Now, as a general rule, I don’t believe in New Years Resolutions. Most of the time, I think people just say they want to change their lives and they never really do. So, this is not a New Years Resolution. This is more about me trying to kill about sixteen birds with one helluva talented stone. Partially, I just want to keep my hands on my camera. Also, I want to stop crashing when I get home at 6pm every day and frequently even forgetting to eat anything more than two peanut butter ritz crackers and a gatorade for dinner. It might also work as a sort of promotional tidbit for the upcoming cookbook my cousin is publishing through her gym. Additionally, I like to babble. Hence the blog part.
Thus, I’ve so eloquently come to a conclusion (takes a while, but I get there) - I shall embark on a blogging journey - A Fit Food Photo Blog. Six meals a week, I will post pictures of a healthy meal. Most of time, it will be me. Sometimes, it will be a meal prepared by my cousin Kyra in her pursuit of completing the health cookbook she’s been working on (and I have been providing photos for). Always, it will be food (maybe not good food, but if it’s not good, I’ll tell you), and always, it will be homemade.
There are a million and a half reasons why people don’t live healthy lifestyles. And I could banter on about how important it is to lead a healthy life now, but it will undoubtedly lead into a rant on living in the moment and living now and stop putting life off until tomorrow and all of those philosophical jibes (it really does drive me nuts that people put the important things in life on hold to be idiots), so I’ll save you from the six lengthy paragraphs I’ve already deleted and stick to the point - why people don’t eat healthy.
“It tastes bad.” - Not only has it been scientifically proven that the majority of the time, your taste will acclimate to certain flavors if you try it more than twice, but seriously, grow up. Yes, sometimes “healthy” food is really gross. I don’t like vegan muffins. I think they’re disgusting. If fiber was really so important that I can’t enjoy the moist crumbly deciousness of a real animal bi-product muffin, I’ll save myself the money on bran and chew on cardboard. Thanks. But things as basic as vegetables or whole grains - get over yourself, seriously. There has got to be something out there you like! There are literally a hundred plus kinds of veggies. Try a variety, cook them in different ways, or don’t cook them at all. Pair them with dips, spreads, toppings, in salads, on the cuff, whatever. Just eat vegetables, man!
“It’s expensive.” - So are hospitals. Did you know the average American spends over $6000 on health care per year? If you’re over the age of 50, it’s pretty likely you’re spending about 18% of your income on health care bills. In a good year. Doctor’s visits for that pesky cold, decongestants and hot teas for last fall’s flu from hell, antiacids because that third corn dog at the game last night just didn’t settle well. The triple bypass you’re heading toward as a 62nd birthday gift. Your immune system cashes in eventually. So why not invest some of that money in preventing it now? For the purposes of this blog, I’ll tell you that my grocery budget per week is $80. That includes grabbing a burger at the drive through or the pasta I met an old friend for at Applebee’s. Some people would probably say “That’s it?” More would say “Jeez that’s a lot.” And I can understand that. Most of the time, though, I don’t reach that budget. I shop smart, I invest time and effort into finding what’s on sale and fashioning my meal plan around it. And personally, I’d prefer to spend a little extra and feel great than feel like shit all the time on McDonald’s value menu.
“I don’t have time to cook.” - I don’t have time for laundry or the games of dating, but you find time for things that need to be done. You need to eat, and it’s pretty close to impossible to eat healthy on the Arby’s plan (though Arby’s is probably smarter than grabbing that two for one whopper deal going on at Burger King right now…), so find twenty minutes, move the tv so that you can see it from the kitchen, and watch the latest episode of How I Met Your Mother while you dice carrots and brown the ground turkey. And buy a crockpot, cuz those things are amazing. (Note to self: add crockpot to birthday wish list.)
OK, now that I’ve chased off every reader I’ve got - let’s get to it.
Meal #1 - Good Morning, Sweetness!
Fruit Salad - 1 banana, 5 strawberries, 2 small handfuls of blueberries, 1 handful of dried cranberries, 1 container of black cherry greek yogurt -- less than 5g fat and nearly 16g fiber!
Coffee - 10 oz. coffee (chilled), splash of Skinny White Chocolate Mocha creamer, Light Chocolate Soymilk - I call it a Good Morning, Sweetness! -- compared to a mocha latte at Starbucks - 1/4 of the fat and 1/3 the calories!
Meal #2 - Lean Protein Chili
220 calories per serving7g fat per serving
7g fiber per serving
(not including shredded cheddar cheese and a dollop of plain greek yogurt)
HINTS:
*Using carrots in recipes that are highly acidic - anything that is tomato-based, like chili or spaghetti sauce - cuts the acid and prevents heartburn. You can’t even taste ‘em.
*Buying organic - I don’t do it often. It’s expensive, and I don’t frequently see the difference. But in some instances, like bagged salads and canned veggies, the prices are a 20 cent difference, tops. So it’s not exactly a splurge. And at Publix, with its “Greenwise” organic products, it frequently is the same price as the non-organic namebrand. And it means fewer chemicals, lower sodium, more fiber, and probably less fat. If you can swing it, do it.
Meal #3 - Lean Burgers and Cajun Sweet Potato Fries
If I knew what the secret was to crispy baked fries, I would probably not tell you, but rather tell my cousin to include in her fabulous cookbook, but I don't know it yet. I'll keep practicing though. The burger, by the way, was DELICIOUS. I ate the leftovers for dinner tonight.
