Tag Archives: nutrition

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Delicious Bounty

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Day 34 in my trek to meet Mickey at the Magic Kingdom

Today’s plan is all about the food: Crock Pot Chicken a la Criolla: this is what I just spent a half an hour preparing.  Now it will cook slowly for the next six hours.  Thank you skinnytaste.com for the recipe!

Mrs. Bryan (Mike’s boss’s Mrs.) has been giving us delicious fresh vegetables from her garden.  So tonight with the chicken we’ll have a vegetable salad with peppers, tomatoes, cucumbers and green beans.

Mike will grill zucchini slices brushed with olive oil.  The last time Emi visited, she taught us to cut an eggplant, set it on a rack, salt it and let it sit to get some of the water out before you grill it.    The result was firm, delicious eggplant.  We use the same method with large zucchini.  The results are scrumptious.

Here’s to planning healthy meals, preparing them and then partaking guilt-free.

Meet you at the Kingdom!

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Payday One

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Day 33 in my journey to rendezvous with Mickey at the Magic Kingdom

Well this is it, the first in a series of paydays.  One month ago today I weighed myself and vowed to wait a month to do so again.  Today was W-Day (weigh day).  My plan for today was to step on the scale and to see what, if anything is happening.  Don-don-don-da….  I got myself naked this morning and boldly stepped on the scale.  13.4 pounds down in one month.  Not a bad outcome from making better food choices and moving more, hey?

Now, as my brother Gene would say, “That’s like losing a lifeboat off of the Titanic.”  True, but that’s one less lifeboat that I have to drag around everyday.  Right?

So I’m finding myself in a celebratory mood today.  It’s good to be good.  Ummm… Confession time: the night before last I said to Mike, “I want something that is bad for me, and I want it right now!”  His reply, “Hmmm, I can’t think of anything in the house that would be bad for you that doesn’t have sugar in it.”   Oh yeah, people, he’s got my back.  An hour and a half later right before I went upstairs to bed, I said contritely, “Hon, I don’t really want something that’s bad for me.”  He laughed.  🙂

Thanks for hanging in there with me, dear readers.  Meet you at the Kingdom!

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Choosing Wisely

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Day 30 in getting ready to meet Mickey at the Magic Kingdom

My work as a church secretary has been rather challenging this summer.  There has been major construction at the church building, so at times it has been very loud and smelly (paints, varnishes and glues) at work.  Now at last, things are pretty well put back together and the place looks so fresh and new.  I dig it!

However, I came to work with a leftover piece of salmon and potato last week for my lunch.  When I went to microwave it, the microwave was not only not working, it was missing.  😦  That was a very interesting cold lunch.  Not to be repeated.

So today I didn’t bring a lunch.  My plan for today was to go to McDonalds and pick up a salad for my lunch.  Not a Big Mac, not fries, not a quarter pounder with cheese, not a fish sandwich, not Chicken McNuggets, etc…etc…  And I did just that.  I picked up a salad with grilled chicken and savored every bite.  I didn’t even buy a drink, because I had brought a bottle of water from home.  It was delicious and satisfying.

I usually bring an apple to work everyday, too.  So this afternoon when I get home from work, I will enjoy my apple with peanut butter on it.  Yum!  I’ve gotten to a place now where I prefer peanut butter whose only ingredient is peanuts.  What a concept!

That’s it for today, dear friends.  Meet you at the Kingdom!

BTW: The microwave is being reinstalled tomorrow.  Yay!  Leftovers for lunch again.

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Mickey Drive-By

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Day 29 in tangoing with Mickey

You guys, I am so excited! Today Mike and I played/sang with Damascus Road, the contemporary band at our church.  It was Rally Day, so it was a full service with organ, choir and the band.  Very celebratory.

When I went into the church office to see if there was anything left on my desk for me to do while at church, there was a package there.  Inside was a “Sparkle Mickey” which is a TY Beanie Baby Mickey Mouse!  He has sparkly red trousers, sparkly gold shoes and sparkly silver gloves, a la Michael Jackson.  LOVE IT!  There was also a card which reads: “Thanks!  I’m looking forward to seeing you.  Keep up the good work, and thank you for being my friend.  I will be waiting here for you.  Love, Mickey.”

Can you even stand it????  A Mickey Drive-By!  What a lovely and inspiring gift from a lovely and inspiring friend!

My plan for today was to go to the church picnic, and walk right by the dessert table.  Now these are not just any desserts.  These are one inch squares of divine deliciousness from the Picnic Basket in Libertyville, all sorts of chocolatey, coconuty, lemony, sugary goodness.  In years past I would help myself to anywhere from four to six of these delicacies.  As I thought about it this morning, my resolve was waning.  I could feel the draw of the dreamy dessert table.  Then…I found Mickey, and I knew that for today I could walk right by that table without a second look.  And guess what, faithful readers,…I did just that!  I’m still sugar-free four weeks later!

VICTORY!  Thanks for reading.  Meet you at the Kingdom!

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Time to Tidy

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Day 28 tidying up for Mickey

Today’s plan is a very simple one: I will spend at least five minutes every hour (until Mike comes home) up and about tidying some corner of my home.  It’s good for the house, and it’s good for me.

I charged my Fitbit last night and will wear it today to see how much I walk.  And in honor of dusting it off and putting it back to work, I will take a little walk today.

