Newbies

Hi, TScott. No question is dumb! The amount is without the shells, and is equivalent to about 2 tablespoons or 30 ml.

Hi, Irene. The basic principle is to use the version of a food that is the least processed – so to use oats as an example, we would encourage you to use “steel-cut” or “rolled” oats instead of the “quick” or “instant” type, as you noted. Brown rice pasta is a similar example, and if you’re not gluten-intolerant, you can just use whole wheat pasta. If you need to avoid gluten, then note that you can order whole grain alternatives from the many healthy online shops that service the UK (see our guide https://www.trimdownclub.com/where-to-buy-UK).
As for your final question, absolutely :). Just try to get in at least 5 total fruit/vegetable and 3 calcium-rich food/beverage servings each day.

As a newbie starting the 8 week plan menus.
1. I regularly eat porridge for breakfast but I think I read something on your site that there is good oats and bad oats? As in some package cerials are bad or quick porridge is bad. Is this true? What do I need to look for in porridge oats?
2. I haven’t come across brown rice pasta either ? Is this very different to normal pasta from the supermarkets? Just wondering if it makes much difference using normal pasta?
3. If there is too much quantity of food during the day is it ok to skip the final snack of the day or leave bits here and there?

Hi, Debi. Yes, the intention is for you to eat everything on the menu.

Hi
Hi

I have made up a few menu’s and they all look great, do we eat everything that is listed in each section or is it a selection of the items listed. My menu for breakfast today was, 1/2 cup porridge, 14g walnuts, 1 banana and 170g of fat free greek yoghurt.

thanks

Hi, Fiona, and welcome! The menus are actually fairly low in carbohydrates, about 45% of energy (compared to about 60% in regular diets). You can improve on this by selecting wholemeal versions.
If you run into trouble, please repost here, and I would be happy to work with you.

Hi there – I have just joined the trim down club and reviewing the daily menu planners. I am really struggling with the amount of carbohydrates – bread/ryvitas etc… Do I just need to accept that I have not been eating enough of the right type of foods…I am afraid I will put on more weight with all this food!

Hi, Joann. Bill’s Certified Organic 100% Wholemeal or Ancient Grain Wholemeal are best, followed by Helga’s Traditional Wholemeal, then Abbott’s Village Farmhouse Wholemeal.