Pleasure eating

[zara]

(This isn't a recipe but it is about food, so thought I'd post here.)

I've been SOOO GOOD about healthy eating but today I fell off the wagon...well sort of rolled off and landed with a bounce. :P

This week was kind of stressful at work. The kind where every project had a glich or some "unique" aspect that took forever to work through. My job is very deadline driven too. THANKFULLY, I love my boss, which makes a huge difference for me.

I've learned to control my stress levels a lot. Especially since every time I feel too much stress I start getting physical symptoms. (Is this a sort of biofeedback training??) People know my boundaries too and respect them. I tell them upfront what I can and cannot do--and how long it will take. Learning to say "NO" is key, as well as learning to say, "I can help, but I have A, B, and C to get through first" or,"is it an emergency?" :D

This week everything was an emergency! A couple of projects fell out of contract. Ugh! Everything wrapped up nicely today though.

However, to cope, my menu today included the following:

Breakfast--expresso and tiramisu
Lunch--chicken alfredo pasta with toasted, buttered bread
Snack---kettle corn
Dinner--gourmet cheese and crackers. Cake and ice cream for dessert

I guess tomorrow I'll try to include a few fruits and vegetables...

[alobreto]

Hi, Zara! ;)
I think the menu sounds very comforting. :cloud9: It's too hard to be good ALL the time :halo: and I think an occasional slip is likely to actually be beneficial! :thumbs:

In terms of things you COULD choose to do for your stress such as drinking, smoking, punching your fist through a wall or worse, a person, I think a day of eating foods that make you feel more relaxed is GREAT! :love:

You go, girl! B)
Angela :flowers:

[zara]

Yeah, I'm a proponent of the occaisional slip. I've added back the fruits and vegetables and didn't do much this past weekend. It's a good thing. I need all the energy I can get!! Another busy week is on the horizon. Things that got pushed aside last week with the madness are coming due. I hope to be caught up soon.

I'm not a good cook, so it's ironic that I posted in the recipes section. :D (I just couldn't help myself though...had to do it.) :lol: Feel free to pass on some constructive recipes. I need all the help I can get.

[specialk16]

Don't feel so bad Zara,,,
I fell off the wagon last week because it was birthday,,, for 4 days straight all I ate was junk... You will get back on...

By the way, I didn't see anything wrong with your menu :P

[kissthewind]

Thank you Zara! :P My tastebuds and stomach were dancing for joy just reading this! Give me a pm next time you're doing this menu, I'll bring the wine! :highfive:

[hurley]

:o

I've been following this thread all week. It's time for me to fess up....

Last weekend I ate one gallon of Rocky Road ice cream AND one gallon of Butter Pecan ice cream. I've been wearing my "fat" pants all week. I think by Monday I should be back in my regular clothes.

:lol:

Julie

[zara]

Will do, Kissthewind. :lol: You bring the wine and I'll have Julie and Specialk bring the desserts<----(notice the plural) :D :P :coffee:

[hurley]

My daughter has informed me that the tubs of ice cream we buy are only 1/2 gal. I don't really pay attention to the numbers. ;)

If we're having a party, I'll whip up some milkshakes. Here's a good recipe for shakes that will make you want to dance.

Vanilla ice cream
A little milk
Pistachio nuts
Kahlua

Mix in the blender adjusting ingredients to suit your taste. Yummy!

If you really want to give it a kick add a little vodka before you mix (not too much).

:P

Julie

[specialk16]

Okay... works for me,,, :P What time are we meeting again??? :D

[Traceyjean]

Hi,
I don't feel so bad what I ate last nite.... Went and weighed in and came home and had 3 bowls of potatoe soup and 2 BLT sandwiches!!!! I felt terrible all nite and could of kicked myself in the butt.. Today is going to be a better day!!!! I fall off the wagon too and I think we all do!!!

