I didn't start exercising until March 7, so these aren't for a complete month.
Total exercise time
March: 8.8 hours
April goal: 15 hours
Average daily time
March: 21 minutes
April goal: 30 minutes
Number of days exercising
(some days were walking, some were Wii, some were both)
March: 19
April goal: 25
Number of days walking
March: 9
April goal: 20
Total distance walked
March: 10.93 miles
April goal: 30
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Exercise
I read a really interesting article yesterday, Why Exercise Won't Make You Thin. The premise is that 1) bursts of intense energy aren't enough to burn lots of calories, 2) you're more likely to indulge in high calorie foods after an intense workout, and 3) you're less likely to be active outside the gym. Aerobic exercise is great for your heart and even your mind, but it doesn't necessarily help you lose weight. What seems to be more effective is frequent activity throughout the day.
Here's where the forehead slap comes in. How many times have I said that I was at my healthiest/skinniest after I came back from Switzerland, because while I was there, I never stopped moving? Walking everywhere, chasing the kids, running up & down stairs, hanging up & taking down laundry--I rarely sat down during the day except for meals, and maybe to polish shoes or silver.
I know this stuff, intellectually. But it hasn't changed how I'm living now. I am very sedentary. I spend most of my time on the computer, reading, or watching TV at night. So now I'm trying to be more active even while I'm at home. I did three loads of laundry yesterday, and instead of having the kids take the clothes from the washer to the dryer (they're on opposite sides of the basement--don't ask) and bring the dry laundry upstairs, I did it solo. Instead of not going downstairs for days on end, I'm going to make it a goal to go up and down the stairs at least three times a day (and actually work down there on those trips--bonus!). It's still too cold for outside walks, so I'll try to do 15 - 20 minutes on the Wii twice each day, instead of just once. I'm not as concerned with intensity as I am with frequency and total time.
Here's where the forehead slap comes in. How many times have I said that I was at my healthiest/skinniest after I came back from Switzerland, because while I was there, I never stopped moving? Walking everywhere, chasing the kids, running up & down stairs, hanging up & taking down laundry--I rarely sat down during the day except for meals, and maybe to polish shoes or silver.
I know this stuff, intellectually. But it hasn't changed how I'm living now. I am very sedentary. I spend most of my time on the computer, reading, or watching TV at night. So now I'm trying to be more active even while I'm at home. I did three loads of laundry yesterday, and instead of having the kids take the clothes from the washer to the dryer (they're on opposite sides of the basement--don't ask) and bring the dry laundry upstairs, I did it solo. Instead of not going downstairs for days on end, I'm going to make it a goal to go up and down the stairs at least three times a day (and actually work down there on those trips--bonus!). It's still too cold for outside walks, so I'll try to do 15 - 20 minutes on the Wii twice each day, instead of just once. I'm not as concerned with intensity as I am with frequency and total time.
Monday, March 28, 2011
Spaghetti Dinner
Every year, our church's youth group hosts a spaghetti dinner as their big mission trip fundraiser. Ever year is a different theme; this year was "International Night." Sarah took India--no surprise there!
The servers are all the teens in the youth group, and they work really hard. Sarah got there at 8AM and didn't leave until after 8PM. The spaghetti sauce is all made from scratch, with fresh parsley, basil and oregano. Stripping all those herbs took a while, even with six of us doing it!
Most of the kids did black pants and a t-shirt for their country--one of the girls at the "France" table wore a very cute beret. Luckily, we have some Hindi friends who let us have some clothes and borrow a few table decorations and jewelry. Sarah got a lot of compliments on her outfit.
There is also a paper bag raffle, where people donate items. Each item has a paper bag in front of it, and you put however many tickets in each bag. Tickets were $1 each, or 25 for $20. People brought in English Muffin Bread, puzzles, books, pies, tote bags, handmade pillowcases, a gift certificate for a massage, framed art, a tv, and several movie night baskets. Since I am thoroughly behind the eight ball this year, Sarah made a batch of fudge on Friday night, and we threw a cookbook in with it in a cute Easter basket. We ended up winning it ourselves! But when some friends of ours at our table had said that they'd put in for it as well, I happily passed it on, because more fudge in this house is NOT what I need right now. Some other friends of ours won both of the homemade Polish sausages, so they let us have one. It's in the freezer now, waiting for me to figure out what to do with it.
So after a salad with Ceasar dressing, a plate of spaghetti I couldn't begin to finish, and some truly decadent desserts (Sarah made Halava, which was good, but had enough leftovers for her to have for breakfast) , my weight is up a little this morning. Which is fine by me--unlike my McDonald's breakfast of a few weeks ago, it was all totally worth it. My motto is, "everything in moderation, including moderation!"
Oh, and the youth group raised about $2200! W00t!
The servers are all the teens in the youth group, and they work really hard. Sarah got there at 8AM and didn't leave until after 8PM. The spaghetti sauce is all made from scratch, with fresh parsley, basil and oregano. Stripping all those herbs took a while, even with six of us doing it!
Most of the kids did black pants and a t-shirt for their country--one of the girls at the "France" table wore a very cute beret. Luckily, we have some Hindi friends who let us have some clothes and borrow a few table decorations and jewelry. Sarah got a lot of compliments on her outfit.
There is also a paper bag raffle, where people donate items. Each item has a paper bag in front of it, and you put however many tickets in each bag. Tickets were $1 each, or 25 for $20. People brought in English Muffin Bread, puzzles, books, pies, tote bags, handmade pillowcases, a gift certificate for a massage, framed art, a tv, and several movie night baskets. Since I am thoroughly behind the eight ball this year, Sarah made a batch of fudge on Friday night, and we threw a cookbook in with it in a cute Easter basket. We ended up winning it ourselves! But when some friends of ours at our table had said that they'd put in for it as well, I happily passed it on, because more fudge in this house is NOT what I need right now. Some other friends of ours won both of the homemade Polish sausages, so they let us have one. It's in the freezer now, waiting for me to figure out what to do with it.
