You are currently browsing the daily archive for March 8, 2009.
Did you ever eat something and feel healthy afterward? For me, it’s probably not actual health related imparted to me by the foods, but a feeling that I did “good” eating healthy food. Dinner gave me that feeling tonight. I wasn’t stuffed, I didn’t feel like I’d swallowed a still-sizzling barbequed rhinoceros, but I felt pleasant. It was a good feeling.
We cleaned out the fridge today and I went grocery shopping after lunch. I increased my grocery list to cover six days, up from the normal four. There were a couple things I’ll need to go back for midweek, but the largest part of the shopping is done. Taro root won’t be available until Wednesday, for instance, so I’ll go Wednesday afternoon and pick up some salad greens, fresh asparagus and the root. Some veggies don’t last well in my fridge, and asparagus is one that I need to buy and use within a couple days.
Tonight’s dinner was chili, sourdough cornbread and coconut kefir. Unlike the canned chili disaster earlier this month, this was homemade chili made with sprouted beans, crispy cashews, fresh carrots, bell pepper, garlic and onion, organic canned tomatoes and just the right spices. We don’t like spicy food, but I know it is good for us, so I put in enough spice to be helpful without burning our mouths. The sourdough cornbread was delicious with pastured butter and added just the right tartness to balance the spice of the chili.
I confess: I didn’t share the coconut kefir with anyone. I kept it all to myself. It was my first batch and I didn’t know how it would turn out. I only made 8 ounces for this batch, and I loved it! If you’re not familiar with coconut kefir, let me introduce you to Kimi and her recipe. I am a big water drinker, and I’ll tell you, after I’ve downed that first gallon of the day, something other than water can be a real pick-me-up. This coconut kefir really filled the bill for me. It was sweet, but not as sweet as soda or juice; tangy, but not as tangy as yogurt; and very refreshing. I hope the nutrients help me finally heal from this cold.
Speaking of the cold that wouldn’t die, I seriously strained a stomach muscle from coughing last night. It’s mostly a problem because of my inability to rest the muscle to let it heal. I thought at first it might have been a hernia, but I’ve ruled that out. It’s not the first weird coughing injury I’ve had. Back in my early 20′s, I cracked a rib coughing. Now that’s some killer six-pack!
Let’s face it. If you are going to clean up your family’s diet, you’re going to have to put down that soda and bag of chips and just walk away, never to return. Right?
Hm, not necessarily. Kelly the Kitchen Kop espouses the 80/20 rule, and I think that’s very wise. Think for a moment about your most tempting, delicious food vice. Now imagine the authority in your life saying, “No more of THAT. Ever.” Are you smiling and submitting? I guess it’s the rebel in me that says, “Huh. Make me.” Can I go a lenten fast without chocolate? Sure. At the end of those days is a big chocolate bunny. Can I go a month with no soda? Sure, as long as an icy Cherry Coke is waiting at the turn of the calendar page.
The 80/20 rule, is among those of which Captain Barbossa would say, “is more what you’d call ‘guidelines’ than actual rules.” Simply put, if you are feeding your family three healthy meals a day, every day, you are way ahead of the game. If your child has a big slice of pizza or two at a friend’s house, or if you sneak an occasional soda, or if your hubby goes out for a business lunch and has a Bloomin’ Onion*, it’s not worth scrapping the entire week’s menu plans over. The danger is in letting these rare moments of indulgence become the norm.
Having a bowl of nutritionless boxed cold cereal for breakfast with three cups of coffee for breakfast; a fast food burger, fries and shake for lunch; a soda mid-afternoon; and a nuked low-fat frozen entree for dinner is a sure set-up for a quart of Chunky Monkey with TV. Your body is screaming for nutrition. Not necessarily even ice cream, but something to fill the void left by a day’s neglect. Better to feed your body well all day long. If you still crave the ice cream, make some with raw milk, raw cream and maple syrup and enjoy every spoonful. But, don’t be surprised if a cup fills the need.
*Note: Sporting a whopping 2210 calories and 134 grams of hydrogenated, soy/canola vegetable fat, the Bloomin’ Onion could very well be the most deadly food on the planet sold for a profit and enjoyed willingly.
The Dark Side of Fat Loss
