Phillyist: Foodsday Tuesday: The Unemployment Diet

joe

Wed, 21 Feb 2007 13:31:19 -0500

I am in a similar predicament. I also eat ramen, sans flavor packet. However, I find what works best for me is to mix some of my favorite soups with some organic pasta, going relatively light on the pasta and the portions and then eating four or five small meals a day. This is so boring it makes my brain cry, but it keeps my metabolism going just enough to type up comments and articles on Phillyist!

ultraclay

Wed, 21 Feb 2007 00:57:59 -0500

The first rule of ramen is to ditch the flavor packet. If you've got homemade stock, use that instead. Can't speak to college inn or any of that stuff, but really, making stock is as easy as boiling water with a bunch of picked clean bones in it. Or buy chicken feet from Reading Market. Anyway, boil stock instead of water, toss in some garlic, raw or sauteed, and whatever herbs you may have on hand. You can always finish it off by adding meat if you've got some or dropping in an egg when it's nearly done.

Sarcasmom

Tue, 20 Feb 2007 19:13:08 -0500

If you are in the neigborhood, stop in. We will be glad to feed you.

Ed

Tue, 20 Feb 2007 17:15:24 -0500

One thing I might suggest is that you don't cut out your meals (like breakfast and lunch) but actually divide your meals into more meals. Eating only one mean a day can trigger the body's starvation reflex. As a result, it will try to store more glyogen as fat thinking the "food supply" is limited. This means you get less bang for each calorie buck you eat. It you eat a lot of little meals (a slice of toast with PB for breakfast, maybe a yogurt midmorning, a banana or other fresh fruit late morning, a glass of skim milk midafternoon, etc, etc) your body will believe there is a constant food supply. As a result your body will use each calorie more effectively for energy instead trying store fat. Some weightlifters and athletes will eat 6-10 mini-meals a day for just this reason. Thus you won't be as hungry when you do go out to eat and you can maybe get three nights out of those leftovers instead of two!