Don't Try This At Home

About a year and a half ago, I posted a recipe for vegan snickerdoodles, and included a handy tip: don't use wax paper in the oven unless you plan on igniting your oven in the dead of winter. Well, this evening I learned a couple more handy tips, ironically, also learned while baking cookies.

1. Always bake cookies on a proper baking sheet. If your baking sheet has holes in it, it is highly likely that the dough will drop into those holes when the refrigerator dough heats up, creating little lava pools on the bottom of your oven. Your kitchen will then fill up with smoke, as it pours out through the top of your stove and the sides of your oven, and you will have the joy of scrubbing that black-baked dough out of your oven later, when it is about as hard as lava rocks.

2. Do not bake cookie dough in the microwave. At least not for ten minutes at full power. Perhaps there is a recipe somewhere for cookies that can be baked in the microwave, but alas, I did not read one before doing so. Since my cookies were still slightly soft, after I hastily pulled them out when the smoke started to fill the room, I thought I should pop them in the microwave so they could cook a little longer. After all, you can cook vegetables and noodles in the microwave, so you should be able to cook cookies, right? Wrong. I looked up 7 and a half minutes into the 10 minutes I'd programmed before sitting down to watch an episode of Modern Family (I love Sofia Vergara!), to see a steady stream of white smoke headed in my direction. Being as my microwave is about 20 feet from my bed where I was sitting, it didn't take long to reach me. I dashed over, turned off the microwave, unplugged it, and threw open my apartment door. About thirty minutes later, I deemed it safe to return inside.

Here is a picture of my sorry looking plate of cookies and very yellow microwave. I'm adding "baking sheet" to my shopping list!!!

Of Cherry Pie and Late Night Suppers

It's been a while since I've posted something, so here's where I am at these days. Working on moving past the "definition of insanity is to repeat the same actions and expect different results." If you're wondering what I mean, or maybe you already know, let me spell it out a little clearer.

My challenge is that I have a certain mind set when it comes to being a healthier person, and I am very careful not to deviate from it. I get all geared up to go, usually starting on a Monday, and I am ready to exercise 5 miles a day, eat healthy meals, have smaller suppers, no snacks, and no desserts. I will do it for "x number of weeks" and see where I am at.

It's Monday, and I step on the scales so I have a benchmark to start from. If I'm extra ambitious, I might pull out my measuring tape and measure my waist, my elbow, my calf, etc. so I can see how many inches I will lose. After my morning exercise, I carefully prepare my healthy breakfast and march off to work with a full water bottle. At lunch, I am diligent to load my plate with mostly vegetables, at suppertime I eat fruit and some low-calorie things like crackers and hummus. I go to bed reviewing my day with satisfaction. Sure, I was hungry at about 11:00 am and had to wait another two hours till lunch, and sure, I didn't feel full after supper because my stomach was hurting from not having had enough to tide me over from lunch, but all in all, I think I did quite well.

It's Tuesday, and I step on the scales, pleased to see that I've dropped a whole pound (water loss). I march about the loop, getting my miles in, and go home to a nutritious oatmeal with fruit breakfast. The day, and Wednesday and Thursday, follow pretty much the same routine as Monday did. Friday I get a little out of schedule because I wake up too late for breakfast, but I have a granola bar to get me through till lunch. Sabbath, I'm feeling so happy with my progress and that I've lost 2.2 pounds by now that I treat myself to dessert, since it's Sabbath after all. Sunday, I skip breakfast, and grab a slice of pizza at Costco for supper.

Monday I step on the scales. That miserable slice of pizza, with its enormous sodium content, has pushed my weight back up so it looks like I haven't lost a single pound in a whole week. I'm feeling discouraged and only walk half my miles that morning. At work, I am extra busy and extra stressed, and by the time I get off work, later than usual, all I want to do is go home and eat. I rummage about in my freezer and find the chocolate cookies I hid there a week ago. I enjoy a supper that fills me but primarily consists of sugar, fat, and carbs.

