Is this a low point in blogging–when you share what you ate?
Laughing…actually, during my recent tour of 200 blogs (OK, didn’t make it to all 200 blogs, but sure did visit a LOT!) I stumbled upon a blog where a woman simply shared what she ate during the day. I stared, fascinated, at her food.
What does our food tell about us? What secrets do our choice of food reveal?
I couldn’t wait to spend a day photographing meals and sharing them with you.
Breakfast today, as you can see above, was very healthy. Leftover brown rice mixed with blueberries picked in a friend’s patch last summer. Added some coconut and sprouted almonds. I brought it to work and ate it (not heated) about 8:30 a.m.
Lunch–a delicious delicious (did I say delicious?) salad with red leaf lettuce, shredded zucchini and carrot, red onion, yellow peppers, sunflower seeds and croutons. Tossed with a low-fat raspberry vinaigrette. An almond butter with honey sandwich on Ezekiel bread, cut in fancy triangles because I thought it would photograph better. Then forgot to photograph it in my hunger.
I thought lunch would include last night’s barley mushroom soup (Oh it was good, as well!) but it’s in the freezer for Barry to eat while I’m gallivanting in the south. Forgot I put it in there last night, too.
Snack: apple, more sprouted almonds (love their crunch!), chopped medjool dates and a sprinkle of some leftover Kashi cereal. Very good.
You are wondering about all this healthy eating, aren’t you? Wondering where the heck is the meat, the milk, the candy? Does she always eat this way? you wonder.
The answer is somewhat complicated. I will try to share quickly so you don’t get bored. Four years ago the surgeon wanted to take out my gall bladder. This little organ, which usually digests fat in the body, apparently doesn’t work well for me.
I told him, “I want to try eating a healthy diet and try to avoid surgery.” He replied, “You’ll be back. I’ve heard this many times. You’ll get tired of eating granola.” (Or was it wheat germ?)
My husband and I dove headfirst into a Macrobiotic diet, attempting to stall surgery. Yep, Barry went along with the plan! We both lost lots of weight that first year…it was a very very healthy diet consisting mostly of whole grains, beans, nuts, seeds, lots of vegetables, limited fruit, tofu and fish.
It’s been four years now and the gall bladder still remains. Who knows? One of these years I may still have it removed, but so far it’s doing fine. Not even a twinge since last May during the visit to New York City when I inadvertently learned that grilled vegetables sometimes contain more fat than turkey or chicken.
I don’t always eat as healthy as today, and we don’t really eat a strict Macrobiotic diet anymore. I can even sneak in wonderful snacks if careful. But that’s the keyword. I have to be very careful. A half of a box of Belgium chocolates is not on the menu. (That’s another story…)
Tonight’s dinner was Veggie Burgers. We eat ’em a lot. I am going to type the recipe for you now. Feel free to experiment, adding different vegetables or grains or beans. Bon appetit! (as Julia Childs would say.)
Veggie Burgers
3 t. oil, divided
1 c. sliced mushrooms
1 c. shredded carrots
3/4 cup chopped onion
3/4 cup chopped zucchini
1-2 cloves garlic, minced (or use powder)
2 c. quick oats, uncooked
1 15 oz. cans beans (kidney, black, garbanzos, your choice)
1 c. cooked white or brown rice (or grain of your choice like millet or quinoa or barley or wheat)
1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro or chives (optional unless you love cilantro like I do. Then it’s not optional)
2 T. soy sauce OR 1 heaping teaspoon Cajun seasoning/salt (OK tonight I put in 1 T soy sauce AND 1 t. seasoning.)
1/8 t. black pepper
assorted toppings and buns
Heat 1 teaspoon oil in large nonstick skillet. Add mushrooms, carrots, onions, garlic and zucchini; cook over medium-high heat 5 minutes or until veggies are tender. Transfer veggies to a food processor. Add all other ingredients (except buns and toppings) and pulse for about 20 seconds or until well blended.
Actually it doesn’t all fit well in my food processor so I blend the oats first, then add the beans/grains. I transfer that to a large bowl, then pulse the veggie mixture before adding it to the bowl. Take a big spoon and stir, stir, stir.
