White Bean Soup with Kale & Sausage

This is the soup with kale on top--see below for options!

A white bean soup with kale and sausage is pretty normal, right? I think it's a standard Portuguese or Spanish recipe. What's funny about this particular soup is that I found the recipe during my regular weekend menu planning, wrote down what I'd need to make it (4 CANS OF BEANS!), and then totally forgot where I'd seen the recipe in the first place. When soup day rolled around, I was at a loss.

So I made it up. All I knew was it involved 4 CANS OF BEANS, sausage, 2 carrots, and a box of chicken broth. I also remembered that I'd written a note on the recipe to add kale if available. Here's what I came up with. It was yummy!

Ingredients:

• 1 t butter
• 1 t extra virgin olive oil
• small yellow onion, chopped
• 2 large carrots, chopped
• 3 sweet Italian sausages (I used turkey ones), squeezed out of casings
• 1 clove garlic, crushed
• 1 box (32 oz) chicken broth
• 4 cans (15 oz each) cannelini beans (I used Goya)
• salt to taste
• bunch kale, chopped (I used Lacinato kale)

Assembly:

• Sauté onions in the butter and olive oil until fragrant. I suggest using a Dutch oven. Then add carrots. Stir until they're looking a bit cooked.
• Add the squeezed-out-of-casings sausage and stir/poke as it cooks. The goal is not to have huge pieces in there.
• Add the garlic and briefly stir until aromatic but not burned, then add chicken broth.
• Add 3 cans of beans. With the fourth can, empty it into a smaller bowl and use a potato masher or similar implement to squash the beans into a creamy mess. Then add to soup.
• Stir and simmer, add salt to taste. The sausage should be pretty much cooked by now, so your goal is to get the carrots to whatever tender-soft consistency you desire.
• For the last step you have a choice. Either steam the kale separately and add on top of the soup after serving (see photo above). This is recommended if you have fussy children. OR, if nobody will mind, add the chopped kale directly to the soup and simmer a bit more until everything is gorgeously intermixed.

Serve! This soup is super tasty on a fall evening, especially with buttered toast or your favorite comfort carb.

Do you have a white bean & kale soup recipe too? Do you remember where it is?!

Happy Fruitcake Day!

I guess in the last few years the day after Thanksgiving has come to be called Black Friday. I don't really get that. I like to think of this particular Friday as Fruitcake Day. It's a perfect time to take part of the afternoon (and today's was sunny and gorgeous) to make the family fruitcake recipe. Making this fruitcake several week before Christmas is essential, because it must be dosed with sherry every week to become properly palatable. I play Christmas music in the kitchen and try to enlist young helpers (and old helpers!) when I can.

Today I looked at the recipe typed up for me by my mother and she noted that the first time she made this was December 1, 1972. We've made it many, many Thanksgivings since then. My father used to be assigned the job of cutting the brown paper to fit the angel food cake pan. He always did a very, very careful job, with reading glasses, pencil, and scissors and he even created slots and tabs so it would all fit in the pan perfectly. Happy 40th, fruitcake!

This is also the weekend of the annual Putney Craft tour, which I try to attend diligently. Here is a quick shot of paintbrushes in Carol Keiser's studio. She makes gorgeous, colorful art tiles--like the ones hanging above the cabinet. Thanks, Ma, for accompanying me yet another year!

So do you do the Black Friday shopping thing? Or do you have your own special "Digestion Day" traditions?

Happy Thanksgiving 2012!

Happy Thanksgiving! Sorry for the dearth of posts this month. I've been having technical difficulties (old OS, old browser) and haven't had time to update stuff. But here's a quick update on moi:

• Work has been super busy this month, with no end in sight--but it's interesting stuff so no complaints 
• It hasn't snowed yet so I'm still following my routine of running 3 days a week. When it gets too cold or snowy I'm planning to get a gym membership and move to the treadmill.
• I'm excited for Thanksgiving! Delicious food, mellow family times. 
• I ran my first Turkey Trot this morning (3 miles) and it seemed like a perfect run. 
• I'm excited to start playing Christmas music the moment it becomes "official," which is the moment Thanksgiving dinner is through. I am a Christmas music dork. 
• We've been watching the Marx Brothers as a family. We seem to own all of their movies. They are awesome.