So after a salad with Ceasar dressing, a plate of spaghetti I couldn't begin to finish, and some truly decadent desserts (Sarah made Halava, which was good, but had enough leftovers for her to have for breakfast) , my weight is up a little this morning. Which is fine by me--unlike my McDonald's breakfast of a few weeks ago, it was all totally worth it. My motto is, "everything in moderation, including moderation!"
Oh, and the youth group raised about $2200! W00t!
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
A Tale of Two Soups
Or rather, two soup recipes. Both Cook Yourself Thin Faster and Cook's Illustrated Best Light Recipe have recipes for Corn Chowder. I was looking for something to go with hamburgers for dinner last night, and that sounded good to me.
The recipes included many of the same ingredients, but had several differences as well. Both started with one slice of bacon. CYT had no dairy at all; CI had over a cup of milk and half & half. CYT used water; CI used chicken broth. CYT's version was 104 calories per serving; CI's was 400. Since this was a side dish instead of a main course (and the main course was hamburgers), I wanted something lighter.
So, being unable to resist tweaking a recipe, I did pretty much my own thing, and it turned out ok. Not fabulous, but a good starting point. I think that making this next September, when I can get fabulous fresh corn and the nights are maybe cooling down a bit, will be the best time for this soup. Frozen corn worked, but it just isn't the same.
I used the bacon (of course!), and water, but also added a bit of Veggie Better Than Bullion and cream I had in the fridge. I know it added calories, but I think anything called a "chowder" really needs dairy in it. Sure, pureeing half the soup did thicken it, but nothing can take the place of that creamy unctuousness.
Want to make some?
Simple Corn Chowder
- bacon 1 slice
- shallot 2 oz
- potato 5 oz
- broth 4 cups
- corn 16 oz
- half & half 1/4 c
- salt, pepper, thyme
Slice the bacon and fry in a large saucepan. When crisp, remove from the pan and reserve. Saute the shallot in the bacon drippings. Dice the potato and add to the shallots. Add broth and simmer until potatoes are softened, about 15 minutes. Add corn and cook five more minutes. Remove about half the soup and use an immersion blender (or regular blender) to puree the rest. Add the cream and let warm through, but do not boil. Season with salt, pepper and thyme. Sprinkle the reserved bacon on top. Makes six servings, about 1 cup each, 175 calories each.
I had two bowls last night; everyone else had one. There is about a serving left over, which I'll have for lunch with a little leftover ham & extra corn to beef it up a little.
The recipes included many of the same ingredients, but had several differences as well. Both started with one slice of bacon. CYT had no dairy at all; CI had over a cup of milk and half & half. CYT used water; CI used chicken broth. CYT's version was 104 calories per serving; CI's was 400. Since this was a side dish instead of a main course (and the main course was hamburgers), I wanted something lighter.
So, being unable to resist tweaking a recipe, I did pretty much my own thing, and it turned out ok. Not fabulous, but a good starting point. I think that making this next September, when I can get fabulous fresh corn and the nights are maybe cooling down a bit, will be the best time for this soup. Frozen corn worked, but it just isn't the same.
I used the bacon (of course!), and water, but also added a bit of Veggie Better Than Bullion and cream I had in the fridge. I know it added calories, but I think anything called a "chowder" really needs dairy in it. Sure, pureeing half the soup did thicken it, but nothing can take the place of that creamy unctuousness.
Want to make some?
Simple Corn Chowder
- bacon 1 slice
- shallot 2 oz
- potato 5 oz
- broth 4 cups
- corn 16 oz
- half & half 1/4 c
- salt, pepper, thyme
Slice the bacon and fry in a large saucepan. When crisp, remove from the pan and reserve. Saute the shallot in the bacon drippings. Dice the potato and add to the shallots. Add broth and simmer until potatoes are softened, about 15 minutes. Add corn and cook five more minutes. Remove about half the soup and use an immersion blender (or regular blender) to puree the rest. Add the cream and let warm through, but do not boil. Season with salt, pepper and thyme. Sprinkle the reserved bacon on top. Makes six servings, about 1 cup each, 175 calories each.
I had two bowls last night; everyone else had one. There is about a serving left over, which I'll have for lunch with a little leftover ham & extra corn to beef it up a little.
Sunday, March 20, 2011
New Food Reviews
The family has had to deal with a lot more new food than usual lately. Here's the lowdown.
Ham & 13 bean soup: went over about as anticipated. Everyone ate the requisite one bowl, and I've been eating the leftovers. I don't mind; I liked it, though I think it could have used more vegetables. Next time, I'd make half the beans and double the veg for a batch.
Sara Moulton’s Orecchiette (er, Macaroni) with Broccoli and Chickpeas: not well received at all. Even I didn't think much of it, but that could be that there was too much tomato (I used a big can instead of a small one) and we'd just had mostaccioli the night before. There are lots of leftovers. We've used up some of them by taking out the broccoli, adding some bok choy and chicken broth, and making a kind of soup. I think it would have been better without the tomato & broccoli, and with some other flavors instead. Leftovers for me this week, because I'm trying to use food up.
Mostaccioli: always popular, especially when there's garlic bread. A baguette can be sliced thinly, and since it's a small piece, not a crazy number of calories.
Cod: I floured it and sauteed it in some butter. Both Sarah & Jeff said it tasted buttery, but I thought it had the most delicious fish flavor, like the inside part of really good fish and chips. Looking forward to more cod recipes, especially since it's supposed to be very heart healthy.
Haven't done the Moors & Christians yet. I'm soaking the beans now, and will throw them in the crockpot before we go to church. I'll use as much as I want tonight, but there is so much other food in the house, I'm not going to push them on the rest of the family. The rest of the cooked beans will go in the freezer.
