November 5, 2012 - Keep It Simple

Good morning to you all, I am resting from a LONG couple of months - pjs on, coffee cup warm, and movies about to start. I need to REST my brain. Do you ever need to REST your brain??? If not, pray for me, it could be my age. (wink) Last night's Life Group was amazing - we won't meet again until January! Linda wowed us with several salads, some baked pears and a little chocolate ball made with chia flour. YUM! Linda, we're gonna be like you when we grow up. We also had breakfast frittatas and cheesy garlic biscuits for Christmas breakfast and a yummy dessert pizza. Hope in January some of your schedules will open up and you can join us once a month with a dish and a smile. :) I was reminded last night, as we were discussing alternatives for sweets at Christmas parties, that we cannot over eat simply because what we eat is healthy. We also have to remember that portion size helps the scale to be "our friend" during the morning weigh-ins. Yes? But most importantly, we have to remember that processed foods contain things we cannot pronounce and probably have no idea what they do in our bodies. Pricilla said last night, "so, I guess I'm gonna have to cook." YEP - that's really a major component in this journey. I know that those of us who work are pressed for time, but simple meals work - they really do. Life Group is our time to explore fun foods for weekends and events, but the day-to-day eating regimen can be very simple. I like to cook 6-8 pieces of chicken, 6 turkey patties (or whatever meat is on sale that's lean), and veggies, as well as cut up various vegetables once a week and get them in baggies for my lunch and dinners. I can always add a fruit or steam another veggie and be really happy. If I'm lighting the grill, I'm loading the grill! After my movie I am making clam sauce to go on top of my spaghetti squash and I will top with some fresh grated parmesan reggiano cheese. Yum, yum, and yum! Are you struggling with keeping things simple? Being healthy is about refueling not grueling hours of prep. Let your natural foods provide the nutrition and you provide some creativity and wow - amazing combo. Now that's a recipe for success. I would encourage you to stray from so many products that are processed and choose whole foods as often as possible. Peel and eat - SIMPLE! Talk again tomorrow - going to peel some jicama and follow my own advise. :) PK