Tuesday, I skip my exercise. I have thrown my nutritious meals idea to the wind and am scarfing down sandwiches and crackers, cookies and potato chips, as fast as I can. By Thursday I've given up, it's raining outside so I can't exercise anyhow, and I was hungry all last week and didn't lose a pound, so why even bother?

Sound familiar? I know it does to me, because I've done that, over and over and over again. Yet somehow, each time I expect a different result. I expect that after years of eating the same way and slowly gaining the weight and developing habits that don't contribute to a healthy body, I will overnight, or at the most in a week, be able to step out of my chrysalis and reveal a perfectly healthy vibrant person who has got it all figured out. I will look like Sandra Bullock, cook like Paula Deen, and exercise like Jillian Michaels.

Ahem, I think I'm seeing a bit of a disconnect here! Reality is that becoming a healthier person is not just about the journey to get there, it is a lot of really hard work! I think a lot of the time I give up because I really don't want to put the effort into it! I want to believe that it is 90% inspiration and 10% perspiration, instead of the other way around. I know intellectually what I have to do, but emotionally it is about as easy as giving up chocolate. It's about impossible.

Maybe that's one place I can start. I can change my "It's impossible to change" mindset to a "It is possible, and I am going to do it," attitude. I know it is, and I believe it is, and now I just have to set out to prove to myself that it is possible to become a healthier person. So tonight, well tomorrow because I shan't be eating anymore tonight!, I will return to the place I was two weeks ago, and get back into gear.

My little tips are really quite easy. Exercise an hour a day. Eat a full plate of food at each meal, but only one serving. Don't substitute low-calorie foods and don't count calories. Drink plenty of water. No snacks or added sugar (my major weaknesses). Sit down to eat and, if at all possible, plate your food and enjoy it as a meal, instead of an accompaniment to a TV show, busywork, or reading. Weigh once a week and measure inches once a month. Set a goal for each week that is reasonable (the usual, between half a pound and two pounds, depending on your body type) and write it on an index card and hang it in a prominent place. Keep your goal in mind, and set a deadline to reach your final goal. And finally, accept what life throws at you and learn how to deal with it in more constructive ways than eating.

Here's to success!

Recipe: Carrot Salsa

I needed something quick and fresh with my limited supply of vegetables on a Friday morning (I usually stock up on vegetables on Sundays). This quick salsa was inspired by a recent week or two of watching Food Network shows on Hulu.com! 

   4 tomatoes, cut into quarters
   1 small sweet onion, cut into half
   1/2 a bunch of cilantro
   1 huge clove garlic
   1 small carrot, peeled and cut into large chunks
   Salt, cayenne pepper, chili powder, and garlic powder to taste

Throw all ingredients, except for seasonings, into a food processor and blend till smooth. Add seasonings to taste. A fun way to serve this is to put a medium sized lettuce leaf on a small plate, lay two carrot sticks lengthwise down the middle, add three grape tomatoes, and then put a generous tablespoonful of salsa on top. Wrap and enjoy!

Giving It Up

Are you like me? Do you have a "guilty stash" that you keep in your house, just in case? I do, and while its contents may vary depending on sales, my mood at the time I was in the store, and shelf life, my "guilty stash" is always there, sometimes on the very top shelf and sometimes displayed in plain view on top of my mini-fridge. I thought I would write about it tonight, though, because there is something I've been contemplating doing and I'm not sure I'm ready to do it yet.

See, I would like to completely get rid of my "guilty stash." Throw it out, eat it up, give it away, but once it's gone, it is gone for good. Now that is a scary thought. I'm not sure I can manage without it. What if I'm feeling stressed, sad, lonely, or angry? How will I console myself or feel good about myself? What if visitors drop by unexpectedly and expect a treat? What if I'm watching a movie and I suddenly feel like snacking, or I get a craving for a certain type of food?