Twice Baked Potatoes: A lot of the ingredients here were a concession for Sarah. Bacon instead of ham, mozzarella instead of cheddar, and spinach instead of broccoli. She thought they were ok, Lauren didn't care for them, but Jeff & I thought they were pretty good. I used the link above as inspiration, but changed it up a bit. Four big potatoes, 8 slices of bacon, a small shallot, a half a cup of milk, no butter, a bunch of spinach, wilted, and 8 oz of part skim mozzarella. I baked the potatoes in the crockpot, and finished them under the broiler, which worked out well. Will definitely make again.
The hockey game last night was fun (Lauren now wants to play hockey next year--we'll see if she remembers this come August), but it wasn't a healthy day for me, despite staying within calories. Almost no fruits or veg. I'll make up for it today. I can't wait for summer fruits to come in season. I'm getting bored with apples, grapes and bananas.
Dinners this coming week include IHOP for Lauren's birthday. I'll have to get requests for meals, and try to include some family favorites instead of so many new things. Sadly, biscuits & gravy will not be on the menu for a while.
Ham & 13 bean soup: went over about as anticipated. Everyone ate the requisite one bowl, and I've been eating the leftovers. I don't mind; I liked it, though I think it could have used more vegetables. Next time, I'd make half the beans and double the veg for a batch.
Sara Moulton’s Orecchiette (er, Macaroni) with Broccoli and Chickpeas: not well received at all. Even I didn't think much of it, but that could be that there was too much tomato (I used a big can instead of a small one) and we'd just had mostaccioli the night before. There are lots of leftovers. We've used up some of them by taking out the broccoli, adding some bok choy and chicken broth, and making a kind of soup. I think it would have been better without the tomato & broccoli, and with some other flavors instead. Leftovers for me this week, because I'm trying to use food up.
Mostaccioli: always popular, especially when there's garlic bread. A baguette can be sliced thinly, and since it's a small piece, not a crazy number of calories.
Cod: I floured it and sauteed it in some butter. Both Sarah & Jeff said it tasted buttery, but I thought it had the most delicious fish flavor, like the inside part of really good fish and chips. Looking forward to more cod recipes, especially since it's supposed to be very heart healthy.
Haven't done the Moors & Christians yet. I'm soaking the beans now, and will throw them in the crockpot before we go to church. I'll use as much as I want tonight, but there is so much other food in the house, I'm not going to push them on the rest of the family. The rest of the cooked beans will go in the freezer.
Twice Baked Potatoes: A lot of the ingredients here were a concession for Sarah. Bacon instead of ham, mozzarella instead of cheddar, and spinach instead of broccoli. She thought they were ok, Lauren didn't care for them, but Jeff & I thought they were pretty good. I used the link above as inspiration, but changed it up a bit. Four big potatoes, 8 slices of bacon, a small shallot, a half a cup of milk, no butter, a bunch of spinach, wilted, and 8 oz of part skim mozzarella. I baked the potatoes in the crockpot, and finished them under the broiler, which worked out well. Will definitely make again.
The hockey game last night was fun (Lauren now wants to play hockey next year--we'll see if she remembers this come August), but it wasn't a healthy day for me, despite staying within calories. Almost no fruits or veg. I'll make up for it today. I can't wait for summer fruits to come in season. I'm getting bored with apples, grapes and bananas.
Dinners this coming week include IHOP for Lauren's birthday. I'll have to get requests for meals, and try to include some family favorites instead of so many new things. Sadly, biscuits & gravy will not be on the menu for a while.
Thursday, March 17, 2011
I'm looking forward to . . .
. . . being able to get my wedding ring on again (hopefully by the end of the month, definitely by Easter).
. . . being able to dive to the bottom of the deep end of Greg's pool to retrieve swim toys (maybe by the end of August, definitely by June '12).
. . . being able to run through a cold parking lot to get into the warm store (not till next December, hopefully!).
. . . having a family portrait done (next fall, no later than early November).
. . . digging out some of my favorite clothes (next fall/winter).
. . . going for early morning walks that last an hour (this depends on both the weather and my building stamina--shooting for the beginning of May).
As of today, I'm 26 pounds closer to these goals.
. . . being able to dive to the bottom of the deep end of Greg's pool to retrieve swim toys (maybe by the end of August, definitely by June '12).
. . . being able to run through a cold parking lot to get into the warm store (not till next December, hopefully!).
. . . having a family portrait done (next fall, no later than early November).
. . . digging out some of my favorite clothes (next fall/winter).
. . . going for early morning walks that last an hour (this depends on both the weather and my building stamina--shooting for the beginning of May).
As of today, I'm 26 pounds closer to these goals.
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
How Much is Too Much?
I've been really dedicated to healthier eating since the beginning of February. Lately, I've started adding exercise. My doctor told me to shoot for 1500 calories/day. I've generally been able to do that, though some days are higher and some days it's actually hard to find enough calories. Since then, I've lost 23 pounds. That's good, right? Hmmm . . . maybe too good?
I've heard that your target calories should be 10x your target weight. According to BMI statistics, I should weigh 175. I can say from experience that at 175 pounds, I would look and feel unhealthy. When I came back from Switzerland (now that was a healthy, active lifestyle!), I weighed about 190 or so, I think. When I got married, I was at about 220, which was pretty good for me (bear in mind I'm close to six feet tall and pretty curvaceous, even at lower weights).
So maybe I should be shooting for between 1800 & 2000 calories a day. But 1500 isn't difficult at all, at least most days. And I'm losing really well so far (averaging 1.35% of my total body weight lost per week). I know that when you have a lot to lose, you lose more rapidly at first. I certainly don't expect to be able to maintain 23 pounds every six weeks.
So if it ain't broke, don't fix it. Right?
But I can't shake this feeling like it's too easy, too fast. Am I justifying something that is unhealthy? Or am I just overthinking it and making it harder than it has to be?
