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    Showing posts with label nutrition. Show all posts
    Showing posts with label nutrition. Show all posts

  1. FREE Fitness Advice!

    Friday, March 1, 2013

    Well, spring is almost here and I am getting a lot of questions from a lot of friends and family concerning getting back in shape, losing that last 5 pounds, or how to do CrossFit without paying for it. The answers are pretty simple, and here's a hint. You already know the answers.

    Read more »

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  2. Februarch Musings

    Wednesday, February 29, 2012


    So, remember last year when The Mister and I did our crazy Paleo Challenge? Yeah, that whole no grains, no legumes, no dairy, and NO SUGAR thing was TOUGH. Well, y'all, we did it all again. Tomorrow is the last day of our 30-Day Paleo Challenge, and this time we got some of the athletes at our gym to join in all the FUN! This year, I found it much easier. Probably because my world consists of the gym, the grocery store, and my kitchen. I did not have to navigate many non-Paleo social events. 

    As the official 30-day challenge comes to a close, I will continue on strict Paleo through the end of Lent. Easter is on April 8. I am allowing myself some latitude in that I have chosen 5 VERY specific occasions on which I can go non-Paleo, one of which is my one-year wedding anniversary celebration weekend on March 17. I'm for sure making these amazing cupcakes to help celebrate St. Patty's Day and one year of marriage. And this Friday my sister-in-law is trucking in an authentic Chicago deep dish pizza. I'm salivating just thinking about the butter crust on that baby, which for sure will sit like a rock in my stomach and put me into a carb coma after I devour the living sh*t out of it. 

    The point of my continuing Paleo-ness, with a few delights here and there, is to train myself that treats should be a rare occasion and something to be savored and anticipated. I have a major sweet tooth and I often convince myself that I need a sweet treat just for being human. A wonderful, if not very healthy or nutritious philosophy. The result of this philosophy is, however, me ending up rather dissatisfied with the sugary crap I put in my mouth. Reality often disappoints the taste sensation I created in my imagination. So I'm trying to focus more on quality, rather than quantity. I'm training myself to make the more nutritious, and ultimately, more satisfying choice while saving those less healthy choices for special occasions. 

    And, even though I LOVE to bake, I found over the past 30 days that cooking often satisfies this creative desire. Plus, I'm sifting through so many great recipes to find the ones that will truly wow me when the occasion arises for a sweet treat. So, in addition to the cupcakes above, come April I will likely make either these, these, or these to share with some lucky, lucky people. You better hope you have a birthday coming up.

    I firmly believe, especially after this second go-round with The Whole30, that eating real, whole foods that do not require nutritional labels (e.g., meats, fruits, veggies) and minimally-processed foods (e.g., roasted red peppers, tomato sauce, almond butter) are the KEY to maintaining one's health. The food industry has manipulated the hell out so many things by adding fillers (maltodextrin, soy) and sugars (dextrose, Splenda, cane juice) that the average American is consuming more than 150 pounds of sugar per person per year. That is ludicrous and it is painfully, morbidly obvious what the effect of this huge science experiment is on the population: obesity, heart disease, and diabetes. Both conditions are preventable and curable. Yet sacrificing convenience for healthy, wholesome food choices is just too hard for a majority of Americans, especially in the face of diet pills, diet soda, fast food, frozen meals, SlimFast, and our nation's need for instant gratification. Yes, it is more time consuming to plan and cook my meals, and God knows what would happen if I had kids thrown in the mix, but as the saying goes "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." It's easier to prepare and eat real food than deal with reversing the consequences of always eating crap. Plus, I do not assume some huge corporate food producer is actually looking out for my personal health instead of a larger profit.

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  3. Paleo Recipe Favorites

    Monday, May 2, 2011


    Ever since my experiment with eating like a caveman, many people have questions about where I get good recipes for paleo eating. If you don't feel like slogging through my previous posts for great places for paleo recipes, here is a quick round-up of links, which are tried and true.

