An Introspective Summary of 3 days of Food

I am filled with countless memories of growing up in rural Indiana, where we grew, canned and preserved our own fresh produce.  My mother was incredible about keeping an endless supply of homemade bread in the cupboard, an essential part of our family’s vegetarian diet (yes, there are actual vegetarians growing up in the Midwest). Our kitchen had never seen premade dinners or packaged cookies.  If I craved a particular food, my mom said it was my body telling me it needed something and to listen to it. 

Due to being raised in a home very conscious of diet, nutrition, and the environment, I have always thought of my nutritional intake as being good, even superior, to those around me.  And then I did the three day nutritional journal and was jolted back to a reality in which I eat Chipotle burritos and A LOT of salt, but do not eat breakfast and rarely eat a substantial lunch.  According to the Recommended Daily Amounts for a 2000 calorie diet set by the Federal Government, I consume way too much fat – on some days, almost double what I should be consuming.  I am aware that I tend to eat carbohydrates to “fill up”, but unfortunately my consumption is on the high side of the Recommended Daily Amount.  This is especially unfortunate, as I do not need to consume 2000 calories a day – I should be around 1600 calories – which would make my fat and carbohydrate levels exceptionally high.  On an average day, my protein intake is too low according to the guidelines set by the Federal Government.  My fiber intake is also low for what it should be.  My sodium intake tends to be quite low, as long as I am cooking for myself…But those days where class runs late or I am too tired to cook find me at Chipotle, running my sodium intake level sky-high.  Due to being consumed by full-time classes and a full-time career as well as planning my wedding, I have let my physical fitness slip. It is hard to find the time and motivation to go to the gym or get a run in when I feel I am always trying to play catch up with my time.

Overall, I realize I need to make some significant changes to my diet so that I can not only have the healthy body I want to have, but so that my mind and stress levels are healthy.  Sometimes seeing it on paper makes me realize what is actually going in to my body; thus, maybe this blog really will help me find healthy foods to consume and keep my nutrient intake levels within the Recommended Daily Amounts.

Note to Self

Chardonnay and soft pretzels are probably not the best pre-workout foods I could choose.

Saturday means breakfast

Kevin and I went to the Naked Cafe in Solana Beach, a place we have been before but never go enough, for breakfast last weekend.  The food is amazing - hearty, healthy, basic (for us, anyway), but everything comes together into these scrumptious plates.  We always leave full, but not too full.

I had the Plate of Prosperity, which included egg whites mixed with spinach, soy chorizo, feta, onion, and tomato. On the side you get lightly seasoned quinoa, grilled zucchini, a spinach tortilla, and salsa. It's fantastic, and this is the second time I've ordered this.  I need to remember to leave out the feta next time; it get's a little too salty for my liking with it.

Kevin created his own concoction (as he normally does), by ordering the Calexxxican, which comes as egg whites with soy chorizo and tortilla chips and covered in feta, avocado, and sour cream, and is served with black beans and salsa on the side.  However, in true Kevin fashion, he subbed the tortilla chips for coconut rice (which is amazing with ANYthing).

 

Kevin and I also shared a Tree-Hugger Pancake (chunks of mango and shredded coconut - yum!), using our choice of their whole-grain batter (rather than the buttermilk option).

 

 

All in all, a fantastic breakfast when paired with coffee, which prepared us for our exciting Saturday of garage cleaning (would this stuff even sell at a garage sale?) and suit shopping (must be brown, the perfect color brown, no pleats in those trousers, and why is it that I only like the very expensive Armani one?).  Less than 4 months till the wedding now, and Kevin needs to decide what he's wearing!