Oh, man, oh man. What would I do without the Internet? I was looking at my yahoo mail, and saw that one of this week's question of the day on HungryGirl.com is about how to chop butternut squash more easily. I hate cutting spaghetti squash in half, so every time I look at the butternut squash on my counter, I sigh a little sigh. But with these squash chopping tips from HungryGirl, I can do it lickety split. (Hardy har har--get it? Split? Like I'll split the squash in half? Okay, fine. It's not that funny.) Unfortunately, the lunch tips she offers at the top of the post aren't very inspiring...but keep scrolling down for the good stuff.
You might notice that she also mentions butternut squash fries. I am soooo trying those. I love anything that reminds me of fries but aren't filled with calories. I've been sticking with my sweet potato fries/medallions for awhile, but it might be time for a change.
If you're not already following Snack Girl, you should. This morning she has a list of links she uses to stay healthy and inspired. They look pretty interesting, so I thought I'd pass those on. Yesterday, she had a great looking (and simple) recipe for banana pudding--might be a new breakfast idea.
Speaking of breakfast, I'm trying to focus on having more protein-friendly breakfasts to stay full longer. I have had a tendency to have whole grain dominant meals in the morning (bagel thin, cereal, oatmeal). Now, steel-cut oats have a fair amount of protein, but I wonder if it's not enough. I've tried eggs and yogurt so far, and I find I really am fuller longer, so I'm going to keep trying to have some very protein-rich items in each breakfast to make sure it's not a placebo effect. Any ideas to inspire me? Help!
Lastly, and speaking of steel-cut oats, I wanted to let you know that I tried adding maple syrup to my oatmeal and blueberries to see if it was like blueberry pancakes. I had some leftover bulgur, so I used that instead of oats, but otherwise it was the same--and it was delicious! I added a tablespoon, which I actually found to be a little too much, so with the last bit of bulgur that I had leftover, I tried it again the next day with a teaspoon. That was more to my liking--and half the calories, so a win-win. Pure maple syrup is still a calorie-dense, sugary mess, but it's better than adding straight sugar or artificial sweeteners, right? And it's also just a nice change of pace from normal sweetener flavors.
Friday, October 15, 2010
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Bad Week, Good Eats
Oh, boy. Another round of self-doubt and self-loathing. Yippee!! But I'm really working hard on staying with the positives, not surrendering to the bad feelings, which will get me nowhere anyway, right? All that gets me is more bad feelings. So here I am, blogging about some of the health/food positives in my life. Because being healthy is something I ultimately control, even if I'm not always very good at controlling it.
The good news about this whacky week is that I've been on point target so far. I ate a few extra points on Monday, but otherwise, I'm right where I need to be. This is a great feeling. Tomorrow is my first book club meeting, where I know there will be wine and probably unhealthy food. I'm going to eat well all day, so I only go over target by a moderate amount. But I am going to be both restrained and forgiving. I can do it!
I mentioned in my last entry that a friend had some good ideas she's learned about. The idea is: PIZZA. We all go crazy for pizza, but it's so stinking unhealthy. I do my tortilla and English muffin kinds, but here's another one that sounds even better, quoted/paraphrased from my friend's note:
I take a Flat Out (Italian flavor) bread, and put it on a baking sheet. Bake it at 350 degrees for 5 minutes. Take it out and let it cool slightly. Add your pizza sauce. I used turkey sausage that is low in fat and Canadian bacon and the veggies that I like and 1/4 cup low-fat mozzarella. Return to oven for about 10 minutes. It averages about 5 to 7 points for the whole thing.
Amazing! The crust is two points (130 cals, with 3g fiber), the mozarella is 1.5 points, the sauce is 1 point per serving. That's 4.5 points. I would probably add mushrooms, peppers, and onions only (zero points), but I do love Canadian bacon, too, or maybe some ground chicken (2-3 points). No matter how you shake it, that is a lot of pizza for very few points! You could even make it into a kind of calzone, I bet.
My friend also recommends a lot of other recipes with the Flat Out bread. She used the original flavor bread and did the same with bbq sauce, canned chicken, red onion and low fat cheddar cheese.
I was at the co-op tonight and bought some Imagine Bistro corn chipotle bisque. It was amazing. A serving (1 cup) is 2 points. I found 3/4 cup to be plenty as a side dish, which was 1.5 points.