My "guilty stash" this week includes 1/2 Toblerone bar (I've already eaten the other half), 1 big bag of salt and pepper potato chips (stuck on the very top shelf over the sink), 3 fig bars (they say natural, but I think each packet is 380 calories, and there's about 6 bites in each packet), a small jar of vegenaise, 6 tins of dolmades (not sure if they fall into this category, because they are healthy, but also drenched in oil), and a wide assortment of granola bars and crackers. I know, you're looking at my list and thinking, "What is she so worried about? I have twelve Reese's Whipps in my freezer so I won't eat them all once, a box of Costco brownies, 6 doughnuts, and a whole apple pie in a Trader Joe's paper bag in the corner of my closet." Well, unfortunately, I tend to overeat anything that isn't healthy for me, so it really makes no difference if it is a chocolate bar or a granola bar. Oh yes, and I've been there in your shoes as well. I've had all those foods on that second list of junk food and more, sitting in my room at one time.

So here's my thought. I am still gearing up emotionally to do this, but I've been thinking about it for some time now. I'd like to get rid of everything that isn't real food. You know exactly what I mean. Empty calories, substitutes for regular meals, consolation prizes. I can't eat it all first, because not only will I be putting on the pounds, once I've eaten the food, I will want to buy some more and the cycle will continue. My theory behind all of this rather frightening plan is that if I have only healthy food to eat in my house, I won't overeat. It's easy to eat 12 brownie bites in a row, but it isn't easy to eat a whole box of cherry tomatoes. After about 10 tomatoes, I start to feel full and my tastebuds are telling me I need to find something else to eat! Somehow I wonder if God made natural foods that way, so we would be healthier people.

I still have a day or two to think about it, but now that it's out there for everyone to read, I think I shall have to follow through. This could be really exciting!

Walking Down the Road

Okay, so it really isn't easy, this whole weight-loss thing! I am now seeing why, over the years when I tried and tried to lose weight, it didn't work. Here are some of the ways I have found it doesn't work:

• Eat snacks, preferably mid-morning, before supper, and late at night. 
• Use liberal amounts of spreads and dressings on your food.
• Have dessert every day.
• Eat out at least once a week.
• Have a minimum of two servings at each meal.
• Fill your plate with protein and carbs.
• Make chocolate, fried foods, and icecream your major food groups.
• Spend your leisure time in front of the TV.
• Get your exercise by walking to and from the fridge.
• Drive to work, even if you live 2 minutes walk from your office.

I will be the first to admit that I have good days and I have bad days. On good days, I eat oatmeal for breakfast, one serving at lunchtime, and soup or salad for supper. On bad days I have a granola bar for breakfast, two servings and dessert at lunchtime, and a sandwich liberally spread with vegenaise for supper, along with an evening snack of chocolate and potato chips while I watch a movie and think about how many calories I am eating.

As I look back over this past year, when I determined to become serious about becoming a healthier person, I am proud of how far I've come. I also recognize that I still have a ways to go. But that's okay. See, it's all about the journey. For me, my journey is to emotional wholeness, and a big part of that is taking care of myself through exercise and good nutrition. Maybe you have a different journey, but wherever you are going, know this: you are worth it and you can do it.

Here's an easy fun recipe for yummy home-made sushi. I will admit, it is time-consuming and if you're in a hurry, you may prefer to pick up some already-made vegetarian rolls at Trader Joe's. If you're feeling adventurous, though, try these out. They taste even better than the Trader Joe's kind! 

   1 1/2 cups of short-grain white rice
   2 1/4 cups of water
   Sesame oil
   Salt
   1 packet of seaweed (the seasoned kind is best, though pricier)
   1/2 English cucumber, cut into thin strips
   1 carrot, peeled and cut into thin strips
   1 avocado, cut into long pieces
   Braggs' Aminos
   Wasabi paste (optional)

Cook rice by bringing to the boil, covering and simmering until done (about 15-18 minutes). Spread out on a cutting board and mix in sesame oil and salt to taste. Mix well with your hands or a wooden spoon. Take one sheet of seaweed and spread a thin layer of rice over it, leaving a bit empty at one end. Lay down several slices of cucumber and carrot, or cucumber and avocado, then roll up the seaweed. You can run a bit of water on the empty edge, just to make sure it sticks. Cut into five pieces, then serve with Braggs' and wasabi paste for dipping. (wasabi paste is fiery hot, so dab the smallest amount on your sushi).

Calories ~ 125-50 per roll.