I've heard that your target calories should be 10x your target weight. According to BMI statistics, I should weigh 175. I can say from experience that at 175 pounds, I would look and feel unhealthy. When I came back from Switzerland (now that was a healthy, active lifestyle!), I weighed about 190 or so, I think. When I got married, I was at about 220, which was pretty good for me (bear in mind I'm close to six feet tall and pretty curvaceous, even at lower weights).
So maybe I should be shooting for between 1800 & 2000 calories a day. But 1500 isn't difficult at all, at least most days. And I'm losing really well so far (averaging 1.35% of my total body weight lost per week). I know that when you have a lot to lose, you lose more rapidly at first. I certainly don't expect to be able to maintain 23 pounds every six weeks.
So if it ain't broke, don't fix it. Right?
But I can't shake this feeling like it's too easy, too fast. Am I justifying something that is unhealthy? Or am I just overthinking it and making it harder than it has to be?
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Cheap, Healthy, Good
Cheap, Healthy, Good is one of my favorite blogs. It's challenging for me to come up with meals that fit all three criteria, and I get lots of good ideas there. But when one member of the family can't have poultry, another doesn't like (most) meat or beans or cheese, when sodium and calories are issues, and cost is a big issue, it's a little daunting some nights.
That said, we don't do too badly. We all like a wide variety of vegetables, especially salads. Stir fries are a great way to have a lot of vegetables and make a bit of meat go a really long way. We do reasonably well with soups (most of the leftovers go for my lunches, though). I'm starting to do more meatless main dishes, including beans.
That said, we don't do too badly. We all like a wide variety of vegetables, especially salads. Stir fries are a great way to have a lot of vegetables and make a bit of meat go a really long way. We do reasonably well with soups (most of the leftovers go for my lunches, though). I'm starting to do more meatless main dishes, including beans.
- Tonight's dinner is a ham & 13 bean soup.
- Tomorrow is miscellaneous, since only two of us will be home, and there are lots of leftovers around.
- Tuesday, I'm going to try Sara Moulton’s Orecchiette (er, Macaroni) with Broccoli and Chickpeas. I have a can of chickpeas, but I got a package of the dried variety, and I'm going to give those a try. Any I don't need for the recipe will go in the freezer, to be happily added to my salads & soups as I go.
- Wednesday is mostaccioli with a little Italian sausage and a lot of vegetables.
- Thursday is something with a bit of cod currently in the freezer (suggestions? there's only 3/4 pound). This is the night Jeff always has Mongolian Barbecue for lunch, and brings home leftovers for his dinner. If I make chicken, it's usually on a Thursday. If I can't think of anything else, I'll fry up the fish with some chips for the kids, and have some leftover soup myself. Kind of low on the "Healthy" continuum, though.
- Friday is Moors & Christians (aka black beans & rice--we'll get a little history in there, too!)
- Saturday we're going to a hockey game. The ticket includes a hot dog or slice of pizza, neither of which sounds all that appealing to me, so I'm not sure what I'll eat. I'm also working registration at a Homeschooling Fair (gets me in for free and I get early entry to the used book sale, woot!), so chances are I'll have a big salad for lunch and scarf the pizza for dinner. Once in a while, a splurge totally works for me.
Monday, March 07, 2011
De-Stress
Confession: I'm a stress eater. I eat when I'm stressed or bored. Carbs are my method of choice. Carbs, that is, that are loaded with fat & salt. Rice, potatoes, bread--I can eat huge amounts. Butter is a welcome accompaniment.
I used to walk my stress off, though, which actually was more effective. Eating really doesn't make me feel better once the food is gone. If I walk long enough, I will feel better.
Example: at my last full time job, at a major auto company that shall remain nameless but rhymes with "bored," my boss made me crazy on a regular basis. It got so that I would walk around the outside of the building just so I could stand the sight of him. One time, I was headed back into the building when I realized that I was still ready to kill him. I did another round, and when I came back, I was truly calm again.
I used to love going for walks in the mornings. The quiet was a huge bonus back then. I've been feeling the urge to walk again now that I'm eating better, but it's cold out there! And snowy and icy and some of the sidewalks are flooded.
As we say around here, "Suck it up, buttercup."
I went for a walk with the kids this afternoon. Lauren took her scooter, and we did have to cross the street once to avoid a small lake, but we were gone for half an hour, which was really nice.
Our forecast is for rain/snow later this week, but my goal is to get out for a walk at least twice more. I love my umbrella, so why not? It can't do anything but make life better.
I used to walk my stress off, though, which actually was more effective. Eating really doesn't make me feel better once the food is gone. If I walk long enough, I will feel better.
Example: at my last full time job, at a major auto company that shall remain nameless but rhymes with "bored," my boss made me crazy on a regular basis. It got so that I would walk around the outside of the building just so I could stand the sight of him. One time, I was headed back into the building when I realized that I was still ready to kill him. I did another round, and when I came back, I was truly calm again.
I used to love going for walks in the mornings. The quiet was a huge bonus back then. I've been feeling the urge to walk again now that I'm eating better, but it's cold out there! And snowy and icy and some of the sidewalks are flooded.
As we say around here, "Suck it up, buttercup."
I went for a walk with the kids this afternoon. Lauren took her scooter, and we did have to cross the street once to avoid a small lake, but we were gone for half an hour, which was really nice.
Our forecast is for rain/snow later this week, but my goal is to get out for a walk at least twice more. I love my umbrella, so why not? It can't do anything but make life better.
Saturday, March 05, 2011
Good Value
I like to plan out my meals. Since I'm keeping a sharp eye on calories, I can tweak how much I plan to eat at different times of day.
Last night, I figured the calories on my mom's pancake recipe, and it wasn't too bad, so I told Lauren we'd have pancakes & strawberries for breakfast.
