This blog is so new for me, I’m still trying to figure out exactly the kind of blogger I want to be. I’d like to post once a day, but I know that might not always be possible. I’d like to write posts ahead of time, but I’m a procrastinator. So we’ll see where that all goes. But one thing I know I’m not, at least not naturally, is a food blogger. The thought of trying to create a recipe gives me hives. The thought of taking a picture of every single step of a recipe I follow is surprisingly overwhelming. I don’t really go to any restaurants that are worth writing a real review about. I mean, hey, crazier things have happened, and never say never and all that, but I can’t see those types of posts becoming regular features for me.
But I like eating, and I’ve got to eat something, right? And eating properly is definitely a part of finally Making Fit some day. So I guess I’ll have to address food quite frequently on this here blog.
So um…where to begin?
Day-to-Day? Now that I’m working out more, my relationship with food is beginning to change into a relationship with FUEL. What will I be doing today (and what did I do yesterday)? What will my body NEED to get through the day? What can I put in it to help? What should I avoid that will hinder? I’ve been asking myself these things more and more–while not avoiding the occasional indulgence. Another (ironic?) side effect of working out as a part of trying to lose weight is I find myself much hungrier throughout the day. Especially the days after I do my Couch to 5K runs. I’ve learned (with help–Krissie calls it being Rungry) that on those days I need to keep fueling myself with small healthy choices throughout the day. Or when it comes time for dinner, I completely go nuts and overeat. I track my choices (trying to do it for the whole day when I sit down in the morning), and try to leave the biggest chunk of my daily calories for dinner. I do that because dinner is the most variable as far as spontaneous changes (or burnt meal attempts) go, so I need to leave room if things don’t go as planned.
Shopping? I do that. Since it’s just me and the dog, I can usually get away without sitting down and doing a dinner plan with recipes and then shopping that way. I make sure I have the pantry staples, I don’t really keep much meat around, and I keep my mind open for what looks interesting, fresh, or is on sale. But I would like to get better at having a plan of attack with recipes. What seems to happen, though, is I only really have time to cook about 1 full meal a week, I’ll have planned for 3 and things end up spoiling. The goal here, I think, is to eventually make Sunday the day when I make a few healthy recipes that can be frozen or refrigerated in single servings to use for lunches too. I’ve got a couple busy weekends coming up, but after that, it’s go time!
My photo from a trip to Hicks Orchard in Upstate New York
I am also blessed to live in an area with a lot of farms, farmer’s markets and roadside stands. I take full advantage of those in the summer time. I’m even considering shelling out ~$700 (gulp) to join a CSA this summer through fall. I’m looking for someone to go halfsies with me, really, because I’ll never be able to use all those veggies myself. We’ll see what happens. I can’t wait for fresh local vegetable weather!
The battle for less packaged and processed foods? That, my friends, is a whole ‘nother post.
What I’m obsessed with right now? Freeze-dried bananas from Trader Joe’s.
What’s your relationship with food right now?
