I tend to stay out of the nutrition forum here... quite frankly, because it makes me sad.

The vast majority of posters here have either a really extreme "diet", like boiled unseasoned chicken and broccoli, and oats, or the land of the ever popular Keto diet...or feel that they can eat processed crap food as long as they do enough exercise, or skip the starch.

I fit into neither one of those categories... and I feel that basically it is because I can cook... and understand how to combine delicious good for you food and create a well balanced meal... and if I choose I can count the macro and micro ratios if I am doing  serious cut diet, and still not sacrifice the little pleasure that food brings ( usually just smaller quantities... a little higher in the proteins, a little lower in starchy carbs).

For example I  make a chicken breast in a mushroom balsamic pan sauce reduction, with some roasted veggies, and a mashed sweat potato... yum, and clean

Which would be the equivalent to, what I see some of you purists eat .... plain chicken, steamed broccoli, flax seed oil or fish oil pills (ok so the profile of the oils differ a bit... for my dinner, assume olive oil for the chicken and sauce, and mashed sweat potato),  mushrooms, onions,  and vinegar.. and a dry roasted sweat potato, glass of milk...  BORING

I can cook some things - others not so much.

For my chicken, I just put boneless/skinless chicken in the oven.

For rice, there's a rice maker.

Breakfast, I have eggs, toasted wheat bread with peanut butter << easy meal.

For dinner I have fish, tuna or steak with pasta or brown rice and veggies << easy to make.

The rest of my meals whey protein or casein shakes (depending on if I'm cutting or bulking).

I just make sure when I make a diet, I'm capable of cooking everything included and have neutral access to whatever it is.

ACE-CPT, NASM-CPT, AFPA-Nutrition Consultant 

I am the herb and seasoning master!!

I eat healthy and dirty, but I am always doing something. I ate so much food today, but I didn't sit down until about two hours ago.

1: 4 eggs, pancakes
2: toasted peanutbutter and banana sandwich on whole wheat; milk
3: double quarter pounder, two chickens, shared some fries with the woman
4: large veal dinner, side of spaghetti, salad
5: snacked on some garbage and ice cream..

here i am now, hungry again.

I cook everything i eat, its not so much as a strick diet but i do count the calories so it helps that i know what is going into the cooking. Im always trying to make new healthy meals, i got dozens of cook books.

Tonight im making prawn risotto, tomorrow is cabonara. Its always good food at my house :)

i cook. just came in naturally to me. ppl say im very good at it and i know that too coz i enjoy cooking a lot. it's art coming alive.
some dishes i cook even better than my mom. but mom's the best anyday ;)

Anbe Sivam. Period.

i can cook all of the simple things.  Im sure Id be good at making other stuff too but Ive never really ventured into complex recipes.  Eating is a chore to me and I try to just get it done as fast as I can.

working on explosive phase
vertical: 35
weight: 206

Big 3: 300/440/515

Strength and growth come only through continuous effort and struggle.

why do I not really believe the results of my poll...


But hooray to all of you who actually use herbs and spices!!!! Thankfully there are a few of us out there.

I enjoy cooking. It has become a small hobby. I do lots of Herbs and Spices. I have a Rosemary plant out my front door that huge. In the back I have Basil growing. I do my Chicken Breasts in all kinds of different ways. Hate it plain. Currently I'm working on a Turkey Meat Loaf. Once I get it tasting good, I'll post the receipe up.

Team Keine Ausreden = No Excuses
mein scheinehund ist daheim
48 yrs young
6'5" 270 Lbs

cool.
im a veggie since i was born. but i help my frnds to cook their chicken and fish since i season them THE best.
i also take help to modify the dishes a bit with the help of a cooks from nearby italian and american restaurants for a bit of variety. also we got the french with their greens and salads which i call survival rations.
but frankly IMHO many of the western foods are just too bland. the hottest western foods are just tame stuff on our turf. yea, a bunch of peppers can hotten things up, but the dishes then lose their original flavors.

