pasta, potatoes, bread-where do they fit in a 1400 calorie diet, I'm starving without them!

The title of this post says it all. I see people suggest whole wheat pasta and multi grain bread but how can I fit a 100 calorie slice of bread into a 1400 calorie diet? Whole wheat pasta is 360 calories for 1/2 cup!! Who eats 1/2 cup of pasta? If that's all I can have for dinner with some tomato sauce and a green salad and maybe some fruit for dessert then I am going to be one hungry girl! But then again, if I don't have either bread, potatoes or pasta I starve! What do you guys do about this?

i dont know if i can really help you but the way i've lost weight so far is just to eat less of bad foods or smaller portions, so i guess you could just have brown bread or whatever and have half a slice or something. apparently its not healthy to rule out certain food groups all together because you need controlled amounts of everything. um yeha hope i helped. good luck!

I can't go without my healthy carbs, that's for sure!

 

Try doing pasta primavera, with tons of veggies, and only a half cup of that whole wheat pasta, so it's mostly vegetables, but you're getting those carbs in.

 Brown rice is also good.  

 I just got my Oprah magazine, and it has lots of recipes with whole grains.  Check it out!

 Also, maybe if you're hungry, you're not eating enough calories? 

I'm not sure, but I think you might be looking at the calories for 1/2 cup uncooked pasta. Check the box again, but usually when food is in the dried form, such as pasta, rice, quinoa, couscous, etc., it is showing the caloric content for the dried, not the cooked.

I'm on a 1300 calorie diet and I think it's safe to say, pasta is OUT for me. On Thursdays I'm allowed to eat up to maintenance (1820) so that is probably where I would get my pasta in.

There's nothing wrong with bread and potatoes, though. Potatoes tend to keep you full for a while. Sweet potatoes are one of my favorite things to eat. They kind of have to be the focus of the meal, though. I suppose you could have some grilled chicken with a potato, or something like that, but unless I had lots of calories saved I would just have 1 large baked potato with some veggies.

I almost forgot.. I *DO* eat potatoes nearly every day, in vegetable soup! They are probably the highest calorie ingredient, but it really adds flavor and satiety value.

Bread is something I couldn't go without either. I don't have it as a snack anymore, since just alone it doesn't fill me up. But I love sandwiches. You can find 80 calorie bread if you're desperate, but there is no need. Fill it up with lettuce, tomato, cucumber, lettuce, shredded carrots and hummus. Or sliced turkey instead of the hummus. Or tuna with mustard instead of mayo.

I think the trick to being able to eat "normal" foods on a low calorie diet is to not waste them on snacks. I used to allocate like 500 calories to snacks a day. But now on 1300 I just can't do that, so I find alternatives like carrots, broccoli, celery, soup broth, tea, low cal hot chocolate, etc.

Exercise more and you'll be able to more calories.  That way you can add in more pastas and other goods carbs.

Pasta isn't that many calories.  I eat it once a week - use the CC tools to see how much, but I eat at least a cup and it's not over 700 calories!

Edited:  I just checked.  Whole wheat spaghetti, cooked, is 174 calories per cup.

i eat all of the above and still keep it under 1400 most days (although i usually keep potatoes out of the house; i have no concept of appropriate portions when it comes to potatoes).

i look for multigrain pastas that are under 200 cals/ serving, and i have all the low-fat, high-nutrient homemade sauce that i want with it.

i eat only whole grain breads with lots of fiber.  i've found many varieties that are 100-110 cals a slice.  i eat half sandwiches and pack in all the fish, cheese, etc. that i want, so i get all the satisfaction without all the calories and fat.

It takes some time to get used to the smaller portions. I remember starving for the first couple weeks when I started here on a 1200 cal diet, but that passed as my body adjusted and as I learned how to find foods that satisfy me. Lots of fiber and water help, and you need protein and fat, too. Your body breaks down white carbs pretty quickly. I find that simple carbs make me more hungry than I was before after about 30 min. After a while reading lables and experimenting with things you'll fall into your stride. Your tastes will change as well, if you work towards that. If you're a simple-carb junkie, start slowly incorporating more complex carbs to replace the simple... don't do it all at once or you will be overwhelemed and discouraged.

