Friday, August 5, 2011

Favorite Things Friday

It's still Friday in my part of the world, just barely.  I had really intended to write a post last night, but after a full day at work, a mad dash across town to get Kiddo from summer camp to home, additional dashing back across town (wasn't I just here?) for a swim club parent meeting that lasted for an hour and a half.   Combine that with the previous two nights of poor sleep, I wasn't coherent enough to type anything.  (Did that make any sense? Maybe I'm still not coherent).  Well, it is Friday, so I no longer have to be coherent.  So consider yourself warned, you may want to stop reading now. 

Earlier this summer my younger brother had a heart attack.  Thankfully he's fine.  However, that whole episode was a big wake up for me.  So I've finally bitten the bullet and decided to do something about my poor health habits.  My diet, though not that of a sugar crazed 8 year old, doesn't even closely resemble the recommended guidelines published by the US Government  (Considering the fact our government can't balance their budget, should we really trust that they know how we should balance our bodies? OK that's too deep a thought for a Friday).  At any rate, the last week I started keeping a food diary, which appears to be as effective at reducing food intake as my weekly stash report is at reducing fabric intake. For some reason knowing I have to write down it down, makes me much more selective about what I choose to put in my mouth.  

None of the above is my favorite thing.  But I did discover a new favorite today because of all of the above.  

 
This is a "Berry Good Salad" available at our favorite sandwich place, but never ordered because, well who wants just a lettuce salad when you can have creamy chicken salad.  The "Berry Good" comes with a low fat raspberry dressing that is absolutely yummy.  For some reason plain green lettuce is so much better with strawberries, raspberries, blueberries and blackberries.   This was lunch (along with a skinny latte).   So maybe eating healthier won't be such a sacrifice after all. 

Hope that everyone has shed the work week and is well steeped in weekend.  For more favorite things, check out all the cool links at Quilting in My Pyjamas

12 comments:

Michelle Ridgway said...

Your'berry' salad looks 'berry' yummy!Sorry couldn't help myself. Good for you....it is hard when you are working.

AnnieO said...

Glad the wake up call was only a warning and your brother is fine. My wake up call was the big birthday I'm having this year (plus a wedding for DD). I've keept a food diary before and it does help, I know! That salad looks absolutely delicious. "Low fat" foods are so sneaky--they all seem to add a ton of sugar to make up for the fat, so reading labels is a must! Good luck on your journey.

Marg said...

I love fresh non creamy salads but I'm not sure whether a berry salad would be a favourite. I'm hopeless at keeping a food diary, so I'm pleased you are finding it helpful. I usually have my salads with no dressing or it on the side.

Shay said...

Following Marg who is clearly channelling Meg Ryan in When Harry met Sally ("I have my dressing on the side") I also like non creamy dressings with the notable exception of Caesar salad.

Anyway back to Kate's post. I like the look of that salad. Given the choice though I'd probably still be the one yelling "Macca's Run!"

Maybe I should do a food diary. Nup- way too confronting.Mine would be full of carbs, fats and proteins!

Shevvy said...

I am glad your healthy eating change is going better than mine. That being said, you have a bit incentive, glad your brother is ok.

Mistea said...

Your berry salad does look delicious, and the food diary does work in that it makes us very aware of what we are eating. Mine would currently be full of sugar - really must do something about that before my next appointment. Thanks for the reminder.

Keep Stitchin' said...

That looks like the salads I get from Culvers or Wendy's! I love them!! I'm not much into creamy salad stuff (surprisingly, since I love everything else fattening!)

Baa-Me Kniits said...

I'm a dressing on the side type of gal also LOL I am also kick starting my health habits...I have a serious sugar addiction...I have just gone cold turkey on the sugar and its 2 1/2 weeks now and I'm not really missing it at all, which has surprised me I really thought it would be torture. I'm also fitting better into my jeans so there is a plus. Its not easy changing our bad habits but in the long run it is worth the better health....good luck with the battle :-)

Lynne said...

Ooo, that Berry Salad sounds absolutely delicious (though eating lettuce with fruit seems a bit weird).

Helsie said...

Good on you for trying thr food diary to keep you on the straight and narrow. I wish you luck. I might try it too.
Cheers
Helen

Kirsten said...

Good for you and I hope you can stick to it...when I did a food diary I lost almost twenty pounds...gained the weight all back after finishing the diary!!

thea said...

The salad looks great .. I love a spinach salad with strawberries and walnuts or pecans and a raspberry vinaigrette dressing. Hope the diary helps.