It certainly takes a little planning to keep up this way of life, which I think is a good reason to really clean out the cupboards and fridge, and find some stock of easily fixed stuff!! However, there are a few things we've discovered in the last couple of weeks that worked well for us.
The first was to prepare our greens (wash and chop) when we get home with them, and have them in a gladware ready to go. Grab a handful and put in a bowl for breakfast or lunch, add other stuff, and viola! Nutrient dense food! We bought an excellent lettuce spinner that helps a lot for the lettuce, and while it does get lots of moisture off, another thing we do is layer paper towels on top of the gladware, then store it upside down in the fridge, and remove the now damp paper towels when we open it. Seems to work good for keeping it from turning slimy.
Another thing we have done is freeze patties, beans, etc., which makes for quick meal-prep.
That was a very short paragraph, but I have nothing more to say about that. I do want to talk about pizza though. I made a really yummy one this past weekend, and the particularly surprising thing was that I started so late in the evening I knew I wouldn't have time for a yeast crust. I found a recipe online for a crust that worked well - 2 C flour, 1 Tbs baking powder, 1/4 tsp salt and 2/3 C water. WHOLE WHEAT (or other grain) flour folks, of course!!! If I say flour, you can assume I mean stuff with all the goodies intact. Because it's usually gonna soak up more water, plan on adding water. Anyway, this makes kind of like a biscuit crust, which used to be a popular dinner for us. I'm still looking for a term other than "pizza" though, because there is NO cheese, and certainly none of that pressed-oil crap that they call cheese, some of which contains Casein, which is what you want to avoid in the first place!!! Anyway...tomato sauce, herbs, veggies that have been sauteed - I think I had onions, garlic, mushrooms this time, then topped with slices of fresh zucchini, tomatoes, AND...the best part.....pineapple!! Trader Joe's has pineapple chunks FROZEN - so you don't have to open a can, only use part, and forget about the rest when it gets shoved to the back of the fridge.
I also learned that pineapple juice, golden raisins, and a few finely chopped nuts makes a good salad in the morning!! You need something else for staying power, but I was glad to find that this was a nice sweet salad for breakfast. I'm eating stranger things for breakfast these days, but am not quite ready for a vinaigrette in the morning.
Oooh...Eric just showed me a link on engine2diet.com's 'daily beet' http://engine2diet.com/the-daily-beet/simple-guide-to-plant-strong-burgers/ which gives a formula for making patties - which gives you lots of possibilities in the end! Might have to try one this weekend.
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Sunday, January 15, 2012
Newbeans
As Newbies to this new form of eating, we are finding it fun to try new foods, and yes, I'm a little ashamed to admit that some of these I haven't tried already. Especially in the vegetable department. But, we are moving forward!!
This weekend, we tried two new legumes. Adzuki beans, which I have read are considered the "mercedes" of beans in Asia. They are often sweetened and I think used in the middle of those sweet peach buns that you can get as a dim sum at the Yuet Bistro in Redding. They are known for being a sweeter, kind of nutty-flavored bean. They did indeed have a pleasant taste, so I used them not only with rice for a dinner, but also made bean paste with them to make cookies with (yes, there is a new cookie recipe up on the sweet-treats page).
Our second legume to try was lentils. They were cooked up in order to make a meatless patty from the E2 cookbook - the one with rice and lentils. Those, by the way, were good, although I used too much mustard when building my sandwich, so am not sure if the seasoning in the patties themselves need any adjusting. I am most impressed with the fact that it only takes 15 minutes to cook lentils. They tasted fine - I think I could use them a lot as a quick-fix filling for tacos, burritos, etc etc. Definitely a new fan of the lentil.
It's been a busy week, but this weekend we loaded up on greens, and did some pre-chopping, so lunches ought to be easy to fix. Breakfast too, since we're trying to eat some greens at breakfast. Kale goes surprisingly well with potatoes. So does broccoli, actually. Just goes to show - potatoes are awesome.
