...yup. And, this is just today's (+1 more rice krispy treat)
The days really haven't been bad either. I just feel a lot of stress, lack of energy and slightly blue. It's just been "one of those days."
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Emotional Eater?
I had a friend write a Facebook status that she was "such an emotional eater!" I wondered if I was because honestly, I had never really paid attention before. But then yesterday & today happened, and....
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Meal Planning
Meal planning is generally something I'm really good at for two weeks, and completely horrible at doing for a following month. Right now, I am completely stoked that I have succeeded at making lunch & dinner plans for longer than a month, and although we did go out to eat twice, we have been pretty much eating at home together.
There are so many benefits to eating dinner together, but my drive to be better has stemmed from wanting to maintain my family's sugar intake. Although I can't decide whether or not R consumes sugar, I can greatly decrease his desire if I make sure he is actually fed. Otherwise, it's to the store with the munchies.
This week's dinner plan:
Monday- Kalua Pork with Cabbage
Tuesday- Baked crab rangoon and fried rice
Wednesday- Hamburgers and baked beans
Thursday- Homemade Mac&Cheese & leftover beans
Friday- Homemade pepperoni pizza
Saturday- Chicken Pot Pie
One memory I have of family dinners growing up, was my mom always asking me or my siblings to choose a fruit and a vegetable that was going to be served. (My favorite to chose was canned creamed corn. Haha!) I try to bring that concept into our dinners too, especially if veggies aren't mixed into the meal already.
The last few days we've ended our meals with sweet nectarine slices. That's almost like dessert, right?
There are so many benefits to eating dinner together, but my drive to be better has stemmed from wanting to maintain my family's sugar intake. Although I can't decide whether or not R consumes sugar, I can greatly decrease his desire if I make sure he is actually fed. Otherwise, it's to the store with the munchies.
This week's dinner plan:
Monday- Kalua Pork with Cabbage
Tuesday- Baked crab rangoon and fried rice
Wednesday- Hamburgers and baked beans
Thursday- Homemade Mac&Cheese & leftover beans
Friday- Homemade pepperoni pizza
Saturday- Chicken Pot Pie
One memory I have of family dinners growing up, was my mom always asking me or my siblings to choose a fruit and a vegetable that was going to be served. (My favorite to chose was canned creamed corn. Haha!) I try to bring that concept into our dinners too, especially if veggies aren't mixed into the meal already.
The last few days we've ended our meals with sweet nectarine slices. That's almost like dessert, right?
Saturday, August 6, 2011
Book Report
I am reading so many books right now, and am loving all of the information, opinions and the stories about sugar consumption and other nutritional advice. I haven't completed one yet from cover-to-cover. I mostly pick it up and start on a section that I'm interested in reading about (as of late, beverages).
Book #1 Eating Between the Lines, Kimberly Lord Stewart
This author takes you on a grocery store tour, as she helps explain to the average consumer how to read nutritional labels and make meaning of all of the symbols and common-phrases that plague the packaging on our food. This has been, by far, one of my favorite reads as she intertwines some personal remarks among a plethora of facts behind the labeling rules.
Book #3 Food Matters, Mark Bittman
I have only gotten a few chapters into his book, and then have opened it to specific topics as I have been gathering research. He starts by discussing the environmental impact our food choices have, lowering our meat consumption, and not relying on the government to not to tell us the healthiest way to eat. His overall outlook seems to parallel the popular Michael Pollan as he encourages his readers to eat whole foods (fruits and veggies).
Book #4 Sugar-Free Toddlers, Susan Watson
A mother, frustrated with the few sugar-free snacks for her toddler adapted over 100 recipes to be sweetened by natural flavors and not include white sugar. "Natural sweeteners" mean using 100% juice, typically in her recipes. I have made a few of them, and they have been mediocre. My favorite thus far was a peanut butter-banana muffin (I added spinach too). Michael gobbled them up. The thing I appreciate most about this book is the information in the beginning about certain ingredients commonly used in baking, and she promotes using half white/wheat flour in multiple recipes, which has been good for us!
This author takes you on a grocery store tour, as she helps explain to the average consumer how to read nutritional labels and make meaning of all of the symbols and common-phrases that plague the packaging on our food. This has been, by far, one of my favorite reads as she intertwines some personal remarks among a plethora of facts behind the labeling rules.
Book #2 Suicide by Sugar, Nancy Appleton, PhD
Written by a former sugar addict with multiple health problems, she is very passionate about educating people on the adverse affects sugar has on the body. Her biggest push is over having homeostasis. This read is all about sugar, with a very extreme outlook on staying away! She offers some recipes in the back, although I haven't tried any yet.I have only gotten a few chapters into his book, and then have opened it to specific topics as I have been gathering research. He starts by discussing the environmental impact our food choices have, lowering our meat consumption, and not relying on the government to not to tell us the healthiest way to eat. His overall outlook seems to parallel the popular Michael Pollan as he encourages his readers to eat whole foods (fruits and veggies).
