Monday, August 16, 2010

Marsala Tandoori Naan

I've been running (or "slogging" if you will) lately, and I've lost a lot of my stamina. I'm not sure what's going on. I've started limiting my coffee to one cup every few days, and I've removed most processed foods (other than some canned goods, and select breads).

I'm living off of vegetables, marsala tandoori naan (you do NOT want to run next to me on the treadmill...it doesn't take much, but it's coming out of my pores) and quinoa. This week Danny and I are starting to cook whole beans. I don't have a pressure cooker, and it's going to delay the cooking process, but maybe I'll find one at a garage sale or something.

Although I feel clean, healthy, and refreshed, I am also incredibly hungry. Maybe it's because I want to eat what everyone else is eating. That maybe in my mind I feel hungry.

Danny and I went to dinner at Jenny and Bryan's house tonight. We brought pizza - the meal of champions - because they're always cooking dinner for us. Not exactly the healthiest choice, but it sounded delicious at the time. Of course, I can't eat pizza since I'm lactose intolerant, and regardless, I'm still panicked that my food is trying to kill me. So I rudely brought a cabbage salad, quinoa and a jalapeno humus. I knew that in the eight years of friendship, Jenny would care less if I brought my own food - but why didn't I just cook them the same thing that I had in the fridge? Why am I afraid to serve my food? I guess I feel like I'm shoving it down my friend's throats. At one point Jenny said, "That doesn't look half bad." And then I felt like a complete jerk. That maybe they wanted a healthy meal too. Sometimes I think I'm doing something nice when in reality I'm over thinking things.

My mom used to always tell me that you should always invite people even if you think they're going to say, "No." At least they'll know that you wanted them to come.

Maybe it can also be said for quinoa.

5 comments:

  1. Jess- you shouldn't feel bad - but we would have gladly eaten your food.... if we still felt hungry we would have ordered a pizza after you left! :) Fix me up some of your good for you food and let me try it sometime! Then I can be hungry too but feel better about what I am putting in my body. Jenny

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  2. Good morning Jess. I just tried quinoa and loved it. The recipe had spinach and cherry tomatoes and fresh mint. YUMMY!!
    I bet your friends didn't give the food a thought, it was all about you and Danny visiting. Trust me they were just glad to have you both in their company. You can save the healthy food for next time and show off your cooking skills!!
    Bon appetit,
    Leisa

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  3. First time I had your parents over for dinner--practically the first time I met them--we moved from Venice, CA to near the I-90 bridge in Seattle. The menu was tostados. So I made a pot of pinto beans in the crock pot, only I added salt in the beginning of the cooking and the beans never cooked. That was 32 years ago and they've never held it against us. That's one of the things true friendship is all about--they love you no matter what quinoa baby! xoxoxoxo

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  4. Jessica: I've been following your blog from the beginning and I just want to say I am totally amazed at your introspection and ability to analyze and express your feelings and thoughts about your health, family, and your ongoing battle. What prompted me to write was your comments about diet and health. My two cents worth (well maybe four cents with inflation) is all things in moderation. For instance, I would set aside one day a week called red licorice day. For dessert that day, allow your self one or two. Little things like that can help get past the adjustment to your new lifestyle. My very best to you and God bless.

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  5. Hey Jess,

    I know the main point of you post isn't about the being hungry part of your new diet, but I noticed that was there too. So, for a little reassurance on this little piece of things. . .
    I happen to have read some studies as a health teacher that indicated that changes in diet usually result in a mental need for more and therefore extra hunger. Also, if you usually eat a lot of processed foods and sugar that are certain chemicals that you go through withdrawl from NOT eating. Imagine that! all the unhealthy stuff we eat can also be addicting - mainly because of the preservatives in it. From what I understand, that actually passes fairly quickly and will mostly subside after the second or third week of faithfully sticking to the new diet.

    Thanks for being so open and sharing this experience btw. We all have so much to learn from each-other and it easiest to learn from those such as yourself that are SO open and honest in what they share. I'm sure I'm far from being the only grateful person reading your blogs.

    Kristi

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