Eat-2-Liv Week 2

Well, I had planned to write a few more blogs this weeks.  I have a lot of random thoughts regarding food, eating right, being healthy, exercising and so forth.  But, Matt's iTunes went down this week and he was spending a lot of time on the computer trying to fix it.  Also, the time I would normally have during the day to blog is now being spent exercising with y sister-in-law.   I'm still trying a adjust my schedule to exercising at a different time of day.  It's working well, I just haven't rearranged my schedule to fit all the other stuff in elsewhere.  It's one of my eternal struggles.

So, back to the program.  I step on the scale tomorrow to see how week 2 went.  The good news is that I lost 2 pounds during week 1.  The bad news is that it was the same 2 pounds that I gained the week before I started this program trying to rid my kitchen of Christmas treats... by eating them.  Hopefully this week I will drop below my Christmas treat binge weight.  The other good news is that I feel good about what I am doing, and whether I'm imagining it because I feel like I'm accomplishing something, or it's real, my pants seem to be fitting looser.  Yay!  I really think that when I eat a lot of sugary foods and white breads it just makes me pudgier.  When I eat more nutrient dense foods, I am more slim.  No matter what my weight is.

This week we focused on eating mindfully.  It's something that I need to work on.  A lot of times I eat because it's time to eat and we need to get our meal done to get all the other things done we need to.  I especially eat this way with treats.  I sit in front of the TV and munch without paying attention to what I'm eating or how it tastes.  I think some of my dissatisfaction with food could be solved if I ate more mindfully and actually tasted my food.  Then I would enjoy it more and realize that I have eaten so I don't feel like I need a treat 10 minutes after dinner ends.  I've also been paying attention to how full I am.  And, realizing that I don't feel good when I stuff myself.  So, if I am pleasantly full after I eat, to pay attention to that and not put more into my body that I won't really enjoy.

I realized that if I eat well-balanced meals, I can regulate my hunger more easily.  If I'm snacking or eating small meals, it takes a lot more thought and planning to make sure I get enough of the right foods.  I've noticed it's really easy to snack on a grain or protein, or fruit.  Most of my snacks fit into the same area.  Vegetables are definitely my hardest thing to get extras of.

One thing I worked on this week is trying to work in neutral foods and snacks.  I know that I will go through times when I just want to eat to eat something, or want a snack.  So, to think of a life without snacks or treats, is hard for me imagine.  I know that to make this a lifestyle change, I will have to get over the thoughts that, "When I'm done with this program I can do that again...".  So, I need to figure out how to have an occasional treat or to eat because I feel like it.  This week I have tried to allow myself to do that.  With the stipulation that I first choose healthy foods, then neutral foods.  I try to tune into what my body really wants so that when I finish eating, I feel satisfied.  I think it has gone well.  I learned that I don't have to have a treat and I can still be satisfied.

Thanksgiving Celebration

*Day 358*

We went to Salt Lake yesterday for Thanksgiving dinner with my family.  Now it's been a couple of days since this "blizzard".  I figured they had plenty of time to clear the roads for holiday travelers and we would be fine driving down.  The roads were ice packed!  We were skidding and moving maybe 20 mph.  By the time we got to Wellsville, Matt was talking about turning around because he didn't want to drive all the way in those conditions, besides we wouldn't be there in time for dinner.  But, we went on and found Sardine Canyon in perfect condition.  Wha?  I guess they concentrated all their efforts on the canyon and didn't worry about city streets.  Oh, well, at least we made it the rest of the way at a decent speed.  And, we were on time for dinner.

Dinner was great and then we got to enjoy some basketball and football.  Good times.  Then it was time for what Matt has termed "Pie Fest".  OK, so maybe we get a little carried away with our pies sometimes.  You have to have the traditional, but then this is the oly time of year the I make/eat pie, so we have to try some new stuff.  Like eggnog pie, pumpkin spice cake, orange cream, cookies and cream, cherry chocolate, pumpkin cheesecake, peanut butter pie, and so on and so forth.  So, you kind of end up with a lot of pie.   I think it's OK when we eat "dinner" around lunch time and then have pie for dinner. 

Today we got to go Matt's dads and enjoy another delicious meal.  And some fun games.  Me and Matt rocked at pictionary!  Cornstartch!  Unfortunately, Matt is the only that can decipher my drawing, and because of a late night last night, my brain shut down half way through the girls vs. boys game, and I wasn't much help.  Sorry ladies.  I still had fun laughing at myself. 

I love this time of year.  We get to spend time with family, play games and eat food.  Bring on Christmas!

Thanksgiving

*Day 357*

Family and food.  Two of my favorite things! 