When I woke up, the power was out. When Lauren woke up, the power was out. When we left to go to her cookie booth, the power was still out. Neither of us had eaten. Could we have made peanut butter sandwiches or figured out something else? Sure. But I really wanted to leave the refrigerator closed to keep all the cold air in in hopes that power would come back on soon.
Our options were limited; we stopped at McDonald's. In general, fast food isn't an appealing choice for me, at least intellectually. Sometimes I WANT A BURGER AND FRIES. But in general, I'd rather avoid it if I can.
We each had a sausage biscuit and I also got her a hash browns. I had no idea how many calories it had in it, but I figured it would be reasonable by fast food standards. When I got home (the power was back on, whew) and checked, I found that one measly sausage biscuit is 430 calories.
Are you kidding me? For that?
My whole pancakes with strawberries breakfast was only going to clock in at 425, and that included butter and a glass of milk! Yeah, it was tasty, but it took me just a few minutes to inhale it. I would much rather have had something more substantial for that same number of calories.
I'm really careful when I shop for food, to make sure I get the most for my money. I need to be just as careful to make sure I get as much ka-pow for my calories as bang for my buck.
Last night, I figured the calories on my mom's pancake recipe, and it wasn't too bad, so I told Lauren we'd have pancakes & strawberries for breakfast.
When I woke up, the power was out. When Lauren woke up, the power was out. When we left to go to her cookie booth, the power was still out. Neither of us had eaten. Could we have made peanut butter sandwiches or figured out something else? Sure. But I really wanted to leave the refrigerator closed to keep all the cold air in in hopes that power would come back on soon.
Our options were limited; we stopped at McDonald's. In general, fast food isn't an appealing choice for me, at least intellectually. Sometimes I WANT A BURGER AND FRIES. But in general, I'd rather avoid it if I can.
We each had a sausage biscuit and I also got her a hash browns. I had no idea how many calories it had in it, but I figured it would be reasonable by fast food standards. When I got home (the power was back on, whew) and checked, I found that one measly sausage biscuit is 430 calories.
Are you kidding me? For that?
My whole pancakes with strawberries breakfast was only going to clock in at 425, and that included butter and a glass of milk! Yeah, it was tasty, but it took me just a few minutes to inhale it. I would much rather have had something more substantial for that same number of calories.
I'm really careful when I shop for food, to make sure I get the most for my money. I need to be just as careful to make sure I get as much ka-pow for my calories as bang for my buck.
Thursday, March 03, 2011
SUPER Yum
Now that I'm eating more healthfully, I'm passing on the super greasy hash browns and fried eggs for breakfast. I'm much more likely to have loaded oatmeal (brown sugar & apples) or loaded scrambled eggs (ham, green onions, red peppers, cheese). Lots of food, really tasty.
But sometimes it's nice to have a treat, a splurge. I bought Cook's Illustrated Best Light Recipe a few years ago, but never used it that much. Their recipe for Cinnamon Rolls looked really good, so I decided to give it a try this morning.
Quick Cinnamon Rolls with Buttermilk Icing
But sometimes it's nice to have a treat, a splurge. I bought Cook's Illustrated Best Light Recipe a few years ago, but never used it that much. Their recipe for Cinnamon Rolls looked really good, so I decided to give it a try this morning.
Quick Cinnamon Rolls with Buttermilk Icing
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Hat Girl
For Sarah's birthday, we went to The Henry Ford. We all had a great time, as always, though we almost missed the Rosa Parks Freedom Bus. Jeff & I agreed that since we hadn't seen it anywhere, it must have been a temporary exhibit. We told her that the easiest way to settle it was to ask a docent, who happily told her that it was just on the other side of a wall not too far away. So there, Mom & Dad! (no, she didn't really say that, but I bet she thought it)
Since it happened to be a free admission day, we told her she could get something small from the gift shop. She almost got a t-shirt with "When you can do the common things of life in an uncommon way, you will command the attention of the world." George Washington Carver on it, but eventually went for a Union Civil War soldier's cap.
That girl and hats. Last year, on her Girl Scout trip to Mackinac, she got a coonskin cap. The leaders assured me that it was faux, and yes, you can tell that the cap itself is synthetic, but I swear you can feel bones in the tail part. (shudder) When she was about 3, I did a whole page in her scrapbook of her in various hats. Many of my favorite pictures are of her in hats.
On the way home, I said, "I don't think Sarah's going to be a doctor when she grows up. (a frequently voiced ambition when she was younger) I don't think she's going to be a doctor, or a minister, or a botanist, or a baker. I think she's going to be a milliner." After a discussion of what a milliner does, she responded, "I'm not going to be a milliner. I'm going to be a minister . . . who likes hats."
Since it happened to be a free admission day, we told her she could get something small from the gift shop. She almost got a t-shirt with "When you can do the common things of life in an uncommon way, you will command the attention of the world." George Washington Carver on it, but eventually went for a Union Civil War soldier's cap.
That girl and hats. Last year, on her Girl Scout trip to Mackinac, she got a coonskin cap. The leaders assured me that it was faux, and yes, you can tell that the cap itself is synthetic, but I swear you can feel bones in the tail part. (shudder) When she was about 3, I did a whole page in her scrapbook of her in various hats. Many of my favorite pictures are of her in hats.
On the way home, I said, "I don't think Sarah's going to be a doctor when she grows up. (a frequently voiced ambition when she was younger) I don't think she's going to be a doctor, or a minister, or a botanist, or a baker. I think she's going to be a milliner." After a discussion of what a milliner does, she responded, "I'm not going to be a milliner. I'm going to be a minister . . . who likes hats."
Friday, February 18, 2011
Almost Perfect
Now THAT lived up to expectations.
