Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants.

Found a really interesting article on NYT from Pollan.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/28/magazine/28nutritionism.t.html?_r=1&pagewanted=all

The main point is that scientist try to isolate compounds that do X. Every couple of years there’s a big one, like oat bran back in the day and Omega 3s currently. Food products will then try to add it to everything, eggs, cereals, pastas etc. The point is that the Omega 3s found in fish aren’t only good for you because of the Omega 3s, but because of the delicate balance of chemicals in the actual real food itself. Then you add into the mix you own body’s reaction and there is no one true wonder food.

I was really interested to read this:

Here’s a list of just the antioxidants that have been identified in garden-variety thyme:

4-Terpineol, alanine, anethole, apigenin, ascorbic acid, beta carotene, caffeic acid, camphene, carvacrol, chlorogenic acid, chrysoeriol, eriodictyol, eugenol, ferulic acid, gallic acid, gamma-terpinene isochlorogenic acid, isoeugenol, isothymonin, kaempferol, labiatic acid, lauric acid, linalyl acetate, luteolin, methionine, myrcene, myristic acid, naringenin, oleanolic acid, p-coumoric acid, p-hydroxy-benzoic acid, palmitic acid, rosmarinic acid, selenium, tannin, thymol, tryptophan, ursolic acid, vanillic acid.

I’ve realized in listening to myself talk, in looking at all the goals I have about food, in listing out what I have in my house to eat, that I have become a bit of a radicalist when it comes to “real food” I want to be able to read the ingredients in the things I buy. (Well most of the time at least, Ristorante pizzas, especially when they go on sale, definitely a week spot)

I’ve never actually read the Pollan book, but I’ve heard it mentioned in various online circles many times. I think I’m going to actually pick it up again. I’d also like to start tracking what I eat again. I’m still measuring what I eat (mostly) but there was a sense of calm in knowing exactly what I had eaten in a day, what food group it was from and what I needed more of to balance my day out.

I am eating too much. I eat a lot and then don’t feel satisfied. I crave sweets and chocolate. I feel like an ‘overeater’ and I haven’t felt that way in ages. Not sure what’s going on…maybe it’s candida? Eek! I will try to settle down a bit and go easier on my stomach.

How much is too much? I was hungry, I had two bunches of kale.
I chopped them up and made this raw kale salad in case you missed it http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HMrhvki5oW4. I ended up eating the whole thing. I am full now and wondering if I over did it. It was delicious!

I wonder what my second favorite dark leafy green can be….does anyone have any suggestions?

I cooked it this a.m. and ate it for my mid-morning snack. Unfortunately, I also brought mayo, albeit Smart Balance mayo. I have another artichoke in the fridge for Thursday, and I think I’ll not bring mayo and eat it plain. I am pretty sure it will be fine. I’d like to cut out the extra fat in my diet, and this is a big one because I eat quite a few artichokes. The one I ate today had a delicate flavor that was really lovely and really didn’t need a condiment.

Cold soups. Salads. Sandwiches. Mainly I am looking for fast and easy, little or no cooking (to heat up my house), and that use fairly common ingredients. I recently made a cole slaw with two kinds of chopped cabbage, grated carrots, chopped white onion, two chopped apples, one chopped red bell pepper, a bit of salt, and half a bottle of balsamic dressing. It is good! But we’ve eaten it a lot because it makes a lot, and are ready to try something new.

I have been eating a special more healthy diet for the past week or so. I am allowing certain foods and not others. Basically, I can eat…any fruit or vegetable. Any soup is fine (in moderation). Avocado sandwiches w/ veggies are fine. Salads are fine. Coleslaw is fine. Green smoothies are fine.
Also included: drinks are fine, even a little beer, hot chocolate and kefir.
So, this eating plan is not super strict but..I still…I have been feeling a little lighter from being on it all week. I’m not eating as many carbs and sweets.

I want it to go on for the rest of my life, but I think I may have made it a habit. So I’m marking it as done. We’ll see how I feel about it in another few months. :)

I picked out the broccoli from the Beef Broccoli, chose green beans, sauted mushrooms and onions, vegetarian egg foo yung, but also had a tiny bit of orange chicken, and a tiny bit of spicy chicken, and a small serving of baked salmon. I like the restaurant because the vegetables are very fresh. So instead I am taking what is good for me, and leaving the rest. It works well.

Trying to simplify my diet for at least a few days to see if I can look a little better in this skirt.

Lets see…

Foods to eat

Green smoothies.
Avocado veggie sandwiches from the deli
coleslaw
soups.

This is what I can eat for the most part so far. I can drink coffee or tea and …I am debating about beer…I think beer is okay. Obviously, this is not a super strict diet but I am hoping it will make a difference in my waistline!