Decadent Dessert

I bet the title of this post caught your eye. "Is she posting a recipe for a scrumptious caloric dessert?" Nope. Just trying to make a point. I don't like when a dish is labeled as "decadent". The implication is that you will go to hell--or more correctly, get fat--if you eat it. Decadent means full of fat and sugar and calories. It means "stay away" or accept the consequences. The word implies that it is an indulgence and that you will most certainly over indulge. And if you tell me that something is decadent, I probably will over indulge because if it's "decadent", then I'm guessing I won't have it again for a long time.
Let's be honest--cheesecake is "decadent" whereas an angel food cake is not. It's doubtful you would ever describe a slice of angel food cake as scrumptious whereas a slice of cheesecake...well, that's a horse of a different color. Isn't it?
So I'm saying that we should change our mindset about "decadent". Let's think of it as especially delicious and worth every calorie but not something that we have to be afraid of if we follow mindfulness principles. Taste it. Savor it. Enjoy it. Put it down when you've had "enough" and before it's become a "decadent" over indulgence.

The calorie count and does it matter

Well, Thanksgiving is over. At least for me. I cooked at my daughter's in LA so no leftovers here now that I'm home. No sugary sweet potatoes in my frig. No buttery gravy. No antioxidant rich cranberry sauce or gorgeously crisp burnished turkey skin. Just memories of a wonderful meal. All 2,000 or so calories.
Why does everyone make such a big deal over the number of calories in a Thankgiving meal? It's one meal. And even if you covet the leftovers, I don't think you're eating all 2,000 calories day after day. Or are you?

Happy Feast Day

For my handful of followers (and you know who you are), happy feast day. Enjoy the food without guilt. Eat until you're satisfied. Share with people less fortunate than you. We used to take our leftovers to a park near our house for a homeless family who lived at the park. That way, we didn't over indulge and they had a lovely dinner for the holiday. This year I'll be going to LA to spend the holiday with my kids. If there are leftovers, I know we'll follow the family tradition of sharing.

Thanksgiving Eating Tips

Notice I didn't title this post "healthy eating tips". That's because my philosophy is that most of the food served at Thanksgiving is already healthy (sweet potatoes, turkey, pumpkin, green beans or brussel sprouts or spinach, cranberries). Those foods are all touted for their leanness or their antioxidant power or for their fiber content hence the Thanksgiving meal is a healthy one. Now, what about the butter and sugar added to these foods and the quantity we consume? Well, tish posh. That's just a petty thing not worthy of mentioning on the day we celebrate our founding fathers (and mothers).
Seriously, though, there are probably two days a year when I think people can throw caution to the wind (unfortunately most of us don't limit those times to just two days...): Thanksgiving and birthdays.
I have read all the great tips about how to eat healthy on Thanksgiving--how to cut down on fat and calories. Yes. The Thanksgiving meal contains an uncountable number of calories. Of course, if you have diabetes or another medical condition that could worsen or put you in danger, then you must follow your doctor's/dietitian's recommendations. Otherwise, be judicious (don't fill up until you have to open the top button of your pants....that's going too far!). Eat heartily. Enjoy. It's what the Pilgrims would have wanted!
If you're going to feel guilty afterwards, then don't use butter, eat only the breast meat of the turkey, use whole wheat bread for the stuffing, cut back on the brown sugar and be sure to serve fruit for dessert. I think guilt is more unhealthy than an occasional day of indulgence. I did not say "gluttony". I said "indulgence". No one wants to be sick after eating a lusciously delicious meal.
So enjoy your family and friends. Share a delicious meal. Savor all the flavors and textures. Then dump the really outrageous dishes and pack up the turkey and whatever else is relatively "acceptable" to eat for leftovers. One day of indulgence. You have my permission.

It wouldn't kill you to lose a few pounds -- or would it? - The Elkhart Truth - Elkhart, IN

It wouldn't kill you to lose a few pounds -- or would it? - The Elkhart Truth - Elkhart, IN
Just thought you should all read this article.

Dieting as an Addiction

The article, "Researchers show dieters can experience neurobiological similarities of drug addicts", is not new to me. (http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2009-11/bumc-brs110909.php#). I read a similar study recently...in fact, I might have blogged about it before.
The last sentence probably sums up the findings: "The stress experienced by frequent dieters in abstinence from palatable food has neurobiological similarities to the negative emotional state of drug and alcohol addicts."
Yes! Is there a dieter among us who has not felt the "stress" associated with giving up palatable foods? Favorite foods? The anticipatory stress that we feel when we decide it's time to cut back or cut out completely something we love to eat because we believe that food is contributing in a negative way to our body? I mean, isn't that one of the reasons we have to wait until Monday to start a diet?
And isn't there longing? Craving? A feeling of extreme deprivation? Regardless of how inclusive the diet is (like Weight Watchers, which allows all foods), there's always a feeling of loss, a sadness, a hunger--both physical and emotional.
From the article: "Forms of obesity and eating disorders can be defined as chronic relapsing conditions with alternating periods of abstinence....and relapse...that continue despite negative consequences." This is the definition of a dependence disorder--whether it be alcohol, drugs or in this case DIETING.
A dependence on dieting. Relapsing by gaining weight back. And dieting again. Even though dieting is only a short term fix. And there are negative consequences to dieting (as well as to obesity). The negative consequences of dietiting, again both physical and emotional, are rarely discussed. The goal is always to lose weight--almost at any cost.
Food for thought.

Eating Out Again

So I'm writing this article on eating out. And I've gotten hundreds of responses from dietitians. It's amazing. I really have gotten a mountain of e-mails. It seems that dietitians do not eat out that much. I'd say most eat out a few times a month. Not sure if it's a money issue or a health issue or if they just don't like to eat out. And these are average weight (by their own report) dietitians. Interesting. I eat out many times a week and some days, many times in one day. And I am not average weight---by my own report. Light bulb moment. And the revelation is....nothing. We all know that food prepared away from home has way more calories so it stands to reason that if someone is "prone" to gaining weight and eats out often, the results will be additional poundage.
The dietitians who say they eat out infrequently cite "liking to cook" as one of the reasons. Well, I like to cook but I also like to eat out. In fact, I love to eat out. I mean, there are times when I don't want to go out. I don't want to be in a room of strangers, being served by a stranger. I don't want to eat with a fork and wear clean clothes. But those times are rare. More often, I look forward to the interactions and I surely look forward to the flavors.
So I get why the dietitians who eat out infrequently are average weight but I don't know how to transform myself into someone who would be happy eating out only a few times a month.