Monday, September 20, 2010

Potatoes O'Brien with "Summer's Last Hurrah" Tomatoes



Ok, so it's been a while since my last post...ummm...(almost 4 months) - but let's not hold that against me - I mean 4 children, 1 husband and 2 jobs doesn't exactly leave a person with lots of time for "fluffy" things.

Like this blog.

It's a luxury.

If I have time (energy) to blog then I do. If I don't, then I (obviously) don't. But I KNOW there are so many amazing food blogs out there that I'm sure all of you are fairing just fine. In fact, you're thinking....Pass the Who??

So mostly this blog is for me - as I don't even know who reads it anymore. And because it's for me (and my posterity) I feel the need to document how and why I eat the way I do - just incase it might help someone in the future or now, who is struggling with health issues.

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I have realized something over these past few months (ok, and pounds) that creeped up on me. That I can not "do" moderation when it comes to rich food. When I taste it, I just want more.

And more.

Some people can.
I can not.

Therefore, I must stick to the program at all costs. Or the one day "cheat" turns into one meal - turns into one day, turns into one week, month etc. etc. You get my drift?
Unless it's a feast day (holidays/birthday) where I can allow my self to slightly stray. (And I'm talking 10 days out of a year!)

SO if you are eating a diet of grains, veggies and very little oil (less than 10% of calories from fat) - after about 3 days, do you find that all of the food starts to taste MORE delicious than if you were eating "rich" foods along side?

I find I am MORE excited to eat, and I don't feel deprived or hungry for those "rich" foods anymore. But the key (for me) is not to stick my toe in the pool. For first the toe and then the foot and then a back dive into the deep end.

This is just my experience. What's yours?

I would love to hear your comments...


On to the recipe now. If you can call it that.
I was recently at Albertson's (a regular grocery store out here in CA) and found these hash brown potatoes. They contain no added oil. I "fry" them up in a non-stick skillet - don't add oil, they will brown without it! Then I sliced some tomatoes (sweet darlings - on their way out...) from the garden added salt & pepper and there you go, that's been my breakfast for the past 4 days. Mmmm... really delicious.



The reason I'm even mentioning this SUPER simple recipe is because if you're like me, sometimes you make things harder than they need to be. I shop at all kinds of "non-mainstream" markets - but have never seen this product! And if there was something comparable I'm sure it would've been very expensive - because those places usually are for "convenience" type foods.

Though I won't be giving up my Trader Joe's or Henry's anytime soon - I just thought that I would share with you that sometimes good ideas are right under your noses.

Have a great week!

p.s.
Here's a great article on moderation by Dr. John McDougall - is it an wonder I love this guy??





3 comments:

Jennifer B. said...

Yum, Jen -- that looks so good! I understand what you are saying about rich foods. Plus, food does taste better when you eat healthy all the time. Vegetables seem sweeter, even plain rice can be sooo satisfying.

I have a hard time sticking to any program for long because I eat for so many reasons. I often use food to help battle stress and when I do, I'm not too careful about what I eat. I just keep trying! Thanks for posting your great ideas when you can.

BJ in TX said...

I'm with you! It's all about what we're used to. Right now, I'm traveling and it's very difficult to stick with the program when staying with friends. They try, but I'm often hungry if I don't want to eat what everyone else does. I really enjoy the program though when I am "home-centered"! So far, 30 pounds are gone and I don't miss them one bit.

Amanda K. Jones said...

I haven't eaten fast food for almost a year now and I don't miss it a bit. In fact, I don't even think it sounds good anymore. I think the more you eat something, the more you crave it. Now that I'm eating healthier, I crave the healthy foods. It's a beautiful thing. :-)


 

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