Anbe Sivam. Period.

I can cook all right, but I don't enjoy it, and I especially dislike the cleanup.  So when I'm cooking for myself (which is nearly always), I really can't be bothered with this or that sauce reduction or whatever.  It's usually pretty simple.  Spices and garlic add plenty flavor for my taste.

I cook all kinds of ****. Currently trying to master Thai cuisine since it is delicious and pretty damn healthy.

Ironman69


cool.
im a veggie since i was born. but i help my frnds to cook their chicken and fish since i season them THE best.
i also take help to modify the dishes a bit with the help of a cooks from nearby italian and american restaurants for a bit of variety. also we got the french with their greens and salads which i call survival rations.
but frankly IMHO many of the western foods are just too bland. the hottest western foods are just tame stuff on our turf. yea, a bunch of peppers can hotten things up, but the dishes then lose their original flavors.

haha... As I finish up my Indian leftovers (yeah tonights dinner equals a serious cheat).... before I go home after yet another  12 (that's at least 4, and 2 10 hour days... oh it's been a peach of a week I tell you), Had to reply...

Americans are wusses when it comes to heat in food... You have no idea how hard I have to belabor to any ethnic restaurant (mexican, Thai, some Chinese, Inidian, etc.), that when I order a dish that is hot and spicy I actually want it HOT AND SPICY!!! Like when we order Indian food (it is an office staff favorite... ), 3 of us like it very hot, we have almost ordered in an Indian Accent, because half the time they don't think we can take it...  and outr food comes in delicious but not hot, almost bland. I KNOW it is not as hot as the food actually is over there or can get I should say... but  I am happy to say today my Naavatna  Korma  (spelling?)  brought a tingle to my lips, slow pleasant burn on my toung and a delicious warmth to my belly.... and 9 out of 10 people I know could not have eaten it.

But, the flavor base of western food done right can be complex like indian, or clean basic and well flavored and seasoned ... with very clear simple flavors maximized...

But yeah.. you guys can cook over there... Indian food has broken my discipline on more than one occasion... soooooooo good.

RedJeep


I cook all kinds of ****. Currently trying to master Thai cuisine since it is delicious and pretty damn healthy.

Thai food is fun quick and easy... it's all about finding the spices... I went through a big cook at home Thai food binge a few years ago...  not so much any more ... to high in sodium for the BF...

thehardway

Ironman69


cool.
im a veggie since i was born. but i help my frnds to cook their chicken and fish since i season them THE best.
i also take help to modify the dishes a bit with the help of a cooks from nearby italian and american restaurants for a bit of variety. also we got the french with their greens and salads which i call survival rations.
but frankly IMHO many of the western foods are just too bland. the hottest western foods are just tame stuff on our turf. yea, a bunch of peppers can hotten things up, but the dishes then lose their original flavors.

haha... As I finish up my Indian leftovers (yeah tonights dinner equals a serious cheat).... before I go home after yet another  12 (that's at least 4, and 2 10 hour days... oh it's been a peach of a week I tell you), Had to reply...

Americans are wusses when it comes to heat in food... You have no idea how hard I have to belabor to any ethnic restaurant (mexican, Thai, some Chinese, Inidian, etc.), that when I order a dish that is hot and spicy I actually want it HOT AND SPICY!!! Like when we order Indian food (it is an office staff favorite... ), 3 of us like it very hot, we have almost ordered in an Indian Accent, because half the time they don't think we can take it...  and outr food comes in delicious but not hot, almost bland. I KNOW it is not as hot as the food actually is over there or can get I should say... but  I am happy to say today my Naavatna  Korma  (spelling?)  brought a tingle to my lips, slow pleasant burn on my toung and a delicious warmth to my belly.... and 9 out of 10 people I know could not have eaten it.

But, the flavor base of western food done right can be complex like indian, or clean basic and well flavored and seasoned ... with very clear simple flavors maximized...

