Hello. Howz ya didlin. Are you all scoffing enough vegetables? I hope you are. Tons of veggies are good for you. If you need some inspiration, here's a little video I made today about the delishusness of veg, and how I cook them. Plain and simple, steaming takes five minutes in a pan on the hob.
Prices are good at the moment, not too expensive, so it costs very little to make a meal. To those who say healthy eating is expensive, I say bunkum. Junk food is expensive, just veggies is cheap.
Thanks for popping in, we'll catch up soon.
Toodle pip
Yet another fab video! I'm quite new to your blog,and am working my way through all your old posts. You truly are an inspiration. I've recently cut back from working full time to part time and am loving trying some of your ideas. Your life is amazing and something which I aspire to. I too am a veggie which helps on the financial front. Keep on doing what you do because you are keeping me focused. Kind regards x
ReplyDeleteWelcome to Tightwad Towers, good to meet you. Enjoy your new free time to do whatever you want to do.
DeleteI totally agree with you Ilona, junk food and take a ways are expensive, and if eaten frequently are not good for you. As a fellow vegetarian, I love my veggies. We are also lucky enough to have a big garden and so grow our own, this is even better as they are fresh and free from chemicals. Buying veggies, cooking from scratch and eating healthily is not expensive. Just shop carefully and go to the right places. Jean.
ReplyDeleteI luv watching your videos Ilona.My meals consist of mainly vegetables too.I must say though,you eat more of them than me-I must do better.You are a good role model to me ,thankyou.I eat beans too,but I think I may cook them for too long.I use veg stock and sometimes poach a egg on top.Tonight I ate marrow stew with mushy peas ,chillies,tom puree,pots,spinach-sounds a bit odd but that's what I enjoy x
ReplyDeleteI was just noticing the effect on my digestive system from not having enough veggies these past couple of days. I got very lazy what with the heat and couldn't even be bothered pulling together a salad. Well my - how shall I put this - elimination system - is not happy with me at the moment. I feel so much better when I eat a ton of veggies so tonight I am going to be going through the fridge and prepping a few different items so that it will be very easy to pull things together over the next few days. Tomorrow I'm off out with a couple of friends and we've decided to have a picnic - I'm contributing the sandwiches, some hummus and raw veggies, another friend is making a salad, and the third is contributing a few different pieces of fruit so we will be well on our way to our daily total. Keep reminding us Ilona - it is really, really important.
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean, Margie. The cake I ate on Saturday morning played havoc with my waste disposal. Talk about bloated and windy, ha ha.
DeleteIlona, your healthy lifestyle and way of eating and reminders on a regular basis of how you eat and exercise are all very helpful and encouraging to those of us who don't do as well. Keep sharing!
ReplyDeleteThank you Joyful. I want you and all my readers to take control of their lives. Not do as I do, but do what's right for them. Looking after your health is at the top of the list.
DeleteIt's surprisingly difficult to buy good veg in my area, even though it is a perfect place to grow almost anything. Tonight I had a lovely plate of green beans, harvested from my granddaughter's small back yard, and it made me very happy. Her parents are too crazy busy to tend a garden, but they planted runner beans in the house, and somehow, kept them going until they could plant them out into a small raised bed I helped my son build some years ago. The strings they climb are nailed to a fence a few feet away, and make a wonderful bean tent for Lily (granddaughter).
ReplyDeleteThe supermarkets seem to have all decided we're too busy to select vegetables, and are more and more packaging them in plastic boxes, pre-cut (and thus more susceptible to mold, etc.) in sizes I don't want to buy. Luckily, there are farmers' markets every weekend in several places nearby where I can select the veg I want, but I despair of the supermarkets, which are my only source in the off-season. Well, I will continue to ask employees of these dreadful places if I can buy a smaller amount, and sometimes it works. I'm keeping up the good fight to keep Yanks from self-destructing! And, I loved your video--I too use the expandable steamer contraption. You're doing important work for us gormless humans, Ilona, so keep it up! Best regards from Oregon.
Hi. Our fruit and veg section is expanding it's pre cut and prepared range. I will buy it sometimes, but only if it is reduced on a yellow sticker.
DeleteVegetarian here, too. I eat more beans and lentils, sometimes peanut butter. Summer is always a good time to get more veggies. The farmers market has finally started selling vegetables so that helps.
ReplyDeleteGreat post. Love the video!
I keep home made peanut butter in my fridge and frequently dip into it.
DeleteLove watching your videos!,We eat loads of veg and salad.Every week i get carrots,parsnips,turnips,onions,ect.In fact what ever veg is on offer.I also do big salads,with lots of variety.peppers,beetroot ect.Although i do cook my veg longer as we all prefer it softer.I just use my trusty old saucepans...infact one of them must be about 55 years old!!.My daughter gave me her slow cooker,but it lives in the garage now!I only keep it because the big pot and lid thats in it,is usefull for when alot of us are here.And then i just use them on my gas hob like a normal saucepan.My neighbour was throwing hers away,so i rescued the pot out of hers aswell!! I dont have an oven either.When mine broke...and godknows why it did...cause it was very,very rarely used.I knew that i could live with out one.Ive also realised that at one time my cupboards used to be full of tinned things..that could stand there for a year or more.Now there is only tinned beans,my herbs and spices and pasta in them.Oh and mayo!Its funny how my shopping habits have changed without me realy noticing....until i take stock of whats left before i go to the shops.Well,ive got another pile of clothes and books to go to the charity shop this morning..I just love having a clear out....Although,ive still got too many clothes!!,But they are the ones that i really need,Lol.Have a lovely day all,Debi,Leic,x
ReplyDeleteHow do you do it Debi?I have occasionally had a good clear out ,but somehow it just appears again.Once I took so much to one animal charity shop the helper there looked irritated with me.I have books about it and had someone help me but it happens again. Well done you! x
DeleteI use a microwave steamer but one that clips four sides and has a vent. It's fantastic, carrot batons, broccoli, cauliflower you name it ive put it in it. Brilliant.
