Eat Better!
This isn’t really a New Year’s resolution as much as an ongoing project. I’d like to spend less money on eating out, and eat healthier, more balanced meals. The Crock-Pot will be key, since I am essentially a very lazy person. Into this Crock-Pot I’ve thrown:
- 4 chicken thighs
- a couple tablespoons of Thai Ginger and Red Pepper peanut butter
- about 10 quartered and marinated artichoke hearts, with a bit of the oil
- about three cups of organic vegetable broth
- several sweet potatoes (or are they yams??), chopped
- a couple regular potatoes, chopped
- some kidney beans
- a couple tablespoons of minced garlic
- a dash of merlot
- enough water to cover everything (about a cup)
I’ll cook it on high for about 5 hours, making it ready to eat just about the time Preston gets home from work. How’s that for domestic planning?
I’ve been tracking all my food intake and calorie output for the last couple weeks. My sister passed on to me a highly organized Excel workbook that helps to track the calories, fat, carbs, protein, fiber, and calcium of all your daily intake, as well as tracking daily exercise. I’ve discovered that I love love love fat. While I don’t have any trouble staying withing the USRDA for calorie intake most days, I usually more than double the recommended fat intake. Something to do with root beer floats and peanut butter cookies, maybe. Also, I don’t eat anywhere near enough fruits and veggies. I think this makes me pretty much your typical American. I do not like to be typical anything, particularly American, so I am working on eating more fruits and veggies and less fat. Nothing radical though. I still like me some peanut butter cookies.
That is so interesting because when I started tracking my diet I found the exact same thing. No problem staying in good calorie range – but fat is where it’s at. I’m not really even into candy or chocolate – it’s the oils that get me. And I, too, had to consciously work at getting my servings of fruit and vegetables. In fact, I really need to start tracking this again because I think I’ve slipped way back into my old ways.
Ya, it’s not the candy for me really either, it’s the dairy and breads. I was looking down the Category column the other day and it said Dairy/Bread/Dairy/Dairy/Bread/Bread/Bread/Bread/Dairy. Hmmm, maybe I should figure out how to enjoy some fruits and veggies instead of english muffins and milk.
Well I am so proud of myself because I went to the store today and bought apples and oranges and raisins and pickles and carrots to snack on each day to help out my fruit and veggies servings.