Just an everyday gal

This is dedicated to My Mom, who suggested I do this. From time to time I forget how good journal ling makes me feel. This will be my adventures in food making, and enjoying food out and about. I love food, well most of it. What I don't partake in is any type of under-water animal aka Seafood. Shocking right? You must be thinking to yourself, she just hasn't had it cooked right. Or She would love Aunt Betsy's smoked crawdads... right? No you are wrong. I don't like 3 parts of seafood: smell, texture and the fact that every "monster inside me" episode I have seen somehow relates back to the underwater animals. Let me emphasize, in my short lifetime I have had access to some of the finest underwater animals, and I dont like them. I would even go as far as to say my parents are underwater animals connoisseur. I also dont partake in eating mushrooms or olives, as mushrooms remind me of slugs, and olives make me think of eyeballs. If they are small enough in my food that I cannot see or taste either I am fine with that. Additionally, my idea of "hunting" is at the grocery store meat section. Have you ever been at Fred Meyers meat section on a Sunday, it is truly an olympic event. I could not kill an animal in its habitat, and certainly couldnt after I saw his eyes. I am not saying hunting is wrong, its just wrong for me.

I love spending Sundays prepping for the week, so as the week comes it is not overly stressful doing things just to get through it. Last year I lost 22 lbs by eating at home, reducing the amount of caffine, and counting calories. No secrets, no pills, revising how I eat. I would like to also share that my husband is as skinny as a twig and can put down alot of calories and never let it show. So my "diet" has to make sure he is full and happy.

Eating, for the most part is about survival, eating enough calories to equal what you are burning or less. This is not the funnest thing in the world, especially for a foodie. But I have found the tricks to it. Put less on your plate. Stop eating before you feel full. Eat slowly, enjoy and savor every last ounce of a bite. Eat alot of fruits and veggies. Limit soda, and juices. Drink LOTS of Water, even if its flavored water. Dont eat while doing other things (working, watching tv) you will not pay attention to what is going in your mouth and eat more than you need/want.

Prepping for the week. Carefully measure (cups, ounces whatever) what you anticipate eating. Place the items in snack bags or tupperware containers. Add up how many calories you anticipate on eating througout the week. Every day will be very different as different events happen each day. Some days you can "cheat" if you are better on other days. Have goals if you do this for health reasons. Small goals and large goals. Reward yourself at the small goals.

Please stay tuned for recipes and resteraunt reviews.
-Heidi