No Oil, No Fat, No Nuthin', Really

So this week it's going to be a no oil and no fat week. Sigh. I know it's good for me, but I really don't want to do it! Do you know how many foods have hidden fats and oils in them? My mom and I decided we would give it a whirl, just for a week, because anyone can do anything for a week. And we're not going to be religious about it, but we're going to do the best that we can. I've already broken the rule. I made sushi today, and you can't make sushi with at least some oil in it. But doesn't the brain need some oil to function properly?

I'm excited, though. Tomorrow I'm going to try to get in my five miles again, because that's gone by the wayside since I went on holiday for a month and managed to sprain my toe last week by falling on it due to some slippery gravel. Exercise really is beneficial, and I know I always feel better after I've had a good workout. It's also time to stop being comfortable with my weight where I'm at and start working on the next goal! It's really not that far away, either, it's just that I much prefer to stay in my little comfortable "zone" instead of put some hard effort into it!

Here's to an exciting week that hopefully (fingers crossed) will be reflected on the scales in a few days' time!

Recipe: Vegan Berry Tart

Growing up, we would visit a little bakery in Egypt, La Palma, where we could choose miniature fruit-tarts for special occasions, like birthdays. This recipe, created with my mom's direction, is modeled off those tarts.

   1 whole wheat pie crust, unbaked (I used Maple Lane Bakery pie crusts)
   1/2 cup chocolate chips
   1 package soy vanilla pudding (I used Dr. Oetker Organics)
   Fresh berries (I used raspberries and blackberries)
   Fruit jam

Follow directions for baking the pie crust as unfilled. Be sure to prick holes in the crust's bottom so it won't bubble up. Melt the chocolate chips in a double-boiler, or in a small pan held over a larger pan with boiling water. Mix chips vigorously until they have melted into a smooth paste. Pour the chocolate into the baked crust and carefully smooth all around so it forms a chocolate crust. Put it into the freezer to cool. Meanwhile, follow directions for making the soy vanilla pudding, but reduce the soy milk by 1/4 to 1/8 of a cup. As soon as the chocolate has frozen solid, pour pudding in and smooth out. Cover pie with a layer of clingfilm so a crust won't form on the pudding. Put in the fridge to cool. When cooled, decorate with berries. I sliced berries in half lengthwise, then placed on the pie in a circular pattern, alternating raspberries with blackberries. If pre-rinsing the berries, let them dry out properly before placing on the pie. (I didn't, so the top of my pie was slightly soggy!) Melt a couple of tablespoons of jam in a small pan, then using a pastry brush, glaze the berries. Cool in the fridge, then serve with Soy Whip cream!

Calories ~ 250 calories per piece of pie, not including Soy Whip.

   

Recipe: Sweeeeet Oatmeal

This is a super simple recipe to make and you can change it up any way you like. I originally created it to have a breakfast recipe that was quick to make and a good every day option. The best part is that this recipe has no added sugar but it tastes really good and does tide you over till lunchtime.

   1 cup soymilk
   1/2 cup instant oats
   Your favourite fruit (ie. blueberries, raspberries, apples, bananas)
   Wheatgerm, oatbran, flaxmeal
   6 sliced dates or a handful of raisins
   1 Tbsp almond butter, or handful of nuts
   Sprinkle of cinnamon

Bring the milk to a boil, then add the oats. Stir for a minute or two, just until the oats start to break down. Add other ingredients and stir well. Enjoy!

Calories ~ 600
  

Eureka!

I think I have finally found the magic key that leads to a healthy lifestyle. It's what I've known all alone and yet have been kicking and screaming and fighting every step of the way. So here it is:

   Live Healthy

It makes sense, doesn't it? If you want to be a healthy person, you will need to make healthy choices, which will lead to living a healthy lifestyle. While it sounds all too easy, in reality, if you have spent a good portion of your life making unhealthy choices, it may be a bit of a challenge to change your regular every day habits. That is the one thing about habits, they are automatic and require little or no thinking. You sit down in front of the TV, you feel hungry, so you get up and grab a bowl of salsa and sit back down with a bag of tortilla chips. Or it's the end of a stressful morning at work, and the first thing in your mouth at lunchtime is a doughnut or a chocolate brownie.