This weekend, we tried two new legumes. Adzuki beans, which I have read are considered the "mercedes" of beans in Asia. They are often sweetened and I think used in the middle of those sweet peach buns that you can get as a dim sum at the Yuet Bistro in Redding. They are known for being a sweeter, kind of nutty-flavored bean. They did indeed have a pleasant taste, so I used them not only with rice for a dinner, but also made bean paste with them to make cookies with (yes, there is a new cookie recipe up on the sweet-treats page).
Our second legume to try was lentils. They were cooked up in order to make a meatless patty from the E2 cookbook - the one with rice and lentils. Those, by the way, were good, although I used too much mustard when building my sandwich, so am not sure if the seasoning in the patties themselves need any adjusting. I am most impressed with the fact that it only takes 15 minutes to cook lentils. They tasted fine - I think I could use them a lot as a quick-fix filling for tacos, burritos, etc etc. Definitely a new fan of the lentil.
It's been a busy week, but this weekend we loaded up on greens, and did some pre-chopping, so lunches ought to be easy to fix. Breakfast too, since we're trying to eat some greens at breakfast. Kale goes surprisingly well with potatoes. So does broccoli, actually. Just goes to show - potatoes are awesome.
Friday, January 6, 2012
Arm-Chair Dietitian
Just as there are arm-chair coaches for every sport, we have found ourselves in the position of being arm-chair dietitians it seems. In some cases, we can hardly keep our yappers shut from sharing some of what we read, and for that, I have to apologize to those of you who didn't ask. However, there are others who are interested, but want the quick cliff-notes version. Can we say "just read the book already"? People don't have time, or so they say.... I can understand. It takes a great deal of effort to read, investigate, and then more time to DO something. A commitment has to be made, and people tend to avoid that. Some secretly know that if they were not longer ignorant, then they'd have no excuse for not changing. We've all been there. I understand that, I do. BUT, on the other hand, don't ask us what we think about your meal/snack/plan, if you aren't going to do the work to learn for yourself what it is that is best for you!
Yet, on the other hand, we want to help people make changes...but I think where we've made the change fairly quickly, others will need a much more gradual approach, and I think we can overwhelm and scare people off if they get us started! We have become one of THOSE people, without meaning to. In fact, we are trying hard not to be one of THOSE people. And it is so hard when you do feel strongly about something to not want to convert others. Most of the irritating people that don't get invited anywhere are one of those people. Could be religion, politics, or health - it's always annoying to meet someone who has all the answers.
So, if people want, they can read my blog, which may or may not contain anything useful. At least I can purge some of the thoughts in my head, without annoying all of my family. BUT, if you ask, be prepared, you may get more than you ever wanted, because there isn't a quick version of this yet.
Actually, there are two quick answers I have found:
To "What do you eat?" : Plant-based whole foods.
To "Why?": Because we want to live a long and healthy life.
My favorite comment came from Dr. Esselstyn in the movie "Forks over Knives" - when folks made the observation that this meal plan was 'extreme', his comment was that 'cutting a vein out of your leg to stick in your heart is also pretty extreme'. (or something to that effect). One is just a heck of a lot easier and more enjoyable, and will provide immediate and long term benefits. So, hopefully we've gotten on that path soon enough.
Watch the movie 'Forks over Knives' and read the book "The China Study". Then we'll talk. I'm NOT a dietitian - just someone with an interest in nutrition and it's effect on your health.
Monday, January 2, 2012
NEED SWEETS
Sometimes you just need something sweet. This week has been hard, and today even harder. I recommend the following to all who attempt this path:
Get rid of everything 'illegal'.
Buy lots of dates (preferably whole).
Eat dates alone for a big sweet zing.
Blend dates with other things to make weird stuff that is sweet.
Tonight, I blended dates with peanut butter (natural, no added oils or sugars), and threw in some chocolate chips (more on that later), and quick oats. They are gooey, but I patted them out on a piece of saran wrap to make patties, that hopefully will dry out some. I think though, I could make something similar to those no-bake cookies I used to make. These were good but sticky.
