No Good Very Bad Waste

Sticky, icy, mysterious, stinky, and abandoned. All of these could be used to describe food in my fridge at one point or another. Visions of rigorous weekly refrigerator cleanings do not always manifest themselves. As a result, from time to time an unaccounted for container or more often abandoned veggies or fruit in a drawer are extracted and found to be less then edible.

This food waste is a regular red flag for budget keeping. If you spend the money to buy the food, why on earth would you keep wasting it by letting it rot. DH points this out constantly. No one ever goes through the produce section and picks out broccoli with the ambition of not steaming it. I don't stand their and handpick green beans only to extract them frosty from the fridge later, rendered tasteless by the days spent in the veggie drawer.

Yet, my very first world problem keeps rearing its ugly head. And this New York Times piece notes that it could equal $40 a week totally $2,275 a year of wasted food and cash.

As I blissfully wandered through the store this week, I was determined to not only stick to my shopping list, but to also not buy more than we can consume before it expires.

In theory, all of the produce sitting in my fridge at this moment, will be consumed this week. As in the next 7-10 days. No veggie or herb will be left behind.

In addition, my meal planning this week focused on using things I already have in my pantry. I've enacted a self-imposed dry carb purchasing ban for the moment. No more purchasing of dried pastas, grains, legumes, etc. until I've put a serious dent in what's already in my pantry. Why on earth do I keep amassing new types of rice when I have four already on a shelf at home. What are we stock piling for? An emergency 30 person dinner where we can only use what we already have in the house?

Hello Thai Chicken Skewers and the can of coconut milk you'll use up from my pantry and Toasted Israeli Couscous Salad with Grilled Summer Veggies that will clear out some couscous and stock.  And, waiting in the fridge already made for tonight's dinner is what promises to be a tasty Corn Chowder that used up some bacon and onions from the drawer.

Newton's First Law

Shaking off inertia is a psychological mind game that really does require a series of very small choices to be made in an effort to go from being completely at rest to a constant state of motion. Somehow in an effort to slow and enjoy life more I've managed to slow down so much, I'm missing out on the very things I am making time to enjoy. I've correlated being in a constant state of motion with doing too much and therefore rewarding myself with the privilege of doing less. Ha. What a fallacy.

I've managed to pull out running clothes and running shoes and set the alarm for 6:30. (I know that's not early for some of my friends, but do we need to discuss how much mornings and I do not get along?) I've also managed to hit the snooze button on two beautiful mornings for walking/running. I will not be discouraged, I can do this.

Note: I apologize for the more naval gazing turn of writing for the moment, I'm hoping by writing I start to be more accountable again.

In listening to the NPR piece about sitting too much at work, my sedentary routine was further amplified. Instead of wondering about why so many people are walking instead of working throughout the day, I should be applauding them for modeling a far more constructive approach to their health and workday.

I was surprisingly unable to even really delve into this New York Times piece on how sugar is poisoning us. My DH found it riveting and over 1.1 million people have viewed the video that highlighted the research. So I'm thinking about it and listening to the video as I type this entry.

What is not surprising when considering the state of inertia is that it effects every aspect of your life. Lack of interest in exercise has compromised my eating habits. By degrading my eating habits I've impacted our fiscal balance by eating out more and cooking at home less. Hello vicious cycle, I'm getting off this ride.

Watch Out Thin People

The absence of a topic in conversation can be an indication how much you really don't want to talk about something. The topic that has eluded this blog? Exercise and weight loss. I've avoided it more effectively than the Christmas cookie platters of yore. I've told myself repeatedly not to write about it because it was too personal, putting too much out there. But enough, I'm going to meekly broach the topic.

So my jump start training of 2009 for 5K/10Ks and sprint triathlons did me a wonder of good. And then through a variety of personal stresses and ironically weighing myself one day and realizing I had lost more than I thought, I stopped really trying. Genius I know. Last May I drug myself across the finish line at the Broad Street 10 miler. It was awesome, it was painful, I want to do it again. With less pain.

Working to dispense of the psychological baggage of a plus-sized lived life, I've finally come to terms with something my doctor said to me several years ago. "Watch how thin people eat and exercise and copy that."

Let me tell you, I've been ticked off about that sentiment for several years. WTH was pretty much all I could think as I walked out of her office. I've been haunted by that phrase over and over again as I made choices at a lunch or dinner with a friend or colleague that is thin and fit. I've hemmed and hawed about it as I used the stationary bike at the gym and watched a fit women pound it out on the treadmill.

Over the last year I've finally started to interpret that concept into the more literal direct statement of "make better choices." Every single thing I shovel into my mouth is a choice. Every time I don't go to the gym is a lost opportunity cost. Implementing this realization is a bit more tricky.

So as I've mulled over new years resolutions to write, the items have not surprisingly centered around health. Yesterday, I caught up with my inspiring and kick-ass training partner from 2009 and independent of each other had both reached two conclusions: we want run a race again and we miss hot yoga.

So watch out thin people, I'm watching.
And very slowly running behind you.

Beating Up Breakfast

Mornings and I are not friends. This is a long standing feud. Rare is the day that I don't feel like the sun rudely barged in on my pleasant night's sleep. Subsequently, my morning routine is anything but leisurely. Start to finish it's a 45 minute brisk rush.

Weekday breakfast as a result has been a long suffering step-meal. More days than not, I've skipped the "most important meal of the day." Often, when I toss something in my bag and eat it early in the day, I end up complaining that I'm hungry way before lunch. Whiny McWhine.