Have a fabulous holiday!! What are you doing for this long weekend? Traveling? Working? Chilling?

Happy Time Change: Turn on the Dark

I just set our kitchen clock back an hour. Thank goodness for the phrase "Spring ahead, Fall back," right? Otherwise I'd always be confused. With the oncoming dark, it worked out perfectly that I'd scheduled this weekend for my first trip to Ted's Shoe & Sport in Keene, NH. But I'm getting ahead of myself. My initial goal for this Ted's pilgrimage was to look for some Brooks running shoes, possibly the Brooks Ghost 5.

Source: brooksrunning.com via K. on Pinterest

Ted's did carry this shoe, but unfortunately not in my size. They also had the Mizuno I wanted to try, but not in my size. I did have a helpful conversation about how one would switch from a "regular" supportive shoe to a more miminalist shoe that's closer to neutral (i.e. barefoot-like or zero difference between toe & heel). The associates reminded me that because a more neutral shoe has less heel cushioning, I would have to be sure not to heel-strike while I'm running or I'll do even more damage than heel-striking in a normal, cushioned shoe. They suggested easing into a minimalist shoe by only going a mile or so at a time, or using it once a week, and the rest of the time running in something more supportive. So basically I would need two pairs of shoes if I wanted to work on changing my gait. Since I need to research that more and I really want to try the Brooks before I spend at least $100 on shoes, I said I'd think about it.

So I switched gears and decided to shop for safety and visibility. Because I'll probably be running in the dark most of the time (either 6:30 am or 7pm) until snow or freezing cold cuts me off for the season.

New Balance Visto Shoe light
It also flashes madly and that's the setting I'll use.
Gave it a spin tonight. It fell off because I didn't know how to put it on correctly.
Nobody was around though, and I found it on my way home.

Here's the shoe light turned off and unclipped.
It just squeezes around the heel.

I love this groovy Brooks half-zip jacket.
I have vowed that all my running tops must be either be pink or purple.
This is perfect.

It has a neat thumb-hole detail, my first.
I also got a pair of Nike thermal running gloves for very chilly runs.

Unlike Brattleboro, Keene has a Target. I stopped there and had to score these ridiculous slipper boots.
How many snow leopards died to make these?

Fortunately zero snow leopards were harmed, because these are pure flammable viscose or whatever, including a hot pink fuzzy lining. Our first-grader made me take these off and give them to her as soon as she saw them, even though they are a million sizes too big. I only got them back at bathtime.

I also got a 12-pound kettlebell because I want to try a workout from Women's Running magazine.

That brings me to my November goals, especially the first one:

1. blog at least once about something that isn't running or eating Paleo
2. run 45 miles for Pile on the Miles 2012
3. look into a gym membership so I can keep running even if it's freezing/snowy
4. run the annual 3-mile Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving day
5. go on the Putney Craft Tour
6. make Sangkaya--winter squash with coconut custard baked inside
7. figure out holiday cards EARLY
8. do a bootcamp/kettlebell workout at home at least once a week, probably Monday evenings
9. Devote Thanksgiving long weekend totally to family (and the Putney Craft Tour)
10. figure out about gymnastics classes for our 1st grader
11. convert our toddler to a "big boy bed," and also persuade his to stay there all night (he can now vault out of his crib at will, and has done so at least once a night since Halloween)

What are your November goals? This may be one of my favorite months--lots of good food, not yet stressed by Christmas and winter, lots of excuses to be cozy and wear my new slipper boots.

Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween! We went for mellow this evening. Carved pumpkins. Fried sausages. Bathed children. Gave candy to the usual 8 trick-or-treaters. No trick-or-treating ourselves because our first-grader doesn't seem to like a. costumes or b. talking to strangers with candy. I'm totally fine with that.

Now we're roasting pumpkin seeds and spaghetti squash, listening to "Good Times" by Chic and drinking Sierra Nevada Torpedo ale (whoo! that stuff tastes strong).

Fun fact: We used electric tealights in our jack-o'-lanterns this year! You can hardly tell what with all the filters and exposure tweaks I threw on this photo.

Did you have a happy Halloween? Can you believe tomorrow is November?? Happy bday ACB!!