I would love to have any of you let me know the great ideas you come up with, too. The more ideas the better. We all want to enjoy the great things you're enjoying.
The good news about this whacky week is that I've been on point target so far. I ate a few extra points on Monday, but otherwise, I'm right where I need to be. This is a great feeling. Tomorrow is my first book club meeting, where I know there will be wine and probably unhealthy food. I'm going to eat well all day, so I only go over target by a moderate amount. But I am going to be both restrained and forgiving. I can do it!
I mentioned in my last entry that a friend had some good ideas she's learned about. The idea is: PIZZA. We all go crazy for pizza, but it's so stinking unhealthy. I do my tortilla and English muffin kinds, but here's another one that sounds even better, quoted/paraphrased from my friend's note:
I take a Flat Out (Italian flavor) bread, and put it on a baking sheet. Bake it at 350 degrees for 5 minutes. Take it out and let it cool slightly. Add your pizza sauce. I used turkey sausage that is low in fat and Canadian bacon and the veggies that I like and 1/4 cup low-fat mozzarella. Return to oven for about 10 minutes. It averages about 5 to 7 points for the whole thing.
Amazing! The crust is two points (130 cals, with 3g fiber), the mozarella is 1.5 points, the sauce is 1 point per serving. That's 4.5 points. I would probably add mushrooms, peppers, and onions only (zero points), but I do love Canadian bacon, too, or maybe some ground chicken (2-3 points). No matter how you shake it, that is a lot of pizza for very few points! You could even make it into a kind of calzone, I bet.
My friend also recommends a lot of other recipes with the Flat Out bread. She used the original flavor bread and did the same with bbq sauce, canned chicken, red onion and low fat cheddar cheese.
I was at the co-op tonight and bought some Imagine Bistro corn chipotle bisque. It was amazing. A serving (1 cup) is 2 points. I found 3/4 cup to be plenty as a side dish, which was 1.5 points.
I would love to have any of you let me know the great ideas you come up with, too. The more ideas the better. We all want to enjoy the great things you're enjoying.
Monday, October 11, 2010
Keep on Trying
According to the WW scales, I'm up another pound, even though I'm back down to normal according to my scale at home. Hmph. My regular leader wasn't there, and the substitute lady was not particularly helpful, so I'll just see what happens next week. My focus must be on keeping doing what I'm doing while not freaking out.
One thing that I plan to do in this way is to keep experimenting with new foods and recipes. Here's what I've done recently.
On Saturday, I tried the acorn squash I bought. I think I didn't cook it long enough. I used a recipe that called for cutting in half and filling the hollowed-out center with chopped apples. Cook for 35 minutes, then pour on a melted combo of 2 tsps butter with 4 tsps honey and sprinkle with cinnamon. Cook for another 20 minutes. I would add more time on the front end of the process, though, at least in my oven. The apple and honey really sweeten the flavor without bad-for-you brown sugar which I like. I used Brummel and Brown butter, so it was a little lower in points than full butter. All said, it was good, but not something I'm scrambling to make again.
I now have to figure out what to do with the butternut squash I bought. I'm excited to mess around with it. Maybe soup?
A more successful endeavor was dessert based. I love granola in my yogurt, but it's so stinking high in calories! I had some Kashi Vive honey cereal that I need to eat. I remembered that I had once added it to yogurt, but I couldn't remember if I didn't repeat that because I didn't like it or because I just forgot to try again. So...I tried again. It's great! It adds a nice crunch to the yogurt with far fewer calories than my granola. I also added some frozen raspberries so it was like a true yogurt parfait. Ooh! I also added some cocoa almonds...mmmm....a touch of chocolate. That adds points, but it's quality calories. Almonds are good for you.
Then, I was recently eating an apple while thinking about having a salad for dinner. Then I had a recollection of the time I had apples in my salad at Panera. It had seemed a weirdo combination at the time (hey--this was back when ordering a salad at a restaurant was rare and only based on guilt, not health consciousness). I decided to try it at home. I had some spinach, onions, and green peppers already, so I added part of an apple (the whole thing seemed excessive). I added a little balsalmic vinaigrette for dressing. It was great! It provides a nice added crunch and texture, plus the sweet tartness of the apple goes so well with the bitter tartness of the vinaigrette. This is especially great for me since I don't really ever add meat to anything anymore. The apple kind of gives the visual hint of meat without the fat or calories. I cut mine up into pretty small chunks, but you can do whatever you want.