For the past year, I have been steadily working on learning how to be a healthier person. There have been setbacks, I have found myself binging on sweet and salty foods, holidays and birthdays have brought the usual excuse to overeat, I've slept in on mornings when I should have been pounding the cement and getting in my miles for the day, but through all the challenges, I have determined to get back up and keep on going. I'm pleased to report that though I haven't accomplished all I set out to do, I have been successful.

I've learned a few lessons along the way, and I know I will be learning many more as I continue. Here are a few tips I'd like to share that may be helpful:

• Have regular mealtimes, eat a good breakfast, don't snack, and drink two liters of water a day. Start your morning with a glass of water and drink a glass of water thirty minutes before lunch and supper.
• Eat as much soup and salads as you can. I just discovered salads for supper and I'm really excited about it.
• Indulge in fresh fruits and vegetables. Find out what you like to eat and stock up on those fruits and vegetables, instead of buying what you think you should eat out of duty and watching it turn limp and mouldy in the fridge and then throwing everything out. 
• Establish a regular exercise routine and find a buddy to exercise with. Try to exercise at least four times a week if possible.
• When eating out or on holiday, plan to keep your weight consistent (it isn't realistic to try to lose weight). Eat slowly, it really helps!

I'm now working on the whole "fruits, nuts, grains and vegetables" part of living healthy. Part of that is becoming aware of what is really in your food, the processed foods at least. Looking at the ingredients list of some items has me putting them back on the shelf at the grocery store in a hurry, after all, I don't want to be eating something that has about 30 ingredients in it, most of which are artificial or preservatives! One way I am trying to train my taste buds is by eating breakfast oatmeal without added sugar. I started by eating those instant oatmeal packets, two of them, with added nuts and things. But after a really high blood pressure reading at Walmart gave me a bit of a scare (okay, so it is an automated machine, it was the end of the day, and I had just finished eating at an Indian restaurant!), I decided I needed to take a very serious look at my eating habits. I started eating regular oatmeal for breakfast, and just yesterday I stocked up on cherries, blueberries, blackberries, and raspberries so I have plenty to make my oatmeal as tasty as possible.

You may think that it is too expensive to buy fresh fruit and vegetables, particularly the more exotic kinds. While I used to think so too, I also know that I have no problem buying a bag of chips for $2.99, a box of chocolate brownies for $5.99, and a handful of chocolate bars at the checkout, taking me well over the $10.99 I paid for three pounds of cherries at Costco the other day. It all depends on what my priorities are. Should I buy a candy bar or a green bell pepper for 50 cents? Should I put a can of soda or three bananas in my shopping cart?

Living healthy can be challenging at times, but I work at a place where I see on a daily basis what happens when people don't make wise decisions about their health. High blood pressure, heart disease, high cholesterol, diabetes, and the list goes on. It is one reason why I have been more serious about choosing to exercise and eat healthier. And I'm pleased to say that it is worth it.

Recipe: Let's Bisquick Pizza

It was another busy Friday afternoon and I needed to prepare something fast for Sabbath lunch the next day. Sound familiar? In a moment of desperate inspiration, I decided to make the family favourite: pizza. I reached for a large yellow box from Costco, and 30 minutes or so later, lunch was ready. (does not include pre-heating time for oven)

   3 cups Bisquick mix (pressed down)
   Olive oil (I prefer extra virgin, first cold press)
   Plain soymilk
   1 jar Prego tomato sauce (the medium size jar)
   Heinz tomato ketchup
   1/2 block Follow Your Heart Vegan Cheddar Cheese, shredded
   1/2 green bell pepper, cut in chunks
   Frozen sweet baby corn
   1 small jar of mushrooms


Mix a couple tablespoons or so of olive oil, and enough soymilk with the Bisquick to make it into a smooth dough of pizza dough consistency. Spray a large baking tray with baking spray, then press the dough out to cover the tray. Pre-bake in the oven at 400 degrees fahrenheit for 8 minutes. Then take the dough out and squirt ketchup, spread tomato sauce, throw on the bell peppers and mushrooms and corn, and cover with a generous topping of cheese. Put back in the oven for another 7 minutes or so, watching carefully to be sure it doesn't burn. Serve with a green salad and chilled Welches' grape juice. Tastes best on the same day, but you can reheat it in the oven the next day at 350 degrees for about 20-30 minutes.

