Foooood

Two years into this change and I'm still constantly asked, "What exactly do you eat??" Honestly, people just don't pay much attention when they think you're a weirdo, so I just get to answer the question over and over. Even my family members can't keep clear on what I do and don't eat. :-) I think it's rather simple, but it's so strange to the average person to cook everything from scratch and cut processed foods, sugars, dairy, and grains from your diet. And they're right- it is a wee bit strange. There are compelling reasons for it, though, particularly if you have allergies, or are sensitive to certain foods. So I continue to really embrace this "wacky" lifestyle(which isn't wacky at all, but rather, super healthy). Yes, I do make exceptions: I've added a bit of dairy back into my diet. I've found that I can handle small amounts of hard cheeses and whole milk yoghurt, so I eat a small amount daily now. I steer clear of grains still, with the exceptions of my two weekly treats(Mexican with my family after church, and a sweet of my choice on Friday). Your palate and tastebuds change considerably when you cut out processed foods and sugars. You don't crave the sweet and salty foods anymore, or rarely, anyway. Here's a visual idea of some of the things I've enjoyed this week:

This is a very common meal for me: 3 oz. of meat(in this case a curry chicken dish with apples, dates, carrots & broccoli), and a bunch of raw veggies with 1/2 c. yoghurt/avocado dip. I probably eat some version of that meal 10 times a wk).

Sun. morning I usually make Banana Pancakes(2 eggs, 1 mashed banana, cinnamon & vanilla, cooked in coconut oil). This week I went Mulberry picking, so I loaded my Banana Pancakes with these yummy, free berries.

Pre-workout snack. This is what I eat most mornings before heading to the Y to swim and run, or before cyling. These are homemade Larabars: dried fruit and nut bars. They're very simple and give great energy: You can make all kinds of varieties, but these were made with raw almonds, dried peaches, medjool dates, and vanilla

I eat far fewer eggs now than I used to, but still love eggs for their versatility. I made this today for lunch: carrot and spinach pancakes cooked in coconut oil: 2 eggs, 3 cups spinach, one grated carrot, 2 slices roast turkey,  1/4 bellpepper, cajun seasoning, and cumin. They were fantastic, quite filling, and came in at around 350 calories.

And then I try things I find online, just for the fun of it. :-) These are carrot and coconut "truffles." They're really not truffles, or truffle like, at all. But they're very tasty, and very good for you! They're about 25 calories each, and contain raw carrots, dates, unsweetened coconut, vanilla, cinnamon, and a splash of lemon juice. Yum! Like I said, your taste buds change, and it's not just that I've forced myself to like these things- I genuinely enjoy eating everything I eat! But I've also learned which things a non-"wacko" person will really like(like the Larabars), and which ones not to waste on them. :-)

**Next up: Tapley was in town! And, I'm working on summer trip planning. Oh boy.