ReplyDeleteLovely video, Ilona. I love fruit and vegetables and have been trying to follow "eat the rainbow" plan so we get enough variety. I have to say, it amazes me how frequently I hear people saying they just don't eat vegetables because they don't like them. I understand that they might not be to everyone's tastes: we all like different things. But I don't know how a person can stay healthy without a daily dose of vegetables. That said, an elderly aunty of mine died at age 95 recently and never knowingly ate a vegetable other than potatoes and marrowfat peas during her adult life!
ReplyDeleteLove seeing your videos, we are not vegetarian, but have cut down meat intake quite a bit, about half our meals are a week are now meat free, so much better for the bank balance, and I am vegetable mad I just love em.
ReplyDeleteCan I just add you look great as well x
ReplyDeleteThank you (blush blush)
DeleteI don't know why, but I can't play your videos on my phone, which is odd because I play the music videos. This means that I can only reply to comments I've read. Some, including myself, have mentioned growing veg and buying loose veg, someone mentioned prepackaged and farmers markets. I found that farmers markets veg was more expensive, and as for prepackaged veg, it does sweat, but also smells of the chlorine they wash it in and does need rewashing. Don't like the idea of chlorine. No-one mentioned frozen veg. Not as good as fresh, but ideal when things are out of season, and if you try different brands you can find that some have more flavour that others. Don't forget that if you cook veg in water, save it for stock, or to cook rice or pasta in. Don't use fresh bean water though, it's not nice !
ReplyDeleteOops, forgot to sign my last comment, (re frozen veg). Jean
ReplyDeleteI am a vegetarian. Love sprouts, spinach and kale (the latter must be pulverised in a whizzer as the stalks are evil. Natalie
ReplyDeleteAnother great video - you are just like an old friend (well we have followed you for 9yrs now). We were sorry when it ended!
ReplyDeleteWendy (Wales)
Hi from West Virginia US ���� I love you blog and YouTube videos. I just had a couple of questions. Since you have started eating a mostly vegetarian diet and walking you look in great health. Was there ever a time you were overweight? When driving your truck ?? And do you have other blog pages?? About walking or other excercise and diet?? I love your YouTube videos especially ���� thanks for sharing your life and adventures with us. You are truly an inspiration to me. I have multiple sclerosis and want to remain as active as possible. Walkingvseems to be the best form of exercise for me. If I get overheated I have some vision issues... once my body temp goes down my Vision clears up. So a slow stready walk is my best way to exercise. I still work full time so it is sometimes heard to get in a large amount of miles. Again thanks for sharing your exciting life!!! Tammy from WV USA
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for sharing your life with us. I was just wondering when you were driving your truck werevyiu ever overweight?? I work full time and find it hard to get in as much waking as I would like to lose weight. I also have multiple sclerosis so waking is the best way for me to exercise without side effects. Do you have any other blogs about walking?? I love your YouTube videos as well. The way you refurbish items is amazing!!!! I' m such a huge fan 😊😊😊 any weight loss tips would be greatly appreciated and ant history on your weightvand lifd before retirement would be interesting. Please keep on sharing I love your blog and honesty !!! As we say her in West Virginia. Howdy and talk to you later 😊😊😊
ReplyDeleteHello Rosie. I did creep up to nearly 11 stone when I was driving. Long hours, not able to buy healthy food, no time to sit and have a proper meal, I was snacking all the time on junk. Although I was sitting in a cab for long periods of time, I was also out of it doing physically demanding loading and unloading, lifting and carrying, roping and sheeting. The weight probably helped me to keep my muscles working.
DeleteWhen I changed jobs to a less demanding one, I was able to take more of my own food to work. One thing that stopped me from ballooning too much was I never ate truckers breakfasts. I have never been a fan of fried food.
When I parked up at night on a lorry park, I sometimes went a walk, I needed to get out of the cab. If I was waiting to get unloaded in a depot I would walk round and round the truck, over and over again. Sometimes I would take my bike with me and go for a cycle ride at the end of the day. Sometimes I was just knackered and went to bed.
Weight loss tips? Eat almost anything you like, IN MODERATION. I don't believe in diets. Sweet things are treats to be eaten sparingly, not every day. Cut out or cut down on fizzy pop, sweets, crisps, chocolate, biscuits, cake, ice cream. If you can't trust yourself not to buy them in the supermarket, miss those aisles out altogether, don't go down them. Identify the times when your resistance is low,find something to do to occupy your mind. It's all about willpower.
This is the only blog I have, everything is here.
I cook lots of veggies too, just like you in a pan with one of those steamer contraptions. Thanks for the tip about cleaning it by steeping in vinegar and water. Will try that out. Last week I used a magic trick I found in a recent Which magazine for cleaning grouting on bathroom tiles. Works like a dream. Make a paste with bicarbonate of soda and cold water. Apply it to the grouting using an old toothbrush. Then spray with a white vinegar and water mixture. All the discoloration disappears. I had to scrub a bit with tha toothbrush in the worst areas, but generally the grouting came clean without any effort at all. Afterwards rinse off with clean water.
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