This morning I woke up early to prepare a pork roast for the crock pot.  Today’s new recipe is Slow Cooked Pork Carnitas (Mexican Pulled Pork).  It smells delicious.  I am going to steam a bunch of broccoli and cook some Cilantro Lime Rice to go with it.  Yum!  (Thank you skinnytaste.com for the recipes for the pork and the rice!)

Busy day today, but I’m up for the challenge.  Meet you at the Kingdom!

 

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Working Toward Wellness

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Day 26 as I walk towards a Mickey meeting

Whew!  I had a pretty rough couple of days.  Today I am fever-free, and my stomach feels much better.  So…hi ho, hi ho, it’s off to work I go. **whistle* Hi ho, hi ho.

Today I am being very gentle with myself as I try to recover the energy that was sapped away the last couple of days.  So, here’s the plan: 1) I am moving around at work as much as possible.  2) I ate a wonderful left-over salmon lunch.  3) I will chat with my Health Coach tonight and make a plan for the next few weeks.  4) Tonight after a rehearsal, Mike and I will dine out.  I will have a salad with dressing on the side.  5) I will get a good night’s sleep tonight and pray that I have more oomph tomorrow for bigger and better things.

Thank you for your kind thoughts and prayers the last two days.  Meet you at the Kingdom!

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Better Choices

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Day 22 of dancing toward Disney

Here’s today’s plan: I would like pancakes with lots of syrup and butter for breakfast.  But today I am having an egg-white omelet loaded with spinach, mushrooms, roasted red peppers and a little low-fat mozzarella cheese, served with fruit and a piece of rye toast.  I won’t regret the flavor, and I will remain sugar-free today.  I can do that just for today.

Then I will shop for the healthy, low-fat, low-sodium, sugar-free ingredients to prepare our new recipes for the week.

I thought eating this way would be so bland, but Mike and I have found the opposite to be true.  We are thoroughly enjoying the natural flavors of foods.  And we find ourselves really looking forward to dinner-time and our chance to just sit and taste the new recipes.  Who knew?

Today’s particular Disney dream?  Sitting at Olivia’s Cafe at Old Key West with Mike and the kids, sipping  a cup of coffee and nibbling conch fritters.  I can just feel the stress leaving my body thinking about it.

Meet you at the Kingdom!

BTW: In only two more weeks, I will have made my original commitment of five weeks sugar-free.  Who’d a thunk?

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Rewards

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Day 21 of Disney dreaming

Three weeks sugar-free.  That is a major milestone for me.  I don’t remember ever being sugar-free for three weeks, not in my entire life.  It feels good.  My blood sugar has stabilized, which can only be a good thing.  Yippee!  I feel less volatile.

Saturday dinner has often been from Dominos or KFC or Taco Bell.  A fast food dinner to “reward” ourselves for a day off after a week of work.  Now I’m rethinking that idea.   What is rewarding to a healthy body?  A high fat, high salt, high cholesterol, high simple-carb dinner?  Or a dinner that is low fat, low salt, low cholesterol with complex carbs.  I choose the latter.  Today I choose the latter.

Here’s the plan: today I will research four new recipes to try this week.  The internet has been my best tool in eating healthy.  Then I’ll make up my grocery list for the week and be ready to shop tomorrow.

Dinner tonight?  Easy Salmon, a recipe I found last week.  I mix one quarter cup of low-sodium soy sauce with one teaspoon of lemon juice, half a teaspoon of ginger, one quarter teaspoon of cinnamon and an eighth of a teaspoon of pepper.  Then I place the salmon fillets in a shallow dish, pour the liquid mix over the fillets (two 6-ounce fillets) and bake at 325 degrees about 25 minutes.  We will feast tonight on salmon, boiled potatoes and fresh veggies with black bean hummus.  Delicious!

Thank you for reading, dear friends.  Meet you at the Kingdom!  (I’m on my way, Mickey!!)

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Half Is Enough

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Day 20 in my quest to waltz in Walt’s World

My initial thought for today was to take a walk at Crab Tree Farm., push as far as I possibly could, then walk back home.  Well, it’s a 90 degree heat index and it’s humid, so…no.

I had a lovely morning having a mani/pedi with my bestie.  Then we had a healthy, organic meal out, and we both took half home for tomorrow.  (Wild Berry rules!)

So that was the plan for today: I only ate half of my scrumptious omelet.  I boxed up the rest for another day.

And I will prepare a healthy low-sugar meal for dinner tonight.  Maybe Peanut Chicken.  Maybe Chicken Stir-fry.

Thank you for reading, dear Donna supporters!

BTW: The baked meatballs were amazing!  I highly recommend “Hole in the Wall” pasta sauce.  It has no added sugar.  When I actually looked at the recipe, I decided to go with whole wheat capellini instead of the potatoes.  So delicious!

 

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Trying a New Recipe

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Day 19 of Disney dreaming

Today it’s all about the recipe.  For dinner tonight Mike and I will have baked meatballs.  I have never baked a meatball in my life.  I’ve always fried them.  But I found a new recipe, and I thought to myself, “Self, try it; you might like it.”  🙂  So that’s my plan for the day: baked meatballs with steamed asparagus, boiled potatoes and fresh veggies with hummus.

Note to self: for October 2015 Disney trip instead of a Mickey Mouse ice cream bar one day (Mike’s absolute favorite thing to do at Disney), I am going to try a Dole Whip.  Have you ever tried one?  I hear they are amazing.  And maybe a few less calories than the ice cream bar?  What do you think?  I’ll try to research that.

Anyway, here’s to nibbling healthy!  Meet you at the Kingdom.