    The Clothes Make the Girl: This woman knows how to make food packed with flavor! While these recipes tend to take a little longer in the prep department, they almost always pay off for my taste buds.

    The Food Lovers' Primal Palate: Not only is this site so, so pretty, the recipes are so, so yummy. Plus, these guys go heavy on the desserts ;)

    Mark's Daily Apple: A veritable cornucopia of paleo recipes.

    Everyday Paleo: Because this woman has a family, she knows how to make quick, easy dishes. This is also where I get a lot of my snack and lunch ideas because of what she packs for her kids!

    That's what makes the short list, folks. Enjoy!

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  4. Binging, Balancing, and Learning

    Thursday, March 10, 2011

    Well, I'm a week post-Whole30 Challenge and a smidgen more than a week out from my wedding day. Holy canoli. I feel like I have some lessons learned here, especially after last night's visit to the Florida Strawberry Festival. First, the foodie lessons.

    1) You can have too sour watermelon candies, too many candied bacon chocolate chip cookies, too many cupcakes, and too much ice cream; however, they are still incredibly delicious. Because I was denied sweet treats for 30 days, I think I rebounded with a binge. I'm hoping I balance out as my brains rewires itself to understand that sweet treats are not forbidden, nor will they ever be forbidden again.

    2) Pizza makes me feel yucky, and it doesn't let me sleep. I totally loved every bite of my deep dish pizza from Giordano's, but I think that's one food that needs to go into the special occasion bin.

    3) Oatmeal...I love you. You bring variety and fullness into my morning routine.

    4) Paleo pancakes made with butternut squash I love YOU, too.

    5) Sometimes a square of dark chocolate or a glass of wine (or both) really is the ticket to sanity for the day.

    6) The following blog posts pretty much reflect my feelings on how diets (or "food challenges" or "lifestyles") can 1) make a normal person crazy, 2) have beneficial side effects, which consist of more frequent "whole food" choices, and 3) lead to a more balanced perspective on health and wellness. I accomplished 1) and 2), and I'm working toward 3). Below are some good points from each blog. Score 1 for common sense.

    Are Carbohydrates The #1 Health Menace? [Good Calories Bad Calories]
    "Based on all my years of experience, I'm a great believer in moderation when it comes to diet...That's the major difficulty with laying down rigid guidelines - they don't work for everybody and can actually do major harm." [e.g., the feelings of guilt over inanimate sugary objects and the crazy voices in my head]

    "There's a fine line here between learning enough to interpret your body's signals and going so far as to substitute everyone else's judgment for your own." [Solid advice. Find what works for you - what makes you feel sane, healthy, and happy - and stick with it.]
    Girl Heroes 101: Food
    "So I focus on consistency not perfection. I aim to make 90% of the food I eat real food. By real food I mean fresh vegetables, fruit, meat, beans (preferably soaked), nuts, some whole grains (brown not whites and preferably sprouted), and some dairy. If I couldn’t t grow it, raise it, pick it, or make it (with some effort) then I limit it."
    Here's what my Healthy/Eff Off Scale looks like:


    The things on the top left are those that are healthy, necessary, and non-negotiable. The things in the middle? Obviously less healthy than kale, but more healthy than Cinnabon. And the bottom right? These are foods without which I would be a cranky SOB unless I ate them every once and a while!

    --
    Now for the wedding lessons.

    1) Planning a wedding is a considerable suck on one's emotional, financial, and time-management reserves. Be prepared for the rollercoaster because it is *quite* a production.

    2) If one has the means, one should hire a wedding planner/coordinator immediately upon engagement. I would even go so far as recommending that all communications about "the happy day" be routed through the planner/coordinator. Unfortunately, this bride did not have the means - just a really great spreadsheet.

    3) I have REALLY great friends and a VERY generous family. Thank you guys and gals.

    4) I have an AWESOME fiance, soon-to-be husband. I aspire to have your optimism, patience, fortitude, and zip-locked lips in the face of stress.

