Well, I was doing well, making better food decisions, all things that made me feel better, and then I let it slip. I had a work trip, and since I was low on groceries, I just didn't bother. I had my birthday while on the work trip and didn't eat well. On my return from the work trip I didn't get to the store right away, and I had a second birthday complete with homemade ice cream and delicious cake, and WHAM! It was clear to me that I felt awful. This morning I woke up hungry and grouchy. I yelled at the dogs and yelled at myself and was generally a grouch. I ate a couple of hard boiled eggs and some almond butter, and I could FEEL myself feeling better, coming out of the grouchy sugar hangover.
Who do I want to be? A grouchy, sluggish, ass or someone who is actually happy, rational, healthy, and that feels good? As tempting as it is to sit on my ass eating donuts with a side of donuts, I just don't want to feel awful. So, I went to the store today and purchased food for the week.
I went back and made the chicken shawarma recipe that I made early on in my first Whole30. It smells amazing, and I will be eating that with lettuce and tomato this week. I also cooked cabbage, which I love, and I will be steaming some broccoli.
I will be making the Pioneer Woman's pot roast this week as well with onions and carrots and baked potatoes. So that should take care of several days of lunch and dinner. Breakfast will be eggs and spinach or the steamed broccoli with a side of blueberries.
I remember reading a study once about succeeding in weight loss or other goals. There has always been this theory that by sharing your successes with people or having people comment on changes they see in you that you are more likely to succeed in reaching your goals. This study actually showed that the act of celebrating small successes or having people tell you you're doing great would actually undermine your determination to continue. It was like you were already celebrating even though you didn't get to the finish line.
I have always had this problem where I would have really great momentum in eating well or at least in eating to lose weight until the moment where I didn't have any momentum left. If I had to guess, it seems that it's usually about a third of the way through whatever goal I have. Once momentum dies, I revert to old habits, sabotage myself, and basically give up. I often wonder what is that point? What is the switch that flips? Is there something inherent in my humanness that says, "You've got this much time to do well. After that, we're packing it in and going home."
So, with that said, I look back at the Whole30 and remember how doable it was and how just setting myself up to succeed by cooking and being prepared and having a plan kept me on track. I looked at what I have been eating and how I have been feeling the last few days. It was basically some good choices with intermittent horrible, addictive choices mixed in. I told my friend Oldie today that toast is just a gateway drug....a gateway to other things like donuts and cake and sugary horribleness.
Thinking I'm too busy to plan or that I'll just go ahead and write off today and do better tomorrow leads to choices that actually physically make me feel not good. Why would I treat myself that way when it's easy to actually plan ahead and be prepared so that I feel good?
These are all things I'm thinking about and trying to figure out. At the same time, I'm cooking and setting myself up to succeed this week. Here's to figuring out why I do the things I do.
Sunday, October 4, 2015
Sunday, September 6, 2015
It's Day 33! Reintroduction and Meeting Again for the First Time
It's Day 33, and I have tried reintroducing one thing so far on this journey. Yesterday I ate a hamburger WITH a bun (GASP). I decided to have lunch at a place close to my house, and ordered the burger and a side salad (yes...I avoided the fries.) The bun had the appearance of a semi-healthy bun...it was wheaty and had sesame seeds on it and the lettuce was baby lettuce, which somehow changes the value of the bun, right? The bun HAD to be special, right? Wrong.
After eating the bun with a burger on it, I had this insane urge for dessert. GIVE ME ALL THE SWEET THINGS! NOW! I went to the grocery store to stock up on food for me and the dogs for a few days, and I kept desperately searching for something that was good enough to justify eating dessert. Almond poppy seed muffin? They were all out. Candy bar? Nothing could justify eating it. I was like a crack head in a crack box store where all the crack was available, and I kept looking and looking for what would scratch the itch. I am aware that in the checkout line at the first grocery store I had to visit, I looked like a total sketch-ball because my eyes were darting over the candy bars trying to decide what to do.
In the end, I had to stop at a second store for a few more groceries where I bought a banana and a travel pack of almond butter...maple flavored. That's right! Flavored almond butter, which means a smidge of added sugar on top of the banana. It could have been worse or it could have been 50 pieces of cheesecake. It wasn't. It was a banana and almond butter. All that frantic dessert craving, and I totally blame the bun.
Dinner last night and meals all day today were Whole30. I ended up making the Whole30 recipe for Shepherd's Pie tonight, which is ground beef with sweet potatoes on top. I like the recipe, but the next time I will use regular potatoes or mashed cauliflower. The sweet potatoes are a little too sweet.
So that's my first attempt at reintroduction. I'm going to have to stay away from bread, especially for the next month or more. It just makes me have too much of a craving for other bad stuff.
I really want sushi, actually. The problem with sushi and reintroduction is that it has soy (legume) and rice (grain). They suggest one restricted item at a time to be able to determine which food group actually makes you feel different. So, sushi might have to wait a while. Plus, I am kind of wondering if the rice will have the same craving-inducing effect as the bread....
After eating the bun with a burger on it, I had this insane urge for dessert. GIVE ME ALL THE SWEET THINGS! NOW! I went to the grocery store to stock up on food for me and the dogs for a few days, and I kept desperately searching for something that was good enough to justify eating dessert. Almond poppy seed muffin? They were all out. Candy bar? Nothing could justify eating it. I was like a crack head in a crack box store where all the crack was available, and I kept looking and looking for what would scratch the itch. I am aware that in the checkout line at the first grocery store I had to visit, I looked like a total sketch-ball because my eyes were darting over the candy bars trying to decide what to do.
In the end, I had to stop at a second store for a few more groceries where I bought a banana and a travel pack of almond butter...maple flavored. That's right! Flavored almond butter, which means a smidge of added sugar on top of the banana. It could have been worse or it could have been 50 pieces of cheesecake. It wasn't. It was a banana and almond butter. All that frantic dessert craving, and I totally blame the bun.
Dinner last night and meals all day today were Whole30. I ended up making the Whole30 recipe for Shepherd's Pie tonight, which is ground beef with sweet potatoes on top. I like the recipe, but the next time I will use regular potatoes or mashed cauliflower. The sweet potatoes are a little too sweet.
 |
| Gigi thinks the Shepherd's Pie smells pretty delicious. |
So that's my first attempt at reintroduction. I'm going to have to stay away from bread, especially for the next month or more. It just makes me have too much of a craving for other bad stuff.
I really want sushi, actually. The problem with sushi and reintroduction is that it has soy (legume) and rice (grain). They suggest one restricted item at a time to be able to determine which food group actually makes you feel different. So, sushi might have to wait a while. Plus, I am kind of wondering if the rice will have the same craving-inducing effect as the bread....
Thursday, September 3, 2015
Day 30 and Tomorrow is Day 31 and So on and So Far
It is 8:45 pm, and I survived Day 30 of the Whole30. I actually survived the Whole30. Yippeeee!
My celebratory day consisted of:
Omelet with Mushrooms, Spinach, Bell Peppers
Potatoes and Onions
Salad with Pork Loin
Hard Boiled Egg
Cashew Butter
Kale
Sweet Potato
Pork Loin
So, that's that. I went 30 days eating protein, healthy fat, vegetables, and some fruit. That's it. I cooked a lot and learned some things about bulk cooking to make life easier. I had a few bleak eating out experiences, but I also found some successful things to order and places to go. I find it easier to want to choose the better options. I know I love: kale, zucchini, spinach, broccoli, sweet potatoes, asparagus, cabbage, and a whole slew of other vegetables. I dislike brussel sprouts and don't feel the need to eat them again, especially with a balsamic reduction. I don't like a pork chop, but I dig a pork tenderloin. Roasted chicken is always good in a pinch. Salmon is delicious. Canned tuna can save the day. Don't freeze raw hamburger patties. Eat more fish. (that's on the menu for the weekend, actually).
How do I feel? I have way more energy. I wake up feeling good. I feel good throughout the day, but when it's bedtime, I immediately am tired. I have had a few nights typing up the blog where I have spent all my energy, and it's all I can do to keep my eyes open. My moods are way better. I don't get grouchy from eating too much sugar or sad and sappy from eating junk. I'm generally my happy, optimistic self. I handle stress better. I am physically feeling better. I don't have heartburn. I used to have it almost daily. I am swimming faster and have better endurance. Literally from one week to the next I was swimming significantly faster. Overall, I just feel more like me and less foggy and not controlled by less-than-stellar foods.
Did I lose weight? I did. I lost about 8 lbs this month (I say about because I don't remember the exact number I had when I first weighed in). I also didn't have a huge weight drop because I had been busting my butt the few months before this to lose 20 lbs, so I didn't have the beginner drop. A few people commented that I look different....less puffy somehow. That's a good thing, I guess.
So, what's next? Well, I will wake up and eat the same way tomorrow that I have pretty much been doing for 30 days now. I will refuse to buy the foods I am not eating...no sweets or snacks or treats. I will try to keep home sacred territory in that sense. If I do eat something not on the plan, I will make sure it only has 1 food group not on the plan so I can see how that impacts me. So, no burger, shake, refried beans kind of meal. That's the reintroduction phase. Try one food group at a time and see how it impacts your body.
I will make decisions based on what is worth it, not on "oh my gosh i need a donut because I need sugar and I haven't had sugar and oooooo, maybe I'll have 2 or 3 donuts instead of one. Silly me eating all these donuts. I wish I could stop, but I just can't say no!!"
