I LOVE FOOD

As the title suggests, I love food. I love the different tastes, textures, and flavors. I will never turn down food. My favorite foods, in preference order, is sweet, savory, spice, and salty. I despise bland food, especially bland "healthy" food.

I come from a long line of "emotional eaters." We eat when we are happy, sad, depressed, bored, excited. We celebrate with food, we console each other with food. We comfort ourselves with good old-fashioned comfort food. The food that our great-grandparents made and passed the recipes down, despite the fact that the recipes called for sticks of butter and pan-frying. The light and healthy foods just don't satisfy that deep-down need for comfort through food.

I have tried to make "healthier" versions of some of my favorites. Needless to say, they were pretty much disasters. Some of my experiments have included Chicken Pot Pie - the sauce separated because I used Smart Balance and not butter, the crust didn't work either. Red Velvet Cake with Splenda and not sugar - frisbee anyone? Chocolate Chip Cookies - hockey pucks. I have decided that my comfort foods will remain that, comfort foods. I will eat them sparingly and enjoy them with all the fat and calories and yummy goodness.

I am a carnivore. I love a big, beefy steak! Prime Rib with horseradish is my anytime favorite. Just add a huge baked potato heaping with sour cream and butter and that would be my last meal. Unfortunately Prime Rib is one of the fattest steaks out there. You know who makes the best steak I've ever eaten? My Dad, he takes a Costco New York steak and makes it so juicy and flavorful. To put A-1 on his steaks is sacrilege.

Speaking of my dad, growing up when we would have cake, my dad would eat the cake portion and leave the frosting for last. I think that is how I developed one of my worst habits. I can sit down with a tub of frosting (cream cheese frosting is my favorite, followed by vanilla.) and eat a good 1/4 to 1/2 tub at a time. I still eat cake the way he does, the cake first, the frosting last. Hmmmmmm, yummy.

So, what am I to do? Healthy versions of old favorites just doesn't taste right. So, I am going to find flavorful and tasty new recipes. One of my favorites is to take Annies Organic Chili - spicy - and pour it over a salad with dollops of fat-free plain yogurt. The yogurt is a good substitute for sour cream when you are trying new things. It doesn't really work on the old favorites though. (There is one exception where it is actually better - mashed potatoes - my new old favorite is mashed potatoes with smart balance and plain, fat-free yogurt - it tastes much better and flavorful than the old way of butter and sour cream)

So, if anyone is out there that has a yummy, healthy, flavorful recipe that is quick and easy to make, please send it my way.

Next blog - my all-time favorite sweets - I was going to put it in this one, but I need some time to think and make sure I get most of them.....hahahhahaha

By the way - I have to admit I am very proud of myself. Yesterday I ate well during the day and ate a number of 0 point foods. When I left for work I made sure I had carrots and celery to munch on during the drive - yay for me! Then, when class was over, I was really hungry and the only thing open was McDonald's. I still had 12.5 points left for the day. I ate a cheeseburger (7), 1/2 a small fry (2.5) and still had points left over for the day. So, I have yet to use my weekly allowance (what I call uh-oh points.) And, today, we walked the kids to the library, into town and back to the house for an hour of exercise. The last 30 min sucked, because I was carrying Julie. I think it will be funny that when I lose 25 pounds, then pick Julie up, I will be the same weight I am today. Can't wait for that day!!!