second one is in my fridge though it may be in the bin later today. At least my usual vegetables were yummy.

Gosh, that's so annoying isn't it!! ?

I too get sucked in on occasion! ... There I'll be minding my own business when a pre made meal will thrust its self into my hands with such seductive promise...? "Oh look, I'm all tasty, and easy, and healthy".. "you know you would rather not cook a bespoke meal after working all day" ?

...only to bitterly disappoint once cooked!! ???‍?? ?

It’s turned cold here rather quickly (well cold for us) and I thought oh comforting and warming but nope. Yes the other one went in the bin. Had some of the pea & ham soup I made last month instead. I’ve still got bags of that in my freezer. ?

It's been very chilly here all week .. brrrr

Sunday lunch today, tried something new, a Dish by a Cypriot Turkish descent British cook called Melizcooks on Insta, never tried this before it was delicious!!

Yanyana Tavasi... Lamb and veggies, all cooked side by side! a Big hit with the family, especially those that don't eat this.. or that, serve yourself what you like! ?

Oh I love that! Plus it looks absolutely delicious.?