That's the plan anyway...that and also going back to counting my calories. I still want to continue to lose weight while eating well, and I think I need to do that through tracking my calories as well as eating clean.
There is always a voice in my head that thinks, "Oh, it's just a matter of time until you lose momentum and go back to old habits and old ways of eating and living. This won't last. Enjoy it while you can, because it will be business as usual in a few day." That's something I think all of us deal with in one context or another, not just food. So, I will have to keep reminding myself what it means to me physically and emotionally to eat well and take care of myself. I will also have to remind myself of the price of eating food that doesn't work well for me...the physical and mental implications.
If you have any questions about the process and what my experience was, feel free to ask. I would highly recommend it to anyone. I really do feel so great, and I also feel free from cravings, which is also an act of God, Congress, and the Pope. Thanks for reading along everyone. Tomorrow I'll go back to complaining about my leaky roof. :)
My celebratory day consisted of:
Omelet with Mushrooms, Spinach, Bell Peppers
Potatoes and Onions
Salad with Pork Loin
Hard Boiled Egg
Cashew Butter
Kale
Sweet Potato
Pork Loin
So, that's that. I went 30 days eating protein, healthy fat, vegetables, and some fruit. That's it. I cooked a lot and learned some things about bulk cooking to make life easier. I had a few bleak eating out experiences, but I also found some successful things to order and places to go. I find it easier to want to choose the better options. I know I love: kale, zucchini, spinach, broccoli, sweet potatoes, asparagus, cabbage, and a whole slew of other vegetables. I dislike brussel sprouts and don't feel the need to eat them again, especially with a balsamic reduction. I don't like a pork chop, but I dig a pork tenderloin. Roasted chicken is always good in a pinch. Salmon is delicious. Canned tuna can save the day. Don't freeze raw hamburger patties. Eat more fish. (that's on the menu for the weekend, actually).
How do I feel? I have way more energy. I wake up feeling good. I feel good throughout the day, but when it's bedtime, I immediately am tired. I have had a few nights typing up the blog where I have spent all my energy, and it's all I can do to keep my eyes open. My moods are way better. I don't get grouchy from eating too much sugar or sad and sappy from eating junk. I'm generally my happy, optimistic self. I handle stress better. I am physically feeling better. I don't have heartburn. I used to have it almost daily. I am swimming faster and have better endurance. Literally from one week to the next I was swimming significantly faster. Overall, I just feel more like me and less foggy and not controlled by less-than-stellar foods.
Did I lose weight? I did. I lost about 8 lbs this month (I say about because I don't remember the exact number I had when I first weighed in). I also didn't have a huge weight drop because I had been busting my butt the few months before this to lose 20 lbs, so I didn't have the beginner drop. A few people commented that I look different....less puffy somehow. That's a good thing, I guess.
So, what's next? Well, I will wake up and eat the same way tomorrow that I have pretty much been doing for 30 days now. I will refuse to buy the foods I am not eating...no sweets or snacks or treats. I will try to keep home sacred territory in that sense. If I do eat something not on the plan, I will make sure it only has 1 food group not on the plan so I can see how that impacts me. So, no burger, shake, refried beans kind of meal. That's the reintroduction phase. Try one food group at a time and see how it impacts your body.
I will make decisions based on what is worth it, not on "oh my gosh i need a donut because I need sugar and I haven't had sugar and oooooo, maybe I'll have 2 or 3 donuts instead of one. Silly me eating all these donuts. I wish I could stop, but I just can't say no!!"
That's the plan anyway...that and also going back to counting my calories. I still want to continue to lose weight while eating well, and I think I need to do that through tracking my calories as well as eating clean.
There is always a voice in my head that thinks, "Oh, it's just a matter of time until you lose momentum and go back to old habits and old ways of eating and living. This won't last. Enjoy it while you can, because it will be business as usual in a few day." That's something I think all of us deal with in one context or another, not just food. So, I will have to keep reminding myself what it means to me physically and emotionally to eat well and take care of myself. I will also have to remind myself of the price of eating food that doesn't work well for me...the physical and mental implications.
If you have any questions about the process and what my experience was, feel free to ask. I would highly recommend it to anyone. I really do feel so great, and I also feel free from cravings, which is also an act of God, Congress, and the Pope. Thanks for reading along everyone. Tomorrow I'll go back to complaining about my leaky roof. :)
Wednesday, September 2, 2015
Day 29 and Weird Meat Sticks, Cashew Butter, and Kale
It is 8:00 pm, and I survived Day 29 of the Whole30. Tomorrow is my last official day on the Whole30. What does that mean? I'll probably talk more about that tomorrow, but I have been thinking about life and what it looks like after tomorrow. Frankly, it will look pretty similar to how it looks now with the occasional regular ketchup.
Today started early, 3:45 am. I was meeting my friend Tracy at the pool by 4:45 am to swim before work since it has been so stormy after work lately. It was early, and I needed to make sure I ate something before swimming so I didn't get way hungry during the morning. I considered frying an egg, but I opted to try one of my Epic bars instead. Epic bars are made of meat and other ingredients. The one I grabbed from the variety pack was lamb and currant, but since I threw away the packaging, I picked up the pork bar to illustrate the Epic bars in a picture. You can see the consistency on the photo. It is almost like a slim jim mouth feel with less snap.
A week or so ago I ate the chicken sriracha variety, and it was fine. I wasn't blown away, but it was edible. The lamb and currant....gag-a-rific. I put one bite in my mouth and my jaw refused to chew because chewing would lead to tasting and swallowing. I struggled to eat that bite and tried to force myself to eat another bite. It wasn't happening. No way, no how. So I ended up eating almond butter and rushing out the door.
After swimming, I reheated pork loin and also reheated the brussel sprout/onion/butternut squash roasted veg with balsamic. The more I tried to eat it, the more I couldn't. It was getting more and more disgusting as time when on, so I threw the rest of those leftovers away. Goodbye. Life is too short.
I had leftover pork loin for post-swim breakfast, for lunch, and for dinner today. Unlike the pork chops that were gross, the loin was really flavorful and didn't dry out. I didn't mind eating it for all three meals today, and I will have it for at least one meal tomorrow.
I also sauteed kale for dinner in a bit of olive oil and low sodium chicken broth. It was really good....way more delicious than the brussel sprouts and butternut squash from last night. I finalized the dinner menu with some sweet potato and cinnamon.
All in all it was a good day. It felt natural and comfortable choosing to eat what I ate. I feel myself further and further away from instances where I crave something not on the plan. That's very nice. Oh, I had an afternoon snack of apple and cashew butter today. Man...cashew butter is delicious. Super delicious. Eat more cashew butter!
Today started early, 3:45 am. I was meeting my friend Tracy at the pool by 4:45 am to swim before work since it has been so stormy after work lately. It was early, and I needed to make sure I ate something before swimming so I didn't get way hungry during the morning. I considered frying an egg, but I opted to try one of my Epic bars instead. Epic bars are made of meat and other ingredients. The one I grabbed from the variety pack was lamb and currant, but since I threw away the packaging, I picked up the pork bar to illustrate the Epic bars in a picture. You can see the consistency on the photo. It is almost like a slim jim mouth feel with less snap.
After swimming, I reheated pork loin and also reheated the brussel sprout/onion/butternut squash roasted veg with balsamic. The more I tried to eat it, the more I couldn't. It was getting more and more disgusting as time when on, so I threw the rest of those leftovers away. Goodbye. Life is too short.
I had leftover pork loin for post-swim breakfast, for lunch, and for dinner today. Unlike the pork chops that were gross, the loin was really flavorful and didn't dry out. I didn't mind eating it for all three meals today, and I will have it for at least one meal tomorrow.
I also sauteed kale for dinner in a bit of olive oil and low sodium chicken broth. It was really good....way more delicious than the brussel sprouts and butternut squash from last night. I finalized the dinner menu with some sweet potato and cinnamon.
Tuesday, September 1, 2015
Day 28 and Dinner Is Late!
It is 8:01 pm, and I survived Day 28 of the Whole30. However, I still haven't eaten dinner because it is still in the oven. I made the roasted butternut squash, brussel sprouts, red onion, balsamic reduction thing, and I'm waiting on the walnut crusted pork tenderloin to finish cooking. The vegetables taste good, better than I expected.
Before we get back to the review of dinner, I will say we had a board meeting at work today, and that involved chicken alfredo pasta, lasagna, pizzas, and a mango tres leches cake. So yeah....I made a grilled chicken salad with really good balsamic vinaigrette and had a side of apple with pecan butter. I was satisfied and had plenty of lunch to tide me over without feeling like I wanted to eat the Italian smorgasbord. The pizza did smell really good, though. Really, really good.
Ok...the dinner bell is ringing. I'll go check the pork loin and let you know how it goes. I will also discuss coconut oil. Yes. It merits a discussion.... (chew, chew, chew.....)
...Dinner is over and the dishes are clean at 8:48 pm. It's a little late for me for dinner, especially since I like to be asleep by 9:30 or so. The pork loin was delicious. I ended up broiling it in the oven for the last 5 minutes or so, which made the walnut crust kind of crunchy. I will be eating pork loin for days.