Running While Dressed as J.S. Bach

I'm impressed by how well my 5K season has been going! Here's a recap. First I came third in the Brattleboro Walk-In Clinic 5K at the beginning of September. Next I was 1st woman in the Maple 5K that came at the end of that month. Then I ran in the Newfane 5K in October and placed... not at all.

Then today, I got my ultimate challenge (a giant Vermont hill) and better yet, dressed up as one of my favorite dudes IN HISTORY. Because it's Halloween. Basically, dressing up as J.S Bach in today's race makes me proud to be alive. I won as first woman. Also my husband pointed out I won as first eighteenth-century composer.

The hour before dawn

Outside by 6:30am, running in the dark, in the rain. My hood is up and shutting everything out. My iPod blasts "Gangnam Style." It's my own little world--and I love it. Here's what my iPod selected for me this morning:

• Gangnam Style: Psy
• Go!: Tones on Tail
• Astronaut: Shy Child
• Mirror in the Bathroom: English Beat
• I'm in the House: DJ Aoki
• Future: Cut Copy
• Invaders Must Die: The Prodigy
• Pop Song Automaton: Glory Glory Man United
• I Wasn't Made for Fighting: Woodhands
• FU2 (an awesome remix of Lady Sovereign's "Love Me or Hate Me") 

Do you have favorite running or workout songs I should be adding to my playlist?

Whole30 Reflections

I've been thinking about the Whole30 "paleo" eating plan that we did for the month of September (technically, September 3 to October 3). I still haven't gone back to the way I ate before. I still generally avoid grains and legumes, and my dairy intake is very moderate. I do have some sugar and some alcohol, but a lot less than before (ha!).

Why? I felt clean and good during my Whole30 month, and I'm not ready to mess that up. When I go off-plan, such as staying up until 11pm on a Saturday drinking beer with one of my oldest friends, I just get back on the paleo wagon afterward and feel fine again within a few days.

A random list of what I've learned:

1. Hey! Don't buy asparagus in the fall.
2. Read labels on anything that has a label. Did you know certain club soda has sulfates? Did you know certain turkey sausage has sugar? Did you know certain tomato sauce has agave... stuff? Don't just TRUST that an item has nothing bad in it. Check out the label before spending $$.
3. There's no need to go crazy with meat consumption. Look to boost veggie intake instead. I took to grouping vegetables into three categories: salad stuff, greens (kale, spinach, string beans, etc.), and starchy (winter squash, sweet potatoes, cauliflower, etc.). I tried to have some of each every day, sometimes two per meal.
4. I liked Well Fed, the Whole30 approved cookbook by Melissa Joulwan. It is a slim paperback, but useful and beautifully done. It was a relief to have as an inspiration and a reference.
5. It was key to have easy snacks like apples and sardines on hand. Apple slices with almond butter was a fabulous snack for me, especially after a 5K.
6. Coconut oil, avocado oil, and organic grass-fed ghee were all worth the investment. At our local coop, these cost at least $10 each. The coconut oil and ghee are great for cooking (roasting, frying). Avocado oil is lovely for drizzling, such as over a pile of steamed kale with salt.
7. As I wrote in one of my posts, the Whole30 seemed to break down into four week-long periods. The first week was "This is totally weird." The second week was "This is weird and also awful." The third week was "I think this is working!" The fourth week was "This is working, and now it's going to end, waaah." I do miss it, but it could just be because it took an immense mental effort so I'm proud of myself for that.
8. It was useful to have special food prep time on the weekends and/or in evenings, such as steaming sweet potatoes & beets, baking up winter squash, making sauces & mayo.
9. To replace our usual adult beverages, we invested heavily in seltzer. We shared at least one liter of seltzer a day to try to forget we weren't drinking yummy beer or wine. It worked.
10. I recommend paying the $14.95 for the daily whole30 email. It's not that you can't find the basic info on the Whole30 website and forums. But that takes time and effort. The daily email chunks info up into useful bits, and provides some good links. It wasn't 100% applicable every single day, but I liked it. It also helped me keep track of what day we were on. Thirty is a large number for some.
11. I'm glad I had an exercise plan and ran every day for my Whole30. It was a good test for how my body was working and feeling that day. It helped me clarify what I needed food-wise and rest-wise. And I'm sure it helped the "diet" (weight loss) aspects of the program be more effective.
12. I like to think of the Whole30 as non-inflammatory, not as a "caveman" or "ancestral" diet or whatever. The health aspects are what resonated the most with me, and seemed to resonate with people who were interested in what I was up to.

