For over two years now I've been writing of various approaches and insights into the challenge of eating well. I expect to be blogging for another two years about our relationship with food because there is so much to say about it!
Now I've condensed the material I feel to be most useful into a little book designed as a guide on this journey that we all share.
It's called "Eat Well ~ Be Well", and it will be posted on e-bay this weekend. It's meant to be used for both information as well as some personal journaling. The messages are pretty simple ~ and they are presented as a daily practice, because daily practice is the surest route to real change. I also invite some thoughtful exploration of the reader's beliefs about his or her relationship with food, as well as a look at what emotional factors may need to be considered.
I welcome the opportunity to share it with you!
Happy New Year!
Monday, December 26, 2011
Sunday, December 18, 2011
Count to Ten Before You Bite!
It really is amazing how quickly we can eat something, without giving much thought to it.
We do everything quickly these days, and multiple things at once. That's why "mindfulness" is a relatively new concept. Now you can read about "mindful" anything!
It connotes slowing down enough to be aware ~ to pause ~ to reflect. That's not exactly a Western behavior, but it's essential that we "get it;" for the health of our bodies, our minds and our souls.
I know from experience that if I'm stressed, I'll eat more ~ maybe of the wrong stuff ~ as opposed to times when I'm more relaxed.
Maybe that's part of the function of saying a prayer (or "grace") before meals, because you're taking a moment to express gratitude for the food before you.
But since not many people do that, even quietly taking some deep breaths when you're particularly busy and doing lots of things at once, can create enough of a space to make a better choice when it comes to eating!
We do everything quickly these days, and multiple things at once. That's why "mindfulness" is a relatively new concept. Now you can read about "mindful" anything!
It connotes slowing down enough to be aware ~ to pause ~ to reflect. That's not exactly a Western behavior, but it's essential that we "get it;" for the health of our bodies, our minds and our souls.
I know from experience that if I'm stressed, I'll eat more ~ maybe of the wrong stuff ~ as opposed to times when I'm more relaxed.
Maybe that's part of the function of saying a prayer (or "grace") before meals, because you're taking a moment to express gratitude for the food before you.
But since not many people do that, even quietly taking some deep breaths when you're particularly busy and doing lots of things at once, can create enough of a space to make a better choice when it comes to eating!
Thursday, December 8, 2011
Cutting Corners in the Kitchen
I bought a cod fillet the other day.
They're generally pricey, but I stretched 3/4 pound into two meals. I used 1/2 pound to prepare two portions sauteed with sprinkles of lemon juice and dill, sided with a sweet potato split between us, and a hearty cole slaw with added ingredients of broccoli, peanuts, figs and grapes.
Tonight, I steamed the rest of that cod, sauteed a handful of mushrooms with a few pine nuts, and mixed all of that that with some linguini and basil pesto.
The most costly items were the pound of the slaw I bought at the deli counter ($5), and the small container of pesto, also about $5. We ate all the slaw, but the pesto will be stretched to add to other noodle dishes when I want to fix something quickly.
We don't normally eat dessert, but now that Haagan Daas has these tiny containers of ice cream for about $1.50, every once in awhile I pick up a couple.
And when I go to the store, I NEVER push a big shopping cart, because I don't want to walk out with more than a couple of bags.
A big part of eating well and not spending a lot of money is thinking ahead.
What do you need to buy to go with what you already have in the cupboards or in the fridge?
They're generally pricey, but I stretched 3/4 pound into two meals. I used 1/2 pound to prepare two portions sauteed with sprinkles of lemon juice and dill, sided with a sweet potato split between us, and a hearty cole slaw with added ingredients of broccoli, peanuts, figs and grapes.
Tonight, I steamed the rest of that cod, sauteed a handful of mushrooms with a few pine nuts, and mixed all of that that with some linguini and basil pesto.
The most costly items were the pound of the slaw I bought at the deli counter ($5), and the small container of pesto, also about $5. We ate all the slaw, but the pesto will be stretched to add to other noodle dishes when I want to fix something quickly.
We don't normally eat dessert, but now that Haagan Daas has these tiny containers of ice cream for about $1.50, every once in awhile I pick up a couple.
And when I go to the store, I NEVER push a big shopping cart, because I don't want to walk out with more than a couple of bags.
A big part of eating well and not spending a lot of money is thinking ahead.
What do you need to buy to go with what you already have in the cupboards or in the fridge?
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