Ok, so back to the issue with chocolate chips. The true whole-foods people really recommend some that are not made with cane sugar (or evaporated cane juice, which is cane sugar that is less processed). One recommends grain-sweetened, and I don't even really know what that means, except I have seen rice syrup and barley syrup on the shelves as sweeteners, so maybe that's what they are talking about (although they would rather you just use cocoa nibs). Sugar is definitely on my list of 'limited use', but I'm ok with some in something as crucial as chocolate chips. However, what I have found is that I pay very close attention to how many grams of sugar they have. AND, I'm only buying chocolate that has no milk-fat or milk products. However, since they are often made on similar machinery, they can say 'may contain trace amounts of milk' - I'm ok with that, because these are basically vegan but way cheaper. As far as sugar goes, I have found that 8g (equivalent to 2 tsps) is too sweet. 4g (as found in Dagoba 73% cocoa drops) have quite a bite - if you are craving chocolate, these are good to have on hand, and sucking on 2 or 3 will do you well. However, if craving sweet and chocolate, they don't quite do it. My favorite chocolate chip right now is by Guittard, coming in at 6g of sugar per serving, and I think 65% cocoa. Looking online, it looks like they actually have a fair-trade version, but I'm not sure of the sugar contents. Dagoba chips are fairly traded which is a big bonus. They are expensive, but being as I eat way less of those, they last quite a while.
I made a good gingerbread recipe from Happy Herbivore the other day, substituting dates for sugar, and persimmon goo for pumpkin puree. I think it needed more goo because it was a little dense. Or, maybe I need to experiment with adding some other kinds of flour to the mix. I also need to cook up some navy beans so I can make some more chocolate chip cookies.
I do think that at least now when I binge on something sweet, I'm getting some easy-to-burn calories, as opposed to easy-to-store fat calories, and some beneficial vitamins, minerals and fiber. (because unlike the saying 'calories are calories', plant calories, are easier to burn off as heat energy!)
If I can figure out how to make posts here that are recipes and not posts, I'll do that. Otherwise, I may post some recipes here.
Get rid of everything 'illegal'.
Buy lots of dates (preferably whole).
Eat dates alone for a big sweet zing.
Blend dates with other things to make weird stuff that is sweet.
Tonight, I blended dates with peanut butter (natural, no added oils or sugars), and threw in some chocolate chips (more on that later), and quick oats. They are gooey, but I patted them out on a piece of saran wrap to make patties, that hopefully will dry out some. I think though, I could make something similar to those no-bake cookies I used to make. These were good but sticky.
Ok, so back to the issue with chocolate chips. The true whole-foods people really recommend some that are not made with cane sugar (or evaporated cane juice, which is cane sugar that is less processed). One recommends grain-sweetened, and I don't even really know what that means, except I have seen rice syrup and barley syrup on the shelves as sweeteners, so maybe that's what they are talking about (although they would rather you just use cocoa nibs). Sugar is definitely on my list of 'limited use', but I'm ok with some in something as crucial as chocolate chips. However, what I have found is that I pay very close attention to how many grams of sugar they have. AND, I'm only buying chocolate that has no milk-fat or milk products. However, since they are often made on similar machinery, they can say 'may contain trace amounts of milk' - I'm ok with that, because these are basically vegan but way cheaper. As far as sugar goes, I have found that 8g (equivalent to 2 tsps) is too sweet. 4g (as found in Dagoba 73% cocoa drops) have quite a bite - if you are craving chocolate, these are good to have on hand, and sucking on 2 or 3 will do you well. However, if craving sweet and chocolate, they don't quite do it. My favorite chocolate chip right now is by Guittard, coming in at 6g of sugar per serving, and I think 65% cocoa. Looking online, it looks like they actually have a fair-trade version, but I'm not sure of the sugar contents. Dagoba chips are fairly traded which is a big bonus. They are expensive, but being as I eat way less of those, they last quite a while.
