Six Day Body Makeover

[ally1966]

Hi, all! Well, despite the overblown title, I'm planning to do this 6-day program (book by Michael Thurmond) next week. It's a 5-6 small meals/day eating plan, and based on your metabolic rate (determined by a set of questions), you follow specific eating principles. I turn out to be in the slow metabolism group, so my eating plan will be protein and veggies. It's all very clean -- no oil, low salt, and no sugar or dairy. The book's subtitle is about "losing a dress or pant size in 6 days," and I promise I'm not buying into that -- I'm just looking for something that will give me a jumpstart, maybe help me lose some sugar cravings, and provide some structure while I get ready for longer-term better eating.

So...here's my question: the plan involves a LOT of fish, and I don't eat it! I eat mostly vegetarian, and the book has just one short box on vegetarian options, which include egg whites, protein powder, and tofu. I love tofu, so I will use a lot of it over the six days. But, he gives no recipes or cooking suggestions. I'm wondering if anyone has tofu ideas, things that wouldn't involve oil but would add flavor and appeal? I'm thinking about baking cubes and adding them to salads...but my creativity ends there!

Any thoughts are appreciated -- thanks for reading this whole saga!
Allison

 

[kathryn]

You could do a tofu scramble (no fat needed, just sauté in Mirin--a japanese cooking sake--or cooking sherry). Saute up some veggies (I like red pepper, onion and mushrooms, sometimes olives), then when they are done, add some tofu crumbled with some nutritional yeast, salt, pepper and tumeric (you can also buy Tofu Scrambler packets. Make a frittata by mashing the tofu on top of the veggies and letting it set. Make scramble by stiring it up.

You can also drain tofu (wrap in a dishtowel and put between two plate, with a weight--like a can of beans or a heavy pot) on the top plate to press out the water), then marinate and bake.

You can find more tofu ideas at www.vegsource.com .

Tempeh is a good alternative to tofu: it's a whole food rather than processed like tofu. Makes a good mock 'chicken or the egg' salad.

Seitan (wheat gluten) works well as a sub for some meats (like instead of beef for stroganoff).

Other good veggie protein sources include hemp (seed or protein powder), nuts (high in fat, though. Try soaking some raw almonds in water for about 6-8 hours, then drain and dry. The soaking activates the enzymes, increasing nutritional content and making the protein more digestible. They actually taste a bit like cocoanut this way.)

 

[mathgeek]

Marinated baked tofu is awesome. There's some recipes online. You can also buy it already made. I got some italian flaved backed tofu and I cut it up into cubes and put it into a chunky tomato sauce. The kids even liked it. It kinda tasted like ricotta cheese with lots of herbs in it.

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I solemnly swear that I am up to no good

 

[ally1966]

Thanks for the very helpful (yummy) ideas! (I'd never have thought of that creative frittata!)

Allison