I just finished a really good, filling lunch. I cut up some ginger and a couple cloves of garlic, and sauteed in a tablespoon of olive oil (yes, I measured). After a minute, I threw in a chopped scallion, some chopped red pepper, and the last of the steamed green beans, also chopped. I let it saute for a minute, then added a tablespoon of brown sugar and one of soy sauce. I put a lid on and let it steam for a bit, then took the lid off and added a cup of leftover cooked rice (it turned out very dry, almost like takeout rice, but I'm not sure why), and turn the heat up full power. I could barely hear anything else above the sound of sizzling. Let it go for a few minutes, then turned into a bowl and devoured it. The only thing that would have made it perfect would have been a few shrimp. But for 430 calories, it worked very nicely for today.
I just finished a really good, filling lunch. I cut up some ginger and a couple cloves of garlic, and sauteed in a tablespoon of olive oil (yes, I measured). After a minute, I threw in a chopped scallion, some chopped red pepper, and the last of the steamed green beans, also chopped. I let it saute for a minute, then added a tablespoon of brown sugar and one of soy sauce. I put a lid on and let it steam for a bit, then took the lid off and added a cup of leftover cooked rice (it turned out very dry, almost like takeout rice, but I'm not sure why), and turn the heat up full power. I could barely hear anything else above the sound of sizzling. Let it go for a few minutes, then turned into a bowl and devoured it. The only thing that would have made it perfect would have been a few shrimp. But for 430 calories, it worked very nicely for today.
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Kind of a Letdown
I've heard so much about roasted curried cauliflower, and been really eager to try it. Maybe it's that nothing could live up to my expectations, but it was just . . . ok. Jeff & Sarah both rated it a "B," Lauren didn't like it at all, and I would have given it a "C." The only part I really liked were the roasted almonds. I think most of us would be willing to eat it again, but no one would look forward to. That's not something I'm going to put into heavy rotation around here.
Tonight, it's Catch & Kill Night. That means there is a fridge full of leftovers that need to get used up in some way. Find something you want, make it, eat.
Tonight, it's Catch & Kill Night. That means there is a fridge full of leftovers that need to get used up in some way. Find something you want, make it, eat.
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
More Yum
Dinner last night was minestrone soup and focaccia. I liked it more than anyone else, but--as usual--homemade bread is a powerful encouragement. Leftovers are for lunch.
I didn't use a recipe for the soup, just sauteed onions, garlic, carrots, onions & celery in a little olive oil, added some broth, a can of white beans, a can of tomatoes, half a package of frozen spinach (I'm going to try to make Hot Pockets some time this week, too), and a half a cup of Ditalini pasta. Also a little Better Than Bullion Vegetarian and Italian seasonings. I usually put Italian Sausage in as well, but I'm trying to cook meat-free a little more frequently.
The focaccia was good, but not as fabulously crispy as the one my SIL makes--I'm pretty sure she uses a lot more olive oil, and that's obviously not a road I can travel too far down.
Tonight, I'm kind of at a loss. Maybe chili, maybe pork chops or stir fry.
I didn't use a recipe for the soup, just sauteed onions, garlic, carrots, onions & celery in a little olive oil, added some broth, a can of white beans, a can of tomatoes, half a package of frozen spinach (I'm going to try to make Hot Pockets some time this week, too), and a half a cup of Ditalini pasta. Also a little Better Than Bullion Vegetarian and Italian seasonings. I usually put Italian Sausage in as well, but I'm trying to cook meat-free a little more frequently.
The focaccia was good, but not as fabulously crispy as the one my SIL makes--I'm pretty sure she uses a lot more olive oil, and that's obviously not a road I can travel too far down.
Tonight, I'm kind of at a loss. Maybe chili, maybe pork chops or stir fry.
Monday, February 14, 2011
LIfe is Too Short . . .
. . . to eat boring food.
Going back to the doc Friday went about as expected--I had lost a little weight, but my blood pressure was still up a little too high. So the gauntlet was thrown down. She said that she wanted me back in another month, and if I hadn't lost some weight, etc. it was meds for me. She gave me a subscription for a water pill in the meantime, which I can tolerate because I know it's short term. Anyone who knows me knows that I avoid pills when I can. So consider me motivated.
Part of being motivated is trying to remember what I used to make myself for lunches. I can figure out dinners for the whole family, but lunches give me different options. The only two things I could remember were Cold Sesame Noodles and Spanish Rice (which includes lots of veggies). It was kind of frustrating. I remember that I used to eat really tasty lunches when I did Weight Watchers last time.
So I spent some time this afternoon looking through some recipes I've saved and the archives at Cheap Healthy Good. I've also started thumbing through my copy of The Best Light Recipe. And I have to say, I'm really getting excited about food again! The thing is, I like a much greater variety of foods than the rest of my family. Dinners are fairly standard, but since lunches are just for me, I can make whatever I want.
The possibilities are endless! Black beans, garbanzos, quinoa, tuna in tomatoes--the sky's the limit!
I tried two new recipes tonight, both based on Barefoot Contessa recipes. Roasted Broccoli and Roasted Butternut Squash. They both did use some oil, but not a lot. They were reasonably popular, and will certainly be made again.
I still long for carbs & fat in great measure. Birthday season has begun, and that brings a lot of decadent stuff with it. But I'm looking forward to eating stuff that is tasty and healthier. Vive le Yum!
Going back to the doc Friday went about as expected--I had lost a little weight, but my blood pressure was still up a little too high. So the gauntlet was thrown down. She said that she wanted me back in another month, and if I hadn't lost some weight, etc. it was meds for me. She gave me a subscription for a water pill in the meantime, which I can tolerate because I know it's short term. Anyone who knows me knows that I avoid pills when I can. So consider me motivated.
Part of being motivated is trying to remember what I used to make myself for lunches. I can figure out dinners for the whole family, but lunches give me different options. The only two things I could remember were Cold Sesame Noodles and Spanish Rice (which includes lots of veggies). It was kind of frustrating. I remember that I used to eat really tasty lunches when I did Weight Watchers last time.