    5) If there was a Healthy/Eff Off Scale equivalent for weddings, mine would look like this:

    The graph still kind of reads the same in that the things on the top left are totally necessary and non-negotiable, and the things on the bottom-left are things that are completely unnecessary and negotiable. In this case, the completely unnecessary things are those that I would not use much, if any, of my valuable time to make a decision. Guest list? Yes, take the considerable time needed to evaluate who needs to be included. Having a monogrammed light display at the reception? No. The sky could fall on the big day, but I still need my friends and family there. And thank God the buffet is not ruled by The Whole30.

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  5. Target Down

    Wednesday, March 2, 2011

    The


    Yesterday was my last full day complying with the rigorous rules of The Whole30 food challenge. right now, I am enjoying my usual breakfast of berries, almonds, and coconut milk, but I added in some oatmeal. No, no. NOT the instant kind - the 100% no-sugar-added kind in the cardboard cylinder.

    So where does this leave me? How was the experience? Well, if you read any of the previous posts, you know it was an up and down experience. I am definitely feeling better about the food I put into my body. I do sleep more soundly even though I go to bed later. I don't know that I see improvement in my performance of physical challenges; however, I don't know that I can blame it all on the food.

    My recent outing at Tampa's Gasparilla Half-Marathon resulted in my worst finish time ever for a half, but I didn't put in the work. I half-assed my training, and it showed the day of the race. It also didn't help that I had an urgent bathroom stop at Mile 3, and the Port-o-Potty line was a 7-10 minute wait.

    But I digress. I will weigh myself today, but based on the fit of my wardrobe, I haven't lost too much weight. Maybe just bloating and water weight from processed foods. Weight loss definitely was not my goal for this challenge.

    My kitchen is a mess right now, and I am kind of proud of that. It means I am cooking, and eating leftovers out of Tupperware.

    Jacob and I plan on continuing the healthy eating habits we learned while on this challenge; however, we will start incorporating some things we a) just can't love without (e.g., dark chocolate) and b) don't make us feel yucky (e.g., give us a tummy ache). Additionally, if we have a craving for nachos, or a cupcake, or some other bad-for-you food, we'll fulfill it, then return to eating healthily. We just know what the better choices are now. Plus, we'll be able to attend dinner parties, BBQs, and other events without feeling "special" or denied the enjoyment of a non-Paleo treat.

    As I experiment with different food groups (e.g., grains, dairy), I'll be able to post my own version of the Healthy/Eff Off Scale. Stay tuned. And in case you didn't catch it last night (like me), the Paleo Diet was a segment on Nightline last night. Check it out     here.

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  6. 8 Days...and Counting.

    Tuesday, February 22, 2011

    I'm tired of all the rules, Whole30 meanies!! I want to be able to make almond butter pancakes, or add a smidgen of feta cheese to a salad, or even just use BUTTER in a recipe. AND I don't understand what is SO bad about dessert, even desserts with natural sweeteners (e.g., honey, maple syrup). I LIKE ending my meals on a sweet note, even if it is just a square of really dark chocolate. Thus, in a moment of frustration, I broke down and made fudge babies out of dates, cocoa, and vanilla. I generously sent Jacob off to Charleston with the other half of the batch.

    This wasn't a true cheat on the rules of The Whole30, but it certainly toed the line. Too bad. They were DELICIOUS, they satisfied my craving, and I totally ate too many. I am SO ready to be done with this challenge so I can have more flexibility in my cooking. Red wine vinegar would be nice. Or even just a glass of RED WINE while I make dinner. The ability to eat soup. Or sushi. Or non-homemade mayonnaise. Or a spoonful out of the 2-gallon tub of delicious custom ice cream we received as a gift at my bridal shower.

