Lunch-Smunch

Okay, let's talk about lunch for a second. Please say I am not the only one who struggles with this meal!! There seem to always be barriers for me eating a good, healthy lunch. Primarily, I am usually too lazy ... I mean tired .... to make anything so I end up eating granola bars, fruit snacks or cold cereal (sometimes all three) and then I'm STARVING by the time dinner rolls around. I end up overeating at dinner or eating out (because when you're starving, ain't no one got time for cooking) and I crave sweets SO bad afterwards. With this pattern, I'm definitely not getting the nutrition I need for the day, and I'm getting a whole bunch of other stuff that I don't need and the whole scenario just makes me GRUMPY!

So I have attempted the last two weeks to plan out my lunches so that I have a plan and the ingredients to stick to my plan. So far, my lunches have consisted of three categories: Salads, Sandwiches (or wraps), and Leftovers (my favorite--no work). I chose sandwiches and salads because they generally help me eat more fresh ingredients with lots of fruits and veggies, which helps me from feeling sick during the day.

Today was a super yummy salad with apples, dried cranberries, Mandarin oranges, and almonds (which may or may not have been candied!!) and a homemade citrus poppy dressing. It felt like I was eating desert for lunch but without the guilt and gross feeling afterward.

Today was definitely considered a success in my book, but I'm telling you, some days it is HARD for me to get myself in that kitchen cutting those veggies, or assembling those salads. The times I've stuck with the plan though, I have not regretted it. I just have to think of it as a regular part of my day now...something fun to do while my daughter plays in her high chair or bouncer. I can turn on music, act a little silly, talk to myself....WHATEVER! With that attitude it gets a lot easier. Now if I could only have the same attitude towards the dishes afterwards! HAHA!

"Fat isn't bad; Stupid is Bad"

My Aunt recently shared this Washington Post article on Facebook. It describes the difficulty in making smart food choices, due to the confusion surrounding word usage.

I. Loved. It.

My favorite part is the end -- make your food choices purposefully, with full knowledge of why and what you are purchasing.

Knowledge is power.

YES!!

Food Pyramid

Click Image for Source

This is very educational . . . health and geometry! haha!

Step 2: "Hello Dessert, it's nice to meet you!"

In my goal for Breaking My Sugar Addiction I mentioned the steps that I planned to take in order to accomplish said goal. I deemed step 1 a success (going off desserts and treats completely for 4 weeks). Overall I felt more energized, I was sick to my stomach less, my skin became clearer (that could be attributed to the changing hormones of pregnancy too), and my mood improved. My cravings went up and down. Some days they were non-existent, other days I was tearing my hair out wanting a cookie. However, I did feel like it got better the longer I went without desserts.

Unfortunately, following my four week break, Mitch and I went on vacation to Utah--and basically it all fell to pieces. It was hard not having control over what I ate for meals, and (to be honest) I really wanted to just relax and have a good time with my family. I guess I still need to learn the art of celebrating without completely relying on sugar. After returning home to AZ though, I've just kinda jumped right back in (minus my Ben and Jerry's misstep) and I'm ready to continue in this goal.

Well, I am happy to say that I am moving on to Step 2: Reintroducing desserts as TREATS. Here's the game plan. I present to you:

I get to plan a dessert or special treat for Sunday EVENINGS. I emphasize the evening part because I don't want Sundays to turn into a splurging 24 hours where I make myself sick gorging on all the treats I wanted to eat throughout the week.

My whole hope with these goals is to redefine my relationship with sugar. I don't want to label sugar as something BAD and off-limits, because that will only cause guilt and shame when I do indulge. My new relationship with sugar needs to be one of . . .  well mutual respect, where I can enjoy my sweets in moderation, and continue to have a healthy well-balanced diet.

I can't reach these relationship goals if I continue in a restrict-and-then-binge pattern. So I'm gonna start with a moderate sized dessert on my Sweet Sunday Evenings and start training my body to really enjoy and savor the ONE cookie, or half a cup of ice cream, instead of going overboard. Eventually, my hope is to not have to worry about limiting my sweets at all, that it will just be natural for me to eat them moderately and occasionally (because what's life without cookie dough every once in a while?). 

Wish me luck!

Chicken Enchilada Bake

There is something so incredibly satisfying in finding a new recipe, trying it, and LOVING it! It's like you have made a new friend. Well, at least once during the week I make a point to try a recipe I've never made before. This week it was this amazing Chicken Enchilada Bake.

Sometimes things don't go as planned....

Mitch and I recently returned from our vacation visiting family in Utah. During this time I was more lenient on my sugar rule.... Okay so it was kinda a sugar disaster. I would eat dessert to my heart's content most nights, followed by the disgusted guilty phase of "I'll never do that again," and then I would continue to eat the same way the following day. It was a bad cycle, but I survived.

Upon my return I stocked up on fruits and veggies and prepared for PHASE 2 of "breaking my sugar addiction" goal. I would now only eat moderate amounts of desserts on Sundays (my SWEET SUNDAYS--pretty good, right?). Well I did good for about 5 days, and then THIS happened:

Which resulted in this:

Heaven help me. . . . 

Strawberry Blueberry Syrup

Yesterday I had some MAJOR cravings for some fresh berries. Oh man, I was wanting them so bad, so of COURSE the grocery store I was shopping at was fresh out of them. I was disappointed, but doing okay. Well, while walking through Costco I had the brilliant idea to go check out the produce. Then, in a fit of insanity, I decided to buy a Costco pack of strawberries AND blueberries (WHAT WAS I THINKING??). I walked out with 5 lbs of fruit and not a care in the world--until I woke up this morning and realized that there was no chance on earth that I was gonna be able to eat all of these fresh berries. I was preparing myself to freeze them for smoothies when I got the idea to ask around for some ideas on what to make. Well, lots of friends suggested Jam! That sounded WONDERFUL, however I would have to go to the store again for some missing ingredients. So...I adapted. Behold Strawberry Blueberry Syrup of my own making (which isn't saying much because it is just a simple syrup recipe). Super yummy on my waffles, and tomorrow I'm gonna try it in some plain yogurt!