Please note that all times and temperatures are subject to your particular oven, so watch your dough carefully to be sure it doesn't burn.

Recipe: Green Thai Curry

I found the perfect vegan green Thai curry recipe online, printed it out, and used it a couple of times. Today, when I wanted to make the curry again, I couldn't find the recipe anywhere and an online search was hopeless. So, I put together something similar to below. As all seasoned chefs know, you can't give specific measurements, but it is close enough. You can substitute or add in vegetables, such as peas, spinach, or courgette (zucchini) and add fresh grated ginger if available.

   1 red onion, chopped
   1 green bell pepper, chopped
   Olive oil (I use extra virgin, first cold press)
   1 Vegetable stock cube or a tablespoon of "chicken" seasoning to taste
   2 heaping dinner spoonfuls of green curry paste (look for one without shrimp)
   Basil
   1/4 head green cabbage, chopped
   4 carrots, sliced
   1 bunch of asparagus, in 1 inch pieces
   1 tin of coconut milk (pure, with no additives, like Thai Kitchen)
   1/2 bunch of fresh cilantro, chopped

   2 cloves garlic, minced

Fry onion and bell pepper in the olive oil, add stock cube, curry paste, and basil, and mix well, then add the vegetables. Stir-fry for a minute or two, then add the coconut milk. Simmer till vegetables are just cooked. Stir in cilantro and garlic. Serve over jasmine rice.
  

On We March

I've been really good about exercising this week, so I'm pleased :) One of my favourite sites is www.caloriecount.com because I can put in my information, then find the type of exercise I do, and it will tell me how many calories I've burned that day. It's really quite cool! You can also log your weight, and if you are ambitious enough, every single item that you eat, every day. I tried doing that once, but because I don't eat a lot of pre-packaged or processed foods, it was rather time-consuming to find or create the things I did eat.

I went to lunch with a friend today, and knowing ahead of time that we would be visiting an Indian buffet, I had just a yogurt for breakfast and skipped supper. I wanted to enjoy my meal at lunchtime but I didn't want to go over my calories for the day! I also made sure to drink enough water, as I always do.

My exercise of choice is walking. I think I am getting quite used to it, particularly after spending a week in Taiwan where we walked at least 10 hours a day!!! I'm very curious to see whether it is possible to get in shape by only walking, with the low-impact aerobic exercise thrown in here and there. You see so many advertisements on TV and online for all kinds of fancy exercise equipment, but are they really necessary? Each manufacturer firmly believes so! So this is also an experiment and we shall see what happens!

Recipe: Chard & Lentil Stew

I adapted this recipe from http://vegetarian.about.com/od/soupssalads/r/crockpotlentil.htm and it is absolutely delicious! Here is my variation on a theme:

     1 cup brown lentils, soak overnight
     4 cups of water
     1 bouillon cube
     1/2 red swiss chard, chopped
     1/2 onion, chopped
     1 tomato, chopped
     Ketchup
     Seasonings, including oregano, black pepper, cumin

Soak lentils in enough water to cover, allowing for lentils to expand. In the morning, put them in a medium crockpot with 4 cups of water, 1 bouillon cube, swiss chard, onion, tomato, and seasonings. Cook on high for 10 hours. Add ketchup to taste and dilute with water if you like it thinner. Serve with thick slices of bread spread with Earth Balance margarine.

Addition and Subtraction

It had been a week and I eagerly stepped on the scales, expecting to see reflected there my hard work of eating right and exercising. The blank lines blinked once, twice, and then the digital display revealed the numbers. Down 0.2 of a pound. In one week.

I was disappointed for the rest of the day. What went wrong? Thinking it might have been a one-time fluke, I weighed the next day, but the scales were not much more gracious then. I didn't know what to do.

