cheers for the advice Herr. I don't think I could do what your girlfriend does but I shall attempt some of your suggestions. The problem, as I'm sure you are aware, is that when you buy meals you tend to buy what goes down with the family, and my husband will crucify me if I bought brown pasta or rice or rye bread, and I can't afford to buy two different types. But, as I say, his pre-op diet which I'm doing in solidarity starts on 12th January, and his op itself is on 26th, so I think things will change drastically around here in therms of food for him and I when that happens.
I'm going to see what I can do about the fibre thing though. Maybe I'll have ryvita for breakfast or something instead of the vanilla activia I'm currently having.