The lack of carbs in the majority of my meals left me clinging to a bowl of basmati rice while my internal voice screamed, "You'll never take me alive!"
I ended up even more drained of energy, and craving processed and sugary snacks, so I decided to nip this diet in the bud before I did more harm than good. It was a good jump start back into healthier eating, though, and made me more conscious of the balances of foods I had been eating (ie: wine, cheese, and red meat). I'm enjoying more of a lean-protein, veggie-centric meal style so far this week. Although there are no strict dietary guidelines to the way I'm eating, it's nice to get back to a style of cooking that I have preferred in the past. I'll admit, it's not easy to feed a meat-and-potatoes guy when you're trying to be mostly veg, but I think I've found a good balance and everyone is happy.
Some might argue that being forced into strict dietary guidelines actually makes one more likely to revert back to an unhealthy eating pattern; when food is seen as "bad" or "cheating", the temptation is there to, well, cheat. But when the food is simply purchased/prepared/served as the only option, and it has enough carbs/fat/yum to satisfy while remaining healthy, there is less of a chance of straying from the path.
So, while I did try to go on a two-week, supposedly energy-boosting diet, I decided that it wasn't working for me, and my long-held strategy of enjoying my food was the better option. Here's a little glimpse of what has made it onto my plate this week.
This very veggie-laden stir fry with rice noodles is a lunchtime favorite
My "Border Patrol Breakfast Burrito" : Get the recipe here
This family dinner from last night: Tequila Lime Chicken. Om nom nom. This was definitely a crowd pleaser at the dinner table. Next time I make it, I'll be sure to post the recipe!
My favorite use for leftover chili: Taco salad! I'm beginning to sense a very southwest-heavy trend in my eating this week. Maybe a little bit of homesickness is manifesting itself in taco-themed everything.
Which I am totally ok with.
