Now, where were we? Oh, yes, we're talking and writing about eating real food. I had a not-fun hiatus moving these last two weeks. But the payoff is I have a kitchen I can cook in, a deck to entertain on (no grill yet, tho), and have already had a few friends to dinner. I grilled kabobs under the broiler (chicken, pork, peppers, pineapple chunks, cherry tomatoes, onion), made rice pilaf similar to how Mom used to make it, and friends brought a green salad. Two flavors of sorbet with fresh raspberries for dessert. (And, I must confess, chips and salsa on the deck before dinner. A guest brought those, and we inhaled them. I probably should have prepared raw vegetables.) There will be lots of parties, cookouts, and get-togethers with friends this summer. How can we eat healthy when the menu veers to potato salad and ice cream? And speaking of my favorite food, did you read the Newsweek article about the most-fattening ice cream flavors? I guess it is obvious, but the calorie and fat count increases in flavors that contain more than just ice cream, the ones that also contain nuts, brownie batter, pieces of candy bars, and more. Newsweek offers some alternatives (including the brands Turkey Hill and Edy's) and compare calorie and fat count for half-cup servings. (Who ever ate a half-cup of ice cream? )
Question of the week: How do you enjoy summer foods and still stick to healthy eating?
A journey into the world of "real food" with Seattle-based journalist Rebecca Morris
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
3 comments:
The canonical summer foods, for me, are grilling and icecream.
Grilling: I just use very small portions. The best taste is the first taste, and after the first 4 oz or so, the pleasure isn't the same. This is a big mental change --- I grew up thinking "more is better" --- but try it!
Ice cream: I try to make my own in a blender. Real cream (it's cheap at Costco) plus a little ice, berries, cocoa, whatever. It's not quite the same as ben-and-jerries but it is very very very satisfying ... and almost zero carbos.
Also: edible flowers! This is the season for nasturtium blossoms stuffed with cheese or hummus. Cheap and tasty --- and you can grow your own.
Finally, check out Eat The View ... an interesting take on grow-your own ... http://rewinn.blogspot.com/2008/07/eat-view.html
Summer is the easiest time to eat healthy! Plentiful choices of fresh fruit and vegies and warmer weather leads me to eat less not more. It's the comfort foods *needed* in cool weather that do me in.
I agree with atticeff. Summer makes it easier to reach for fresh fruit like berries, mix it with lowfat yogurt, a small amount of water, put that all in a blender and make your own berry lassi (a refreshing drink inspired from India).
No matter what season and what environment (yes, even the all-you-can-eat buffet at Salty's at Alki), the point is this: eat slowly and mindfully, enjoying and savoring each bite for what it is, and eat until you are about 80% full (a true hedonist, who knows when to stop). When you feel you could have a little more, but you are mostly satified, that's when to stop and enjoy filling your other hungers -- for company, friendship, activity, etc.
For July 4, we started our outdoor barbeque at 4:30, with eating around 5:30pm. At 8 pm, everyone took their shoes off and I led them in some spontaneous dancing in my yoga studio until they were either tired or laughing! Then we crowded into cars to go to Hamilton Park with a view of two side-by-side firework shows (Elliot Bay and Lake Union). It really felt like we were filling our many hungers and "stomachs" for connection as well as food.
Post a Comment