But yeah.. you guys can cook over there... Indian food has broken my discipline on more than one occasion... soooooooo good.

thats navaratna kurma. nava : 9, rathna : gem, navaratna = 9 gems = 9 planets = 9 emotions; korma/kurma [spelled depending on which part of india this dish originated] = mixture. saturn is the bad/hot one. hahaha.. i feel like having it now. it is a prehistoric dish. invented before christ and before the astronomers discovered the 9 planets :)
india was the pinnacle of wealth and science before we got invaded by the british. so obv the british were intelligent enuf to take over our dumb prehistoric asses :D
i sometimes wish we are not that tame all the time. take our present prime minister for example. the most soft spoken kitty kat in the world. he wont say a word if we get invaded again. everyone around him is corrupt and he still doesn't utter a word, instead keeps working silently towards our betterment. nice guy though. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manmohan_Singh

Anbe Sivam. Period.

cooking is part of my actual job but i never really cook at home for most part

219 weight trying to lower 217 now. 2 months later. lol.
250 bench
305 squat
345 deadlift

thehardway

RedJeep


I cook all kinds of ****. Currently trying to master Thai cuisine since it is delicious and pretty damn healthy.

Thai food is fun quick and easy... it's all about finding the spices... I went through a big cook at home Thai food binge a few years ago...  not so much any more ... to high in sodium for the BF...

Yeah that's true. Indian food is hard to get right. You need a tandoor to get the flavors right, and a lot of spices. Its ok tho, we have a bomb place like 2 minutes from my house anyways.

I thought about going to culinary school for a while until I figured out that it was a very hard business to make good money in. 

I try to cook my own foods. I keep true to my roots of Meditterannean flavors. I season mostly with herbs, olive oil, lemon, and lots of garlic. I tend to invent my own foods keeping with the same style of seasoning. most of my food is very clean and distinct in flavor.

An example of an easy meal is chicken breast marinated in garlic, olive oil, and lemon baked in the oven with a side of sauteed garlic in olive oil, tomatoes, and green beans.  Yummy.

24, 6'1" 230lbs........

I need to get my diet down and i'll become a beast!

I live out in the country, so I have a herb garden, veggie garden, apple and plum trees, and I even grow my own stevia.  I wish it was tropical here though, cause my apples and plums only last for a few months.  The rest can be grown inside as needed.

I love to cook and over the years have become a pretty decent cook. The girlfriend is even better. She could give lessons to just about anyone on Food Network.

optimumhealth, where did you find Stevia seeds or plants? Ho dose it do in your climate?

175 lbs
47 48 years old
Feeling pretty good

Well I am just pleasantly surprised.... good boys!

Red Jeep I almost went to culinary school myself... didn't want to work every night... that is what turned me off.

Ironman thanks for the history lesson...

I probably should have made a my GF/ wife/ Mom cooks for me..

I guess I just look at the wrong threads when I stop by this section...

Jealous of everybody with a vegetable garden tho..

thehardway


Well I am just pleasantly surprised.... good boys!

Red Jeep I almost went to culinary school myself... didn't want to work every night... that is what turned me off.

Ironman thanks for the history lesson...

I probably should have made a my GF/ wife/ Mom cooks for me..

I guess I just look at the wrong threads when I stop by this section...

Jealous of everybody with a vegetable garden tho..

I think mine is being invaded by Chipmunks. I have a couple of corn plants gone with a dug hole where they were. Looks like it may be a fight later in the season. I will probably get one of those live traps and relocate the thing. Hate to loose all that I planted.