    A local ice cream shop, Old Farmer's Creamery, has the ability to custom order 2-gallon tubs of ice cream. Jacob and I ordered ours last week in anticipation of this challenge ENDING. We decided on mint chip ice cream with french vanilla ice cream swirled in with chunks of Reese's peanut butter cups throughout. The staff wondered if we might want to taste that to be sure it was a good combo, but we held strong. We didn't cheat, and the staff served as our taste-bud proxies. We got a total thumbs up on our choice!

    Dear Lord, I hope The Whole30 didn't spoil our innards for this amazing taste combination. I have no idea what will happen when dairy is re-introduced. Or if any refined sugar will send me into a nutritional death spiral. I guess I should probably start mapping out what my Healthy/F*!$-off scale is going to look like...Check out the example from TheWhole9 below.


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  7. But What CAN You eat??

    Thursday, February 17, 2011


    With all the "forbidden" foods on The Whole30 list, I thought I would round up all of the yummy I eat as well as some of my favorite recipe resources.


    Breakfast:
    • Berries with coconut milk and almond slivers 
    • Black coffee (sometimes I drop in some coconut milk and cinnamon) 
    • Figs with whole roasted almonds and banana

    Lunch:
    • Dinner leftovers
    • Deli meat roll-ups with homemade mayonnaise and lettuce
    • Hard-boiled eggs with baby carrots, whole roasted almonds, and fruit
    • tuna salad over greens or stuffed in a pepper 
    • egg salad on a bed of lettuce with grape tomatoes

    Dinner:
    • pan-seared steaks with spinach, avocado, and bacon salad and homemade dressing
    • roasted whole chicken with spinach, pineapple, and bacon salad and homemade dressing
    • ground beef with peppers, avocado, and tomatoes
    • chicken with steamed frozen veggies or roasted green beans and no-sugar-added applesauce
    • eggplant Parmesan, without the Parmesan or breading (with this recipe, I could have eaten the whole pan in one sitting -- phenomenal!)
    Snacks:
    • pecans, pistachios, or almonds
    • avocado with salt and pepper
    • Larabars or dried fruit
    • baby carrots
    • zucchini and yellow squash slices with homemade dressing or sugar-free dijon mustard
    • apples with sugar-free almond butter
    • post-workout: sweet potato with almond butter or topped with nutmeg, cinnamon, and coconut oil
    Favorite Sites for Recipes:
    • The Clothes Make the Girl - every recipe so far has been FULL of flavor and relatively easy
    • Everyday Paleo - great ideas for snacks and lunch, which are the two "mealtimes" during which I struggle for satisfaction and quelling the sugar craving. Great podcasts, too!
    • The Food Lover's Primal Palate - I cannot WAIT to try the desserts once sweeteners (like honey and maple syrup) can make their way off the forbidden list!

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  8. Since starting this crazy ass food challenge, others posed many a-question to me about why I am doing it and why certain food items are "forbidden". In response to why I am doing this, I'll refer you back to my original post that kicked off the start of The Whole30. I preface my response to the second question by saying "I didn't make the rules, I just needed structure."

    I stumbled upon The Whole30 in relation to CrossFit,* which is a specific type of physical fitness training regime based on the premise that good nutrition fuels improved athletic performance. Essentially, in the CrossFit world, good health is derived from super fitness, and super fitness may only be achieved through good nutrition. I can wrap my head around that.

    It is more difficult to wrap my head around the specific rules of The Whole30 Challenge as there is a WHOLE lotta new information (to me) about nutrition and effects of specific foods on the human body. I am not a nutritionist. I have no background knowledge in nutrition or the science of nutrition. Hell, I ate whatever I wanted and assumed I could burn it all out during a run or boot camp. I chose the Whole30 because Jacob and I are interested in this whole "Paleolithic" diet/nutrition revolution that is happening, and The Whole30 offered concrete rules for getting to a cleaner state of eating (see above for my answer to the question of why I am doing this).

    So, here are the answers to why, during this challenge (and maybe beyond), I cannot have dairy, legumes (including peanuts and soy), or grains. 