The vegetables started off tasting good, but the more I ate them, the more I didn't like them. The brussel sprouts were bitter, the butternut squash was blah, and the red onion was ok but the whole dish just didn't do it for me. I would rather eat just straight up cabbage or asparagus or just about anything else. So, that was a bust, but at least I know. Now I have to decide if I want to choke down mediocre vegetables for another 3 meals or if I can try it one more time, become disgusted, and throw the leftovers away. Maybe tomorrow I'll like them for some reason.
Another problem with the vegetables is that they have a little bit of coconut essence. I used coconut oil as the fat for roasting them, and somehow the essence of coconut lingers. I am trying to find out when best to use coconut oil so that it compliments the food and doesn't turn me off with the smell or essence or whatever it is that I detect. Months ago I attempted to fry eggs with coconut oil in the skillet. Something about it made me gag. Ick. No coconut oil with eggs. I can't explain it. Anyone else have a good reason why sometimes coconut oil is gross? And what types of foods do you use it with that you really like the results?
Tomorrow is a new day, and I will be waking up at 3:45 am to get to the pool by 4:45 am for a swim. Ouch. It's early.
Before we get back to the review of dinner, I will say we had a board meeting at work today, and that involved chicken alfredo pasta, lasagna, pizzas, and a mango tres leches cake. So yeah....I made a grilled chicken salad with really good balsamic vinaigrette and had a side of apple with pecan butter. I was satisfied and had plenty of lunch to tide me over without feeling like I wanted to eat the Italian smorgasbord. The pizza did smell really good, though. Really, really good.
Ok...the dinner bell is ringing. I'll go check the pork loin and let you know how it goes. I will also discuss coconut oil. Yes. It merits a discussion.... (chew, chew, chew.....)
...Dinner is over and the dishes are clean at 8:48 pm. It's a little late for me for dinner, especially since I like to be asleep by 9:30 or so. The pork loin was delicious. I ended up broiling it in the oven for the last 5 minutes or so, which made the walnut crust kind of crunchy. I will be eating pork loin for days.
The vegetables started off tasting good, but the more I ate them, the more I didn't like them. The brussel sprouts were bitter, the butternut squash was blah, and the red onion was ok but the whole dish just didn't do it for me. I would rather eat just straight up cabbage or asparagus or just about anything else. So, that was a bust, but at least I know. Now I have to decide if I want to choke down mediocre vegetables for another 3 meals or if I can try it one more time, become disgusted, and throw the leftovers away. Maybe tomorrow I'll like them for some reason.
Another problem with the vegetables is that they have a little bit of coconut essence. I used coconut oil as the fat for roasting them, and somehow the essence of coconut lingers. I am trying to find out when best to use coconut oil so that it compliments the food and doesn't turn me off with the smell or essence or whatever it is that I detect. Months ago I attempted to fry eggs with coconut oil in the skillet. Something about it made me gag. Ick. No coconut oil with eggs. I can't explain it. Anyone else have a good reason why sometimes coconut oil is gross? And what types of foods do you use it with that you really like the results?
Tomorrow is a new day, and I will be waking up at 3:45 am to get to the pool by 4:45 am for a swim. Ouch. It's early.
Monday, August 31, 2015
Day 27!!! Holy Crap! It's Day 27!
It is 8:24 pm, and I survived Day 27! How crazy! 27 days is a long time....more than my fingers and toes combined. 7 more to be exact! For 27 days I haven't eaten grains, legumes, sugar, artificial sweeteners, dairy, or alcohol. That means I haven't had cheese or peanut butter or soy sauce or bread of any sort, no oatmeal, no chocolate covered donuts, no ranch dressing, no ketchup or mayo (unless I made them myself), no lima beans, no butter, no buttered lima beans (mmm, I love lima beans), no cream in my coffee, and no weird additives like sulfites or MSG.
I don't really have many cravings for all those things, though. I might think of something I want, but after a minute or two, I have forgotten all about it. That's nice. Often when I am craving something, it is because I am hungry. Once I remind myself of that, it helps ignore whatever I had been wanting. I also feel more comfortable ordering out at a restaurant. Of course most of the time I only go out to places I know I will find something I can eat.
I have learned to plan more for meals and snacks. I always have hard boiled eggs, almond butter, and nuts at work. I always have an idea for dinner and most of the time the dinner is actually already cooked. I always have a vegetable I can make to include with breakfast, whether that's spinach, broccoli, zucchini, or some combination of all three.
So that's where I am at Day 27. So far I have survived PMS, lunch meetings, sadness, Tucson day trips, and goodbye parties. Tomorrow is another challenge... the monthly board meeting at my job. We always order in lots of food and dessert for our board, and this month we are having Italian. Correction: This month they are having Italian. I am having grilled chicken and salad with bell peppers and celery.
3 days to go...well, three days +++++++++. Good night.
I don't really have many cravings for all those things, though. I might think of something I want, but after a minute or two, I have forgotten all about it. That's nice. Often when I am craving something, it is because I am hungry. Once I remind myself of that, it helps ignore whatever I had been wanting. I also feel more comfortable ordering out at a restaurant. Of course most of the time I only go out to places I know I will find something I can eat.
I have learned to plan more for meals and snacks. I always have hard boiled eggs, almond butter, and nuts at work. I always have an idea for dinner and most of the time the dinner is actually already cooked. I always have a vegetable I can make to include with breakfast, whether that's spinach, broccoli, zucchini, or some combination of all three.
So that's where I am at Day 27. So far I have survived PMS, lunch meetings, sadness, Tucson day trips, and goodbye parties. Tomorrow is another challenge... the monthly board meeting at my job. We always order in lots of food and dessert for our board, and this month we are having Italian. Correction: This month they are having Italian. I am having grilled chicken and salad with bell peppers and celery.
3 days to go...well, three days +++++++++. Good night.
Sunday, August 30, 2015
Day 25 and Day 26 Combo: Hamburger Can Make or Break You
I survived Day 25 (clearly, or I wouldn't be writing this), and Day 26 has been ok so far. I have come to some important conclusions over the last two days.
1. Freezing a raw hamburger patty, thawing it, and cooking it results in something that is inedible. You know how really gross, cheap hamburger patties taste? Think back to school lunch or prison, if you've had that experience (fortunately I haven't yet...knock on wood). Freezing makes hamburger patties turn into dense, cheap, flavorless meat heaps. Yes, freezing makes that happen to normal ground beef. I thought I was being sooooo clever a few week ago. "Look at me! I'm patting out hamburgers and freezing them so I can thaw them out in a few weeks and cook them." GROSS. Just gross. I actually couldn't eat a whole one because the consistency makes for gagging. The dogs love them, so that's something to fall back on. Dog snacks.
2. Why aren't we all making pecan butter all the time? I started thinking about this really delicious jar of pecan butter I bought a year or so ago. I was so good...roasted pecans, slightly salted, ground up into a butter of happiness. I was bemoaning some raw pecans I had in the cabinet that I needed to use, and I thought, "Why can't I make my own pecan butter? It HAS to be cheaper than the $8million pecan butter in the store." So, I toasted the pecans, put them in a food processor, and VOILA! I used about 2 cups of pecans and ended up with a small mason jar amount of finished product. The only things I added were cinnamon and a touch of salt. For the next batch, I will probably toast the pecans less before grinding because they actually heat up in the food processor, too, and I don't want to over-toast them. I would also leave them in the food processor for a couple of minutes less time, and I would add the cinnamon at the end. While the pecan butter is good, it's a tad too runny for my tastes, and I think the cinnamon got too hot while being ground up.
3. Roasting chicken breasts is so easy and makes for a consistent, delicious protein each and every time. I like to coat the chicken breasts in olive oil, salt, and pepper. I put a whole pack of them on a cookie sheet covered in foil and put them in the oven on 425 degrees for about 35 minutes. If you are buying the long packs of chicken breasts, that's 5 boobies you can eat over the course of 5+ meals/snacks. Not bad.
4. Balsamic vinegar makes happiness. Yum. Always yum.
5. Seriously, why aren't we all making pecan butter right now?!
In other news, I had a cosmic visit from Craig this weekend while I was getting my car serviced in Tucson. That was cool.
I also had an open water swim at Lake Patagonia today. We were supposed to go all around the lake and have a big time learning stuff and swimming. Well, the group organizing the swim decided to do it at 1:00 pm at the lake during monsoon season. Needless to say, we were lightning-ed out of the water in 10 minutes. Major bust! The other bummer is I still need to get in a swim today, and that little excursion took over 2 hours out of my day getting to and from the lake. Not cool.
Some of the new things I will make this week:
Walnut crusted pork loin
Roasted sweet potatoes (I will be subbing butternut squash) and brussel spouts with a balsamic reduction
Shepherds Pie with a sweet potato topping.
1. Freezing a raw hamburger patty, thawing it, and cooking it results in something that is inedible. You know how really gross, cheap hamburger patties taste? Think back to school lunch or prison, if you've had that experience (fortunately I haven't yet...knock on wood). Freezing makes hamburger patties turn into dense, cheap, flavorless meat heaps. Yes, freezing makes that happen to normal ground beef. I thought I was being sooooo clever a few week ago. "Look at me! I'm patting out hamburgers and freezing them so I can thaw them out in a few weeks and cook them." GROSS. Just gross. I actually couldn't eat a whole one because the consistency makes for gagging. The dogs love them, so that's something to fall back on. Dog snacks.
