The Week in Review

First, a correction - when starting the week and shopping, I didn't know that those receiving assistance do not pay tax on food purchases. So my going over budget wasn't actually $4.93 as I originally thought, but was $1.99 - that I'm now sure was due mostly to my purchase of spices and condiments it's been argued elsewhere most would have some of on hand, since it's rare someone is starting with absolutely nothing in the pantry.

So, then, the next question is, after a week, do we have anything left to start off next week and not start again from scratch? Let's take a look:

• 1/2 jar sweet relish
• 3 cans Van Camp Pork & Beans
• Baby spinach (enough for one small dinner salad)
• 1 can chunk light tuna
• Mustard (almost full)
• Mayonnaise (about half full)
• Ketchup (almost full)
• Spices (all ginger, some garlic, pepper, sesame seeds)
• Salt (box almost full)
• 5 carrots (from 2-pound bag)
• 2 celery stalks (from one bunch)
• 1/2 bag sunflower seed kernels (from 1-pound bag)
• Mixed together, a handful of walnuts and almonds
• 1 can black olives
• Tea bags (about half the box remains)
• 1 can red kidney beans
• 1-pound ground beef
• 12-oz package frozen sole
• 1/2 bag frozen cut green beans
• V-8 juice - about 1-cup remains in bottle
• Salad, about enough for two small side salads
• Unopened 1-lb package chicken/pork franks

Bigger question - did the food eaten during the week meet nutrient requirements?

You can see from the FitDay tracking, that with the exception of Vitamin D, I met all nutrient requirement RDA's. This time of the year, for most Americans getting out into the sunshine sans sunscreen, vitamin D isn't an issue - we make it in our skin from exposure to ultraviolet rays from the sun.

I did lose three pounds during the week, yet wasn't hungry!

In reviewing my macronutrient intake I found my calories were lower than usual - I ate an average of 2,330-calories each day, when I need about 2,600 a day to maintain my weight.

The calorie deficit of 270-calories each day explains about a half-pound of the weight loss (1890-calories over seven days) and I'd speculate the remaining 2.5-pounds was the dual effect of water loss and a higher than usual intake of protein, with the protein boosting the thermic effect of food consumed. Whatever the reason, three pounds? I'll take it!

Carbohydrate intake each day averaged 97g carbohydrate, with 24g fiber, so 73g net carbohydrate; and my protein was higher than usual, averaging 142g protein each day. I usually eat about 100-125g of protein each day, so the higher protein intake is also likely to be a contributor to my satiety with less calories.