    I hope you find these resources helpful. As for the habits of a caveman, even the Whole30 Challenge acknowledges that this is not an exact interpretation of how Paleolithic man prepared or ate his/her food. The underlying theme is that our human digestive systems have not evolved in concert with our food production techniques. Our digestive systems are still essentially paleolithic; they were not meant to consume fast food, processed food (e.g., food in a jar, box, or can), or food from the agricultural revolution (e.g., dairy, grains).

    I'm not sure I'm sold on the entire Paleo concept, including the idea of cutting cheese out of my diet forever, or never having another flour-based delight like waffles or cake, but I am sold on the idea of eating less crap and eating more real food. This challenge has thusfar been difficult and educational, and I learn best by doing. If this is what I must do in order to learn about to eat better, then so be it. It is not everyone's way and maybe you will take some new piece of information away from my experience. I mean, who knew grains had the ability to perforate your intestines?

    [* I will save a discussion about CrossFit and my connection with it for another day. For now, just substitute in the words "Boot Camp Class".]

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  9. Well, last week was a grumpy week. I am off sugar and on a steap learning curve. I am learning a whole new way of preparing and cooking a whole new set of ingredients. I'm using more dishes in the kitchen that ever before. Hell, I'm using more pots and pans than ever before. I'm using the OVEN on weeknights, and not just to make delicious baked goods. Oh Lord, how I miss delicious baked goods. [And P.S. There is a huge sheet cake and sugar cookies sitting just outside my office door today. Additionally, why do Living Social and Groupon advertise with photos of CUPCAKES? It is a visual assault every time I search the web. This is why, at food challenge end, I will be making a batch of deliciously rich Irish Car Bomb Cupcakes! I'm sure it will eff up my system after eating cleanly for 30 days, but I do. not. CARE. I can taste the sugar delight now!]

    Anyway, heading into week two of this crazy ass food challenge, I feel better mentally as I have a better handle on "the rules of the game", as it were. I'm still trying to figure out how to snack right so I don't feel so hungry ALL day. And during the second half of last week and over the weekend, I made some pretty kick ass meals:

    Pan-broiled tri-tip steak served with spinach, avocado, and bacon salad and homemade dressing.

    Roasted whole chicken served with mashed cauliflower, and spinach, pineapple, and bacon salad with lemon dressing.

    I also grilled up the chicken I spiced up (but did not cook) for my initial chicken, celery, onion, and apple dish last week, and ate that with steamed veggies and no-sugar-added applesauce.

    I ate a restaurant on Friday, for the first time during this challenge, and delighted in eating a stack of shrimp, avocado, and bacon with a spinach salad served with bacon vinaigrette. [Thank God for bacon. First comes chocolate, then cheese, and then bacon, when it comes to making all things in the world wonderful.]

    I'm still loving my berries with coconut milk and almond slivers; however, I find that bananas with coconut milk and cinnamon makes an excellent sweet treat when I feel a sugar craving at snack time.

    I'm planning on trying a couple of more appetizing recipes this week or next -- I still have a lot of leftovers, including most of the whole roasted chicken!!

    In addition to eating yummy clean meals, I am enjoying honing my culinary skills and cooking for others. I actually have leftovers in my fridge. I fantasize about all the paleo-friendly yummy stuff I can make once I am off The Whole30 Challenge and I can use things like honey and almond flour to make cookies and pancakes. Until then, I'll keep updating you on the highs and lows of this grand food experiment!

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  10. A Cranky, Whiny Winner

    Thursday, February 3, 2011


    So I went through some major sugar withdrawal over Days 2 and 3 of this food challenge/experiment. For serious. I was crank....y. Super crank. And super whiny in my head (and I am SURE out loud). Nothing satisfied me. Oh how fun for everyone. Not even the cats were spared. I don't think it helped that I kept trying to eat those damn leftovers from Monday night's recipe of chicken, celery, onions, and apple. I can officially say I hate that dish and it will never make another rotation. By the time I got home last night, I felt so hopeless. I was craving only things that were on the "Absolutely Do Not Touch" list for this challenge, and nothing on the "Please Eat Me I am So Good For You" list appealed to me at all. I knew I had to eat something.

