Oh I wouldn't claim it was a great diet at all, but it worked.  Also this was several years ago and I would do things differently now in the same situation.  The bread is of course not essential but it made the meal seem more complete.  I kept my diet bland for a couple of years until I was in the range I wanted to be, and there were many variations.  For example, I would also use chicken and steamed vegetables for dinner.  Or for breakfast, I would have granola, whey protein and yogurt with some jam -- it was certainly the case that fiber acted as an appetite suppressant.  

Not a great diet but it wasn't meant to be, it was just a means to an end.