Try replacing the pasta you'd normally have with green beans or (my favorite) sauteed snow peas! Or broccoli or whatever veggies you like the most.

Unfortunately, our portions in America are out of control. We're used to huge heaps of food laden with butter and fat and sugar. Measure and, if possible, weigh your  food so you can get used to the proper portion sizes. Your stomach will adjust... so will your waistline.

For me, some things just aren't worth their caloric load. I may still eat them in moderation occasionally but they're too calorie-dense for me to incorporate them into my every-day eating. Peanutbutter is one of these, because when I ea peanutbutter, I want a lot of peanutbutter and it's very calorie-dense. Bread, too most of the time. It doesn't satisfy me enough for the calories it carries. I eat lots of lean protein and veggies, some pasta, some low-fat cheese, some fruit, etc.

 I've been at this for over a year (for the most part... kinda lost it over the holidays) so it is natural for me now. That's the point, though, isn't it? For this to be our new way of life? You'll get there if you stick with it... and don't take everything on all at once. Make little changes at first and the rest will follow.  If you need any more detailed information, lmk. There just isn't room here to discuss a years worth of information.

i measure out and give myself 1/2 cup cooked of rice, pasta or potatos, its a pain, but i really lost weight doing it,  i then fill the rest of my plate with veggies and eat some nuts usually, or some good sauce on the veggies

Here are a few suggestions that have helped me:

I started getting pasta in frozen dinners like lean cuisine.  I love their cheese ravioli, and the portion is controlled for me.  I typically add some veggies or fruit to make it a meal that will fill me up.

I started buying spaghetti nests....3 nests is 270kcal...so 90kcal per nest.  That way it is easier for me to control how much pasta I have for dinner based on what I had earlier in the day.  Somehow counting nests seems less work than weighing or measuring pasta.  I usually saute a whole bunch of veggies and shrimp at the same time, and then add the pasta to that.  It looks like a lot more pasta when there are lost of veggies and lean protein mixed in.  I can usually get away with just 2 of the spaghetti nests in my dinner.

Read the labels of all the breads....not just the ones that have the super healthy looking labeling.  I am not a huge bread eater, but I did find that the generic store brand wheat had 90kcal per 2 slices......which seems totally reasonable to fit into 1400kcal per day.

You can't eat huge portions of certain things you love - that's the ugly fact.

Also, a cup of cooked whole wheat pasta is only about 180-200 calories, so I don't know where you got the 360 calorie estimate. A great, filling meal is a cup of whole wheat pasta with tomato sauce, veggies, or in a soup.

Instead of having 3 cookies or a large piece of cake for dessert, have one cookie or a very small slice of cake. If you are still hungry, have a piece of fruit.

I grew up in a family that pretty well always had potatoes or sometimes rice for the "main" part of the meal.  Veggies were there, but generally only one and not much of that.  Bread was on the table for lunch and dinner and I generally had one slice if not two. 

I have had to change that way of thinking.  Bread is now a "treat" for me.  Maybe one slice every now and then.  I haven't thought about pasta since I started working on eating healthier, but if I have pasta, there will probably be a soup of some sort, first...like carrot ginger or broccoli soup.  Then I can have enough pasta to "fill up" on without going overboard.  I will probably have a salad with it, also.

I seldom eat potato anymore.  That wasn't easy to do because, like you, I was hungry after the meal.    I discovered that a LOT of my hunger was not "real".  My brain was telling me I was hungry because I WANTED that potato.  Once I realized that, the hunger settled down.  I have noticed that if I do put potato or rice on my plate, the dogs generally get it because by the time I have eaten a bit of meat and 2 or 3 veggies, I don't want the potato or rice. 

If you are careful, you can have your potato or bread or pasta each day.  Maybe in smaller portions but it is possible.  And once you get used to the portions, and used to eating more veggies, you will find out that you aren't nearly as hungry as you used to be. 