2. Why aren't we all making pecan butter all the time? I started thinking about this really delicious jar of pecan butter I bought a year or so ago. I was so good...roasted pecans, slightly salted, ground up into a butter of happiness. I was bemoaning some raw pecans I had in the cabinet that I needed to use, and I thought, "Why can't I make my own pecan butter? It HAS to be cheaper than the $8million pecan butter in the store." So, I toasted the pecans, put them in a food processor, and VOILA! I used about 2 cups of pecans and ended up with a small mason jar amount of finished product. The only things I added were cinnamon and a touch of salt. For the next batch, I will probably toast the pecans less before grinding because they actually heat up in the food processor, too, and I don't want to over-toast them. I would also leave them in the food processor for a couple of minutes less time, and I would add the cinnamon at the end. While the pecan butter is good, it's a tad too runny for my tastes, and I think the cinnamon got too hot while being ground up.
3. Roasting chicken breasts is so easy and makes for a consistent, delicious protein each and every time. I like to coat the chicken breasts in olive oil, salt, and pepper. I put a whole pack of them on a cookie sheet covered in foil and put them in the oven on 425 degrees for about 35 minutes. If you are buying the long packs of chicken breasts, that's 5 boobies you can eat over the course of 5+ meals/snacks. Not bad.
4. Balsamic vinegar makes happiness. Yum. Always yum.
5. Seriously, why aren't we all making pecan butter right now?!
In other news, I had a cosmic visit from Craig this weekend while I was getting my car serviced in Tucson. That was cool.
I also had an open water swim at Lake Patagonia today. We were supposed to go all around the lake and have a big time learning stuff and swimming. Well, the group organizing the swim decided to do it at 1:00 pm at the lake during monsoon season. Needless to say, we were lightning-ed out of the water in 10 minutes. Major bust! The other bummer is I still need to get in a swim today, and that little excursion took over 2 hours out of my day getting to and from the lake. Not cool.
Some of the new things I will make this week:
Walnut crusted pork loin
Roasted sweet potatoes (I will be subbing butternut squash) and brussel spouts with a balsamic reduction
Shepherds Pie with a sweet potato topping.
Friday, August 28, 2015
Day 24 of the Whole30: Stop Bringing Me Cheese Already!
It is 9:09 pm, and I survived Day 24 of the Whole30 Challenge. Today for breakfast I almost couldn't force myself to eat eggs....again. A trick I find, though, is that if you have been eating fried eggs, you don't think you can egg again, and you want to cry, switch to a scramble. It's like a totally different egg experience, or eggsperience as they say. This morning was brought to you by scrambled eggs and the letter "B" for broccoli and berries.
After a brief field trip that involved me climbing on my roof with the repair man to inspect the roof leaking disaster, I headed out for the grocery store for some supplies for the day and then to work. I found myself wanting.....something...not sure what but something that tasted like something good. When I have that feeling, I often think to have a coffee or a tea. I'm not exactly sure where that feeling comes from, but it is usually the mid-morning or mid-afternoon time frame....the eating wasteland.
I choose to have coffee or tea because they have flavor but no calories. It isn't giving in to a craving for sweets, but it does give me something with flavor. I'm not sure how else to describe that. Gimme flavor! I stopped at the chain coffee shop in the grocery store to get a coffee, and they had a bunch of cups out with samples of some sweet treat. Really! "Here...try me! I"m sweet and free and oh so delicious." I stood there for a few minutes waiting on them to finish a drink for someone else and take my order. As I stared at the baked good samples and also stared at the menu and the price for an iced coffee, I reached my limit for silliness. I simply turned around and walked away. I saved myself $3 and just had a coffee at work.
Lunch was a side salad, a potato with a bunch of vegetables on top, and part of a roasted chicken. All in all, it was a pretty nice lunch. Thankfully there were no free samples of baked items floating around and there was no cheese on my salad.
Dinner was a new challenge....eating out with friends and an untested restaurant. I ordered the burger, no bun, and the side salad without cheese. It is my standby out to eat meal. Of course the salad came with all kinds of cheese on top, so I got to send it back. Yep. I was that person, and I can only hope that they didn't rub their hands up their butt crack and then through my salad just to exact revenge.
I went through the Whole30 book tonight for a couple of new recipes which I will make this weekend. I'm trying to add some variety and to keep things simple. I'll keep you posted.
After a brief field trip that involved me climbing on my roof with the repair man to inspect the roof leaking disaster, I headed out for the grocery store for some supplies for the day and then to work. I found myself wanting.....something...not sure what but something that tasted like something good. When I have that feeling, I often think to have a coffee or a tea. I'm not exactly sure where that feeling comes from, but it is usually the mid-morning or mid-afternoon time frame....the eating wasteland.
I choose to have coffee or tea because they have flavor but no calories. It isn't giving in to a craving for sweets, but it does give me something with flavor. I'm not sure how else to describe that. Gimme flavor! I stopped at the chain coffee shop in the grocery store to get a coffee, and they had a bunch of cups out with samples of some sweet treat. Really! "Here...try me! I"m sweet and free and oh so delicious." I stood there for a few minutes waiting on them to finish a drink for someone else and take my order. As I stared at the baked good samples and also stared at the menu and the price for an iced coffee, I reached my limit for silliness. I simply turned around and walked away. I saved myself $3 and just had a coffee at work.
Lunch was a side salad, a potato with a bunch of vegetables on top, and part of a roasted chicken. All in all, it was a pretty nice lunch. Thankfully there were no free samples of baked items floating around and there was no cheese on my salad.
Dinner was a new challenge....eating out with friends and an untested restaurant. I ordered the burger, no bun, and the side salad without cheese. It is my standby out to eat meal. Of course the salad came with all kinds of cheese on top, so I got to send it back. Yep. I was that person, and I can only hope that they didn't rub their hands up their butt crack and then through my salad just to exact revenge.
I went through the Whole30 book tonight for a couple of new recipes which I will make this weekend. I'm trying to add some variety and to keep things simple. I'll keep you posted.
Thursday, August 27, 2015
Day 23: Go To Hell, Donut! And Your Chocolate Croissant Friend, Too!
It is 8:59 pm, and I survived Day 23 of the Whole30....barely. I barely survived.
We had a big meeting at the office this morning, which involved donuts. Lots and lots of donuts.
We also had pecan cinnamon rolls, cream cheese cinnamon rolls, danish, and chocolate croissants. I knew we were having this meeting and also knew it involved all things baked and chocolate covered and sweet and wonderful, so I made sure to choke down a granny smith apple and almond butter at 10:00 am, right before the meeting. That helped for the morning.
For lunch I went to Nickel's and ordered my usual burger, side salad, friend egg combo and forgot to say "No cheese!" It arrived with shredded cheese sprinkled on the side salad. I spent a few minutes picking it off to the side until I ultimately decided to just not eat the salad and focus on the burger and eggs. Definitely a rookie mistake on my part today.
Fast forward to late afternoon, and all those daggone leftover donuts were sitting in our office. Meanwhile, I was suffering from PMS and wanted a baked good in the worst way. I was going to crack!!! It was very difficult to say no at the office today. I had another snack at 4:15 pm to tide me over through swimming at 5:30 pm. I had a 1.3 miles swim and then finished up the day with sweet potato, broccoli, and canned tuna....yum? uhm, maybe yum. Partial yum. I went from wanting to eat everything at around 3:30 to wanting to eat almost nothing after the swim.
So, all in all this day had some difficult spots in the mid-morning and mid-afternoon hours. I just need to keep up with planning and remember that I only have 7 more days to go.
We had a big meeting at the office this morning, which involved donuts. Lots and lots of donuts.
 |
| AAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!! |
We also had pecan cinnamon rolls, cream cheese cinnamon rolls, danish, and chocolate croissants. I knew we were having this meeting and also knew it involved all things baked and chocolate covered and sweet and wonderful, so I made sure to choke down a granny smith apple and almond butter at 10:00 am, right before the meeting. That helped for the morning.
For lunch I went to Nickel's and ordered my usual burger, side salad, friend egg combo and forgot to say "No cheese!" It arrived with shredded cheese sprinkled on the side salad. I spent a few minutes picking it off to the side until I ultimately decided to just not eat the salad and focus on the burger and eggs. Definitely a rookie mistake on my part today.
Fast forward to late afternoon, and all those daggone leftover donuts were sitting in our office. Meanwhile, I was suffering from PMS and wanted a baked good in the worst way. I was going to crack!!! It was very difficult to say no at the office today. I had another snack at 4:15 pm to tide me over through swimming at 5:30 pm. I had a 1.3 miles swim and then finished up the day with sweet potato, broccoli, and canned tuna....yum? uhm, maybe yum. Partial yum. I went from wanting to eat everything at around 3:30 to wanting to eat almost nothing after the swim.
So, all in all this day had some difficult spots in the mid-morning and mid-afternoon hours. I just need to keep up with planning and remember that I only have 7 more days to go.
Wednesday, August 26, 2015
Day 22 or It Has Been So Long That I Almost Forgot How Many Days It Has Been
It is 9:01 pm, and I survived Day 22 of the Whole30 Challenge. I had to go back and double check the blog to make sure I was on the right day. I find it's getting easier and easier and more normal to eat this way. I don't count the seconds since my last doughnut, and I'm not really hankering for a hunk of cheese. I don't really miss bread, but sometimes I do miss the convenience of a sandwich. I don't miss milk, and I have learned to live without the half-n-half I used in my coffee. I had to give up milk in the past year because we don't agree and because I mainly used it as a vehicle for eating Captain Crunch....I loved the Cap'n. I also loved Rice Crispies and Frosted Flakes and all Multi-grain Cheerios. Whoops! Was I drooling?