Parsnips

*Day 353*

Yesterday we got parsnips in our Bountiful Basket.  Today we ate them for dinner.  Everyone liked them! 
That's what's been fun about getting baskets.  We get to try things I probably wouldn't buy, and find out that we like them.  And we get more variety in what we eat.  Plus, it's like Christmas every time, because you never know what you're going to get.

Eggnog Fudge

*Day 351*

Matt loved this.

Eggnog Fudge

1 T. plus 3/4 c. butter, softened, divided
3 c. sugar
2/3 c. eggnog
2 T. heavy whipping cream
1 package (10-12 oz.) vanilla or white chips
1 c. marshmallow cream
1 c. finely chopped walnuts
2 teas. vanilla extract

Line a 13 x 9 in. pan with foil and grease with 1 T. butter, set aside.  In a large saucepan, combine sugar, eggnog, cream and remaining butter.  Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly.  Reduce heat, cook until it reaches 238 (soft ball stage), stirring occasionally.  Remove from heat.  Stir in chips until melted.  Stir in the marshmallow cream, walnuts and vanilla.  Spread into prepared pan.  Cool to room temperature.  Using foil, lift out of pan.  Discard foil, cut fudge into 1 in. squares.  Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Eggnog Mini Loaves

*Day 347*

Tis the time of year for eggnog.  We have been enjoying it and have used it in some recipes we found.  We liked this one.

Eggnog Mini Loaves

2 1/4 C. flour
2 teas. baking powder
1/2 teas. salt
1/2 teas. cinnamon
1/2 teas. nutmeg
2 eggs
1 c. sugar
1 c. eggnog
1/2 c. butter, melted
2 teas. vanilla extract
2 teas. rum extract

In a large bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg.  In another bowl, beat the eggs, sugar, eggnog, butter and extracts; stir into dry ingredients just until moistened.  Pour into three greased 5 3/4 in. x 3 in. x 2 in. loaf pans.  Bake at 350 for 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near center comes out clean.  Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks. 

Halloween Party!

*Day 318*

Yesterday we went to Salt Lake for our family Halloween Party.  Not everyone was able to come.  We missed those that weren't there, but we decided to have fun anyway.  (Sorry guys.  Pencil it in for next year.)  We played pictionary (go girls, for the win!), the kids had a bounce house and blow up slide to play on, we had some good food and of, course, great company.  I love spending time with my family!

Logan and Addie going down the slide.

Matt going up against Renae at pictionary.  Did I already mention that the girls won?

Wa ha ha ha ha!!!  (That's Logan laughing.)  When Lynn tried to go on the slide, she collapsed it and got stuck inside. 

We made some peanut butter truffle pumpkins. 

Logan's Meals

*Day 273*

Today while I was making Logan's lunch, I had a thought.  I have never made lunch for him to take to school.  He has always eaten school lunch.  He likes school lunch.  But, this week he decided that he wanted to take "home lunch".  We got a case of pears to can.  He picked one out the day that we got them and has been impatiently waiting for it to ripen.  So, he wanted to eat his pear for lunch.  That's fine, I don't mind making a lunch for him.  I guess my lunch making skills have gotten rusty since I used to pack my lunch.  Logan came home and told me that he didn't eat his pear because I didn't skin it.  I've told him for the last 3 days that if he took his pear for lunch, he would have to eat it like an apple.  I thought he knew that meant the skin would still be on.  (Next time I'll be more specific.)  Then he told me that he didn't eat his bread because it was soggy.  (Then, later he thanked me for the delicious sandwich.  ?)  So he ate his ham and cheese, his carrots and his fruit snacks.  I felt bad because I thought he was probably hungry.  Yeah, because then he took his bag of carrots out of his lunchbox, and he still had a whole bunch, so I don't even know how many of those he ate.  He tried a pear, with the peel, after school, and he loved it.  He has one picked out for tomorrow.  I'm not sure if he really wants me to make him lunch again.  I don't remember it being so hard.

One of Logan's new jobs is that he is in charge of making dinner once a week.  Tonight he made his first dinner.  Macaroni and cheese, hot dogs and cooked carrots.  As he sat down to eat, he said, "I made dinner."  He sounded a little proud and a little surprised.  He did have a lot of help from mom.  But he had to decide what to make and did whatever I told him to.  He designed his into a person.  (And took a picture of it.)

 

Breinholt Reunion

*Day 255*

Yesterday we had our Breinholt family reunion with my brothers and sisters and their families. It's always fun for me to get together with my family. We have a good time.

