Starting a Natural Food Diet - Need Suggestions

[coopersmydog]

Tomorrow I'm starting what I'm calling a natural food diet. My plan is to stop eating processed foods and only eat fruit, veggies, lean meat, grains, nuts (and any good stuff I learn about here).

I'm going to try and eat a few vegetarian meals every week as well. I'm considering making the transition to all vegetarian eventually, but not in the beginning.

I guess I'm looking for things like good recipies, any advice about becoming vegetarian, and any other suggestions that will help me along the way.

I also plan on exercising daily. I'll be starting off walking a minimum of 1 mile per day and will likely increase this weekly. I'm currently very unactive and very fat if that matters.

[HLMencken]

Are you going to include dairy? Just wondering because if you add dairy, your diet is similar to the one I have been breaking the last few days.

[BigSoonerFan]

[ QUOTE ]
Tomorrow I'm starting what I'm calling a natural food diet. My plan is to stop eating processed foods and only eat fruit, veggies, lean meat, grains, nuts (and any good stuff I learn about here).

I'm going to try and eat a few vegetarian meals every week as well. I'm considering making the transition to all vegetarian eventually, but not in the beginning.

I guess I'm looking for things like good recipies, any advice about becoming vegetarian, and any other suggestions that will help me along the way.

I also plan on exercising daily. I'll be starting off walking a minimum of 1 mile per day and will likely increase this weekly. I'm currently very unactive and very fat if that matters.

[/ QUOTE ]

Sounds good, although I would add some weight-training to that or you'll lose muscle quickly (assuming you lose weight). The natural food route is good. I don't have any specific recipes, but your just plain quick meals you can't go wrong with natural oatmeal (no 1-minute) with cinammon and/or light fruit (not canned, too much sugar) or beans with brown rice (30 minute cooked). Concentrate on foods with a low glycemic index. There are a few books for that and some have recipes.

[coopersmydog]

I'll probably include dairy in limited quantities.

[Lazy Meatball]

All natural corn syrup baby.

[Andrew Karpinski]

This is very similiar to what I eat. It is cheaper, it tastes better and it is healthier for you.
A few easy to make, great tasting options :
Pasta with fresh vegetables (tomatoes, peppers and carrots).
Sandwhiches (tomato, lettuce, cheese, meat, red onion)
Cereal with fruit (blueberries, raspberries, strawberries)
Apples and Pears for snacks.