I had two green curry meals today and will need to eat it for lunch again tomorrow. I'm on the verge of being sick of green curry for a while, just like I was sick of meatballs. The convenience of making food with leftovers does have a down side....leftover fatigue. My next meal plan might need to consider something I can have for multiple meals and that I can perhaps change up or customize with each meal by adding a different vegetable or something. I'm not quite sure what that is yet, but it might be something like plain oven-roasted chicken breasts with a couple of vegetables to rotate through and maybe some salad stuff. That way it's easy but not all necessarily the exact same meal each day. Suggestions are welcome!
In other news, my stand-up desk for work was installed today. You can move it up and down depending on if you want to sit or stand. Georgina in the office already has one. Evidently sitting makes you die faster, so I'm willing to give standing a shot for part of the day. So far I like it, but it has only been one day.
On that note, I'm going to stand up and go get ready for bed. It is 16 minutes past my bedtime.
I had two green curry meals today and will need to eat it for lunch again tomorrow. I'm on the verge of being sick of green curry for a while, just like I was sick of meatballs. The convenience of making food with leftovers does have a down side....leftover fatigue. My next meal plan might need to consider something I can have for multiple meals and that I can perhaps change up or customize with each meal by adding a different vegetable or something. I'm not quite sure what that is yet, but it might be something like plain oven-roasted chicken breasts with a couple of vegetables to rotate through and maybe some salad stuff. That way it's easy but not all necessarily the exact same meal each day. Suggestions are welcome!
In other news, my stand-up desk for work was installed today. You can move it up and down depending on if you want to sit or stand. Georgina in the office already has one. Evidently sitting makes you die faster, so I'm willing to give standing a shot for part of the day. So far I like it, but it has only been one day.
On that note, I'm going to stand up and go get ready for bed. It is 16 minutes past my bedtime.
Tuesday, August 25, 2015
Day 21 of the Whole30. Packing Heat...or Packing Chicken.
It is 8:55 pm, and I survived Day 21 of the Whole30 Challenge. I had some of the delicious Oldie's Green Curry for dinner. I started calculating food I have left and how long I feel like it stays good before I have to throw it out. The unexpected Hub lunch and a breakfast at Nickels this week means I need to get busy eating stuff.
I froze 8 of the remaining meatballs. I will have the last of the unfrozen ones in the morning for breakfast with the last of the red sauce and a zucchini.
I froze 2 helpings of sweet potatoes and left one more out for tomorrow night after swimming.
I am having green curry for lunch at the office and for dinner tomorrow, which might leave one additional service for Thursday. I cooked it on Sunday...Thursday is my cut-off to eat it date. Anything beyond that would weird me out.
So for the first time, I had enough meals to really carry me through approximately 6 days without additional emergency cooking. I was even able to freeze a few things. Frozen things are difficult for me to deal with sometimes because I don't have a microwave. I have to remember to take something out to thaw it or I lose time. I haven't had a microwave in about 16 years, and I don't really miss it except for certain thawing times.
So, I need to make a decision about what I am going to cook for protein and vegetables to get me into the weekend. I have the big bag or broccoli to steam still, but what kind of meat/seafood? I can mix up a can of tuna for Friday lunch. Maybe I fall back to my old faithful...hamburgers no buns. Any suggestions?
I froze 8 of the remaining meatballs. I will have the last of the unfrozen ones in the morning for breakfast with the last of the red sauce and a zucchini.
I froze 2 helpings of sweet potatoes and left one more out for tomorrow night after swimming.
I am having green curry for lunch at the office and for dinner tomorrow, which might leave one additional service for Thursday. I cooked it on Sunday...Thursday is my cut-off to eat it date. Anything beyond that would weird me out.
So for the first time, I had enough meals to really carry me through approximately 6 days without additional emergency cooking. I was even able to freeze a few things. Frozen things are difficult for me to deal with sometimes because I don't have a microwave. I have to remember to take something out to thaw it or I lose time. I haven't had a microwave in about 16 years, and I don't really miss it except for certain thawing times.
So, I need to make a decision about what I am going to cook for protein and vegetables to get me into the weekend. I have the big bag or broccoli to steam still, but what kind of meat/seafood? I can mix up a can of tuna for Friday lunch. Maybe I fall back to my old faithful...hamburgers no buns. Any suggestions?
Monday, August 24, 2015
Day 20 of the Whole 30. Back to Hub and their Corn-Tainted Salad
It is 8:33 pm, and I survived Day 20 of the Whole30 Challenge. I'm two thirds of the way through this month, which is pretty amazing. I feel good, and I haven't had a lot of meltdowns recently about stuff I can't eat but I REALLY, REALLY want to eat. There aren't things I really, really want to eat so much. I might think of something for a second, but then I am over it. Mmmmm, fried chicken. mmmmmm, donut. Fleeting thoughts of formerly favorite foods....
Today I had another meeting in Tucson followed by lunch at Hub, the trendy hipster place downtown. This is the place with corn on the salads, artisan bacon on everything, and the decadent homemade ice cream. I knew the drill....burger, no bun/cheese/bacon, salad no corn, balsamic vinaigrette on the side, and this time, wisely, add avocado! No fuss, no worry. We have been down this hipster road before.
Dinner was the delicious meatball, zoodle, and red sauce combo, which made me happy. Tomorrow I finish off the shawarma during an all-day staff retreat where everyone else is ordering sandwiches, but I'm opting for my packed lunch as well as a garden salad I requested. It's not so hard planning ahead, even on meeting/order-in-food days. Everyone wants to be really helpful saying stuff like, "Oh, I'm sure there's something you can order. What about the sandwich without the bread? What about the X? the Y? Well certainly the Z is fine, yes?" No. No X, Y, Z or sandwich meats or making things hard. Just get me the garden salad, and I'll gladly eat my packed lunch as well. Yes, I mean it. I'm sure. I'm really, really sure. (You have to repeat yourself sometimes because people really want to be helpful. It's ok. Just repeat yourself.)
So, that's my not-so-exciting recap of the day. Oh, I had one of the RX bars that are Whole30 approved. It tasted fine, not too sweet, not too weird tasting. It did stick to my teeth like the dickens! It must have been the dates. I had it as a late-afternoon snack and felt plenty full afterwards.
Today I had another meeting in Tucson followed by lunch at Hub, the trendy hipster place downtown. This is the place with corn on the salads, artisan bacon on everything, and the decadent homemade ice cream. I knew the drill....burger, no bun/cheese/bacon, salad no corn, balsamic vinaigrette on the side, and this time, wisely, add avocado! No fuss, no worry. We have been down this hipster road before.
Dinner was the delicious meatball, zoodle, and red sauce combo, which made me happy. Tomorrow I finish off the shawarma during an all-day staff retreat where everyone else is ordering sandwiches, but I'm opting for my packed lunch as well as a garden salad I requested. It's not so hard planning ahead, even on meeting/order-in-food days. Everyone wants to be really helpful saying stuff like, "Oh, I'm sure there's something you can order. What about the sandwich without the bread? What about the X? the Y? Well certainly the Z is fine, yes?" No. No X, Y, Z or sandwich meats or making things hard. Just get me the garden salad, and I'll gladly eat my packed lunch as well. Yes, I mean it. I'm sure. I'm really, really sure. (You have to repeat yourself sometimes because people really want to be helpful. It's ok. Just repeat yourself.)
So, that's my not-so-exciting recap of the day. Oh, I had one of the RX bars that are Whole30 approved. It tasted fine, not too sweet, not too weird tasting. It did stick to my teeth like the dickens! It must have been the dates. I had it as a late-afternoon snack and felt plenty full afterwards.
Sunday, August 23, 2015
Day 19 of the Whole30: Green Curry and Naps
It is 7:25 pm, and I survived Day 19 of the Whole30 Challenge.
Today I made Oldie's Green Curry. It was great. I had two bowl fulls! I included the recipe below with all the modifications and such for the Whole30.
So, for the next several days, I have green curry, meatballs and tomato sauce, one more meal of shawarma, a cooked steak (probably great for two breakfasts with eggs), some roasted sweet potatoes (mainly for post-swim meals), zucchini to spiralize, and roasted cauliflower. I have a big bag of broccoli crowns to steam, which is fairly simple to accomplish, and I can use that for breakfast vegetables and supplemental vegetables for the other meals. I feel pretty set through Wednesday to cover the 3 meals per day. I also have some berries, a few apples, and a mini-watermelon that I already cut up. I eat the watermelon sparingly and share a lot of it with the dogs because they LOVE watermelon.
In the middle of the day today, I took the first nap I've taken in a looooooong time. I used to take naps all the time, but I've been so busy or traveling or doing whatever I have been doing for weeks and weeks and weeks. Today, the dogs and I hit the hay for a really great early afternoon snooze. I feel pretty refreshed and ready to face the week. I think I had been a little behind on my sleep for the past few weeks, too. Hopefully the nap pays off my sleep debt. Three cheers for naps! Hip hip hoorraayyyyy!