We went to the pool at the Young's. They have a great yard with a pool, trampoline, playground, tennis court, basketball hoop, and great scenery (including a deer, a real one). The Young's are people that lived by my grandma Anderson, so my mom has known them since she was little. We started going there with my mom's family. Now there are enough of us, that we go with just our family. (Does that explain it Matt?) We had a diving contest and a slam dunk contest. We relaxed, and some of us got a new hair style. And, of course, we ate. There we so many things I would have loved to have pictures of, but it's hard to take pictures when you're busy enjoying yourself. And I've learned that water and cameras dont's mix. So, even though, we wanted to test out or new camera, we needed to keep our distance from the pool.


Logan getting ready for entry off of the slide. I'm surprised at how comfortable he can feel in the water with the addition of a life jacket. Which he has bruises under his arms from wearing all day.


In an attempt to follow a goal I have to be more like my brother, (just less lazy and more willing to be involved in having fun and not worrying about what people think) I joined in on the diving contest instead of just watching. (OK, really it was more a jumping contest, since I don't think anyone actually technically dove. We just tried to do tricks while jumping.) This is me doing a sweet flip. I'm wondering if that has something to do with my body hurting so much today.


This is Logan doing a super cool move off the diving board. I didn't get to go the reunion last year. I could hardly believe Matt when he came home and told me that Logan jumped off the diving board. Now I have proof. He really did it! Like a hundred times.


This is Matt calling to my while I was eating my ice cream. "Hey Kristy, look at me!" Really Matt? I was eating ice cream! Leave me a one for minute. :)


Y.M.C.A. This originally started during the diving contest. It was significant enough that we thought we needed it in a picture.


Me and Renae were trying to jump ourselves out of the deep end of the pool. But then we got the giggles and didn't have the strength to pull ourselves up.


We finally rolled out of the pool. I'm just glad that Matt didn't take a picture of the in between step when we were half way out, and still laughing. Thanks Matt!


We had a super slam dunk contest. Although Steven seems to be the highlight (youngest child), no one is excluded. This is Logan going in for a dunk.


Ryan (who normally has almost white hair) had some really pretty bluish greenish hair by the end of the day thanks to the intense chemicals in the pool. Mine also turned bluish greenish, just not as dark.

Cooking

*Day 244*

I don't hate to cook. Sometimes I hate to think of things to cook. But, I don't really hate to cook. I like to eat. And if I cook, I get to eat.

When I was growing up, I didn't try a lot of different foods. I just wasn't really exposed to a huge variety. So, it made me nervous to try new things. I just wasn't sure I would like them. And, like I said, I like to eat. So, I want food that tastes good to me. With this background, being in Matt's family was a little scary for me. I remember the first Easter that his dad said we were going to have a Greek Easter. I was really nervous for Easter dinner. I wasn't sure if I would like any of the food. It would all be new to me. But, you know what? I liked it! As I got older and out on my own, I started trying new things. I realized that I liked most things I tried. (Sorry, still not a fan of Greek olives, or onions.) So, I got more adventurous (for me). I started not being so scared to try new things. Then, I started trying to add more variety to what we ate at home. So, I started trying new recipes. And I continued to learn that I like most food I try. Except one.


I found a recipe for some Asian noodles. Logan loves the "Chinese noodles", so I thought I would try this recipe. It sounded good. It is the only thing I can think of that I've made that I threw out because it was terrible. It had spaghetti noodles, that were cold. Then the sauce had peanut butter, soy sauce and I think Tabasco sauce with some other stuff. As I was mixing it up, I smelled it. I started to wonder about it, but I kept on. I was going to give it fair chance. By the time I put it on the table, I was really skeptical, but I didn't say anything because I didn't want to sway Logan and Matt. I don't think Matt even swallowed his bite. I took one bite. I could tell everyone was thinking the same thing as me. Logan looked relieved when I told them that they didn't have to eat it. It was awful. We dumped it out and started dinner over again. Last week I was looking through a cookbook. I saw a recipe that looked good. I read the ingredients. It called for peanut butter and soy sauce. I passed it right up. I don't think I'm ready to try that combination again.

Canning

*Day 240*

Let canning season begin!
Finished 14 quarts of cherries today. (Thanks to help from Logan and Matt. It's awesome to have help with this. It makes it go by so much faster.) We also have beans and beets that are almost ready.


I'm not sure I'm ready for this. Canning takes a lot of time, and it can't wait. When the food is ready you have to do it or it will spoil. And it can make a huge mess. (It's my excuse for not mopping the floor. "It's just going to get dirty again, I'll wait until I'm done canning.") I have canning stuff all over my kitchen for months. But, I really like to be finished. The jars are pretty to look at. You have proof that you've done something. And, it's nice to have food to store. So, bring it on! I guess.

* Logan asked why it's called canning if we put the food in jars. He thinks it should be called "jarring".