Team Keine Ausreden = No Excuses
mein scheinehund ist daheim
48 yrs young
6'5" 270 Lbs

Ironman69

thehardway

Ironman69


cool.
im a veggie since i was born. but i help my frnds to cook their chicken and fish since i season them THE best.
i also take help to modify the dishes a bit with the help of a cooks from nearby italian and american restaurants for a bit of variety. also we got the french with their greens and salads which i call survival rations.
but frankly IMHO many of the western foods are just too bland. the hottest western foods are just tame stuff on our turf. yea, a bunch of peppers can hotten things up, but the dishes then lose their original flavors.

haha... As I finish up my Indian leftovers (yeah tonights dinner equals a serious cheat).... before I go home after yet another  12 (that's at least 4, and 2 10 hour days... oh it's been a peach of a week I tell you), Had to reply...

Americans are wusses when it comes to heat in food... You have no idea how hard I have to belabor to any ethnic restaurant (mexican, Thai, some Chinese, Inidian, etc.), that when I order a dish that is hot and spicy I actually want it HOT AND SPICY!!! Like when we order Indian food (it is an office staff favorite... ), 3 of us like it very hot, we have almost ordered in an Indian Accent, because half the time they don't think we can take it...  and outr food comes in delicious but not hot, almost bland. I KNOW it is not as hot as the food actually is over there or can get I should say... but  I am happy to say today my Naavatna  Korma  (spelling?)  brought a tingle to my lips, slow pleasant burn on my toung and a delicious warmth to my belly.... and 9 out of 10 people I know could not have eaten it.

But, the flavor base of western food done right can be complex like indian, or clean basic and well flavored and seasoned ... with very clear simple flavors maximized...

But yeah.. you guys can cook over there... Indian food has broken my discipline on more than one occasion... soooooooo good.

thats navaratna kurma. nava : 9, rathna : gem, navaratna = 9 gems = 9 planets = 9 emotions; korma/kurma [spelled depending on which part of india this dish originated] = mixture. saturn is the bad/hot one. hahaha.. i feel like having it now. it is a prehistoric dish. invented before christ and before the astronomers discovered the 9 planets :)
india was the pinnacle of wealth and science before we got invaded by the british. so obv the british were intelligent enuf to take over our dumb prehistoric asses :D
i sometimes wish we are not that tame all the time. take our present prime minister for example. the most soft spoken kitty kat in the world. he wont say a word if we get invaded again. everyone around him is corrupt and he still doesn't utter a word, instead keeps working silently towards our betterment. nice guy though. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manmohan_Singh

I think this is also true with the Hot Dog.

Team Keine Ausreden = No Excuses
mein scheinehund ist daheim
48 yrs young
6'5" 270 Lbs

I'm no chef, but I can whip up just about anything. I prefer to live on chicken + olive oil + seasonings, boiled eggs, fruits and vegetables, etc, but I am also known to eat some of the most absolute crap food. I can cook a sugar loaded pound cake, seasoned chicken salads, fruit-nut-berry-vege salads, etc.
If I need to cook an exotic dish then I look it up and cook it... ^_^, still need to learn how to make deviled eggs, etc.

I can cook Macaroni so bad that it will back you up for a week, or I can cook it and bake it so well that you eat half the dish and rack up a few thousand calories in one sitting, depends on how much I like you and if I'm feeling cruel that day.

-edit-

My cooking may be flawed, I feel sick, its not the first time, sometimes I think I get bad chicken or eggs and I come down with some minor food poisoning. I asked my mum if she was feeling iffy, I think I cooked up some bad eggs/beef/cheese. Not too bad but enough to knock one around a little bit.

Three week keto test run
Started July 19
It will work, or I'm done dieting.

Hell I can't cook that well at all but I'm learning, it's not that I don't mind cooking but my girl usually kicks me out of the kitchen or takes over when I do cook.   I'm trying to be more proactive in cooking and it being healthy for the sake of my family.   I've tried a few receipes off this site and from a few old body building books I got laying around.   Good post Hardway.

Height 5' 8" Weight  200 lbs Body Fat 16%
Bench 315-Squat 365-Dead 405
Chest-46"/Bicep-16.5"/Waist-37"...UGGH
Thigh-24.5"/Calves 16"