So I spent some time this afternoon looking through some recipes I've saved and the archives at Cheap Healthy Good. I've also started thumbing through my copy of The Best Light Recipe. And I have to say, I'm really getting excited about food again! The thing is, I like a much greater variety of foods than the rest of my family. Dinners are fairly standard, but since lunches are just for me, I can make whatever I want.
The possibilities are endless! Black beans, garbanzos, quinoa, tuna in tomatoes--the sky's the limit!
I tried two new recipes tonight, both based on Barefoot Contessa recipes. Roasted Broccoli and Roasted Butternut Squash. They both did use some oil, but not a lot. They were reasonably popular, and will certainly be made again.
I still long for carbs & fat in great measure. Birthday season has begun, and that brings a lot of decadent stuff with it. But I'm looking forward to eating stuff that is tasty and healthier. Vive le Yum!
Saturday, February 05, 2011
HWoC Saturday
Today, had steel cut oatmeal w/brown sugar & raisins for breakfast, a roast beef sandwich w/a slice of mozzarella & light mayo for lunch, and Roast Pork Loin with Garlic & Rosemary and baked sweet potatoes for dinner. Water to drink. No snacks.
Boring. Boring, boring, BORING. The roast is always good, and I love baked sweet potatoes, but I before that I was standing around the kitchen, trying to forget about the caramel apple dip in the refrigerator. I really wanted some coffee or tea or some other hot thing when we came in from running a couple of errands in the blizzard. We didn't get to Randazzo's because of said blizzard, so I'll have to wait to get some more produce. I might have some grapes tonight.
Boring.
Boring. Boring, boring, BORING. The roast is always good, and I love baked sweet potatoes, but I before that I was standing around the kitchen, trying to forget about the caramel apple dip in the refrigerator. I really wanted some coffee or tea or some other hot thing when we came in from running a couple of errands in the blizzard. We didn't get to Randazzo's because of said blizzard, so I'll have to wait to get some more produce. I might have some grapes tonight.
Boring.
Friday, February 04, 2011
Healthy Week of Cooking
Semi-inspired by the Crazy Week of Sewing from a few years ago.
This week, I'm going to keep track of everything I eat. For accountability's sake, I will post here daily. Everything. What this means is that since I'll have to "fess up," I'll be a lot more likely to stay away from junk food of all kinds.
What brought this on? My blood pressure this morning. It was 176/100. That is just crazy high, especially considering that I've never had blood pressure issues before. The doc gave me a week to see if it was just an aberration. So it's no caffeine and no extra salt for me this week. Oatmeal for breakfast. Lean lunches & dinners, including soups. Tomorrow, we're finally going to pick up the Wii Fit we've been talking about for a month.
Tonight, I had half an avocado and a French Dip Sandwich. Probably a little too much salt, now that I think of it. And definitely not enough vegetables, but I still feel a little crappy, and the price of fruits & veg at Meijer was appalling. I'll hit Randazzo's tomorrow and we'll be in good shape.
This week, I'm going to keep track of everything I eat. For accountability's sake, I will post here daily. Everything. What this means is that since I'll have to "fess up," I'll be a lot more likely to stay away from junk food of all kinds.
What brought this on? My blood pressure this morning. It was 176/100. That is just crazy high, especially considering that I've never had blood pressure issues before. The doc gave me a week to see if it was just an aberration. So it's no caffeine and no extra salt for me this week. Oatmeal for breakfast. Lean lunches & dinners, including soups. Tomorrow, we're finally going to pick up the Wii Fit we've been talking about for a month.
Tonight, I had half an avocado and a French Dip Sandwich. Probably a little too much salt, now that I think of it. And definitely not enough vegetables, but I still feel a little crappy, and the price of fruits & veg at Meijer was appalling. I'll hit Randazzo's tomorrow and we'll be in good shape.
Thursday, February 03, 2011
Homesick
"I need a vacation," a friend of mine said the other day. I agreed with her--she does need a vacation. I do, too, preferably someplace toasty warm where I can listen to waves hitting a beach.
The ironic thing is, I get vacations fairly regularly. We've been to Florida almost half a dozen times. Last year, we went to Washington D.C. There's a chance we'll go to New Orleans this year (all these relate to relatives in Florida in some way). But every time we plan a trip, a little voice inside my head whispers, "You're never going to get back to Idaho. Never." (The voice also whispers that I'll never get back to Switzerland, but I've kind of resigned myself on that point.)
We started going to the Diamond D when I was about 9 or 10. Idaho can be blamed for the camera that is always in my hand, even now: the first summer we went, I fell in love with the mountains; the second summer, I brought drawing paper (and discovered that I have no talent for drawing); the third summer, I brought my first camera, and the rest is history.
How does this relate to my previous comment that a planetarium made me homesick? No, not the laser light show you might expect (that was in Salt Lake City, anyway). It was the projection of the night sky. All those stars, stars you don't even imagine can exist when you live in a city. The first summer we were at the ranch, I saw a sky so full of stars that it was downright surreal. Sitting in the chair at Wayne State on Monday, looking up at the projections of stars on the ceiling, reminded me of that summer night back in the 70's so strongly it was almost painful.
So why haven't I gone back to Idaho in 20 years? Why haven't I shown my family real mountains, my old house, the diner where I had my first dish washing job, the chapel where my Dad & Stepmom got married, and skies so blue they look airbrushed? $. $$$. $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$. The benefit of our previous vacations is that they are relatively short, and we can stay with relatives most of the time. An Idaho trip is inherently longer, and would be all motels. There's also the cost of gas & food. I think the last time we were thinking about it, we figured it would cost about $3K. And that's if we didn't stay at the Diamond D! If we're that close, I'd also want to hit Yellowstone, and Jeff thinks that's close enough to Denver to catch a Colorado Rockies game. That kind of income is not currently disposable, if you get my drift.