So, my recent meal planning has expanded to include more than just things DH will eat for breakfast, but items I am actually going to consume. I feel like I'm going into a fight with breakfast and it's going to give me a black eye and maybe a broken nose, but I'm going in swinging anyway. 

The first step has been the versatile apple. Also making an appearance are raspberries (when on sale), and clementines. I'm trying to steer clear of the nutrigrain bar, oats n' honey nature valley granola bar line of thinking because I've been down that road a lot and it never sticks. So, instant oatmeal has been purchased with the idea that I can eat it at home or work and dress it up a bit with the apple bits and raisins (a la MickeyD's but healthier).

Other quick morning breakfast options welcome, but let's be honest it involves cooking something on the stove in the AM, it's not happening.

Breaking Up with McDonalds

Sitting on the back porch of a good friend's house a new acquaintance remarked they were coming up on six years of being McDonald-free. Huh I thought at the time, how random.

I mean, I get not being all Super Size Me about eating there, but breaking up with fast food giant and its road side convenience seemed a little unnecessary.

Having a balanced diet means making a stop at McDonalds the exception, not the rule. With the plethora of summer produce available it should be no problem to skip it all together. We go months without consuming a morsel of golden arches anything and our household doesn't feel deprived.

But, as summer has arrived and the lunch choices on campus have gone from few to almost none (with McDonalds being one of the few places open), I've suddenly found myself tempted more often by the wafting smell of fries and the new snack size McFlurry.

The argument in my head about abstaining or just one bite fluctuates from day-to-day. So, I'm over it. No more excessive calories in a burger, special sauce, oreo mix-in tastiness. My willpower is too weak and we have to part ways. The healthier salad, oatmeal, fruit options do not appeal. No offense MCD marketing, I don't exactly think fresh when I think of you. It's not you, it's me.

I could turn this into a argument about the fattening of America; or the disincentives we've created in the food supply chain to access cheap, healthy food easily; or about the cost wasted on meaningless meals out, but I won't. You already know about that.

Bring on the packed lunches (better for the waist and wallet) and the planning ahead when traveling. Here's to a small step in being more mindful about what I eat.

Eating that Cow is Like Driving an SUV or Be More Friendly with Veggies

Let's be clear. I am an Omnivore, but I have not finished the copy of The Omnivore's Dilemma that's been on my side table for more than a year. Nor have I consumed In Defense of Food, the Caveman Diet, or the myriad of other writings on healthier, organic eating. (I do plan to make my way through at least Pollan's work as a start). So at this moment, I am not yet scarred by the horrific images of our food chain.

My Midwestern roots currently keep me firmly comfortable with consuming most meats and veggies. And no, I do not know 100 ways to prepare corn just because I know how to detassel it.

I also have no aversion to vegetables. With very few exceptions (sorry lima beans and collard greens) I am friendly with produce. Bring on the roasted brussels sprouts, steamed or grilled asparagus, peas by the pound, and so much more.

Yet, when putting together a dinner menu for the week, I am always following the unspoken triangle in my head: meat, veggie, starch. This does not mean only pot roast and pork chops. We eat a lot of fish (a potential problem and separate post) by way of tilapia, salmon, and sea bass. We also tend to use ground buffalo now more than ground beef thanks to the Buffalo Lady at the Kansas City farmer's market. (Note: Only Whole Foods and Wegmans in our area consistently carry Buffalo and even then, very little variety.)

So, when the idea was presented that eating one additional meatless meal per week could have a real impact on the environment, I was intrigued. After all, I'm pro-veggie, so why not consciously make a choice to eat a meal entirely built around them (fruits too, but I am not a fruitarian).

The environmental cost of meat. Eating one pound of meat emits the same amount of greenhouse gases as driving an SUV 40 miles. It's the supply chain and the product itself that hurts us on this one.

An interesting piece in NewScientist reviews new research on this issue:

• Cutting back on beefburgers and bacon could wipe $20 trillion off the cost of fighting climate change.
• The livestock sector receives surprisingly little attention, despite the fact that it accounts for 18% of the greenhouse gas emissions and for 80% of total anthropogenic land use.

"The UN's Food and Agriculture Organization has estimated that meat production accounts for nearly a fifth of global greenhouse gas emissions. These are generated during the production of animal feeds, for example, while ruminants, particularly cows, emit methane, which is 23 times more effective as a global warming agent than carbon dioxide. The agency has also warned that meat consumption is set to double by the middle of the century."

Many of us could argue, we already eat at least one meal a week that doesn't contain an animal protein. So, why not add another? That is the question I am pondering as I plan my weekly meals.

The easy solution of course is stir fry (I know, you thought I was going to say cheese pizza). This past year I have started to embrace wok cooking. For the record, the wok is genius. Why on earth I didn't bother before and why I don't use it more is a perfect example of why we cook what we know. I didn't grow up with wok cooking, I didn't have an early exposure to wok cooking, so I just didn't do it.

Between a trip to China and a trip the Philippines our household suddenly became intrigued enough by the capable piece of cookware to ask for one (thanks mom!). But let's be honest, cooking veggie stir fry takes a lot of prep. Seriously look at all these veggies:

It is going to take some serious re-prioritization to get me to chop that many veggies more than once a week, so I think additional veggie dinner choices are going to have to be explored (again, beyond pizza).

In case you're wondering, all those veggies cook down in about 10 minutes and are delicious on  rice (in this case jasmine, it's what I had on hand).

So, I'm in pursuit of non-pasta, non-carb heavy meat free options to take our house from one meal meat free a week, to at least two.