I also bought a small bottle of 100% pure maple syrup (made in the state where I live: Wisconsin). I have a bunch of bulgur that I made the other night, so tomorrow morning, I'm going to heat some of that up for breakfast and add a tablespoon of syrup and some blueberries. My hope is that it will be like a hint of pancakes only healthy. I looooove blueberry pancakes, so we'll see if this cures a craving. I'll let you know!
Of course, maple syrup isn't great for you, but if you just add a little bit for flavor, it's just fine. And, honestly, we can't deny ourselves all the great things in the world, and syrup is definitely a great thing! I just recommend looking for syrup that is 100% pure. Otherwise you're getting a little syrup with a bunch of corn syrup and added sugars and fillers. Who needs that? Real maple syrup is kind of pricey but worth it! I'll let you know how this experiment goes in the morning.
So there are my newest adventures in cooking. Any ideas you have are totally welcome. I have a few friends who are reporting in soon with new good ideas. I will keep you posted!
One thing that I plan to do in this way is to keep experimenting with new foods and recipes. Here's what I've done recently.
On Saturday, I tried the acorn squash I bought. I think I didn't cook it long enough. I used a recipe that called for cutting in half and filling the hollowed-out center with chopped apples. Cook for 35 minutes, then pour on a melted combo of 2 tsps butter with 4 tsps honey and sprinkle with cinnamon. Cook for another 20 minutes. I would add more time on the front end of the process, though, at least in my oven. The apple and honey really sweeten the flavor without bad-for-you brown sugar which I like. I used Brummel and Brown butter, so it was a little lower in points than full butter. All said, it was good, but not something I'm scrambling to make again.
I now have to figure out what to do with the butternut squash I bought. I'm excited to mess around with it. Maybe soup?
A more successful endeavor was dessert based. I love granola in my yogurt, but it's so stinking high in calories! I had some Kashi Vive honey cereal that I need to eat. I remembered that I had once added it to yogurt, but I couldn't remember if I didn't repeat that because I didn't like it or because I just forgot to try again. So...I tried again. It's great! It adds a nice crunch to the yogurt with far fewer calories than my granola. I also added some frozen raspberries so it was like a true yogurt parfait. Ooh! I also added some cocoa almonds...mmmm....a touch of chocolate. That adds points, but it's quality calories. Almonds are good for you.
Then, I was recently eating an apple while thinking about having a salad for dinner. Then I had a recollection of the time I had apples in my salad at Panera. It had seemed a weirdo combination at the time (hey--this was back when ordering a salad at a restaurant was rare and only based on guilt, not health consciousness). I decided to try it at home. I had some spinach, onions, and green peppers already, so I added part of an apple (the whole thing seemed excessive). I added a little balsalmic vinaigrette for dressing. It was great! It provides a nice added crunch and texture, plus the sweet tartness of the apple goes so well with the bitter tartness of the vinaigrette. This is especially great for me since I don't really ever add meat to anything anymore. The apple kind of gives the visual hint of meat without the fat or calories. I cut mine up into pretty small chunks, but you can do whatever you want.
I also bought a small bottle of 100% pure maple syrup (made in the state where I live: Wisconsin). I have a bunch of bulgur that I made the other night, so tomorrow morning, I'm going to heat some of that up for breakfast and add a tablespoon of syrup and some blueberries. My hope is that it will be like a hint of pancakes only healthy. I looooove blueberry pancakes, so we'll see if this cures a craving. I'll let you know!
Of course, maple syrup isn't great for you, but if you just add a little bit for flavor, it's just fine. And, honestly, we can't deny ourselves all the great things in the world, and syrup is definitely a great thing! I just recommend looking for syrup that is 100% pure. Otherwise you're getting a little syrup with a bunch of corn syrup and added sugars and fillers. Who needs that? Real maple syrup is kind of pricey but worth it! I'll let you know how this experiment goes in the morning.
So there are my newest adventures in cooking. Any ideas you have are totally welcome. I have a few friends who are reporting in soon with new good ideas. I will keep you posted!
Saturday, October 9, 2010
What I'm Doing Right
I've spent the past few posts whining about how hard it is, so I'm mixing it up. Here are diet/healthy things I've done right this week and right things I've got in the works.