I made a good gingerbread recipe from Happy Herbivore the other day, substituting dates for sugar, and persimmon goo for pumpkin puree. I think it needed more goo because it was a little dense. Or, maybe I need to experiment with adding some other kinds of flour to the mix. I also need to cook up some navy beans so I can make some more chocolate chip cookies.
I do think that at least now when I binge on something sweet, I'm getting some easy-to-burn calories, as opposed to easy-to-store fat calories, and some beneficial vitamins, minerals and fiber. (because unlike the saying 'calories are calories', plant calories, are easier to burn off as heat energy!)
If I can figure out how to make posts here that are recipes and not posts, I'll do that. Otherwise, I may post some recipes here.
Sunday, January 1, 2012
No Resolutions Needed
No resolution needed as far as eating better goes. I was thinking, we started this new plan just a month before Thanksgiving thereabouts - seemed kind of like really bad timing at first. However, if we can make it through the holidays, then the rest of the year of 'firsts' should be much easier!! We made it through well, and with some new recipes in our pockets too!
People always comment they couldn't give up their eggs, or cheese, or whatever. The cheese you get over in a couple weeks - really - it actually has a concentrated amount of the milk protein that acts like morphine, so there really is an addiction component there. What I found, however, was that as a sweet-tooth person, while I can get over that addiction, I missed baking my favorite treats. Candies, cookies, cakes.....so many recipes that are special to me, and that make me salivate!! There is definitely a mourning process that goes with this transition, and I do think that as other holidays, etc., arise, I'll be missing something that used to be special.
But, letting go is easier than you might think. I think my previous spiritual studies and disciplines have helped. Those goodies, recipes, etc., are just not a part of my current NOW. It's all about perspective. You have to decide to focus on what new possibilities are out there, rather than focusing on the negative - think on your CAN haves, not on your CAN'T haves. Don't allow martyrdom be your badge, and don't bemoan your plight. It's just a matter of fact that certain foods are detrimental to your health - you don't have to attach an emotional component to it. In fact, I think you have to watch that your pain-body (a la Eckhart Tolle) doesn't view this as an opportunity to let you get into a woe-is-me attitude.
The new year is a good time to reevaluate though, and I do hope that those who are contemplating a "diet" consider a healthy life-style change to plant-based whole foods. It may take some work, but will be well worth it, and will pay dividends of a longer, healthier life.
PS The pounds come off without any real effort too.... and when I have my 'must eat everything in sight' mode, I don't feel horrible about eating a bunch of brownies, because they have so many good vitamins, fiber, etc!
People always comment they couldn't give up their eggs, or cheese, or whatever. The cheese you get over in a couple weeks - really - it actually has a concentrated amount of the milk protein that acts like morphine, so there really is an addiction component there. What I found, however, was that as a sweet-tooth person, while I can get over that addiction, I missed baking my favorite treats. Candies, cookies, cakes.....so many recipes that are special to me, and that make me salivate!! There is definitely a mourning process that goes with this transition, and I do think that as other holidays, etc., arise, I'll be missing something that used to be special.
But, letting go is easier than you might think. I think my previous spiritual studies and disciplines have helped. Those goodies, recipes, etc., are just not a part of my current NOW. It's all about perspective. You have to decide to focus on what new possibilities are out there, rather than focusing on the negative - think on your CAN haves, not on your CAN'T haves. Don't allow martyrdom be your badge, and don't bemoan your plight. It's just a matter of fact that certain foods are detrimental to your health - you don't have to attach an emotional component to it. In fact, I think you have to watch that your pain-body (a la Eckhart Tolle) doesn't view this as an opportunity to let you get into a woe-is-me attitude.
The new year is a good time to reevaluate though, and I do hope that those who are contemplating a "diet" consider a healthy life-style change to plant-based whole foods. It may take some work, but will be well worth it, and will pay dividends of a longer, healthier life.
PS The pounds come off without any real effort too.... and when I have my 'must eat everything in sight' mode, I don't feel horrible about eating a bunch of brownies, because they have so many good vitamins, fiber, etc!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)