Whole30 Surprises!

• Sweet potatoes did become palatable. In fact, I am still enjoying them for breakfast on most days.
• We ate two dozen eggs a week! That is about 2.3 times the normal rate, wouldn't you say?
• Cauliflower is amazing! Also, acorn squash! Who knew?
• The Whole30 is expensive. As mentioned above, the specialty oils cost about $10 each, and they last about 2 weeks. Plus, we spent an average of $200-250 a week on groceries, which is WAY more than we're used to. A lot of it was on high quality stuff though--dropping $50-90 at the farmer's market meant we had local meat, tons of local produce, and plenty to eat and choose from over the week. (Also some of it was on non-Whole30 stuff for the kids.)

Favorite Whole30 meals: 

• mustard salmon
• chicken-leek stew
• turkey shawarma
• avocado-salsa omelette

Most hated Whole30 meals: 

• bean-less chili
• anything with jicama

So, would I recommend the Whole30? 

Yes, with reservations. I am a geek and a Capricorn and a mom and a runner, all of which may contribute to my being very willing to invest a lot of willpower into allegedly bettering myself and feeling like I've accomplished something FOR ME. However, I am so glad my eating partner did this with me, because his experiences really emphasized that this program is NOT for everyone. Some people will have problems and just hate it the whole time. He seems to be right back to where he was before and completely happy with that. No problem. But if the Whole30 appeals to you, give it a try!

Still mostly Paleo, I can't help it

I'm still pretty much eating the Paleo diet (animal protein plus vegetables plus healthy fats, with nuts, seeds & fruits thrown in) after completing the Whole30 thirty day eating program last Tuesday. I haven't had any more achey episodes (I slowed down what I was introducing each day, thanks for the support on that). I really miss running every day, which I stopped at the same time. I'm still collecting my thoughts for a big Whole30 wrap-up coming in a few days.

Here are some random recent food pics:

Saturday haul from the Farmer's Market: Apples, kohlrabi, leeks, peppers, cucumbers, black tomatoes, cauliflower, "perpetual spinach," acorn squash, peaches, lettuce, carrots, blueberries. Pricetag: about 50 bucks.

Cooking up Scotch Eggs for lunches

Steaming up assorted sweet potatoes for breakfasts

I made myself a little paleo dessert—roasted peaches stuffed with dried fruit & nuts

Ohhhh--it's not paleo anymore. Vanilla ice cream, baby.

Yeah, I've managed to reintroduce a few items that aren't paleo despite my general reluctance to return to my old ways. I put sugar in my coffee (still using coconut milk though). I had wine last week and beer over the weekend... not quite sure about those two yet. Vanilla ice cream is yummy. I've had some white potatoes. I ate Indian takeout without worrying too much about what was in it (though I avoided anything that was clearly legumes or dairy--I had the saag, but not the paneer). In general, it's slightly stressful trying to recalibrate to my own eating plans after the blissful strictness of the Whole30. I'll make a complete "normal" dinner for my family, then fry up some leftover chicken and roasted acorn squash for my own meal. I cling to the clean feelings that I had all last month, but it's hard because now I'm slightly... dirty.

Have you ever roasted peaches by the way? Or grilled them? I've cooked them up for peach ice cream, but roasting was new.

After the Whole30: What do I eat?

They don't tell you at the beginning that coming OFF the Whole30 is kind of difficult. Because after all, I'm treating my body as a giant science experiment. Eating clean for 30 days was just the first part, as I created my control condition. Now I get to play with the variables, also known as finding out which foods don't agree with me.
Yesterday, Day 31, seemed fine at the time, but it made today, Day 32, pretty sad. Below is not an exact representation of what I ate, but the caterpillar pretty much represents how I felt today.

"That night he had a stomachache!"

I didn't think I was going that crazy, but I had things like aioli, ranch dressing, wine, half & half, cheese, other cheese, salami, pepperoni, teriyaki steak tips--all of those are off plan (the cured meat because it probably has sugar, the teriyaki because it probably has soy). I'm starting to wonder if I'll even be able to eat "normal" food again. Or if I'll want to. I went back to Paleo food today to try to regain equilibrium. Can you believe I'm saying that?? That Paleo food is now what seems normal?