1) I bought butternut squash and acorn squash! It was a super busy week, and I wasn't home to cook many elaborate meals, but they're on my shelf waiting for me to cook this weekend. I'm going to spend a little time searching for good recipes for them, in addition to the one I found earlier.
2) Additionally, I went to the grocery store and bought all kinds of healthy things, including items I haven't tried in awhile. Snack Girl had a post about cottage cheese snack ideas, so I think I'll try messing around with that this weekend, too. I like cottage cheese plain, but it will be fun to try new things.
3) I worked out every day this week, including two trips to the Y for yoga and pilates. I'm really digging pilates on Tuesday nights. It gets my heart rate up a tad, but more importantly the stretchy happy feeling it gives me is really rewarding. This is a reminder of how much I've grown over the last year.
4) Speaking of personal growth, I also agreed to do a thing at the Y next Feburary that requires me to complete an IronMan triathalon. Okay okay. So I get a month to complete it rather than a day, but still! The same friend offered it up last year and I said, "No way!!" It was too hard, too much of a commitment, too much everything. But this year I said yes without any hesitation! It was only after I said yes that I realized the amazing difference in my feelings about things.
5) I also agreed to join a team of friends who are going to do three 5Ks in December, January, and February! We're walking rather than running, but it's still pretty awesome and I'm excited to do the races and train with these friends. I'm also going to do my second Turkey Trot 5K through my university. That's in November, so that means four big races in four months! Again, the difference a year makes is astounding.
What all of this means is that I have lots to celebrate, even in the midst of all my fretting over my diet and social binges. As a pessimistic person, it is really easy for me to glam on to the negative things about my daily life. The fact that I have so many social opportunities is a blessing, but I focus on the bad part relating to my diet. Focusing on my diet so obsessively prevents me from seeing the big picture, which is that I am 60 pounds lighter than I was one year ago. I am excited about exercise and health in a way that seemed impossible before.
Keeping this in mind the past few days has really helped me stay happy and positive about everything. I went from "Egads! I can't eat anything at the party on Thursday because I'll ruin everything!" to, "I've been great all week about eating healthy, so I'm having a brat and dessert." Turns out, I totally overdid it, but I went home (stuffed and a little uncomfortable, frankly) still feeling okay about myself. Positive thinking is key to positive outcomes, right?
Right. I can do it. We all can! Weee!!
1) I bought butternut squash and acorn squash! It was a super busy week, and I wasn't home to cook many elaborate meals, but they're on my shelf waiting for me to cook this weekend. I'm going to spend a little time searching for good recipes for them, in addition to the one I found earlier.
2) Additionally, I went to the grocery store and bought all kinds of healthy things, including items I haven't tried in awhile. Snack Girl had a post about cottage cheese snack ideas, so I think I'll try messing around with that this weekend, too. I like cottage cheese plain, but it will be fun to try new things.
3) I worked out every day this week, including two trips to the Y for yoga and pilates. I'm really digging pilates on Tuesday nights. It gets my heart rate up a tad, but more importantly the stretchy happy feeling it gives me is really rewarding. This is a reminder of how much I've grown over the last year.
4) Speaking of personal growth, I also agreed to do a thing at the Y next Feburary that requires me to complete an IronMan triathalon. Okay okay. So I get a month to complete it rather than a day, but still! The same friend offered it up last year and I said, "No way!!" It was too hard, too much of a commitment, too much everything. But this year I said yes without any hesitation! It was only after I said yes that I realized the amazing difference in my feelings about things.
5) I also agreed to join a team of friends who are going to do three 5Ks in December, January, and February! We're walking rather than running, but it's still pretty awesome and I'm excited to do the races and train with these friends. I'm also going to do my second Turkey Trot 5K through my university. That's in November, so that means four big races in four months! Again, the difference a year makes is astounding.
What all of this means is that I have lots to celebrate, even in the midst of all my fretting over my diet and social binges. As a pessimistic person, it is really easy for me to glam on to the negative things about my daily life. The fact that I have so many social opportunities is a blessing, but I focus on the bad part relating to my diet. Focusing on my diet so obsessively prevents me from seeing the big picture, which is that I am 60 pounds lighter than I was one year ago. I am excited about exercise and health in a way that seemed impossible before.