Today I made Oldie's Green Curry. It was great. I had two bowl fulls! I included the recipe below with all the modifications and such for the Whole30.
So, for the next several days, I have green curry, meatballs and tomato sauce, one more meal of shawarma, a cooked steak (probably great for two breakfasts with eggs), some roasted sweet potatoes (mainly for post-swim meals), zucchini to spiralize, and roasted cauliflower. I have a big bag of broccoli crowns to steam, which is fairly simple to accomplish, and I can use that for breakfast vegetables and supplemental vegetables for the other meals. I feel pretty set through Wednesday to cover the 3 meals per day. I also have some berries, a few apples, and a mini-watermelon that I already cut up. I eat the watermelon sparingly and share a lot of it with the dogs because they LOVE watermelon.
In the middle of the day today, I took the first nap I've taken in a looooooong time. I used to take naps all the time, but I've been so busy or traveling or doing whatever I have been doing for weeks and weeks and weeks. Today, the dogs and I hit the hay for a really great early afternoon snooze. I feel pretty refreshed and ready to face the week. I think I had been a little behind on my sleep for the past few weeks, too. Hopefully the nap pays off my sleep debt. Three cheers for naps! Hip hip hoorraayyyyy!
Oldie’s Green Curry
1 pound of carrots (about 6), peeled and sliced ¼ inch thick
2 onions minced
2 fresh Thai or jalapeno chiles, stemmed, seeded, and minced
6 garlic cloves, minced
2 tablespoons minced or grated fresh ginger
3 tablespoons of olive oil, coconut oil, or ghee.
2 cups low-sodium chicken broth, plus extra as needed.
(double check the broth ingredients. Some add sugar or MSG or other
non-compliant ingredients)
1 stalk lemon grass, bottom 5 inches only, bruised (I
couldn’t find fresh lemon grass. The
pre-chopped processed lemon grass in the fresh spice section of the store had
canola oil and whey, which aren’t complaint.
In a normal recipe, that would work, but not a Whole30. I used dried lemon grass tied into a little
cheese cloth pouch and removed it before adding coconut milk. Some people say you can also use grated lemon
zest.)
3 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts,
trimmed of fat and mystery bits
1 14 ounce can coconut milk
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
1 tablespoon of fish sauce or approximately 6 canned anchovy
filets (I used the anchovy filets because every fish sauce I encountered added
sugar. The other ingredients are water,
anchovies, and salt. Since anchovies
disintegrate when cooking, that’s what I used)
1 tablespoon Thai green curry paste. I used Thai Kitchen brand.
2-3 tablespoons of sweet potato puree, optional. (I added
this because I had roasted sweet potato in the fridge, and the original recipe called for brown sugar and a thickener. Since neither of those were compliant, I
thought the sweet potato would do double duty and sweeten just a bit while
thickening).
8 ounces of snow peas
or snap peas or green beans (I used snap peas because they have more umph than
a snow pea).
¼ cup minced fresh cilantro or basil
Lime wedges for serving
Directions:
1. Coat your trimmed chicken with olive oil (or coconut oil),
salt, and pepper. Roast in the over at 425 degrees for 25-30 minutes.
2. While the chicken is cooking, dice your carrots, onions,
chiles, garlic and ginger. Saute in a big dutch over or pot on the stove until
soft, maybe about 10 minutes. I ADD THE
ANCHOVIES HERE to make sure they broke down and melted into the vegetables.
3. Add chicken broth and the lemon grass to the pot. Cook until hot all the way through. I used medium heat.
4. At this point, your chicken should be ready. Set it aside and let it cool a bit.
5. In a separate smaller pot, steam your snap peas or whichever
green vegetable you are using, just to get it a little par-cooked, not soggy.
5. Pull apart your roasted chicken into shredded bits and add to the big pot.
6. Take out the lemon grass.
7. Add coconut milk, lime juice, curry paste, and the sweet
potato if you’re using it.
8. Add your steamed snap peas, stir it up and let everything
get all warm and happy together.
You can add more broth if it’s too thick for you, but
because I didn’t use the tapioca thickener that had been recommended in the
original recipe, the broth was still rather thin.
9. Serve with fresh cilantro and lime juice.
Notes: You could
probably cook the chicken in the dutch over with with carrots/onions. Then you would take it out, shred it, and add
it back in with the rest of the stuff. I
felt like a saved a little time since I cooked the chicken while prepping the
other stuff, and it had a nice roasted taste, too.
I think this could be pretty good with some yellow or orange
bell pepper, maybe. When I make it
again, I might experiment with that addition. They would probably have to go in
near the end, maybe steamed like the snow peas/green beans/snap peas.
For the fat when sauteing the carrots, onions, etc... and the fat on the chicken for roasting, I will probably use coconut oil the next time. I used olive oil this time, but maybe the coconut oil will taste more coconutty.
Saturday, August 22, 2015
Day 18 of the Whole30, and I'm So Tired of Cooking.
It is 9:13 pm, and I survived Day 18 of the Whole30 Challenge. Today was a long day. I went to three different grocery stores in Green Valley trying to find green curry and lemongrass, I did some cooking and prep stuff, and I had a nice long swim this morning.
I almost had a faint hint of heartburn for the first time in weeks. I ate chicken schawarma 3 meals in a row....maybe that was overkill. Dinner, breakfast, and lunch...whoops! When I say almost a hint, I mean it. There was a second this afternoon where I felt like I was going to get heartburn, and then that feeling went away. In my previous life, I used to get heartburn all. the. time. I should have purchased stock in Tums. Seriously. At least I used to get a lot of calcium. Hopefully that was a good thing. Since I started changing up my eating, and especially since I started the Whole30, I rarely ever have heartburn.
Here's what my afternoon looked like.
3:00 pm: Write some letters that I wanted to write.
4:00 pm: Go to the store for supplies, including stuff for meatballs, zoodles, Oldie's Green Curry, sweet potatoes, vegetables for breakfast, and berries
5:00 pm: Go to the second store looking for green curry and lemongrass
5:20 pm: Stop at third store, find green curry, no lemongrass. (actually, that's not true. I found lemongrass pre-cut in the tube. The ingredients include canola oil and whey, both of which are not cool with the Whole30 gig, so I couldn't use that lemongrass, and no one had whole lemongrass because I live in a wasteland...lemongrass isn't available in a wasteland, evidently.)
6:00 pm: Get home, run around with the dogs, unload groceries.
6:30 pm: Start to roast/bake some things needing roasting/baking. Sweet potatoes and cauliflower.
6:40 pm: Feed the dogs. Give the dogs carrots. Hang out with dogs.
7:15 pm: Mix up the meatballs, roll them out, and put them in the oven.
7:30 pm: Cut up watermelon purchased today. Put away cauliflower. Take out sweet potatoes.
7:45 pm: spiralize some zucchini. open can of crushed tomatoes, add a bunch of spices, peel sweet potatoes and put in the fridge.
8:00 pm: start to saute zucchini.
8:10 pm: take meatballs out of the oven and put on paper towel-lined plate. fix my plate for dinner, meatballs, zucchini noodles, tomato sauce.
9:00 pm: finish washing dishes.
The meatball, zucchini noodle, tomato sauce concoction was great. For the meatballs, I used half beef and half pork, two eggs, a spoonful of homemade mayo, and spices. I could have added some chopped onion, but at that point, I was over prepping ingredients and foods.
I spent a lot of time trying to maximize time today. While one thing was cooking, I would prep another or cut up the watermelon or peel the baked sweet potatoes so I can mainline them later because they are delicious.
I will make the green curry tomorrow, which will leave me with a combination of curry, the meatballs, a couple of servings of schawarma, and two steaks I bought yesterday (that might be best for breakfast). So, I should have breakfasts, lunches, and dinners covered for a few days.
This week, I also stocked up on a few different Whole30 allowed bars. The book says to focus on eating real food, not bars like this, but that they can be used in a pinch and come in very handy.
The Epic bars are mostly meat, and there are flavors like Apple and Bacon or Chicken Sriracha. I am a tad afraid to try them, wondering what meat it actually tastes like. You have to be careful with the varieties. Most are ok, but the bison has brown sugar, so it is out for the Whole30.
RxBars are Whole30 approved, as well, but one variety not included in my mix also had some non-compliant ingredient. Make sure to read the labels, even if you see that a certain bar is approved. Sometimes the flavors of an item aren't always following guidelines.
Last but not least is the mimi Larabar. These are mostly dates and nuts. Again, make sure to read labels so you don't end up with a variety that might have peanuts or sugar or something else not Whole30 kosher.
I'll let you know when I try any of these. It will be nice to have them around in case of emergencies or unexpected delays getting home or eating.
I'm exhausted, everyone. Goodnight!
I almost had a faint hint of heartburn for the first time in weeks. I ate chicken schawarma 3 meals in a row....maybe that was overkill. Dinner, breakfast, and lunch...whoops! When I say almost a hint, I mean it. There was a second this afternoon where I felt like I was going to get heartburn, and then that feeling went away. In my previous life, I used to get heartburn all. the. time. I should have purchased stock in Tums. Seriously. At least I used to get a lot of calcium. Hopefully that was a good thing. Since I started changing up my eating, and especially since I started the Whole30, I rarely ever have heartburn.
Here's what my afternoon looked like.
3:00 pm: Write some letters that I wanted to write.
