Hello! I have just finished reading the book and I have some questions I hope you can answer 🙂 I’m really sorry if this has been covered elsewhere but there are pages and pages of topics and I couldn’t find anything obvious when I looked. So…

I can no longer eat raw nuts – I have developed an allergy 🙁 Is it OK to eat roasted nuts on this diet instead?

Does anyone have any ideas (other than yoghurt and berries) for breakfasts I can take to work during the week as the meal plans in the books seem to assume that there is an option for a cooked breakfast on quite a lot of the days (and cooking breakfast or lunch is not an option for me Monday-Friday)?

On the 5:2 diet, I tend to only eat in the evenings on my fast days, and then it’s a salad with either meat, fish, avocado or cheese (this is also what I have for a weekday lunch on my non-fast days). Am I right in thinking this would still be OK for this diet?

With the 5:2 diet, the reason I eat in the evening and not during the day, is because once I start eating, the hunger is much worse than if I don’t eat. Do you think it is feasible with this diet to just eat the 800 calories in the evening too?

Thanks for your help.

Hi Alison – welcome along on the BSD fun bus!

To search for specifics, us the search box in the top right of the page, but meanwhile, I’ll offer what I know.

Yes, roasted nuts are okay, but salted nuts are not recommended. Look for calories and carbs for roasted product though, as these may be higher than for raw.

Breakfast / lunch could be yogurt with other toppings like nuts/seeds/cacao nibs etc. or you could have a Mediterranean platter with cold meats/fish, cheeses, low carb crackers (I posted a recipe for snappy almond crackers, which you can find in the Recipe section). Or you could make some veggie patties, which eat as well hot or cold – 2 eggs beaten with 2tbsps almond flour, seasoning and herbs/spices to your liking, with either grated courgette (moisture squeezed out) or chopped spinach or chard – shallow fry tablespoons of mixture. You would need to calculate the total cals/carbs in the dish and then divide that by the number of patties made, to get a value for each.

Yes the salad solution is fine on the BSD, but be sure to calculate and record the calories and carbs in everything. And yes it is possible to eat the whole 800cal allowance in one meal. It’s really up to you how and when you use your 800cal. I usually eat a light brunch and then use the balance at the end of the day, but some days I get up hungry, so split my allowance differently. Trial and error will show you what will work best for you.

Hope some of that is helpful and that you settle into the Fast 800 okay. Keep us posted and shout if you need advise of support. Best of luck to you

Hello Alison125, welcome on board. If you have done the 5:2 you will be used to greatly reduced calories so you have a head start on this.

Not sure about the nut question as bought roasted nuts are usually cooked with oil and can be heavily salted which I would avoid. Nuts are high enough in oils (good oils) and calories without adding to it. You could try roasting your own. As nuts are an occasional treat in a small handful 3 or 4 times a week you wont miss much by not having them, what about seeds to get some of those essential oils. Linseed, sunflower seeds, pumpkins seeds to name a few. Again they are high in calories so just a sprinkle.

Breakfast, what about boiled eggs, or a homemade shake for another day. Do you have access to a microwave at work, you could make up a small bowl of porridge (25g oats) with cinnamon and grated apple, take it in and reheat it or have it cold with some milk. You are right about a lot of the breakfast recipes assuming you are able to cook. What is the problem with yoghurt and fruit, they are easily transportable. I guess you dont like yog.

As for when you eat, it is up to you, some people on here fast most of the day and only eat in the evening, which means you wont have to worry about breakfast. I personally have 3 meals and a snack but I am diabetic and cannot go long without food. If you only eat in the evening how do you manage during the day, can you function without food. I can understand once you start eating you want to carry on but if you completely cut out the white carbs you might find your hunger trigger is turned off or down so you wont be craving so much.

Good luck. You will be fine.

Thank you both. I do like yoghurt and berries, I was just thinking about alternatives in case of boredom and to make sure I’m getting all the vitamins and minerals I’m supposed to by getting enough variation. No microwave or anything at work, unfortunately.

I think roasting my own nuts is probably the best idea – as you say, need to be label savvy and check what I’m eating. I already log everything on MFP (1150 days and counting!) so I’m a bit of a geek about this stuff.

We have a short break booked for the end of the month so will be starting the plan at the beginning of July; I’m currently in prep mode: clearing the house of carbs/sugars (still eating leftover Easter Eggs!!), thinking about meals and preparing lists of ingredients (some are listed in the book). Also thinking about getting a nutribullet-type thing to make some of the recipes.

Thanks again for your replies and your support 🙂

Hi, I’m in an office Monday to Friday so take sliced quorn peppered beef, some cherry tomatoes and a lettuce leaf or two every day. I do not tire of this as it is only a fuel to get me through the day. I have a few almonds or walnut halves with me just in case. I skip breakfast and plan my evening meal with the bulk of the calories that are left. Protein will be usually quorn plus salad and a home made cottage cheese concoction. I also do a cottage pie with mashed cauliflower instead of potato.
I am not diabetic but in my 50’s and is a battle to lose weight so I wanted to try a hardcore version before going on the 5:2.