5 things I’m thinking about, right now:
- When Science Met the Biggest Loser – I haven’t been a fan of the show from the beginning because of the nutrition they promote or the fact that they’re basing so much on numbers, but this was eye opening. I’ve always found it to be a bit exploitative and unhealthy on so many levels, but I’ve always wondered if the ultimate change was worth it. Perhaps not.
- Brussels sprouts. Who knew? My only experience with them has been the one time my mom served them boiled when I was a child. Roasting apparently is the key to making them not just edible, but delicious. And now the only vegetable I can claim not to like is green beans.
And there’s no hope for those nasty buggers. - My pressure cooker: I knew I‘d like it, but I had no clue that I’d come to rely on it so quickly for so much. Bone broth in 45 minutes? Yes, please. Buttery, melt in your mouth short ribs in an hour? Of course. Shredded beef taco roast in 75 minutes instead of 8 hours? Yes. Artichokes in 20 minutes total and the best kale ever? I think I’m in love.
- This guest post on The Paleo Parents from a week or so ago. It brought me to tears. It gave me hope for the changes I’m hoping to bring about in my own kids. It gave me great ideas on how to encourage it. And it lead me to Slim Palate, the young writer’s insightful and engaging blog. This, I think, is the kind of change that brings lasting results.
- Weight Watcher’s Exposed: love this simple, easy to understand breakdown of why those Smart Ones aren’t exactly great choices. I confess, I had pretty good success a few years ago with Weight Watchers (though all 70 pounds came back – in 4 months, no less – when I first became ill with what would turn out to be based in gluten-intolerance). The biggest reason I left was because they kept pushing the freezer meals from the store and the processed junk you could buy at the meetings. The more I learn about nutrition and lasting change, the more I’m convinced the key is real food.
Definitely agree with you that roasted brussel sprouts might be one of the best things ever. I can never eat the frozen microwavable kind ever again. Also I hear you on the green beans. I’m not a fan either. But I found I could tolerate them if you fry them with some bacon and/or garlic.
I can sometimes eat green beans that way – with a lot of bacon and garlic and roasted in a mix with some others, but they are hard for me. And don’t get me started on that green bean casserole thing…*shudder*
i’m a current WW member, but purely for the tracking. i tried going to the meetings over the summer and found it REALLY depressing and upsetting – there was a HUGE focus on weight and no talk about actual health. at one meeting we actually planned a day of tracking around one woman’s regular need to consume 4 pieces of deep dish cheese & pepperoni pizza! when i offered 2 helpful suggestions (add a salad and eat less pizza, or make your own and skip the cheese and meat but keep the crust and sauce), they were shunned by the group.
WW makes you want to believe you can have it all…and you can in their plan, just at the expense of your health. at any rate, i’m a huge fan of the tracking web application and i curtail my points and weekly allotment based on what i know about health and what my body needs.
ok, rant over. glad i found your blog! i like the content
P.S. here’s my favorite brussel sprouts recipe! http://leanerbythelake.com/clean-eating-roasted-brussel-sprouts-tomatoes-scallions-with-golden-raisins/
Thank you! I picked up another back of sprouts yesterday at Whole Foods. I think I have most of the ingredients on hand!
That was very much the same reason I left my group. It was far more about food quantity and convenience than actually promoting health. It just didn’t seem productive.
I do track my food at MyFitnessPal.com, though I don’t count calories. Calories in, calories out just doesn’t work for me. I have to focus on nutrition first, and then the weight-loss comes.