Keeping this in mind the past few days has really helped me stay happy and positive about everything. I went from "Egads! I can't eat anything at the party on Thursday because I'll ruin everything!" to, "I've been great all week about eating healthy, so I'm having a brat and dessert." Turns out, I totally overdid it, but I went home (stuffed and a little uncomfortable, frankly) still feeling okay about myself. Positive thinking is key to positive outcomes, right?
Right. I can do it. We all can! Weee!!
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Oopsies. Overcorrection alert.
I've been really back on track this week, watching my points, staying active, eating my fruits and vegetables. It's nice to be back in control of things.
But that's also part of the problem: control. I'm a bit of a control freak. That's part of what's caused the anxiety of late when I've had so many opportunities to be off target. I can't/won't control myself. But now that I'm back in control, I have other kinds of issues to deal with. For example, I have been under eating this week in order to correct for the past few weeks. I haven't let myself eat more than my 25 daily points, even though I exercise, which should allow me to eat at least three more per day. I have felt hungry, but I put up.
But today I surpassed hunger. I was teaching my second section of interpersonal communication this morning and my brain just basically shut down. I was suddenly swimming in jello. It was hard to move, harder to think, impossible to give my lecture. I said, "Wow. I don't think I'm making any sense. I feel off." They laughed and nodded, suggesting that they had noticed it as well. I laughed it off and tried to finish class, but I let them go a little early. The rest of the day I was lethargic, half-dazed and quite grumpy.
It took me awhile to figure out possible connections. I've been getting the regular amount of sleep (which is, granted, not quite enough). I haven't woken up in the night. I haven't done any more strenuous activity than normal. The only difference over the past few weeks (months, actually), is that I am eating noticeably less.
So I guess I have to go back to my original shift in thinking over the past year. I said how I learned to see food as fuel, not as a simple pastime. That goes the other direction, too: food is fuel, not the enemy. I want to be healthy, but I can't equate that with a number on my scale or on the tags of my clothes. I want to be healthy, not skinny.
People tell me I'm an inspiration/role model for weight loss. Be careful your role models.
But that's also part of the problem: control. I'm a bit of a control freak. That's part of what's caused the anxiety of late when I've had so many opportunities to be off target. I can't/won't control myself. But now that I'm back in control, I have other kinds of issues to deal with. For example, I have been under eating this week in order to correct for the past few weeks. I haven't let myself eat more than my 25 daily points, even though I exercise, which should allow me to eat at least three more per day. I have felt hungry, but I put up.
But today I surpassed hunger. I was teaching my second section of interpersonal communication this morning and my brain just basically shut down. I was suddenly swimming in jello. It was hard to move, harder to think, impossible to give my lecture. I said, "Wow. I don't think I'm making any sense. I feel off." They laughed and nodded, suggesting that they had noticed it as well. I laughed it off and tried to finish class, but I let them go a little early. The rest of the day I was lethargic, half-dazed and quite grumpy.
It took me awhile to figure out possible connections. I've been getting the regular amount of sleep (which is, granted, not quite enough). I haven't woken up in the night. I haven't done any more strenuous activity than normal. The only difference over the past few weeks (months, actually), is that I am eating noticeably less.
So I guess I have to go back to my original shift in thinking over the past year. I said how I learned to see food as fuel, not as a simple pastime. That goes the other direction, too: food is fuel, not the enemy. I want to be healthy, but I can't equate that with a number on my scale or on the tags of my clothes. I want to be healthy, not skinny.
People tell me I'm an inspiration/role model for weight loss. Be careful your role models.
Monday, October 4, 2010
Social Support and Healthy Eating
So it was my first day back at home after several days away with friends. I had a great time with great people. However, I alternated between being good and being really bad. I take responsibility for that, but it's also really hard to be healthy when everyone else is having fun eating junk and having cocktails. So I was weak and joined the group.
Again.
Of course, this is my responsibility, and I accept that responsibility. What frustrates me, however, is that social support pretty radically changed when I stopped losing weight. My friends are lovely and happy for me, but I keep hearing things like, "Now that you're done losing, you can have an extra drink/unhealthy snack." Not always in so many words, of course, but in implication. When I talk about being careful and avoiding nasty foods, I get responses that suggest they think I'm being overly cautious. I hear, "Oh, but you're so thin now!" When I express concern about gaining some of the weight back, I get, "Oh, but you still look thin, so who cares?" Or, "You weren't being that bad. Relax!"