Don't get me wrong; I love Michigan. It's gorgeous here, especially in the fall, especially if you get out of the city. Almost all our family is here. There are so many opportunities and events here. I've said that if I could live anywhere, it would be Michigan.
But. I do ache to go back, if only for a visit. It is sometimes depressing to look out at nothing but flat city. It is always frustrating when friends send me pictures of snowy mountains. I just don't see how I'm going to home anytime soon.
Edit: Amy's comment made me realize that I left one important thing out of this post, one thing that Idaho has that no place else does, no matter how beautiful that other place may be or how brightly the stars may shine. Idaho has Pat, one of my best friends ever, who is still friends with me even though I keep talking about coming out to see him and never follow through.
The ironic thing is, I get vacations fairly regularly. We've been to Florida almost half a dozen times. Last year, we went to Washington D.C. There's a chance we'll go to New Orleans this year (all these relate to relatives in Florida in some way). But every time we plan a trip, a little voice inside my head whispers, "You're never going to get back to Idaho. Never." (The voice also whispers that I'll never get back to Switzerland, but I've kind of resigned myself on that point.)
We started going to the Diamond D when I was about 9 or 10. Idaho can be blamed for the camera that is always in my hand, even now: the first summer we went, I fell in love with the mountains; the second summer, I brought drawing paper (and discovered that I have no talent for drawing); the third summer, I brought my first camera, and the rest is history.
How does this relate to my previous comment that a planetarium made me homesick? No, not the laser light show you might expect (that was in Salt Lake City, anyway). It was the projection of the night sky. All those stars, stars you don't even imagine can exist when you live in a city. The first summer we were at the ranch, I saw a sky so full of stars that it was downright surreal. Sitting in the chair at Wayne State on Monday, looking up at the projections of stars on the ceiling, reminded me of that summer night back in the 70's so strongly it was almost painful.
So why haven't I gone back to Idaho in 20 years? Why haven't I shown my family real mountains, my old house, the diner where I had my first dish washing job, the chapel where my Dad & Stepmom got married, and skies so blue they look airbrushed? $. $$$. $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$. The benefit of our previous vacations is that they are relatively short, and we can stay with relatives most of the time. An Idaho trip is inherently longer, and would be all motels. There's also the cost of gas & food. I think the last time we were thinking about it, we figured it would cost about $3K. And that's if we didn't stay at the Diamond D! If we're that close, I'd also want to hit Yellowstone, and Jeff thinks that's close enough to Denver to catch a Colorado Rockies game. That kind of income is not currently disposable, if you get my drift.
Don't get me wrong; I love Michigan. It's gorgeous here, especially in the fall, especially if you get out of the city. Almost all our family is here. There are so many opportunities and events here. I've said that if I could live anywhere, it would be Michigan.
But. I do ache to go back, if only for a visit. It is sometimes depressing to look out at nothing but flat city. It is always frustrating when friends send me pictures of snowy mountains. I just don't see how I'm going to home anytime soon.
Edit: Amy's comment made me realize that I left one important thing out of this post, one thing that Idaho has that no place else does, no matter how beautiful that other place may be or how brightly the stars may shine. Idaho has Pat, one of my best friends ever, who is still friends with me even though I keep talking about coming out to see him and never follow through.
Wednesday, February 02, 2011
Buncha Sissies
DeathStorm! Snowpocalypse! Run! Run for your lives!
Girl, please. I know the roads are slippery and there have been a lot of accidents. Drifts are nothing to mess with, and that wind is bad. I feel for anyone who has to be out on the roads, and I'm very happy and grateful that my family can stay home today.
But this level of panic, again, is just ridiculous. Seriously, how many times do we hear about a major storm coming in and we get relatively little snow? I've become incredibly jaded toward weather casters. I know predicting snowfall is an inexact science, but I really wonder if these guys know what they're doing.
Now, Idaho. Idaho gets snow. I have a picture of my dad on the roof of our house when I was in college, up to his hips in snow. With a shovel. Because that's what you do in Idaho. You get on the roof and shovel the snow off so it doesn't collapse. Because you get a lot of snow.
One time we drove north to Stanley. We stopped on Galena summit to eat the lunch we brought with us, climbing to the top of the snowdrift at the scenic overlook. When we got to the top, we realized that we were level with the little service building there. Hell of a view, dude. Driving down into the valley, the snow was higher than the roof of the car. Road was beautifully plowed, sky was amazingly blue--it was a great day. You just couldn't see anything other than the road in front of you and the sky above.
And yes, there is an element of "when I was a kid, we had to walk 23 miles to school in the snow, uphill both ways." Whatever. That doesn't change a thing. This "2011 blizzard" is for amateurs.
Girl, please. I know the roads are slippery and there have been a lot of accidents. Drifts are nothing to mess with, and that wind is bad. I feel for anyone who has to be out on the roads, and I'm very happy and grateful that my family can stay home today.
But this level of panic, again, is just ridiculous. Seriously, how many times do we hear about a major storm coming in and we get relatively little snow? I've become incredibly jaded toward weather casters. I know predicting snowfall is an inexact science, but I really wonder if these guys know what they're doing.
Now, Idaho. Idaho gets snow. I have a picture of my dad on the roof of our house when I was in college, up to his hips in snow. With a shovel. Because that's what you do in Idaho. You get on the roof and shovel the snow off so it doesn't collapse. Because you get a lot of snow.
One time we drove north to Stanley. We stopped on Galena summit to eat the lunch we brought with us, climbing to the top of the snowdrift at the scenic overlook. When we got to the top, we realized that we were level with the little service building there. Hell of a view, dude. Driving down into the valley, the snow was higher than the roof of the car. Road was beautifully plowed, sky was amazingly blue--it was a great day. You just couldn't see anything other than the road in front of you and the sky above.
And yes, there is an element of "when I was a kid, we had to walk 23 miles to school in the snow, uphill both ways." Whatever. That doesn't change a thing. This "2011 blizzard" is for amateurs.
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