    Thank the effing Lord for breakfast. I love breakfast foods, and in the depths of my dietary despair, eggs and chicken apple sausage came to the glorious rescue. Here's the food tally for Day 3.

    My usual beloved breakfast of berries, coconut milk, and almonds. I thought I could make my way through the last of the chicken goop leftovers, but I just couldn't do it. Therefore lunch consisted of dried apricots, cashews, a banana, and a tangerine, which barely got me through last night's boot camp. Sorry to the high school kids that crash our class. I'm sure you felt my wrath, which was unwarranted considering you only wanted to crowd me during our death sprints. I had breakfast for dinner, with a side of frozen veggies, steamed in the microwave.

    For tonight, I have something delicious planned for me and my gal pal and I'm excited to eat!

    While this experience has thusfar been short, I never in my life have thought about (or written about) food as much as I have in the past 3 to 4 days. I suppose that's a good thing since I previously never paid any attention to what I eat. I could have been eating lead paint chips for all I know. I also think I am over the hump of the serious sugar withdrawal. And I'm a winner because I never caved to the cravings. I am eager to find the new, healthier "quick, easy, and satisfying" balance, though. What will be my new crackers and cheese??

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  11. Grumpy

    Tuesday, February 1, 2011

    Oh, today I just wanted cheese. Or bread. Or cheese. Or Wheat Thins. And yet, I am not hungry. The craving is all mental. And I'm a little grumpy because of it. Plus, my partner-in-crime won't be home until the 11th. That just puts me at baseline grumpy. I tried to cheer myself up by enjoying the sunset at Ft. De Soto. That worked for a bit, but I fear I might have cheesy, bready, crackery dreams tonight. So here's the day's food round up.

    Breakfast:
    See Day 1. Still tasty.

    Lunch:
    Leftovers from Day 1 dinner. Still pretty good.

    Dinner:
    Chicken apple sausage sauteed in olive oil with the celery, apple, and onion from last night's dish.

    Now where is dessert?

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  12. This Could Work, Folks!

    Monday, January 31, 2011

    I gotta say, although Day 1 was not without minor challenges (I totally craved something, anything sweet), I do think I buy into this whole clean eating thing! During my boot camp workout, I didn't feel the same fatigue, soreness, and struggles that I usually do. Don't get me wrong, it was still a tough workout, it just didn't feel as mentally or physically draining as it did before. Maybe there really is something to eating to run. I'll let you know, hopefully before the end of 30 days. I would like to think there is more to this challenge than simply being able to complete it [without killing anyone for a piece of chocolate]. What follows is my food for the day.

     Breakfast:
    blueberries, raspberries, and slivered almonds in coconut milk with a side of coffee. Surprisingly satisfying and REALLY tasty. It is nearly prime berry season here in Florida. Strawberry Festival is next month!
     Lunch:
    Peppered canned tuna wrapped in red lettuce.
     Snacks:
    I've always been a grazer, so I ate most of what I brought to work over the course of the work day (generally from 10:30 AM through 3:30 PM). Today's choices included organic dried apricots, sugar snap peas, cashews, and an apple.
     Dinner:
    I made     chicken with onions, celery, and apples. I've got more than enough for a few servings. Thank goodness it was so packed with flavor and so filling.



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  13. Ol' Mother Hubbard

    Sunday, January 30, 2011


    So the food challenge begins tomorrow -- Monday morning. And lasts for 30 days. In preparation, I cleaned out all of my cupboards and my refrigerator today. A full bag of trash resulted. Half-eaten boxes of pasta, leftover boxes of crackers, and cereal -- gone. Out of fridge went leftover wine, creamer, old yogurt. Regardless of whether I am doing a food challenge, this exercise made it abundantly clear my food stocks needed a good clean out and organization. I'm surprised nothing was growing anywhere. After the jump, you will see some of the yummy things I plan on eating this week.