I'm thin now because of all the hard work I put into it. I will only stay thin by working hard. I will only be able to work hard if my friends and family accept my new way of thinking/living without the thinly veiled incredulity and the prodding toward unhealthy habits. While I am responsible for myself, I don't for a second believe that I can do this alone, or that I can do it in the face of pressure to conform back to my old habits.
The slippery slope toward being overweight will start with the good intentions of friends who want me to enjoy life. There's also the possibility that my healthy choices only highlight their own bad choices, which makes them feel bad or guilty. I understand that completely, and relate to it from my own past experiences, but I don't judge people for their choices so I wish they wouldn't judge mine. I just want this to be easy, and that is impossible if my friends and family don't help me make it easier by showing the same level of support that they did while I was losing weight.
Again.
Of course, this is my responsibility, and I accept that responsibility. What frustrates me, however, is that social support pretty radically changed when I stopped losing weight. My friends are lovely and happy for me, but I keep hearing things like, "Now that you're done losing, you can have an extra drink/unhealthy snack." Not always in so many words, of course, but in implication. When I talk about being careful and avoiding nasty foods, I get responses that suggest they think I'm being overly cautious. I hear, "Oh, but you're so thin now!" When I express concern about gaining some of the weight back, I get, "Oh, but you still look thin, so who cares?" Or, "You weren't being that bad. Relax!"
I'm thin now because of all the hard work I put into it. I will only stay thin by working hard. I will only be able to work hard if my friends and family accept my new way of thinking/living without the thinly veiled incredulity and the prodding toward unhealthy habits. While I am responsible for myself, I don't for a second believe that I can do this alone, or that I can do it in the face of pressure to conform back to my old habits.
The slippery slope toward being overweight will start with the good intentions of friends who want me to enjoy life. There's also the possibility that my healthy choices only highlight their own bad choices, which makes them feel bad or guilty. I understand that completely, and relate to it from my own past experiences, but I don't judge people for their choices so I wish they wouldn't judge mine. I just want this to be easy, and that is impossible if my friends and family don't help me make it easier by showing the same level of support that they did while I was losing weight.
Sunday, October 3, 2010
Eats I'm Eating
I've been doing some moderate experimenting with things to eat because I always want to broaden out my menu so I don't get bored. Thought I'd share a few things I've tried.
1) Vegetarian Chili. This is something I tried last week and it was really good. I typically stay away from box mix stuff because it's overly salty and filled with artificial junk and preservatives. But I was at the co-op the other night and found a brand of vegetarian box mixes on sale called Fantastic Word Foods. I do love a sale, and I do love convenience...so I bought some Tabouli (eh---it's okay) and Vegetarian Chili (YUM!). Looking at the labels, it's not pure whole foods, but I know all the ingredients in the list, and only one or two make me bat an eye. The others are just simple things like dried vegetables. The worst part of it is that salt. If you're trying for a low-salt diet, this would be an investment in your daily allotment: 850mg per serving. I choose no-salt black beans so at least I have that going for me.
The chili is amazing. It has soy protein that doesn't taste funky, so I didn't feel the need to add meat, but you could. I just added what the box told me to: black beans and canned tomatoes. I added extra tomatoes (Muir Glen, which has really nice, thick sauce with the tomatoes) to add extra substance without lots of calories. I also added some onion and green peppers for more texture and nutrition.
With the extra tomatoes, I got five servings out of the box rather than four. Yay! I put each serving in a plastic container for lunches. The last two I put in the freezer to keep it good till next week so I don't have to eat it all at once.
2) English muffins with frozen blueberries. Awhile back, Snack Girl mentioned how it would be better just to put fresh fruit on your toast or muffins in the morning. I decided recently to try that, and it's great. Much better for you than jelly, though I've been eating preserves that contain nothing but pureed fruit with pectin to set it up (for my Iowa friends, you can get it in the health aisle at Hy-Vee. It's called Barb's Garden Pantry, and it's made by a lady from Iowa...raspberry is my favorite so far.). What works particularly nicely here is if you spread some creamed honey on the toast and then add the fruit on top. The honey makes the fruit stick to the bread easier...and it tastes delicious.
If you haven't tried creamed honey, you should. It has the same nutritional qualities as regular honey but it spreads easier. As Linda from SNL would say, "It's like buttah." Anyway. It's a great and delicious breakfast that also allows you to get some of your fruit in.
