I do a lot of research, a lot of experimenting and use a lot of creativity in the way I cook. I have never been able to “Follow” recipes to the “T” there is some kind of a rebellious bone or something in me. I cook the way I do my art; mainly I just allow it to be what it is. If the recipe taste good, I will keep it, if it tastes bad, I will try to improve it or start all over again.
In order to eat healthy, you have to make a commitment that you are going to change the way you eat, and you need to keep that commitment as a life long journey. BUT just because you are making this commitment does not mean from time to time you will not fall off track, because you will. DO NOT beat yourself up over the slip, get over it and just continue on your journey. You have to realize that as much as we hate to admit it are “Humans” and as “Humans” we make mistakes. It is part of our journey. We need to learn from these mistakes and we need to correct things to the best of our ability to improve things we need to change within us.
Stop being your worst enemy. There is enough of that in the world; you do not need to impose it on yourself as well. So what if you had that chocolate that you should not have had. It’s over, it is done. Next time just be a little more aware of the emotions you are experiencing and find something else to eat. AND if you want that chocolate regardless, have a small piece of dark chocolate that is 63-70% coco. That is one reason why I came up with a recipe for the chocolate dipped sugar cookies. I make these cookies all of the time because I slip a lot but when I slip I know it is not the most horrible thing I did because these cookies are on the somewhat healthy side!
Reading labels on foods you purchase at the grocery store will become your best friend! I have been shocked on the sodium content in some foods and that includes “Organic Foods” as well. I was reading the label on some organic/vegetarian bites the other day, and two of these bites had over 600mg. of sodium. But also you need to research the sodium content in natural foods. I love raw spinach and I was reading a label and found that one cup of raw spinach has 160mg. of sodium! AND this was an organic brand of spinach.
When you are cooking a recipe that calls for 3 eggs or more, the recipe will turn out just as good if you use three egg whites and only one of the yokes. When I make my husband an omelet, I will use three egg whites and one yoke and he has never complained. So of course use all of the eggs the recipe calls for just remember that you do not have to use the yokes as well. Three eggs have approximately 228 calories, one egg yoke and three egg whites have 110 calories. Now this is a little tricky: An egg yoke has 7mg. of sodium where as an egg white has 55mg. of sodium BUT the yoke has 59 calories and 212mg. cholesterol where as the egg white has 17 calories and NO cholesterol. So even though the sodium is higher in egg whites, all in all they are better for you.
“Sweets” this is my worst journey. I was raised with sweet stuff and I love sweet stuff period! So I try to use honey, organic sugar, agave, and brown sugar as much as possible. I will usually cut the sugar content down as low as possible. A wonderful trick I use often is using half honey and half unsweetened applesauce in some of my cakes, muffins and cookies. I get the sweetness, but it is somewhat on a healthier note. I bake a lot in my home because my husband loves to carry “snacks” with him to his job. So by doing a lot of baking I experiment a lot and try to use a more conscious effort in making the recipes healthier.
This is only a start in trying to eat healthier:
1. Make a commitment to yourself that you want to change the way you eat and realize this change is a life long journey!
2. Stop beating yourself up when you slip off track-do not be your own worst enemy
3. READ labels on all foods you purchase, research natural foods for sodium contents
4. Adjust the way you cook. Use less of the ingredient that are bad and more of the ingredients that are healthier
5. Learn to compromise with treats. Your inner child is going to want those goodies. Learn to create treats that have more of a healthier tone to them.
