Love for Food

Since Hannah was about 2 weeks old, I have had to stop eating all dairy products, and somehow, eating less has made me have a much deeper appreciation for food. Maybe it's all the labels I'm now forced to read, or the added fruits, veggies, whole grains and lean meats I've had to add to my diet in order to consume an adequate amount of nutrition, but I'm more intrigued now than ever.

Over the last 8 weeks, I've tried a few new things: rice milk, coconut milk, soy yogurts, endless seed & nut combos, quinoa...etc. Not only did I learn that I liked these things I had never tried, but that I felt better eating them. I've learned new balances of complex carbs & proteins from sources other than dairy. Most importantly - I've learned to control my energy levels through food: carbs in the morning to jump-start the day, with snacks of fruit & nuts throughout the day for a natural sugar & protein boost. Eric and I have also started to cut out all carbs after dinner, and try to be done snacking by 8pm. I feel fabulous, but I'm sure that also comes from the fact that I can't indulge in my usual frozen yogurt and chocolate desserts.

I've also realized what a food-rut we live in. I now have this vibrant list of snacks that I consume, but meals? Not so much. Marinated chicken one night, turkey burgers the next, then a "breakfast-for-dinner" night, and nights where we'll just have sandwiches or soup & salad. Healthy, yes, but the same thing every week? Also, yes. BORING! The truth is, I'm a cooking-scaredy-cat. Once I do it once, I'll be fine - but it's getting myself to try something new that's tough. And once I do, it gets added to our rut-list, like when I decided to try stir-fries: now I make the same stir-fry with pretty much the same ingredients each time. We even have a croc-pot that Eric won 2 years ago that we have never used - everyone yells at me for this, since it is supposedly the easiest way to cook and try new things. Yup. We're croc-pot virgins.

I'm hoping to turn all this around with my sudden interest in new foods. Gonna break out the croc-pot, put our new juicer to good use, and clear the cob webs off our several cooking books that have never been opened. I absolutely love to eat, and even though I don't do much, I love to cook. It's sort of part of my job expectation as a mother and wife, so I'd better get crackin'. Looking forward to continuing to try new things, and learn to break out of my cooking fear...

...even though chicken is currently marinating for dinner. I'll start tomorrow ;)

The power of food is pretty awesome. Being able to control your mood, your energy, and your health through diet is fabulous.