Day 23

I learned something so cool today. I experimented making mushrooms in the crock pot. I had bought a container of mushrooms at Costco a few days ago. This morning I decided to cook them and figure out how I would eat them later. Mushrooms are a Nutritarian's friend. They are one of few foods that contain Vitamin D and they are a tasty texture replacement for meat. I washed and dried them and  put them in the food processor for rapid slicing. Then, I put them in my slow cooker on low for 4 hours. I did not put anything on them at all. No salt, no pepper, no water, no vinegar. When I came home, the house smelled a little funky, but my mushrooms were perfectly cooked with so much liquid on the bottom of the pot. I put some in a cup with a little salsa and hot sauce and ate the most delicious, satisfying healthy snack. I am buying mushrooms once a week!

Day 22

I wrote yesterday all about how important it is to eat salad. Did I even eat one piece of lettuce today? Well, sort of. It was crammed into my veggie wrap  for dinner. And....yes, that's probably mayonnaise you see touching it in the picture. And........cheese. Cheese!!!  So what happened? I was not prepared. I was tired. I came home late from work and headed to California Chicken Cafe for a quick take out dinner. I love that place. It's bustling with people trying to eat healthy and the smell of the rotisserie chicken is intoxicating. I was tempted to buy a piece of chicken with skin, (my favorite part, pre-Nutritarian) but I thought I made a better choice with the Veggie Wrap. I'm not so sure. It was too fulfilling, and it just felt a bit too indulgent.

Day 21

It's hard to believe that I have been doing this for 3 weeks. (Give or take an occasional cheat day) I should definitely notice a difference. (I do, but not radical) I should be a lot slimmer by now, and I think I know what I am doing wrong. I am not eating enough raw greens. The more raw greens I eat, the more weight I should lose.  I haven't been eating big enough salads. I've also been eating too many soups instead. I really believe if I follow this plan exactly, I will lose weight as well as feel better. Well, following  exactly would mean giving up my morning coffee. It is the one non-caloric pleasure I indulge in every morning, and I'm not convinced it is not healthy. I also refuse to part with it at this time. It's okay though, because even Dr. Furhman understands if you don't want to give it up.

Day 20

I wonder if steel cut oatmeal is more filling than regular oatmeal. This morning I took a walk with my daughter, and we ended up stopping for breakfast at a neighborhood restaurant. I bypassed all of the delicious sounding omelets and freshly baked bread options and went with the steel cut oatmeal and fruit. After only a few bites, I was seriously full. I'm not sure why, that usually never happens. Anyhow, I left most of it in the bowl, and was happy with myself throughout the day. It is good to start the day off right. 

Day 19

I made it through another day. Barely. Today I didn't eat breakfast. I left the house after a couple of cups of coffee, and then visited my mom and had more coffee. By the time I returned home, I was really hungry. First, I had a wedge of fresh pineapple. Then, I made myself a salad with Romaine lettuce and avocado. I was too shaky to make a non-oil dressing, so I just bit the bullet  and added olive oil. It was enough nutrients to get my blood sugar leveled and I started feeling better. Tonight, we went to a movie at 6pm, and didn't end up eating until almost 9:00. Again, I was starving, but I managed to order only a chopped salad with a light citrus vinegarette. What I am most proud of is what I didn't eat! I did not eat the meatball appetizer, and I did NOT eat the hamburger and onion rings that my daughter ordered! I feel like I should get extra credit for the food I passed on!

Day 18

I should be eating throughout the day. Instead, I start with a breakfast of fruit and then I often don't eat again until dinner. If I was eating a turkey sandwich for lunch like I used to, I would probably be eating during the day. It's easy to prepare, easily transportable, and one of my favorite comforting things to eat. I often don't have the desire to stop what I'm doing in the middle of the day to wash and cut vegetables, mix a non-oil dressing in the blender, and sit down and chew on a big bowl of greens. It makes me tired just thinking about it. Today I waited until I was just about starving, and then I had a quick cup of soup. Had I fallen asleep after that I would have been fine. However, a friend asked me over for a chat, and a glass of wine. I've only had a couple of alcohol cheat days, and it is Friday night. So, after one glass turned into two, I came home and binged on raw cashews. At least I wasn't eating Oreos. 19 days, and though not perfect, I am still making healthier choices than before.

 

Day 17

I usually write at the end of the night. Today is a little different. It's about 5:30 and I am so looking forward to dinner. I googled a few recipes today and came up with a zucchini soup by Dr. Fuhrman that looked and sounded so good. I'm simmering the onions, zucchini and garlic now and can't wait to add the other ingredients.

Update: not the best thing I've ever eaten, but it was pretty good.
After simmering the vegetables for about 1/2 hour, I added them to the food processor with 1/4 cup of raw cashews to give it a creamy texture. (No oil) Then, I added a few handfuls of spinach and fresh sweet corn. Thyme, basil and oregano were part of the recipe, but I also added some green Tabasco sauce at the end because it still needed a little something. I'd make it again because it was very satisfying, but it's not something I would make for company.