Divide into eight or nine 1/2 cup portions. Shape into patties. If you want, refrigerate until firm. Heat remaining oil in skillet over medium-high heat. Cook patties 4 minutes per side or until golden brown.
Enjoy!
Sprouted almonds? Say more!!!
Your food is so pretty and that salad is beautiful!
I have used dandelion root tea (and dietary changes) to easy mild gall bladder problems.
It’s actually only the second time I’ve bought sprouted almonds. That’s what they are labeled at the co-op. I don’t know much about them but here’s an on-line article: http://www.almondessence.com/Transforming.cfm
They taste crunchier and lighter than most almonds. Yummy.
Yes, I remember drinking lots of dandelion root tea during the first year. Glad you like the food pictures.
I’m going to try this. It’s sounds pretty easy. Thanks.
Almonds soaked, and ready to be stored in fridge. I also made a breakfast much like the one shown on your post this morning. Thanks!
That food looks delicious! Very healthy day, food-wise, from the looks of it! 🙂
It was indeed on a healthy day–a delicious and healthy day.
Yummy! Kudos to you and Barry for the lifestyle change.
Marianne, there’s nothing like a health problem to make change happen. We both feel so much better eating this way. Thank you.
I love the pickles! Looks like a great day of eating! Hmm. I can hear my 15 year old doing the dishes from dinner of last night’s chicken gumbo and the pan of swiss chard gratin I made tonight. A hot meal seems to be the ticket on these chilly end of winter days. I had several small things over the period of today- fruit cobbler with nearly the last of our red currants in it for breakfast topped with yogurt. Soft eggs over greens with a bit of cheese and flax toast for lunch. Sesame noodles around 5. Dinner just now. I love hearing how you are! Love, S
Suzi, love hearing what you ate today! Am salivating just reading your description. Fruit cobbler with last of red currants. Sesame noodles. Sesame noodles! I love sesame noodles. Actually, everything on your menu looks good. And you have someone to do your dishes! I left mine in the sink while writing this blog. Time to go wash…
I’ve been vegetarian my whole life, almost, and have never made my own veggie burgers! (but i do remember making one nut loaf about 18 years ago) I attempted to make my own soy milk from dried soybeans: way too labor intensive for me. I have a question for you, and actually I’ve wanted to ask you for about three days so today’s post is perfectly timed.
I made quinoa from an online recipe using water, salt and a little butter, and I threw in a half a cup of coconut milk (canned). I loved it, but my husband hated it. Is it supposed to be a little crunchy? How do you make it?
And have you ever tried sustaining your own sprouts in jars with cheesecloth on top? I have trouble doing it.
Jessica, you’ve never made your own veggie burgers? You’ll definitely have to try. They don’t taste like the store brands, which are often filled with fat and not-so-healthy ingredients.
OK, here’s how we make quinoa. Measure a cup of quinoa into a pan with some salt. Bring 2 1/4 cups of water to a boil and add to the quinoa. Cover, reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes. It isn’t crunchy…it’s soft. You could substitute some of the coconut milk for water if you like. I’ve never tried that.
We used to make alfalfa sprouts in jars all the time. But, like you, it sometimes seems troublesome. Lots of seeds still exist after the sprouting. You really have to keep at the rinsing. Then wash them very well afterward.
Did I answer all your questions? Great seeing you!
Thanks, Centria. Yes, that was it! Now I remember all the rinsing of the sprouts…an easy to forget chore, then I ended up with stinky sprouts. Good news on the quinoa; that I probably didn’t cook it enough the first time. I’ll try again. Bye!
What I ate today: Is a Big Secret! You would never let me read your blog again if I told you. You would seek to have me banned from WordPress. You would set the SPCA on me for cruelty to Miss Sadie and the Cowboy. No, I will never, never tell. There are, it turns out, some secrets in Torch Lake Township.