Ah, sweet paleo dinner: salad, chicken & acorn squash.

Because the Whole30 is over, I also got to weigh myself. I didn't weigh myself before Day 1, but I know what I usually weigh. I was VERY SURPRISED to find that I am now about 17 pounds lighter. That's over 10% of my body weight gone. And it felt like it disappeared in the first few days--I felt less puffy almost immediately, and started getting comments early on. That makes me think there is something to this inflammatory foods thing. I don't think I lost fat, I think I lost inflammation! I can't put it any better than just saying I feel less puffed up. (That phrase always makes me think of "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf.")

More good news: For those who have read some of my Whole30 posts, I would like you to know that the broken owl mug with the condensation forever trapped inside is no more. Here's the replacement:

woohoo!

Whole30 Day 30, DONE!!!!!

Is it strange that eating a certain way can make you feel really proud of yourself? I have had a pretty good month because of this Whole30 madness. The first two weeks were not great, but things turned around on Day 14 and I've been having a good time. Sure, I still don't have the energy I'm used to on my regular runs (except for that crazy 5K. I was well caffeinated!). I still don't quite know what to make for dinner. But I have more clarity in my thinking and functioning, like I am using more of my cylinders (to use car talk) or directories (to use server talk) than before. It's kind of exciting and kind of scary, because it took a lot to get to this place, and I am pretty sure that I can't maintain this place for very long.

Still, I found out what the Whole30 was like. That was the whole point. I would recommend it, but with reservations. Take my fellow eater for example: he found little or no benefit from the Whole30 (that he'll admit anyway). He has stocked the fridge with non-Whole30 foods that he's going to start eating ASAP tomorrow morning! I'll try to get him to take photos of what he eats tomorrow, ha.

Here's the food recap from Day 30:

Avocado-salsa omelette, yummy black tea

BLACK COFFEE. Dun-dun-DAH.

Lunch: leftover chorizo & cabbage, fresh veggies

Snack: orange

Dinner: steak tips & mushrooms with cauliflower rice & salad

Day 30 reflections: People have been so kind about this diet thing, asking about it, being encouraging, congratulating me. I am very touched and feel so supported. THANK YOU!

I don't know what's going to happen tomorrow. Theoretically I could eat anything, but I won't. This experiment has taught me to be think twice. Also because I've clearly lost weight and am feeling good, I don't want to mess that up by plunging into a Happy Meal and a chocolate sundae. I love those things, but I don't feel like I NEED them. I think my basic plan is to wait for a signal that there's some other food that I NEED. And also, red wine. And also, white wine. Here's another strange development on par with liking sweet potatoes--I actually don't mind coconut milk in my coffee. It's been so long since I've had milk and sugar that I can't tell the difference. The other day I walked by a row of chocolate bars without flinching. I know these things are actually kind of easy when I'm inside the strict realm of the Whole30. It's easy to say "Not for me" when I know it's a finite challenge. Will I keep saying "Not for me" about these foods—dairy, grains, legumes, sugar—when I'm on my own? You know I'll keep you posted.

Whole30 Day 29, almosttherealmosttherealmosthere

One day left after today. Thank you so much to everybody who has been reading along and supporting me on this mad experiment. Just knowing you're checking in now and then has been really helpful! And to the readers of the future who are researching the Whole30 and have come upon this blog, I think you can do this thing. If I can go without wine or cheese or crackers or chocolate for 30 days, anyone can do just about anything. Poke around on this blog under the whole30 tag if you're looking for food ideas or "what it's like." I'll also be writing an overall roundup in the next few days.

So yeah, one more day and we'll be done! We're basically just running out the clock, using up the plantains and chorizo and other unusual foods that we probably won't be replacing any time soon. Here's today's food!

Breakfast: egg & sweet potatoes (we forgot to buy kale this weekend)

COFFEE. My coffee mug is totally falling apart. It has been through a lot.