3) Fruity teas. I often get a snack craving before bed. It's not typically a hunger deal, but I need to taste something. Does that make sense? Anyway, now that it's colder, I try to alleviate those situations with calorie-free flavored tea rather than an actual snack. Celestial Seasonings has apple & cinnamon and apple cranberry flavors that are perfect for fall. I end up feeling like I've had a sweet treat, I feel warmer when I'm through, and ready for bed. Of course, if I have actual hunger pangs, the problem often doesn't go away and then I try to find a healthy snack to deal with it. But I would say a majority of the time, I end up not feeling like I need anything more, and that's how I know it's most often just a psychological urge, not a biological need.
This week, my goal is to try a couple different kinds of squash, as part of my effort to eat fruits and vegetables that are local and in season. The first thing I'm going to try is a Southwest Stuffed Acorn Squash. When I'm feeling more ambitious, I would love to try Pumpkin-Apple soup with either pumpkin or butternut squash. If anyone has recommendations on what kind of squash to eat or how to make them, let me know! I had a somewhat unhealthy weekend (mixed with moments of being good), so I'm ready for a week of solid, healthy patterns. Go me!
1) Vegetarian Chili. This is something I tried last week and it was really good. I typically stay away from box mix stuff because it's overly salty and filled with artificial junk and preservatives. But I was at the co-op the other night and found a brand of vegetarian box mixes on sale called Fantastic Word Foods. I do love a sale, and I do love convenience...so I bought some Tabouli (eh---it's okay) and Vegetarian Chili (YUM!). Looking at the labels, it's not pure whole foods, but I know all the ingredients in the list, and only one or two make me bat an eye. The others are just simple things like dried vegetables. The worst part of it is that salt. If you're trying for a low-salt diet, this would be an investment in your daily allotment: 850mg per serving. I choose no-salt black beans so at least I have that going for me.
The chili is amazing. It has soy protein that doesn't taste funky, so I didn't feel the need to add meat, but you could. I just added what the box told me to: black beans and canned tomatoes. I added extra tomatoes (Muir Glen, which has really nice, thick sauce with the tomatoes) to add extra substance without lots of calories. I also added some onion and green peppers for more texture and nutrition.
With the extra tomatoes, I got five servings out of the box rather than four. Yay! I put each serving in a plastic container for lunches. The last two I put in the freezer to keep it good till next week so I don't have to eat it all at once.
2) English muffins with frozen blueberries. Awhile back, Snack Girl mentioned how it would be better just to put fresh fruit on your toast or muffins in the morning. I decided recently to try that, and it's great. Much better for you than jelly, though I've been eating preserves that contain nothing but pureed fruit with pectin to set it up (for my Iowa friends, you can get it in the health aisle at Hy-Vee. It's called Barb's Garden Pantry, and it's made by a lady from Iowa...raspberry is my favorite so far.). What works particularly nicely here is if you spread some creamed honey on the toast and then add the fruit on top. The honey makes the fruit stick to the bread easier...and it tastes delicious.
If you haven't tried creamed honey, you should. It has the same nutritional qualities as regular honey but it spreads easier. As Linda from SNL would say, "It's like buttah." Anyway. It's a great and delicious breakfast that also allows you to get some of your fruit in.
3) Fruity teas. I often get a snack craving before bed. It's not typically a hunger deal, but I need to taste something. Does that make sense? Anyway, now that it's colder, I try to alleviate those situations with calorie-free flavored tea rather than an actual snack. Celestial Seasonings has apple & cinnamon and apple cranberry flavors that are perfect for fall. I end up feeling like I've had a sweet treat, I feel warmer when I'm through, and ready for bed. Of course, if I have actual hunger pangs, the problem often doesn't go away and then I try to find a healthy snack to deal with it. But I would say a majority of the time, I end up not feeling like I need anything more, and that's how I know it's most often just a psychological urge, not a biological need.
This week, my goal is to try a couple different kinds of squash, as part of my effort to eat fruits and vegetables that are local and in season. The first thing I'm going to try is a Southwest Stuffed Acorn Squash. When I'm feeling more ambitious, I would love to try Pumpkin-Apple soup with either pumpkin or butternut squash. If anyone has recommendations on what kind of squash to eat or how to make them, let me know! I had a somewhat unhealthy weekend (mixed with moments of being good), so I'm ready for a week of solid, healthy patterns. Go me!
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