Please, Gerry? won’t you tell? I know, you ate Doritos and half a box of chocolates and a hamburger casserole! (Sounds like my past life, LOL.) I would never ever ever judge anyone for what they eat. Promise. Cross my heart. 🙂
Wait, wait – I meant to mention that the veggieburger recipe sounded darn good. One of my favorite Detroit restaurants used to have Tex-Mex Lentilburgers on the menu, and I swear if I could find someone who would make those for me I’d get married again.
Oh here you are again! Tex-Mex Lentilburgers sounds heavenly. Let me know if you find the recipe for them. Mmmm…
Wow! You are one healthy eater! Have to say we’re not vegetarians, but that veggie burger recipe looks pretty darn good! Maybe I’ll try it and not TELL him it’s a veggie burger! LOL!
Oh good luck, Dawn! He’s pretty sure to recognize that it’s not meat. It’s funny, when we first started eating veggie burgers we thought they were OK but not the same as a hamburger. Now we think they’re the best! It’s all in perspective, isn’t it?
Yum-yum… I have made a lifestyle change to eat whole lot healthier… Good show…
Another healthy eater! Way to go, lesdaprez!
I’m excited to discover the joys of sprouted almonds! Thanks for sharing your inspiring story of healing through diet. Good job!!!
Sprouted almonds are “the bomb”. (Isn’t that what people say?) And you’re welcome. I think it took an illness like this to really stick to it. Thank you.
Thank you so much for the veggie burger recipe. I’ll try it soon. Your menu for the day looks delicious. And congratulations on beating surgery for four years. I hope that’s forever.
My husband and I have been lacto-ovo vegetarians for forty years. We are healthy people in our 60s. We have introduced a lot of unhealthy things into our diets over the years, like coffee and sugar, things we avoided when younger. To get back on track, I recently introduced a weekly menu, which is just a different ethnic meal each day. Tonight is Mexican. I find new and interesting recipes, mostly from the internet, according to the ethnicity of that particular day. It adds a little spice to life.
My first book for young readers, Magda’s Mayne Island Mystery includes a recipe for apple sauce and another for salsa, two recipes readers in the 9 to 13 age group should be able to follow. I like to include recipes in my books and the kids enjoy cooking.
My goodness, lacto-ovo vegetarians for 40 years! That is amazing. We don’t eat sugar but we’ve let coffee slip back into our diet, too. Love that you’re trying a new ethnic meal each day. Are you having tacos or burritos tonight? Wonderful that your books included recipes for children. That is great.
I LOVE blogs like this! This is the very fabric of our lives! What yummy food ideas! Thank you for the recipe. 🙂
Martha, isn’t it fun? “The fabric of our lives”. Just simply sharing what we eat. Glad you liked!
Okay this all looks waaaaay to good. I made a big salad tonight partly because I slipped by and read your post yesterday Kathy. I was very quiet – didn’t leave any comment prints.
Hope you enjoyed your salad last night, Terrill. They can be so good… Love hat you just said about “comment prints”. Had an image of you as a small chipmunk just stopping by…
Kathy, I’m so glad to be a follower of your blog, you are certainly a very interesting and creative person.
As for the food, it looks great. It’s subject very dear to me, since as you know healthy cooking & eating has become my passion 2nd only to classical guitar.
I make 99% of all the foods I eat from scratch, and have a varied list of items that I eat throughout the day. I plan to jot down recipes and such on my blog but for now, I posted some pictures of one of the first healthy dinner parties that I hosted. You can find them on one of the first posts in my blog at http://ivanolarte.com/2010/03/03/the-pursuit-of-healthy-living/
Ivan, i’s wonderful that you eat so many good healthy foods. Way to go! Sounds like two good passions to have: classical guitar and healthy cooking. Your dinner party menu looks wonderful!
YUMs all around!!
If you ever want to post more about food and recipes, I’ll enjoy it!
OK, Emma, will just have to post some more. The lady who wrote the original blog posting about what she ate said she had lots of interest on these posts.
Hi Centria,
Your pictures are amazing. I wanted to let you know that the veggie burgers are absolutely delicious, me and Don love them. Thanks for sharing the recipes and for the beauty of sharing your joy with the world.
Love,
Cloud
(You don’t have to approve this for posting I just didn’t know how else to contact you)