Every morning I eat a bagel with Earth Balance (vegan margarine, about 2 t) and Parmezano Sprinkles (a vegan cheesy sprinkle thing made from ground nuts, miso and nutritional yeast). I've been completely weaned from any taste for cream cheese, vegan or otherwise, but I'm concerned my bagel habit is getting out of control.
Bagels definitely have a hierarchy: bagel shop cafeteria grocery store fresh grocery store packaged - ick, why bother?
I can get whole wheat anywhere but the cafeteria, but of course, what is the most accesible? Yes, the cafeteria at work. And we all know that fresh bagels can get hard really quick. So I rarely buy more than a couple when I hit the store on the weekend. Plus, I really prefer poppyseed bagels to whole wheat.
So anyway, my point is that I go to bed at night thinking about this wonderful bagel I'm going have for breakfast when I get to work. I have such low blood sugar when I wake up that the bagel is my motivation to hurry up and get to work. When I finish the bagel, I wish I had a million more.. its just heaven to me!
But I know, that in terms of calories and nutrition, I could do better. Its too cold for smoothies or cereal and I really prefer savory food - oatmeal tastes like dessert to me.
I would like to morph this breakfast into something based on whole grains and boosted with some protein... and hopefully I'll get to keep my flavors of margarine w/ parmezano sprinkles.
Any other recovering bagel addicts out there?
-- midwest neurotica @ starxlr8.com {comfort foods, cottage living & sweet old fashioned goodness}
Posts: 757 | Location: College Park, MD | Registered: March 17, 2004
Originally posted by Lori4squaremom: I simply can't afford an 8 bagel a day habit (1 for me, 1 1/2 for dh, and 2 for dd and ds, and 1 each for the two little ones).
Lori, I have made bagels from scratch. You make the dough and boil them and then bake them. It is sort of a project but they do come out chewy and great...
I like my bagels with cream cheese and lox... and onions and tomatoes and capers.
Denise
Posts: 8734 | Location: Silicon Valley, CA | Registered: March 17, 2004
Well, my first baby step on the road to recovery will be shopping for 7 whole wheat bagels every Saturday morning. If I can get into this habit, I will cut down to 4 and try to eat half a bagel for breakfast w/ something else. I hope to get back into a smoothie habit soon... I'm posting on that right now in a new thread.
-- midwest neurotica @ starxlr8.com {comfort foods, cottage living & sweet old fashioned goodness}
Posts: 757 | Location: College Park, MD | Registered: March 17, 2004
I am a bagel, muffin, Engl. muffin person. I am sorry but they are quick and easy, and can be nutrious if you want them to be. I make 1/2 of them into a sandwich, or breakfast at least once a day. But I do choose the whole wheat ones, and check for calories and fat content. So I must be a bmm addict, but I think I am being healthy about it,
It's never too late to get it right.
Posts: 3473 | Location: Central USA | Registered: March 11, 2004
I've been nuking some frozen cranberries (mmm, very tart), mixing in some plain ff yogurt, and then mixing in a cup of Kashi GoLean cereal. Not sweet, just tart and warm.
Posts: 149 | Location: Chicago | Registered: January 24, 2005
Originally posted by Fer: I was thinking of trying grits for breakfast, are those whole grain? Cate also suggested more basic items like beans. It really has to be something salty-savory.. my body doesn't really like sweet things in the morning.
Grits are corn meal. Very tasty though!
Out of our beliefs are born deeds; out of our deeds we form habits; out of our habits grows our character; and on our character we build our destiny.
Originally posted by p7eggyc: There are lots and lots of whole grain cereal options beyond oatmeal.
I was thinking of trying grits for breakfast, are those whole grain? Cate also suggested more basic items like beans. It really has to be something salty-savory.. my body doesn't really like sweet things in the morning.
