Cous Cous - Isit fattening?

[hiya_123]

I'm trying to loose a bit of weight and have started having the ainsley harriot cous cous with a bit of salad for lunch, is the cous cous fattening because it is a carbohydrate?

Any answers much appreciated!

Thanks
xx

[Goodsoulette]

It's a complex carbohydrate so it's not fattening as a carbohydrate in the way sugar is. It breaks down slowly and thats good because your body has time to use and store the energy appropriately. Dont eat the whole packet and dont add butter. Keep the portions normal sized.

[Goodsoulette]

Another good little tip is that as an average westerner your body wont be starved for long periods of time. Your body can deal with a certain amount of calories at any given meal and that is around the 500 mark. If you dont go above that at breakfast lunch or dinner and keep snacks very healthy and eat low in fat you will see the weight drop off.

[joannie10]

actully I had this today. It was a recipe in a weekend magazine and think it might have been one of gillian mckeiths. the recipe actually asked for cracked wheat I think but could not find it but thought it looked like cous cous so bought some of that. Bought just the plain stuff and had to add hot water and a tiny drop of oil. The added some cooked broccoli, few pine nuts choped apricots, chopped red onion and some lemon juice. Was very tasty and I feel very full - have the same again for tomorrow but wil remember to vary it.

[hiya_123]

thanks 4 your answers! I have been having half the packet of ainsley harriot with some tuna,celery,tomatos and carotts! its very nice! It does really fill u up though that's why i was wondering if it was fattening!

Any other ideas for healthy lunches that u can make at home and bring 2 work in a lunchbox?xxx

[Cetti]

Another cous cous variation is to add a Knorr chicken stock cube to the water. Also, lightly toast a handful of pine nuts, throw in a few snipped ready-to-eat apricots, plus skin and chop a red pepper.

For meat , if wanted , dry fry a pack of cubed pancetta or cut grilled chicken into strips and place on top of cous cous.

[Goodsoulette]

You can always make your own rice salads, stick to wholemeal or basmati though as they are low on the old Gi factor.

If you can bare cold potatoes, tuna nicoise (but make it suitable for lunchboc, green salad, tuna, olives, egg, anchovies if you liek them and some green beans)


Cold bean salad, if you get a can of mixed beans and chop up some tomatoe, onion and garlc and mix that in, thats nice too. Or add flaked tuna and a minty yoghurt dressing.

Pittta breads with salad, cottage cheese and tuna.

[joannie10]

i sometimes have some wholemeal pasta with a tomato type sauce just whatever your preference really. I dont like wholemeal pasta with the likes of bolognaise or carbonara(not healthy i know) but mixed with a tomato sauce I quite enjoy. All other suggestions are good though too.

[pastafreak]

Tabbouleh...bulghar(cracked)wheat with LOTS of finely chopped tomatoes,cucumber,spring onions and mint. Use a veggie stock cube in the wheat. Very refreshing.

[joannie10]

pastafreak - I started using couscous because a recipe asked for cracked wheat but I could not find it (only looked in one store). The picture of the recipe looked like couscous that was why I went for that - would you say they are quite similar? Should cracked wheat be easy to find?

[gravytate]

mmmmmm cous cous with the sauce drained from a tin of baked beans is YYYYUUUUMMMMMYYYYY baby yeah

[pastafreak]

joannie...you can find cracked or bulgar wheat in Sainsbury's and Tesco's, and in health food shops-either in the beans and pulses section or near rice.