I'll admit it; I was tempted to throw in the towel, give up, and have a guilt-free calorie-laden day where I ate as much as I wanted at each meal and enjoyed a thick layer of vegenaise on my sandwiches for supper that evening. The only problem was, I had done this too many times before. I had worked really hard, for about a week or two, seen the numbers go down, gotten excited, and then slowly started to slack off. I would rationalize that I could have a "maintenance day" instead of a "weight loss" day, and then soon all my days were turning into maintenance days. I wouldn't exercise regularly because I was too tired or because it was raining.

So here I was, facing the very real possibility that I could fail to reach the as-always-too-high goal I had set for myself. I could not only fail to reach it, I could decide to give up and not pursue health like I knew I needed to.

I'm pleased to say, however, that instead of giving up, I'm going to figure out what works. Instead of exercising after I get off work in the evenings and eating supper at 7 or 8 pm, I'm going to try to get my exercise all done in the morning before work. Then I'll be able to eat sooner, around 6 pm instead, and will have my evenings free to do other things. I will try to set aside some time to prepare some healthy supper recipes this week as well.

So here's to a new week and to renewed vigor for the daunting task ahead!

Recipe: Sprout-stuffed Sandwich

One of my favourite things to eat is a sandwich wrap, whether it be a chapati with curry, a burrito with refried beans, a baladi with halvah and honey (yes, I really did put both of those in my sandwiches, hence the numerous crowns in my mouth!), a pita with cheddar cheese and vegenaise, or a dhohl puri (nothing extra needed, thank you very much!). This recipe is really simple and quick to make. 

     1 lavosh wrap (available at Trader Joes, may substitute pita bread)
     Tahini
     Persian cucumber (or English cucumber)
     Sprouts, alfalfa or clover are my favourite
     Salt to taste


Spread a generous layer of tahini down the middle of your wrap. Slice your whole cucumber lengthwise into quarters, then lay the quarters end to end, as many as needed, on top of the tahini. Pile sprouts on top, then salt to taste. Wrap lavosh tightly and enjoy.

Calories ~ 350 (depending on how much tahini you use).
    

T i n y S t e p s

Well, I took a bit of a break from blogging, but I did not take a complete break from exercising and eating right! A couple of months ago I changed jobs and now work at a small clinic as a receptionist. I see a lot of sick people coming to see the doctors and it is rather sobering to see the range of illnesses that are out there. Some of the patients are quite young, even younger than me, and when I look at their lab results and their weight charts, I realize that disease is no respecter of persons. So, after much subconscious pressure, I have decided to renew my commitment to a healthier me.

Does it last, though? If you're like me, and probably 98% of all women (and a good number of men) on this planet, you get all excited about eating right and exercising more and you go out and buy a fridge full of vegetables and fruits and count calories and check ingredients and don't buy anything processed or with too much salt. You enthusiastically rise before the early bird has even dreamt of finding a worm and you begin your day with vigorous exercise and a tall glass of water. You are careful not to indulge in sugary delights, and may even skip them entirely for a whole week at a time. But in the back of your mind is this nagging little voice.

"You're going to fail. You're not going to make it. Look at how many times you've tried before and you've slipped. All it takes is one shopping trip where you buy that 48-piece tub of brownie bites at Costco, you'll eat 10 of them in one sitting, and then your diet will be over. You can't last. After the first week, you'll just go back to your old ways. Just face reality and those extra pounds on the scales and learn to live with yourself as you are. You may never learn to love yourself, but at least learn to tolerate yourself. Besides, no matter how hard you try, you will never succeed. It's a proven fact."

I'm not going to lie, that voice has been my constant companion over the past 15 years or so. This evening I heard its familiar voice again and I thought, why? Why am I trying to sabotage myself when it is very possible to succeed? Why is it so difficult to switch off those self-defeating thoughts and recognize that change can be my reality? I'm still working on the answers to those questions!

To everyone who has ever struggled to live a healthier life, I would like to affirm and encourage you. Maybe you need to take small steps, but the important thing is that you are moving. Don't stop moving.