4:00 pm: Go to the store for supplies, including stuff for meatballs, zoodles, Oldie's Green Curry, sweet potatoes, vegetables for breakfast, and berries
5:00 pm: Go to the second store looking for green curry and lemongrass
5:20 pm: Stop at third store, find green curry, no lemongrass. (actually, that's not true. I found lemongrass pre-cut in the tube. The ingredients include canola oil and whey, both of which are not cool with the Whole30 gig, so I couldn't use that lemongrass, and no one had whole lemongrass because I live in a wasteland...lemongrass isn't available in a wasteland, evidently.)
6:00 pm: Get home, run around with the dogs, unload groceries.
6:30 pm: Start to roast/bake some things needing roasting/baking. Sweet potatoes and cauliflower.
6:40 pm: Feed the dogs. Give the dogs carrots. Hang out with dogs.
7:15 pm: Mix up the meatballs, roll them out, and put them in the oven.
7:30 pm: Cut up watermelon purchased today. Put away cauliflower. Take out sweet potatoes.
7:45 pm: spiralize some zucchini. open can of crushed tomatoes, add a bunch of spices, peel sweet potatoes and put in the fridge.
8:00 pm: start to saute zucchini.
8:10 pm: take meatballs out of the oven and put on paper towel-lined plate. fix my plate for dinner, meatballs, zucchini noodles, tomato sauce.
9:00 pm: finish washing dishes.
The meatball, zucchini noodle, tomato sauce concoction was great. For the meatballs, I used half beef and half pork, two eggs, a spoonful of homemade mayo, and spices. I could have added some chopped onion, but at that point, I was over prepping ingredients and foods. I spent a lot of time trying to maximize time today. While one thing was cooking, I would prep another or cut up the watermelon or peel the baked sweet potatoes so I can mainline them later because they are delicious.
I will make the green curry tomorrow, which will leave me with a combination of curry, the meatballs, a couple of servings of schawarma, and two steaks I bought yesterday (that might be best for breakfast). So, I should have breakfasts, lunches, and dinners covered for a few days.
This week, I also stocked up on a few different Whole30 allowed bars. The book says to focus on eating real food, not bars like this, but that they can be used in a pinch and come in very handy.
The Epic bars are mostly meat, and there are flavors like Apple and Bacon or Chicken Sriracha. I am a tad afraid to try them, wondering what meat it actually tastes like. You have to be careful with the varieties. Most are ok, but the bison has brown sugar, so it is out for the Whole30.
RxBars are Whole30 approved, as well, but one variety not included in my mix also had some non-compliant ingredient. Make sure to read the labels, even if you see that a certain bar is approved. Sometimes the flavors of an item aren't always following guidelines.
Last but not least is the mimi Larabar. These are mostly dates and nuts. Again, make sure to read labels so you don't end up with a variety that might have peanuts or sugar or something else not Whole30 kosher.
I'll let you know when I try any of these. It will be nice to have them around in case of emergencies or unexpected delays getting home or eating.
I'm exhausted, everyone. Goodnight!
Friday, August 21, 2015
Day 17 of the Whole30. Navigating a Party and Out of This World Chicken. Seriously.
It's Friday! That means a weekend of cooking is upon me again. This weekend, I am going to try and make Oldie's Green Curry as one of my major recipes. Oldie is my friend Jennifer Olsen "Oldie" Yeamans. I'm also going to make meatballs and a marinara and serve them over zucchini noodles, I believe. Plus, I can freeze part of the meatballs. I will also need to make more sweet potatoes, decide on a breakfast vegetable, and get some more berries and maybe a watermelon. I am hoping that kind of cooking takes me into Tuesday and maybe Wednesday.
This morning before work I put some chicken into a marinade that I mixed up. It was from a recipe for Oven Roasted Chicken Shawarma that another friend, Erika Wicks, share in a comment on the Facebooks. Let me tell you, I don't really know a lot about Shawarma. This is the first time I have ever owned tumeric, and cumin? What is cumin supposed to do?
I marinaded the chicken starting this morning because I knew I was going to a house warming party later this evening, and I really needed to eat before going so I didn't make any stupid decisions. Before I get back to discussing the chicken, I have to say that the pre-eating strategy really worked. I ate dinner, and when I got there, I wasn't tempted to eat anything I couldn't have. I did eat a couple of cut vegetables, but that was it.
Ok, now to get back to this chicken shawarma. How have I ever lived life without this food!? It was seriously delicious. I had a slight crunch/crispy aspect on parts of it, it was extremely flavorful, and it was so easy to make. I mixed all the ingredients this morning very quickly, put the chicken in to marinate, and tonight when I got home, I put it in a 425 degree oven for about45 minutes. The smell alone made my mouth water, and it was insanely easy to make.
The recipe calls for a homemade garlic sauce and a pita, but I just used lettuce as a wrap and had some diced tomato. I made the garlic sauce, but honestly, it sketched me out. It just didn't look or smell right, so I threw it out.
I highly recommend this recipe, minus the garlic sauce. This will become part of my favorite rotation!
I'm still feeling great except I just hit my sleepy/tired wall and want to nod off and fall asleep. So, on that note, goodnight everyone!
This morning before work I put some chicken into a marinade that I mixed up. It was from a recipe for Oven Roasted Chicken Shawarma that another friend, Erika Wicks, share in a comment on the Facebooks. Let me tell you, I don't really know a lot about Shawarma. This is the first time I have ever owned tumeric, and cumin? What is cumin supposed to do?
I marinaded the chicken starting this morning because I knew I was going to a house warming party later this evening, and I really needed to eat before going so I didn't make any stupid decisions. Before I get back to discussing the chicken, I have to say that the pre-eating strategy really worked. I ate dinner, and when I got there, I wasn't tempted to eat anything I couldn't have. I did eat a couple of cut vegetables, but that was it.
Ok, now to get back to this chicken shawarma. How have I ever lived life without this food!? It was seriously delicious. I had a slight crunch/crispy aspect on parts of it, it was extremely flavorful, and it was so easy to make. I mixed all the ingredients this morning very quickly, put the chicken in to marinate, and tonight when I got home, I put it in a 425 degree oven for about45 minutes. The smell alone made my mouth water, and it was insanely easy to make.
The recipe calls for a homemade garlic sauce and a pita, but I just used lettuce as a wrap and had some diced tomato. I made the garlic sauce, but honestly, it sketched me out. It just didn't look or smell right, so I threw it out.
I highly recommend this recipe, minus the garlic sauce. This will become part of my favorite rotation!
I'm still feeling great except I just hit my sleepy/tired wall and want to nod off and fall asleep. So, on that note, goodnight everyone!
Thursday, August 20, 2015
Day 16 of the Whole30. I Love a Packed Lunch. I Don't Love a Pork Chop.
It is 8:43 pm, and I survived Day 16 of the Whole30 challenge. Today was a challenge because I had a meeting from 10:00 am until 2:30 pm, and lunch was going to be provided. I knew it was sandwiches, wraps, and probably a couple of salads to choose from. I couldn't be sure what else would be provided. I couldn't eat the sandwich meat with no bread. Lunch meat has added sugar. I couldn't be sure if the salads would have cheese added or not. I didn't know anything about the dressing. AAAAAAAAAA.
So, I packed my lunch. I had a garden salad with a little cup of balsamic vinaigrette, two hard boiled eggs, some tuna mixed with my homemade mayo, an apple, and some almond butter. I carried my little lunch cooler into the meeting, and when we broke for lunch, I opened my little cooler and set my place. I'm happy to say it all worked out. I wasn't at the mercy of unknown lunch plans, and I didn't starve or eat something that I wasn't supposed to eat because I was hungry and didn't have a plan. I didn't feel like I missed out on anything by having my own lunch. In fact, I felt satisfied, happy with my food choice, and glad I thought to pack the apple and almond butter as additional food because it took lunch to the next level. That's me...bringing gourmet back to lunch with an apple and almond butter!
In dinner news, I'm still eating pork chops. This might be the third time I've had pork chops. That is three times too many. I have decided to admit to myself that I don't really love a pork chop. They aren't that offensive, really. They just aren't that good. So, one more meal with pork chop (probably incorporating them into breakfast), and then I'm finished with pork chops! Forever! Or until I talk myself out of disliking pork chops. I imagine that will be in a few years when I'm at the store, the chops are on sale, and I am sick of chicken. "Oh, come on! Buy the pork chops! They aren't THAT bad!"
So, I packed my lunch. I had a garden salad with a little cup of balsamic vinaigrette, two hard boiled eggs, some tuna mixed with my homemade mayo, an apple, and some almond butter. I carried my little lunch cooler into the meeting, and when we broke for lunch, I opened my little cooler and set my place. I'm happy to say it all worked out. I wasn't at the mercy of unknown lunch plans, and I didn't starve or eat something that I wasn't supposed to eat because I was hungry and didn't have a plan. I didn't feel like I missed out on anything by having my own lunch. In fact, I felt satisfied, happy with my food choice, and glad I thought to pack the apple and almond butter as additional food because it took lunch to the next level. That's me...bringing gourmet back to lunch with an apple and almond butter!