Have a Good Day!!
Traceyjean

[nicole7]

Wow...how did I miss this topic. Can I please come to your party. I will boast a little here and mention that I'm a great cook :) But it feels like my life is a constant battle to lose weight so I'm usually cooking something pretty healthy around here. I will confess though...last night I woke up at 4:45 and ate an entire container of Hagendaaz triple chocolate icecream. To think when I had my first taste of it I went on about how it was so rich no one could possibly eat more than a few bites. Hah, proved myself wrong once again.
Can't wait for the party!
Nicole

[canoe]

Hi Everyone. Well the weapon of choice seems to be ice cream.Here's a frozen treat that's just as good and really good for you. Get a blender. Put in 2 cups of nonfat or whole organic plain yougurt. Add 1 cup of fruit. Fresh organic cherries.peaches.blueberries or frozen is fine too. Then add half a cup of honey or a little more depending on the sweetness of the fruit.A squeeze of lemon and a splash of vanilla.Blend. Pour into an ice cream maker and freeze. It takes about 5 min. active time.When frozen I eat some and then put the rest into those little plastic cups with lids and freeze the rest. Then I have breakfast for about 10 days and it's fruit and yougurt but it tastes like the best ice cream you can buy.A neighbor came over last week when I was making some bing cherry frozen yougurt and she exclaimed," This is the best thing I have ever eaten!"I don't watch what I eat for my weight. I'm 5'5 and weigh about 110. I eat for pleasure and health.You really can do both. NO TOFU HERE!Have fun and try some raspberry or strawberry/banana. I going to try apple,cinnamon this fall.Oh yeah,I had some amazing healthy chocolate chai today.But that's another story. Love, Canoe

[nicole7]

Do tell about the healthy chocolate chai. I love seeing healthy and chocolate in the same sentence.
Nicole :highfive:

[canoe]

This is for you Nicole.
Chocolate Chai
Ingredients

1 black tea bag - I like English Breakfast
1 half cup boiling water
3 tablespoons honey -or a little less depending on taste
2 tablespoons organic cocoa powder
2 cups organic milk
1 teaspoon real vanilla
1half teaspoon ground cinnamon
1half teaspoon ground nutmeg
Directions
In a small saucepan pour boiling water over tea bag.Cover;let stand 3 to 5 minutes.
Remove tea bag.Stir in honey and cocoa. Cook and stir over medium heat just until boiling. Stir in milk,vanilla,ground cinnamon,and nutmeg;heat through. Do not boil.Pour into mugs.This also keeps well in the frig for a few days. Enjoy!

[nicole7]

Thanks Canoe!!
I can't wait to try this. I finally tried Chai tea a few weeks ago while at a friends for dinner. I'm going to invite her over this weekend to try your recipe.
Looks delicious... let me know if you have any other healthy chocolate ideas...I'd love to share!
Nicole

[zara]

I'm craving something sweet now...

[nicole7]

Me too zara...gonna try the freezy fix

[canoe]

Zara how about some homemade nutrigrain bars? You can make these in a large pan and then cut and freeze individually when the sweet craving strikes.I made these today and my family loved them. Sweet and healthy.
Blueberry Nutrigrain Bars
Ingredients
1 and a half cups organic quick oats
one half cup organic whole wheat flour
one half cup honey- I used a little less
1 fourth teaspoon baking soda
1eighth teaspoon salt
6 tablespoons unsalted organic butter
Filling
1 and a half cup blueberries- organic fresh or frozen
3 tablespoons honey
1teaspoon cornstarch
1 teaspoon lemon juice
Heat oven to 350. In a large bowl mix oats,flour,honey,baking soda and salt.Add melted butter and stir with a fork.Reserve 1 half crumb mixture for topping. Press remaining mixture evenly and firmly over bottom of 8 inch square pan. Bake about 8 mins or until golden brown to set crust. Meanwhile prepare filling. In a small saucepan, stir berries, honey,cornstarch and lemon juice over medium heat until simmering. Simmer, stirring occasionally,about 2 min. Spoon over crust and bake about 15 min or until golden brown.I doubled this and put it in a 9by13 pan.
Enjoy.Love Canoe

[nicole7]

Gonna put you on speed dial canoe...in case I have a craving for something. You seem to be an endess supply of snack craving ideas :)