What to Eat?

I had posted previously about getting on track and slimming down for the my game and health purposes.

I am slowly working my way back from some nasty shin splints, so I have begun to alternate between walking a few miles and running on alternating days.

As previously suggested to me I will begin a cycle of intervals. Running MWF & push ups/sit ups/dumbell lifting.

However now my questions becomes what to eat?

I find that I just cant find healthy things to eat, and salad begins to get borring real quick. I have looked at various books (like abs diet) to get some ideas. They had a few, like rice, blackbeans & tabasco sauce meal. Otherwise they are way too time consuming to prepare and have too many ingredients.

Otherwise below is a list of my typical eating day, with varients.

Any ideas would be helpful.
However I will mention that I do have 2 small kids at home and cooking 2 different meals is not always economically possible. So somedays I have to settle and have pizza or meat loaf for dinner.

Breakfest- Lean protien shake or a bagel w/natural PB

10 am snack is greek yogurt

lunch 12:30 salad with 2 eggs

3 pm snack banana or apple.

6 pm Dinner is lean meat and some greens (sometimes meat loaf, burger with no buns, steak, pizza etc)

Any ideas will be appreciated!

I know i am going to get ripped on this one, I am all for lower carbs, i know, this hole discussion is in another thread, but i wanted to give WHAT I DO, and it works for me, its up to someone else if they want to try.

As for material for eating food, the internet is a good place, but i find a ton of Paleo recipes have great material. They are usually simple foods, with a variety of meats and veggies prepared in interesting ways.

Like this one kindle book i got, it was FREE, and its all about slow cooker paleo meals. I mean, how can that go wrong, meat, veggies, slow cookers, yea that is just good stuff.

The question i have to ask, do you like to cook, or can you cook. The reason is, cooking is a satisfying experience, and is the ultimate quality control. You handle your own food, you cook your own food, and you can tailor it to your own tastes. By what you eat, it looks like you just go with convenience on eating healthy.

Also, Vegetarian books are a great resource on how to prepare different veggies and fruits. I know vegetarians out there would hate me, but i use that and add them to my meat dishes, so satisfying :p

My hole theory on eating is, eat closest to the its natural form. Its not a raw diet, but potatoes can be eaten raw, or just cooked, that is the only carb i can find like that. The rest usually have to be harvested and processed in some form. Flour is ground, oats are ground or cut, rice has to be soaked in water to remove toxins. Actually most flours should be fermented to remove toxins. So i tend to eat any meat i want, my dairy consists of eggs or half and half, i have a dislike for milk. I love bacon, its awesome. I try to stay away from all sugar as possible. I like to load up on veggies, and i eat fruits that are only seasonal. I try to stay away from any flavored drinks, liquid calories are bad and not filling at all.

I never rip what works for someone else. What is key is if it works. If something does not fit my lifestyle that never makes it wrong for you.

I dont mind cooking. I enjoy it at times, but rarely have the time to get too involved, due to work schedule and younglings complaining they are hungry.

I actually love to and prefer to grill. Give me a steak or chicken. Rub with some EVO & cracked pepper and throw on the grill. Of course one of the problem is corn on the cobb goes well along side steak, all grilled.

I dont get to cook what I want, because I have an extremely picky wife, who will not eat if I have put something in the mix that she finds. I also have 2 picky kids (both under 5) who have similar eating habits of thier mother.

I will eat everything and anything (which may be the problem). of course I should note that I dont eat alot of salt or sugar. I dont like soda or candy.

However I do like beer and whiskey!

So when cooking I tend to stay under a few ingredients. I dont have a hours to prep nor the money to go buy a $10 bottle of seasoning/herb that will be used once. (expecially if both kids and wife dont like the taste)

I have cooked in the crock pot, and have a couple good stew receipes, but they usually call for condensed soup. I also like making chilli from all natural items.

I do like simplicity, since i am on the run all the time.

Oatmeal for breakfest-quick

Lean Protein shake -once again super quick

lunch- wheat wrap/hummas/lettuce/chicken breast

Dinner -Chicken or steak, seasoned with pepper and cooked- some greens.

Must understand I also grew up poor, where cheerios for dinner did the job. I eat because I have to and dont worry about flare.

Of course this is all different when my wife cooks. She does alot of pasta's which have to have garlic bread.

but you did bring up an idea I have considered many, many times. Veggiterian books. I may go search the interwebs for some good eats there.

Thank you!