For working moms, getting food on the table in a painless way while still eating WELL & RIGHT seems to be the most difficult part of the day. At least it is for me and many other friends I know. It's a hassle. You can't put it on hold for long or there is major grumpiness. I'm a classic low-blood-sugar-bitch. Seriously, when I'm hungry it's so much easier for me to go from 'Delightful Person' to 'Absolute Jerk'! How does this relate to anything else on this blog? Well, Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome has to do with insulin resistance. So many of our diseases, conditions, and situations revolve around and are influenced by DIET. Ugh. Low blood sugar must be tamed and with constant, smaller meals.
DIET!!! The big, bad, four-letter word. Right up there with "shit" and "damn" if you ask me. Recently being gently guided (read: do this or possibly die with diabetes) by my doctor to start eating SUGAR FREE, GLUTEN FREE, SOY FREE, AND DAIRY FREE; I have been forced to be more creative than opening a box of cereal. Try cooking and eating whilst simultaneously avoiding the above "four evils" as I affectionately call them and you can easily twist yourself into a pretzel. The amount of time I spend reading labels in the grocery store is annoying, but necessary. Just when you think--that's healthy--one reads the label and shock and awe immediately set in... "THAT has high fructose corn syrup in it...!? ...or soy or wheat!? WHY???" The amount of "shit" in food these days is unreal. "Shit" is my abbreviation for all those long words ending in syrup or sodium or ...glutamate. Not to mention the other long words I don't even KNOW what they mean and stand for and are about as good for a person as rat poison. Read the labels--get in the know and you'll be looking for a different grocery store--or rather a health food store.
Voilà! I'm going to present you, dear reader with tips, ideas, occasional pictures, and meals to take with you and/or make on the spot to help you with your own health. Note: you can't force kids to adopt your healthier lifestyle overnight--even if they're your own. Trust me, I've tried. Unless you're a big fan of kicking and screaming or incessant whining I'd recommend easing them in by being innately tricky, coercive, and be completely possessive about your NEW! AWESOME! FOOD! Example: My daughter started to wonder why I used different bread (on the rare occasions I would eat bread.) So, I told her that this was "special" bread that was something I enjoyed. I didn't even offer her a slice, which piqued her curiosity. She said to me, "Mom, can I have some?" My response was (chewing) "You want some of my special bread?" (She was practically salivating). "YES!" She loves it and will now make herself a sandwich with "Mommy's special bread". Gluten-free bread. Indeed: "YES!"
Another thing that can help is only having certain "choices" in the house. What I like to call THIS or THAT eating. Example: "You can have a tuna sandwich or a peanut butter sandwich." (On gluten-free bread and in lieu of bologna or pasta.) Always try to go heavier on the protein and lighter on the carbs--even with your kids. Always. Sorry, but if you're a vegetarian who thinks pasta is a healthy choice: YOU ARE DELUDED and will eventually be somewhat chubby if you're not already. Also, legumes are not a "perfect" replacement for animal protein. More on that in another post. Look Vegans: if you can find an indigenous, ancestral culture somewhere in the world that could survive ENTIRELY without animal protein feel free to disagree with me. Until then: eat some meat. I still haven't come to terms with tofu. I'd LOVE to hear some terrific TOFU RECIPES from the readers out there! Please feel free to comment below the post and share, disagree, or chime in!
I will also occasionally offer KID-FRIENDLY choices that are similar to the adult food item.
So, stay tuned in and SUBSCRIBE (enter email above) and you'll get more and more menu options along with my other blog posts as the days go by! Have a great lunch, breakfast, or dinner... as these can be used interchangeably.
EAT ME: Today's Three Specials...
Breakfast Suggestion: EVE'S OATMEAL
*Cook old-fashioned oats as per directions on box. Usually 1 c. water to every 1/2 c. oatmeal. Heat and stir... put in a bowl.
*ADD: Shredded coconut, raw walnuts, organic dried cranberries, and a dollop (1 tsp.) of Agave. Also some rice milk if you prefer your oatmeal a little more creamy. Eat it while it's hot!
*KIDS: use fruit instead of the other extras and almond milk is often preferred over rice for kids. Dairy milk if your kid can handle cow. They will still enjoy the agave!
Lunch: KILLER TUNA
*One can of tuna split into two small bowls. One bowl is for the adult--add one whole avocado and mix with a little olive oil into the tuna (in lieu of mayonnaise). In the kid bowl add 1 TBS of mayonnaise (for the kids who don't like avocado) and a dash of the olive oil. A little salt and pepper on both bowls. Mix.
*Gluten-free bread for the kiddies and lettuce leaves for the adults to make tuna sandwiches (or simply dip in with corn-tortilla chips. Eat. Quick, easy, painless. Yum.
Dinner: MORGAN'S GLUTEN-FREE CHICKEN NOODLE SOUP
4 cups water
2-3 cups shredded, skinless rotisserie chicken (pre-cooked)
1, 32 oz carton chicken broth
6-8 oz gluten-free fusilli
1 large chicken boullion cube
1 TBS olive oil
1/2 c. chopped onion
1/2 c. chopped celery
1 or 2 carrots, chopped
salt & pepper
2 garlic cloves
dried rosemary (a pinch)
red cayenne (a small pinch!)
5-6 sage leaves
a smattering of italian seasoning and maybe a little coriander.
*Saute the veg with the garlic and onion in olive oil. 3-5 minutes. Heat broth and water together (microwave is one option or stovetop). Add broth & water to sautéed veg and add seasoning. Bring to a boil and add in pasta. Cook until al dente. Add chicken and cook 2-3 minutes until heated. Add in seasoning and spices as you cook. Salt at the end.
*Kids like this one as much as adults. It's also pretty fast. *Add extra chicken broth if you like a thinner soup.
EAT. AND BE MERRY.
