Eliminating oil

[JackyE]

Hi

My name is Jacky, I'm 51 years old, I'm from the Netherlands and I have started a plantbased diet about 6 monthes ago. Slowly changed my diet, and now I'm almost there. But I still have so much difficulty eliminating the oil from my food. My family supports me, but does not join me. So the potatoes are still baked of deepfried. I don't know how to make a salad tasty without some walnut- or oliveoil. And when the snacks are on the table, it costs me so much (too much) energy not to eat a little. Tasty oilfree snacks are difficult to find. Because of this, I do not lose the weight I want to. Does anyone recognize this, and do you have some tips for me?

[Idgie]

This was the hardest thing for me at first. Here are my suggestions:

1) Find some oil-free salad dressings that you like. This was one of my faves when I was still eating tofu: https://fatfreevegan.com/blog/2010/03/03/bryannas-low-fat-creamy-caesar-dressing/

2) Find some oil-free snacks that you like. Some of my favorites:

red pepper strips with hummus (my fat-free hummus is 2 cans drained chickpeas, juice of 1 lemon, 1 clove garlic, 1/2 tsp salt, and one large roasted red pepper from a jar or homemade; blend it all for at least 2 minutes until it's really smooth)
fresh fruit
roasted chickpeas (drain but don't dry canned or homecooked chickpeas; toss with lots of seasonings; roast at 400F stirring every 10 munutes, until crispy; also works with fava beans)
oil-free cabbage slaw
cold boiled potatoes or sweet potatoes
oven "fried" potatoes
frozen fruit
oven-baked tortilla chips -- I dampen them so the seasonings will stick, and bake them on 400F, turning every once in a while, until they're starting to brown
waffle-iron hash browns with no oil -- these hit the potato-chip/crisp spot for me pretty well

3) Make sure you're eating enough. If I get too hungry, I make bad choices.

4) Find some oil-free soups you like. There are lots of great soup recipes on this site, and soup is filling and comforting. Even though it's not exactly a cure for wanting snack foods, I find it makes me feel... hmm, how do I say this? It makes me feel like I'm worth taking care of.

[JackyE]

Idgie, thank you for your reply. Your tips are most helpfull. Soup is totally my thing, I've never seen it as a snack though. So that is definitely worth a try. And the chickpeas sound delicious. Gonna try these. As well as the others snacks you mention. Thanks a lot!!
This evening my husband told me he was considering to join me. Good news for me, makes it a lot easier.

[Idgie]

Oh, I hope your husband joins you!!! That would be so awesome!

I have a rule against pushing people to eat the way I do, but people really seem to like to share my food with me when it's something they like. My kid, for example, will fill up on sweet potatoes if I make them for her. So I do.

[Suey51]

Hi Jacky,

Some great suggestions from Idgie! A couple of other ideas:

- Roadkill Potatoes - can't remember who shared this idea on the McD Forum but its popular with me and my husband. Line a baking sheet with parchment. Place some cooked potatoes (baby/new potatoes or jacket/baked potatoes work well for this) on the parchment and squash them with a potato masher. Sprinkle on some seasoning and bake until crispy and a little brown. I use a mix of paprika, black pepper and garlic powder plus a little salt when I eat them. They are lovely and crispy in spite of no oil!

- Oatmeal/porridge as a late afternoon / evening snack. I make a double batch in the morning, have half for breakfast and then pop the rest in the fridge. That way it's quick to grab and reheat if I feel the need for something comforting later in the day.

- Carrot/celery/courgette/cucumber sticks - either on their own or with homemade hummus. Again, I keep these ready prepared in the fridge and bring out when other snacks are on the table.

- Salad dressing - I mostly make this as its tasty and easy!

Jane Esselstyn 3-2-1 Salad Dressing

3 tbsp balsamic vinegar
2 tbsp dijon mustard
1 tbsp maple syrup (or agave, etc)

Hope your husband does join you as it certainly makes it easier! My husband now eats this way c.80% of the time and its helped me stay compliant and makes mealtimes more enjoyable

[Idgie]

- Roadkill Potatoes - can't remember who shared this idea on the McD Forum but its popular with me and my husband. Line a baking sheet with parchment. Place some cooked potatoes (baby/new potatoes or jacket/baked potatoes work well for this) on the parchment and squash them with a potato masher. Sprinkle on some seasoning and bake until crispy and a little brown. I use a mix of paprika, black pepper and garlic powder plus a little salt when I eat them. They are lovely and crispy in spite of no oil!

We call those Crash Hot Potatoes (because that's what the recipe I first used called them) but I've never made them without oil. I'm gonna try it; thanks!

[JackyE]

Thank you, Suey, for the great suggestions. I realise now that somewhere in the proces I forgot about potatoes, sweet potatoes, pumpkins, as a satisfying food. Maybe it's because the plain cookied potatoes in my youth and the oily baked potatoes we eat now, always felt like junkfood. I certainly will try these Roadkill/Crash Potatoes. Today is the day I will stop eating processed fat.
My husband is sort of mentally preparing. It took me six months, so no rush here.

[Idgie]

Way to go, Jacky! You won't be sorry.

[moonspirit]

Here is one recipe that I make often just to have when I need to eat something quickly. Other people like it too.

Southwest Bean Salad:

2 cans black beans, drained and rinsed
1/2 red onion, diced finely
2 ripe tomatoes, diced
2 red bell peppers, seeded and diced
1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro (optional)
juice of 1-2 limes
salt to taste

Combine all ingredients; chill.

I keep this in the fridge for those times when I want to snack or if I need to supplement a meal, or just as a meal with quinoa.

[Idgie]

My kind of dish!

[JackyE]

Moonspirit, thank you for the easy recipe. I have to change my concept of a snack, I guess. Snacks are crispy and salty, and can be eaten out of the bag, right?? NOT!! A salad as a snack, again new to me. You people make me think out of the box. I love this forum!

[Jobet]

I make the Roadkill Potatoes on my non-stick waffle iron. I find they work best after sitting overnight in the fridge.

[JackyE]

That's a good idea, Jobet. I'll try that.