Lunch: It's All About ME!

So. I've always enjoyed a healthy menu. And by "always" I mean "ever since I got out of college and realized a pan of brownies does not a meal make." I enjoy a good sausage, a few Oreos, and a well seasoned rib eye from time to time. But truthfully, my body feels better when I eat lean and well. It seems like recently, my friend Robin has inspired many people to give "the lifestyle" a go. Call it what you will, basically it's healthy eating to the extreme. (To the extreme, I rock a mike like a vandal, light up the stage and watch me jump like a candle).

Sorry. It comes naturally.

Anyway. I have enjoyed watching many of my friends give this a try, and seeing the positive results in their lives. I, however, truly feel for me and my house, a bit of meat and dairy is still important. And yummy. So I'm unwilling to jump on board 100% with "the lifestyle." But I figured since I'm home alone every day for lunch, I would give it a whirl. This past week was my first week. I'm not looking to lose weight, I just want to keep the old system clean and fresh. So I committed to fresh fruits and veggies, whole grains, no dairy, no meat, and easy on the sugar. Here's how it went:

Monday: I put my back out early on, so I spent the day at PT getting electrocuted and massaged. Eating was secondary, and I didn't do it. Monday was a bust.


Tuesday: Here's my palette:

Basically I took all this stuff and made a sandwich out of it. I used the nice kind of ginormous whole wheat bread. I shook some salt, coarsely ground black pepper, and oregano over it. Then I splashed some olive oil and pomegranate vinegar. It was really, really good.

Wednesday: Used the same stuff, and threw it all in a bowl. I love the crunch. Pretty much it was the same thing as Tuesday, minus the bread and with more oil and vinegar. I will admit I missed the Feta I would ordinarily have used, or the bleu cheese dressing. But the stuff was still good.

Thursday: Acorn squash. I cut it in half, then baked it in the oven (350) for about 30 minutes. Then I put some brown sugar, nutmeg, cinnamon, salt and olive oil over each half and baked for ten more minutes. I scooped it all out and had it in a bowl. I used both halves, but that was way too much. It was really flavorful and extremely filling. I wasn't hungry again until supper time.

Friday: Tofu. I finally tried cooking this. I've always enjoyed eating it when prepared by someone else. But I've been nervous to try preparing it. I soaked it in soy sauce, sesame oil and mongolian fire oil. The kids were off school, so I figured it would make a nice hot lunch for all of us. I cut it into chunks and sauteed it. I served it with rice, and our favorite topping Nori Furikake. It's roasted seaweed and sesame seeds. Verdict: A big yes for Noe and I, a big no for the boys. They did not like the tofu. It was too squishy. Whatever.

Overall, I enjoyed the experience. I think I'll keep it up for a while and see if I get magically clear skin, healthy intestines, and an increase in energy level. At the very least, I'll have a yummy lunch that no one in the family will be whining about, because I'll be eating alone. HA. I feel better inside already!