Lunch: leftover Gilfeather turnip & crab soup

Teatime: tea

Snack: apple

Curried veggie hash, chicken tenders, acorn squash

Day 29 reflections: I'm in disbelief that we managed to get this far! Back on Day 1 at the Guilford Fair, October seemed like a long way away. Now I am a paleo machine who loves things like fruit and vegetables. Before this I pretty much hated fruit, and couldn't be bothered figuring vegetables out. But when they're all you've got for nutrition besides grass-fed beef (kind of), you learn a lot about their virtues and possibilities. I have learned to love sweet potatoes! I have been eating kale voluntarily! I have considered an APPLE a decent and satisfying snack! I actually tried pretending that spaghetti squash was anything like spaghetti! (It's not.) I made a salad with every color of the rainbow! You know things are strange when a carrot or a dill pickle becomes a fancy treat.

Then there's the witnessing of work lunches--incredible tapas, whatever you want to order from the local Chinese place, wine evenings, the apple pie à la mode party... I had none of it. One time I ate some tapas olives and once I had that lone takeout salad. People were very kind trying to think of things I could have, but I was honestly happy with my rabbit food salads and such.

Happy October my dears!

Whole30 Day 28, 5K PR

I ran my best ever 5K today (PR=Personal Record). My time was so good (for me) that I'm a little suspicious of it. I didn't feel that fast! Was the course short? Was the timing system off? I'm not going to complain about it though! I came in 1st woman and 3rd overall. I will add that only about 12 people were running, so the odds were in my favor. I won a cool white Brooks running cap and a $25 gift card to a sports store that I've been wanting to go to anyway. Yay!

Today's food recap is going to be in 2 categories, pictured and not pictured. First, pictured are:

Pre-5K breakfast: coffee with coconut milk, blueberries with almond butter & shredded coconut

post 5K lunch: 2 eggs, some spinach

Not pictured:

• post-race apple slices with almond butter
• plain apple slices at an afternoon gathering
• potluck fare: chicken, peppers sautéed in tomato and garlic, curried veggie hash made with sweet potatoes & zucchini (my contribution), 2 kinds of green salad

Day 28 reflections: It's the last day of September and I'm thinking about my running streak. I've run every single day this month. I like it! Sometimes when I do my run in the morning, I feel a little disappointed later in the day that I don't have my run still to look forward to. (However evening runs are not great this time of year, they're DARK, so morning is better. Still dark, but not as much traffic.) I'm wondering whether I'll continue my streak after the Whole30 or what. Can I keep going until the snow flies? My 10-minute minimum rule seems totally manageable. With cross-training from Spinning class and boot camp, I am getting into pretty good shape. For me, that is.

28 days, a lunar cycle, feels like enough of this Whole30 thing. But we're committed to continue until Wednesday morning. Here's the food outline:

• Monday dinner: fried chicken tenders and some kind of veggie
• Tuesday dinner: steak tips with mushrooms and some kind of veggie
• Wednesday dinner: Go crazy day. We're actually attending an annual meeting that will have catered gourmet pizzas. I haven't decided if I'll actually eat them. Then we're planning to go out for drinks. Grammie will babysit!
• Thursday dinner: pork chops with milk gravy and some kind of veggie
• Friday dinner: Indian takeout and beer. I may try cauliflower rice instead of basmati. WHAT?

Have you ever been in a race and thought the timing was way off? It happened to me on a fun run this summer--it felt like I was really kicking butt, but my time was way slower than I'd been for weeks. Weird.

Whole30 Day 27, Quiet Saturday

Hi! We're still at this Whole30 thing! You know, the grain-free, legume-free, dairy-free, sugar-free, alcohol-free eating program that will Change Your Life. It's too early to tell if this is changing my life, but I can definitely tell that if I put my mind to something (that is reasonably within reach) it will probably happen. Even though eating a very specific way for 30 days has not been my favorite thing, by gum if I said I was going to do it then I'm doing it.

Today's food was:

Breakfast: sausage, sweet potatoes, & coffee w. coconut milk

Lunch: Gilfeather turnip soup with crab

snack: tiny Macoun apple from the Farmer's Markt

Snack while working on dinner: guacamole & carrots

Dinner: Chorizo sausage and cabbage

Day 27 reflections: Did you know that there are some other rules to the Whole30 besides avoiding the foods mentioned above? I may have touched on some in other posts, like the strong suggestion not to snack. Also you're not supposed to have a bunch of fruit to try to replace sugar cravings, or to suck back pots of almond butter because hardly anything else like it is allowed. You're not supposed to reward yourself for a job well done with food. You're not supposed to "paleo-fy" foods that you used to eat, like trying to make pancakes out of coconut flour or ice cream out of frozen bananas. (I don't really get that one, because "meatza" sounds a lot like paleo-fying to me but it seems accepted. Just eat the meat and tomatoes and don't bother pretending it's pizza!) Smoothies are discouraged because the point is to eat your nutrients and experience foods as close to whole as possible. Most of these make sense to me. I like that the Whole30 is pro-CSA and suggest looking for local meats & produce as much as possible. I like that it's making me read labels and learn about different additives and which foods are likely to have surprise sugar (ketchup! bacon! sliced turkey!).