    I planned out much of my menu using the     Whole Life Eating blog because I have no idea what I'm doing...yet. The recipes are fairly simple, they just don't involve grains. Aack! Anyway, here's my plan, let's hope I can stick with it. For 30 days.

    Breakfast fortunately includes black coffee. I'll be eating berries with coconut milk and topped with slivered almonds most mornings. Otherwise, I'll have a banana. I was never one for a big breakfast anyway.

    Lunch will mostly be leftovers from dinner the night before, or I'll make lettuce wraps. The wrap filling will be things like tuna or waldorf salad.

    Dinner is where I'll be more creative -- cinnamon-spiced ribeye with carrots and squash, ground beef with baked sweet potato topped with pecans, chicken thighs with celery, onion, and apples. Sounds pretty delish, right? I'll let you know if any of them are here in reality.

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  14. Cleaning Up My Nutrition

    Friday, January 28, 2011


    Most of you know that I run to eat. That's been my motto since I first started training for my first (and only) marathon because let's face it, melted cheese, beer, and Combos are phenomenal. Lately, though, I think that might not be the best motto. Maybe one of the reasons I never see stellar run times, or improvement in my run times, is because I do not eat to run. In other words, my fitness reflects my fuel. Crappy fuel; crappy fitness. Good fuel; good fitness. [We won't even touch the subject of my erratic training methods as another reason for lack of improvement in results.]

    So, with the goal of improving my fuel, and hopefully my overall health, I am embarking on what will be a difficult challenge for the next month, starting January 30th. I am not alone, Jacob will be right there with me, but it ain't gonna be easy. The challenge is called The Whole30 and goes little something like this.
    I will not consume added sugar of any kind, real or artificial. No maple syrup, honey, agave nectar, Splenda, Equal, Nutrasweet, xylitol, stevia, etc. [Kicking my chocolate habitat is going to be HAAAAAAARD.]

    I will not eat processed foods. This includes protein shakes, pre-packaged snacks/meals, protein bars, milk substitutes, etc.

    I will not drink alcohol, in any form. [MINUS, Whole30. BIG minus. I love dirty martinis!]

    I will not eat grains. This includes (but is not limited to) wheat, rye, barley, millet, oats, corn, rice, sprouted grains and all of those gluten-free pseudo-grains like quinoa. This also includes all the ways we add wheat, corn and rice into our foods in the form of bran, germ, starch and so on. [But crackers and cereal are what I LIVE ON!!]

    I will not eat legumes. This includes beans (black, kidney, lima, etc.), peas, lentils, and peanuts or peanut butter. This also includes all forms of soy – soy sauce, miso, tofu, tempeh, edamame, and all the ways we sneak soy into foods (like lecithin). [So sad, I LOVE PEANUT BUTTER.]

    I will not eat dairy. This includes all cow, goat or sheep’s milk, cream, butter, cheese, yogurt, whey, ice cream, etc. [OH MY GOD, I KNOW. CHEESE!!!]

    I will not eat white potatoes.

    I know, it is EXTREME. But it is just 30 days. After 30 days, I will hopefully accomplish the following.
    1. I will know how to make healthier choices and how my food affects how I feel. I can loosen the reins, but not my hold over my nutrition.
    2. I will pay attention to what I put in my pie hole because right now, I do not. At all. And that's just sad.
    3. I will form habits -- including cooking fresh, real food meals -- that will last a lifetime and contribute to my overall health.

    I aim to post daily, if not weekly, what I am eating (and I'll try not to whine too much about what I'm not eating). Feel free to join in the Whole30 challenge with me and go through the grief of letting go of comfort foods like mac n' cheese, pasta, and port wine cheese and crackers. And Taco Bell. And chocolate. And chocolate milk. For one month.

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