 

Whole grain spaghetti is only 100 calories per ounce BEFORE it's cooked. That ounce cooks up quite a bit... I was sure it wouldn't be nearly enough to just eat one ounce of it but when you put it in the bottom of the bowl and add a generous serve of meat sauce and some steamed vegetables it's as much as I can eat! Don't just have spaghetti and sauce - have a nice big salad or a bowl of veggies as well, and it makes the meal much more filling. 

For breads, I love pita bread, especially kangaroo pockets (high-fiber pre-opened pitas), flatout high-fiber wraps, and regular whole-wheat bread. You just have to eat less of it. A lovely dense high-fiber wholewheat bread is really satisfying - it has more calories because it's heavy, but one slice is honestly enough. Pita bread doesn't actually have any less calories than regular bread, but it's easier to eat less of it because it's ready to stuff FULL of healthy filling.

I rarely have regular potato... but if we do, I'll have half a small potato or one quarter of one of those really big baking potatoes. It didn't seem like it could possibly be 'enough' at first, but you get used to it. Again, if you eat more other veggies, you'll need less starch to go with them. Sweet potato has a ton of fiber and vitamins in it, and I eat that a lot...  

Thank you so much eveyone.  I am Irish and from as young as I can remember I woul;d come home from school and peel potatoes for dinner.  It was an essential element ot our evening meal!  It has been hard to deviate from those habits but I am determined that I will be thin again!!  thanks fo the great advice . I never thought of broccoli soup, I'm going to try that!

Im lo carbing and avoid pasta, bread and potatoes because they  cause cravings.

I recently though got Sara Lee "45 Calorie & Delightful" bread.

What a name but they werent kidding.  Also  and my diet phobic daughter even likes it.  The multi grains first ingredient is WHOLE wheat flour so definitely a healthier diet bread.

Luckily I didnt react to it, I assume due to the whole wheat aspect or just luck.  I never really liked wheat bread but this was soft and wonderful.  Had a 'free' coupon though, normally buy the less expensive breads.

A few ideas:

for breakfast have 2 slices of 60-100 cal per slice bread.

1 bell pepper  - cut into thirds serves as more "bread slices"

cottage cheese or anyother light cheese of choice.

Add salt, dill pickles, parsley for taste...That keeps you full for about 3 hours.

Then an apple with yogurt. Or a coffee with a slice of light bread (about 40 cals) and non fat kraft slice (about 50 cals).

Now for lunch and dinner you have to decide which you want to be the denser meal.

I dont eat pasta cause it just doesnt give me enough portion for my cals.

However I make mashed potatos and yams together (just boil and add half an onion fried in a tspn of olive oil - yum. That way You know how much carbs you have and you portion it out for a few meals.

A cup of rice with a stir fry also keeps you full for a long while.

 

 

I get small potatoes from the farmers market. One of them is 1/2 cup, steamed and cut up.  It's not many calories (68 for .5 cup), very tasty, has vitamin c and iron and some protein.  Excellent food in moderation.

I eat whole wheat pasta once or twice a week (1/3 to 1/2 cup dry, whatever it says on the container). But I'm averaging more calories than you (1700-1800). I exercise a fair amount, and keep a 500 calorie deficit.  

Bread is a special treat. I eat occasional sandwiches for lunch. But I've bought a loaf of bread only twice since September.

Prego Vegetable Lasagna (mmmm-yummy white sauce) - frozen family size box has 250 calories a serving with 5 servings per box.  Even if you just divide the lasagna into quarters, it is still only 315 calories per serving.  4 grams of fiber per serving, too.  Add a salad and a good emotionally satisfying meal.

It's all about portion-control. A whole cup of cooked whole-grain pasta is only 180 calories. You could eat a whole cup of pasta, half a chicken breast, a salad, and some fruit for only 400 calories...

And there are many different kinds of whole-grain bread. There are brands that have as few as 35 calories per slice - and they still have 3 grams of fiber. I recommend Healthy Life for dieters. And my favorite organic whole-grain bread only has 80 calories; bread isin't that bad.

Potatoes can be high in calories if you eat way too many or deep-fry them, but other than that they are actually great for you! They have good carbs, fiber, and lots of potassium too! A whole skin-on medium sized potato only has 150 calories, and no fat.

eat more veggies with your meals. they will go farther and really don't cost many calories.