What I don't know about the Whole30 is exactly why I'm avoiding these foods. I know that they have been connected to inflammation and inflammation is bad, but I feel if I knew more about those actions or pathways I would have a better idea what foods to continue avoiding and what I can reintroduce. I guess I could treat this program as a massive elimination diet. Whatever I add back in, I could do it in an isolated manner so if I start seeing or feeling changes, I'll know exactly why.

Also I might start paleo-fying stuff when this is over. I really wouldn't mind coconut pancakes, or paleo morning glory muffins, or pizza made on a nut crust. (I'd add cheese to that pizza though, I really would.)

A note about today's coffee--unlike last weekend, I tried WHOLE FAT coconut milk this time (not LIGHT), and it did make my coffee a little bit nicer. So that's lovely. How do you like your coffee? Skim milk? Nothing at all (I'm looking at you ValleyWriter!)? SOY? Sweet or no? Do you not drink coffee?

Whole30 Day 26, TGIF

This week did seem really long, as I predicted. One more weekend and then two more days and our Whole30 eating program (meats, seafood, veggies, fruits, nuts, seeds, healthy oils, and that's it) will be over! I think we're going to make it! And that four days will seem like another week at least.

Keeping the photo food diary going:

Sweet potatoes, kale, sausage

BLACK COFFEE

Unappealing lunch: leftover spaghetti squash with scape pesto

Avocado with dressing

Leftovers: chicken-olive stew, cauliflower, beans

Like candy! Fruit balls with shredded coconut

Day 26 reflections: My eating partner is so ready to be done with this! We spent the evening wishing we were having beer and Indian takeout, which is our normal Friday ritual. We've had a movie from Netflix for about 3 weeks but never have the heart (or stomach?) to watch it because we can't have popcorn or chips or other usual snacks that we love to munch while watching. We'll probably get around to it next Friday. (It's "Too Big to Fail.")

I ran in the rain today at last. Just around dusk, I got out the full rain gear and did my 10 minutes there and back down the road, dodging the puddles that live in the lower-elevation sidewalk squares.

I planned turnip-crab soup for dinner but we just weren't in the mood. We're saving it for lunch tomorrow, or sometime.

A very minor point of interest: I didn't eat any eggs today.

Lots of plans for the weekend, I hope I get some of them checked off. Grocery shopping, 5K, farmer's market, water plants, prep food, a potluck party, plus Brattleboro-West Arts is having their annual open studio tour and Kid's Playce indoor play space is opening for the season.

Whole 30 Day 25, Full Moon Vibes

I've been having problems with full moons lately. The one at the beginning of August really affected me--SO moody and grumpy and confuzled, having bad days and general lunacy. This upcoming moon (I think it's on Saturday) also seems particularly sizzling with all kinds of loopiness. It occurs to me that my sudden need for desserts and more snacks are related to moon-stress. I need something to get me through to the other side of this zapping from space! And this is not hippie woo-woo stuff either. It's science. If the pull of the moon is enough to change the tides, think about what it's doing to the fluids in your body and in your BRAIN. I have syzygy brain, and it's annoying.

Photos of food anyone?

Sweet potatoes, eggs, kale

BLACK COFFEE

I almost forgot to take a photo of my salad. Here's the last bits.

Snack: seaweed & apple

Dinner: salmon patties & broccoli

Day 25 reflections: I don't have much to report about the Whole30 today because I've just been dealing with life in general and no time to think (or moan) about food. My 6-year-old had an EPIC tantrum today complete with screaming, thrashing, room trashing, and other insanity. We find it very confusing and draining when this happens. We also don't know why it happens or what to do when it happens. I hope we'll laugh about this someday. Right now it is hard, though most of the time she is wonderful. Children!! And that darn moon!!!