-- midwest neurotica @ starxlr8.com {comfort foods, cottage living & sweet old fashioned goodness}
Posts: 757 | Location: College Park, MD | Registered: March 17, 2004
I am also a bagel-a-holic! My "cure" came when I had 4 children and they all love bagels as much if not more than their mommy! I simply can't afford an 8 bagel a day habit (1 for me, 1 1/2 for dh, and 2 for dd and ds, and 1 each for the two little ones). Some of the things that I have done to control the amount of bagels that are eaten are: use whole wheat english muffins (with all the usual toppings that I use on bagels), and ww toast (again with usual toppings for bagels). They aren't quite the same, but a good subtitute for us. We also have cut back to eating bagels only once or twice a month. And ONLY the very best bagels....I want it to be worth the extra calories
Blessings,
Lori
Re-committing myself to a healthy lifestyle that will include regular (and increasing) exercise, and following the baby steps rule on food. 6/17/08
Posts: 3149 | Location: California | Registered: March 11, 2004
I do love a good bagel...but probably not addict status. One thing that the bagel shop here in town will do is either 'moat' the bagel, taking out some of the guts of it or they will slice out the inner 1/3 for me. That seems like a good compromise for me.
There are lots and lots of whole grain cereal options beyond oatmeal. Maybe give some of those a whirl. Just go to that section in the health food store and you'll find tons of them. Big surprise here...baby step it...can you choose something else on Mondays?
I'm originally from NYC, so "bagel" is my middle name!
I buy my whole wheat/whole grain bagels and cut them in half and freeze them immediately. I can then take a half bagel, pop it in the toaster and I'm good to go. I like them with some Laughing Cow light cheese and a thick slice of tomato.
I've found that if I freeze them immediately after purchasing them, they taste great after toasting. If I let them hang around for a day or too, they taste like toasted cardboard.
This way, whenever I want a change from my usual oatmeal/banana breakfast, my bagel is waiting for me. I find I have them once or twice a week for breakfast (usually on the weekend).
Barbara
Barbara
90 Challenge: Exercise at least 4 times/wk and stick with my food plan
Back when I ate like a hobbit (when pregnant), a daily bagel was my second breakfast. I've weened myself down to one a week, if that, as a Saturday morning treat. Recently it's been more like one a month.
I keep myself in check by: insisting on whole wheat; and knowing that the multigrain bagels at my store have 150 calories more than the plain. Makes me more likely to grab a slice of whole wheat toast.
About those store bagels...have you tried freezing them to keep them fresh? I find that bagels freeze really well, and can be thawed by a minute or so in the microwave on defrost. You coudl stock up on whole wheat ones and have that at home avoiding the temptation of the wrok cafeteria. And get some poppyseeds to sprinkly on with your spread. No reason why you can't have a whole wheat poppyseed bagel.
Fall goals: 1. Bike 40-50 miles a week 2. Prepare new garden bed for next season 3. Heal my back
Posts: 732 | Location: Jersey Shore, USA | Registered: March 11, 2004
I had a one-a-day habit for years (poppyseed was my favorite too!) but I don't think I've had an entire bagel in well over a year now. Every now and then, during office birthday parties or other celebrations, someone will put out GINORMOUS bagels sliced in half both ways. Once in a blue moon, I will have a quarter bagel with no butter or cream cheese at one of these gatherings. I don't bother most of the time, though, because they aren't toasted and they only have cream cheese for topping, which I don't like, so it's just not worth it for me.
I knew it was time for me to give up bagels (at least white flour bagels) when I would get out of bed, have a poppyseed bagel with margarine, and pass out again right in my chair. The effects of white flour are just REALLY BAD with my particular set of conditions/metabolism so, when I started eating healthy, it just seemed the right time to eject them from my menu. I'd known for a long while before that that I needed to do that but didn't have the motivation.
Posts: 7352 | Location: Rehoboth Beach, DE | Registered: March 12, 2004
I hadn't had any for a while, the dh started bringing them home from the grocery. My latest is whole wheat with cheddar and morningstar farms bacon. My favorite way is with piles of cream cheese and sliced strawberries, but it just isn't a good time for strawberries yet. Besides, then i would really lose control. I have to try it the way you've been having them... sounds really good.
Laurie
There is no luckexcept where there is dicipline.
Posts: 1512 | Location: Adams, MA | Registered: March 10, 2004
How about cutting the habit back to every other day or doing 1/2 a bagel and a side of fresh fruit?
I made the switch to sprouted grain bagels a while ago and although they aren't any where close to a bagel place bagel, they have really grown on me. I have 1/2 a bagel and my favorite topping is natural peanut butter but I'm sure the parm sprinkles would work with it ; )
Bee, the Edy's addict who is now planning on going cold turkey.
Out of our beliefs are born deeds; out of our deeds we form habits; out of our habits grows our character; and on our character we build our destiny.
