Discussion Board

Hi,

Jumping into the program cold turkey and wanted to ask for some help: my wife & I usually meet with some friends once a week at one of several Italian restaurants. Switching to a vegan/Dr. McDougall approach, besides the salad (will specify dry, no croutons or cheese) would spaghetti with marinara sauce be a quasi-acceptable option if it is low or no oil?

Also, I made some hummus out of the Engine 2 book (good stuff and added a bunch a jalapenos to spice it up). I also grabbed some corn tortillas, crisped them up in the oven and spread the hummus on them. I looked at the package and did not see any added oils or sugars...cellulose, phosphoric acid, lime. Assuming these would be ok?

Thanks!

I was eating corn tortillas and yes I think they are OK...right now though I am eating the MWL so none for me...they are really good with nonfat veggie re-fried beans and Salsa or Dips of variety...McDougall approved of course....Enjoy...but not to many...

Welcome texasvegan! The tortillas sound fine!
We all know how hard it is to mcdougall when eating out. Spaghetti with marinara sounds like the better option, and you can always ask them to leave out the oil. You could also see if they can serve you a whole wheat, or rice pasta instead of white pasta.

You're so lucky to be able to buy baked tortilla chips! I really, really miss my chips. Thank goodness I'm moving back to Canada in a couple of months or I think I would have to pay a fortune to import a years supply from the states.

Would be a great idea to call around all the restaurants you frequent ahead of time so you know which sauce/dish has added oil. If they know you are already a regular they should be really helpful. Then whichever restaurant you end up with you'll be ready.

Nordgirl if you can find corn tortillas you can cut them up into triangles and bake them on a cookie sheet.

Hi Texasvegan:

I don't know if your on the regualr program or Maximum Weight Loss - those of us om MWL have this to follow:

I tried to sneak in a few more tortillas and I stopped loosing and these were definitely low fat healthy corn tortillas. So beware of flour goods and the wonderful tortillas they can mess weight loss up!

Thanks for the thought, but ALL the tortillas here (France) are loaded with oil.

Bear in mind that Italians LOVE their olive oil. I've never seen a marinara sauce made in an Italian restaurant that doesn't add oil and most pastas are drained and oil is added so it doesn't stick. You may be able to have them make your pasta separate without the oil since that is pretty quick but I doubt they will whip up some marinara for you. Also, most bread in an Italian restaurant has oil spread on the top.

Time for nordgirl to buy some masa and start making her own corn tortillas. Fat free and oh so good!!! Take it a step further and cut them up in to triangles and pop them in the oven....corn tortilla chips! Just add your favorite dip!

Hi,

Thanks for the tips. Perhaps I could ask the restaurants to go lightly on the sauce instead of drowning the pasta, or, put it on the side and I can add enough to keep the spaghetti from sticking?

Corn tortillas: I eat up to three a day. Put them in the oven, crisp them up and then add my jalapeno (and now cilantro) hummus as a healthy tostada. Just baking them up whole and splitting in half works too as a big chip.

But, I'm not on MWL at this point...I did increase my exercise quite a bit and I'm running 2.5 miles (out) and doing "intervals" (walking/running) on the way back, and, am doing a new bodyweight exercise program as well as some deadlifts for strength training. I hope the combination of the vegan diet & along with the increase in training does the trick.