5:2 diet

Ever since I have passed 30 years of age, maintaining my weight has become an issue... I could no longer eat as much as I used to.... In fact as one's age climbs, the metabolism is slowing down and being at home; it makes things even more difficult ( yes ! I tend to cook and bake more to fill in my free time....)

The discovery of 5:2 diet certainly gives you peace of mind... Alhamdulillah being a Muslim this works brilliantly since you could collect pahala along with helping you to maintain weight.

The 5:2 means 5 days of normal eating regimen and two days of restriction of calories ( 500 kCal for women, and 600 kCal for men). It is certainly diet for people who loves her food. The easy way of doing it is to fast on Monday and Thursday and to eat normally for the rest of the week....

To boost my confident with this new diet, I have recently purchased a new book 'The fasting day Cook Book'... I have tried two of the recipes yesterday... and all i have to say... it is absolutely divine!

KLEFTIKO... ' traditional Greek recipe' ( for 4 people), 350 kCal

Ingredients

8 lamb chops
2 lemons
1 tbs dried oregano
2 tbs olive oil
2 onions cut into 4
2 bay leaves
150 ml dry white wine ( I replaced this with juice of white grapes)
150 ml stock

1. Marinate the lamb with lemon juice. oregano, salt and pepper for few hours.... (i only did mine for 1 hour though).
2. heat the olive oil on the pan and fry the lamb on high heat until it browns on both sides.
3. transfer the lamb into the shallow dish/ pyrex, add the rest of the ingredients into the dish.
4. cover the dish with aluminium foil.
5. Roast the lamb for 160 degree celcius for 2.5 hours.
6. now enjoy the food!

I had this with chips and boiled asparagus...  the taste is almost like roast lamb only the meat is softer and nicer.

Tomato and peach salad with avocado salsa
195 kCal
serve 4

Ingredients

1 large ripe beef tomato (I replaced this with cherry tomatoes, and  I halved them)
2 large firm peaches, cut into small pieces ( I think you could replace this with mangoes if peaches is not in season)

salsa
1/2 small ripe avocado ( cube them)
2 spring onions (chopped them)
1 small red chilli (chopped them)
1 garlic clove crushed
1 1/2 tsp chopped coriander
1 1/2 tsp olive oil
salt and pepper

dressing
1 tbs caster sugar
1 tsp lemon juice
1/2 tsp dijon mustard
2 tbs olive oil

Mixed the salad with the avocado salsa. Drizzled the dressing on top of the salad...