A mother, frustrated with the few sugar-free snacks for her toddler adapted over 100 recipes to be sweetened by natural flavors and not include white sugar. "Natural sweeteners" mean using 100% juice, typically in her recipes. I have made a few of them, and they have been mediocre. My favorite thus far was a peanut butter-banana muffin (I added spinach too). Michael gobbled them up. The thing I appreciate most about this book is the information in the beginning about certain ingredients commonly used in baking, and she promotes using half white/wheat flour in multiple recipes, which has been good for us!
Thursday, August 4, 2011
Gram Count Check In
Well, I'd like to throw my hands up in the air and say, "It can't be done!" 15 tsp of sugar is still quite a lot, yet I only managed to stay below a few times out of the week.
July 26: 62.6g--15.65tsp
July 27: 27g--6.75tsp
July 28: 60.5g--15.125tsp
July 29: 73g--18.25tsp
July 30: 87g--21.75tsp
July 31: 78g--19.5tsp
Aug 1: 38.5g--9.5tsp
Aug 2: 100g--25tsp
Aug 3: 86g--21.5tsp
Problem #1: Homemade goodies are incredibly hard to record properly. For example, when I made cupcakes, I just added together the amount of sugar in the batter/frosting and divided that by 12. But, I am sure the amount is still a little high (because you don't get every drop from the bowl, nor did I use ALL of the frosting) so I just adjusted the final count a bit. But mostly, it was the most educated guess I could give.
Problem #2: I am pretty good at writing down sweets as soon as I eat them. However, I don't always record the gram amount. Therefore, I'm not sure how many tsp I've already eaten--or how many more I'm allotted for the rest of the day.
Problem #3: Ice cream. I splurged on ice cream a lot this week--which would've been fine except I didn't stop there. I still ended up eating other sweets later in the day.
Problem #4: I'm addicted to sugar. I've had more headaches this week than I've had ever. They aren't terrible, but they are there which is unusual for me. But, I know it's related to the sugar.
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Good Thing #1: I'm still aware of what's going in my mouth. I don't just open the fridge door and grab something to eat because I'm unconsciously moving in that direction.
Good Thing #2: Although I'm not counting my son's intake at this time, I can already tell I'm making wiser snack choices for him. But, he's still getting much more than he needs.
Good Thing #3: My friends are super supportive and give me nice feedback, which is encouraging.
This weeks goal: I'm going to eat no more than 15tsp of added sugar/day. I know this is the same goal as last week. But, it's like 7th grade art class: I failed, so I've gotta take it again.
July 26: 62.6g--15.65tsp
July 27: 27g--6.75tsp
July 28: 60.5g--15.125tsp
July 29: 73g--18.25tsp
July 30: 87g--21.75tsp
July 31: 78g--19.5tsp
Aug 1: 38.5g--9.5tsp
Aug 2: 100g--25tsp
Aug 3: 86g--21.5tsp
Problem #1: Homemade goodies are incredibly hard to record properly. For example, when I made cupcakes, I just added together the amount of sugar in the batter/frosting and divided that by 12. But, I am sure the amount is still a little high (because you don't get every drop from the bowl, nor did I use ALL of the frosting) so I just adjusted the final count a bit. But mostly, it was the most educated guess I could give.
Problem #2: I am pretty good at writing down sweets as soon as I eat them. However, I don't always record the gram amount. Therefore, I'm not sure how many tsp I've already eaten--or how many more I'm allotted for the rest of the day.
Problem #3: Ice cream. I splurged on ice cream a lot this week--which would've been fine except I didn't stop there. I still ended up eating other sweets later in the day.
Problem #4: I'm addicted to sugar. I've had more headaches this week than I've had ever. They aren't terrible, but they are there which is unusual for me. But, I know it's related to the sugar.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Good Thing #1: I'm still aware of what's going in my mouth. I don't just open the fridge door and grab something to eat because I'm unconsciously moving in that direction.
Good Thing #2: Although I'm not counting my son's intake at this time, I can already tell I'm making wiser snack choices for him. But, he's still getting much more than he needs.
Good Thing #3: My friends are super supportive and give me nice feedback, which is encouraging.
This weeks goal: I'm going to eat no more than 15tsp of added sugar/day. I know this is the same goal as last week. But, it's like 7th grade art class: I failed, so I've gotta take it again.
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