In dinner news, I'm still eating pork chops. This might be the third time I've had pork chops. That is three times too many. I have decided to admit to myself that I don't really love a pork chop. They aren't that offensive, really. They just aren't that good. So, one more meal with pork chop (probably incorporating them into breakfast), and then I'm finished with pork chops! Forever! Or until I talk myself out of disliking pork chops. I imagine that will be in a few years when I'm at the store, the chops are on sale, and I am sick of chicken. "Oh, come on! Buy the pork chops! They aren't THAT bad!"
Wednesday, August 19, 2015
Day 15 of the Whole30. Burgers and Eggs.
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| Breakfast |
Today was a revolutionary lunch. Ok...maybe not revolutionary, but it was really delicious and filling.
Anyway, today I ordered a special creation of a hamburger patty with two fried eggs on top and a side salad. It was delicious, super filling, and finally, I didn't get hungry again at 3:00 or 3:30 pm. From now on, fried eggs on EVERYTHING! Or just extra doses of protein. That's probably more rational than fried eggs on everything.
After dinner tonight, I had to run to Walmart because they sell industrial size cans of green beans, and the dogs eat a lot of green beans. I also bought some chicken to cook and a cauliflower. I have a few more thin pork chops I already cooked that I need to try and chew my way through and one more serving of really delicious roasted cabbage. The chicken, the cauliflower, and also some lettuce for salads will augment what I have to tide me over until the weekend and will probably even provide one weekend meal or workout recovery meal, too.
Walking through the checkout tonight, I was acutely aware of the fact that there are candy bars, snack cakes, more candy bars, chips, snack cakes...oh, and did I mention devilishly good looking snack cakes? Those things taste like crap, but when I initially looked at all the junk in the checkout aisle tonight, I really wanted to eat something horrible and sweet and bad. Ok, maybe I wanted to eat 20 pieces of junk, but I held back. I just told myself I don't want to feel bad eating that crap. The drooling and envy only lasted for about 3 minutes. That's something to remember. A craving usually only lasts a couple of minutes.
Time for bed, people. Today was the true halfway mark to the Whole30. I'm headed to the home stretch!
Tuesday, August 18, 2015
Day 14 of the Whole30!!!! What I've Learned after Two Weeks
Time has flown by, and I am amazed to say I am through Day 14. It is 9:15, and I survived.
The way I see it, with two weeks left, I will have about 4 more larger cooking sessions. I found I do better making a few things all at once to juggle over a 3 or 4 day period, with the occasional meal out and some easy/fast things to cook on the fly. I try to make a few vegetable dishes, a simple, versatile protein (like chicken or thin pork chops), another protein or protein dish that might have more ingredients, sweet potatoes for workouts, and whatever condiments/dressings I need to make for that chunk of time. There are exceptions and random things I cook here and there, but generally one pretty involved cooking afternoon/evening will carry me a few days.
By doing it that way, I don't have an excuse to not eat what I've made. I also try to juggle it that maybe my next cooking time can be incorporated somewhat flexibly into the schedule. Maybe day 3, maybe day 4...depending on my time, mood, and attitude about the food. That also helps prevent the "Ooooo.. I don't feel like cooking tonight, so I can't make all that food. I'll just go out to eat at the donut and potato chip store." Always have something easy to heat up to eat and a little leeway on when you have to cook again.
I also learned that making mayo is easy once you read the instructions and buy the proper oil. Reheated pork chops can be dry. Cinnamon makes sweet potatoes 1,000 times more delicious. Ask friends for advice/suggestions. They come up with good stuff. Don't eat a banana on an empty stomach before walking your dogs. It will make you a horrible, grouchy human. Try protein and fat instead for a pre-walk snack. Plan. plan. plan. Have a backup and a plan for maintaining your backup plan.
Here's hoping the remaining two weeks go as well as the first two. I am feeling great, everyone.
The way I see it, with two weeks left, I will have about 4 more larger cooking sessions. I found I do better making a few things all at once to juggle over a 3 or 4 day period, with the occasional meal out and some easy/fast things to cook on the fly. I try to make a few vegetable dishes, a simple, versatile protein (like chicken or thin pork chops), another protein or protein dish that might have more ingredients, sweet potatoes for workouts, and whatever condiments/dressings I need to make for that chunk of time. There are exceptions and random things I cook here and there, but generally one pretty involved cooking afternoon/evening will carry me a few days.
By doing it that way, I don't have an excuse to not eat what I've made. I also try to juggle it that maybe my next cooking time can be incorporated somewhat flexibly into the schedule. Maybe day 3, maybe day 4...depending on my time, mood, and attitude about the food. That also helps prevent the "Ooooo.. I don't feel like cooking tonight, so I can't make all that food. I'll just go out to eat at the donut and potato chip store." Always have something easy to heat up to eat and a little leeway on when you have to cook again.
I also learned that making mayo is easy once you read the instructions and buy the proper oil. Reheated pork chops can be dry. Cinnamon makes sweet potatoes 1,000 times more delicious. Ask friends for advice/suggestions. They come up with good stuff. Don't eat a banana on an empty stomach before walking your dogs. It will make you a horrible, grouchy human. Try protein and fat instead for a pre-walk snack. Plan. plan. plan. Have a backup and a plan for maintaining your backup plan.
Here's hoping the remaining two weeks go as well as the first two. I am feeling great, everyone.
Monday, August 17, 2015
Day 13, Double the Chicken, Double the Fun.
It is 8:47 pm, and I survived Day 13 of the Whole30. I swam after work, came home, fixed the dogs dinner, and then made my dinner. I might have been a tad ambitious in what I could eat. I also had the challenge of combining some post-workout food to my dinner since it didn't make sense for me to have a post workout meal at 7:30, feed the dogs, then eat again at 8:30. So, I heated up the sweet potato as the unique thing that I would normally have after exercising along with the bounty of other things on the plate.
1. 1 1/2 hamburgers with a bit of homemade mayo because when I had this for dinner last night, those suckers were DRY. I didn't want ketchup again, so it was the homemade mayo that saved the day.
2. A skillet-grilled slice of red onion because it makes things taste like something....mostly like red onion, but at least not air.
3. Zucchini spears, reheated in the skillet with the burgers.These things are delicious. I will make them over and over again until I am completely sick of them and want to scream and I gag a bit in my mouth at the thought of eating them. That's how much I'm loving these things right now.
4. Sweet potato with lots of cinnamon because it's a post-workout food and because it is DELICIOUS. Maybe it's not having sweets and sugar for almost two weeks, but this sucker is SWEET.
5. Vinegar-based coleslaw because I have it and it needs to be eaten. I honestly am not enthused by this slaw. I am going to have to find a different recipe or something. It just isn't that good. It has a tangy vinegar tang of tanginess, but under the tang there's no flavor. I don't love it. I feel the opposite of love for it. Only 3 more cups to eat!
Like I said, I might have been a tad ambitious with what I could eat. I did end up eating more of the sweet potato after this picture, but after choking down one or two more bites of the slaw, it went in the garbage. Again, only 3 more cups to go. Yay me!
I feel pretty darn good still. I have had some fleeting thoughts about my favorite foods, but fleeting thoughts, not major pouting parties because I am not eating those things. I also discovered that the salad I order from Nickels is WAAAAAYYYY good with double chicken. It fills me up more and helps me make it through the afternoon.
Tomorrow it's pork chops and cabbage and more zucchini because I still have 3 zucchinis to cook. I am also going to pull out a thin steak I have in the freezer to make for a meal. I'll go and do that now so I see it in the fridge in the morning.
Thanks also for the vegetable recommendations. When I go to the store on Wednesday, I will be buying some of your suggestions to make. Also, I had burgers, chicken, and pork chops recently. Any ideas on a new protein? Please don't say lamb burgers. I have been there, done that, and don't want to go back.
1. 1 1/2 hamburgers with a bit of homemade mayo because when I had this for dinner last night, those suckers were DRY. I didn't want ketchup again, so it was the homemade mayo that saved the day.
2. A skillet-grilled slice of red onion because it makes things taste like something....mostly like red onion, but at least not air.
3. Zucchini spears, reheated in the skillet with the burgers.These things are delicious. I will make them over and over again until I am completely sick of them and want to scream and I gag a bit in my mouth at the thought of eating them. That's how much I'm loving these things right now.
4. Sweet potato with lots of cinnamon because it's a post-workout food and because it is DELICIOUS. Maybe it's not having sweets and sugar for almost two weeks, but this sucker is SWEET.
5. Vinegar-based coleslaw because I have it and it needs to be eaten. I honestly am not enthused by this slaw. I am going to have to find a different recipe or something. It just isn't that good. It has a tangy vinegar tang of tanginess, but under the tang there's no flavor. I don't love it. I feel the opposite of love for it. Only 3 more cups to eat!
Like I said, I might have been a tad ambitious with what I could eat. I did end up eating more of the sweet potato after this picture, but after choking down one or two more bites of the slaw, it went in the garbage. Again, only 3 more cups to go. Yay me!
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| Dinner |
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| After Dinner |
Tomorrow it's pork chops and cabbage and more zucchini because I still have 3 zucchinis to cook. I am also going to pull out a thin steak I have in the freezer to make for a meal. I'll go and do that now so I see it in the fridge in the morning.
Thanks also for the vegetable recommendations. When I go to the store on Wednesday, I will be buying some of your suggestions to make. Also, I had burgers, chicken, and pork chops recently. Any ideas on a new protein? Please don't say lamb burgers. I have been there, done that, and don't want to go back.
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