Gramma Jackie, in my humble opinion, reducing the %fat is more important than reducing calories. One way you could reduce both with either non-dairy milk is to dilute it somewhat with water. I know, I know, that sounds icky. Just do it gradually: for a few days, try 5 parts milk to 1 part water. Next go to 4 parts milk to 1 part water. Then do 3 parts milk to 1 part water. See how far you can take it before it just doesn't even appeal anymore.
I love cereal but all the non-dairy milks seem to be higher in fat than I want to use so I'm trying to eat other types of breakfasts. Things like hashbrowns, steel-cut oats, brown rice, bulgur, or whole wheat couscous are going to be options for me. All of those also have the advantage of being way cheaper than cold cereal plus a non-dairy milk! Sometimes I just eat dinner leftovers for breakfast, too.
Folks, please don't make me into the food cop here. Everyone here is intelligent (or ya wouldn't be here
) and can read
the free program on the main website to see what the recommendations are. I suspect most of us own or have at least read one McDougall book or another. The "diet" is pretty basic and simple. Let's not make this overly complicated. Read
this page for more info.
If you have doubts about whether of not you should be consuming something, odds are you shouldn't. We humans are incredibly gifted at rationalizing. I'm surprised, actually, that no one nailed me on my little rationalization... Compare my list in the original post to
Dr. McDougall's list of what not to eat: see how I decided that WonderSlim Cocoa was okay despite his stating the proper chocolate substitution was carob? I decided that since WonderSlim Cocoa has the caffeine and fat removed, and since Mary uses it in recipes (like the brownies), that it was okay
for me.Dr. McDougall recommends quitting caffeine but if you just can't handle that while making sure that everything else is 100%, then that's your choice. Do the absolute best that you can do but don't make excuses for yourself. Push yourself just a bit farther (or a lot!) than you think you can go. Not only are we good at rationalizing, we're good at being lazy. Or, as Dr. Lisle would put it, practicing "energy conservation."
And believe me, these are not criticisms. These are observations garnered by observing
myself as well as others. Do you think I'd stick to 100% compliance if I wasn't having to report every bite I ate here after stating publicly that I would be compliant? Uh, I'll let you think on that one...