Sunday, March 31, 2019

RAMBLINGS & RECIPES - Diet is a Four-Letter Word

I can't even begin to tell you how many different diets I've been on! I've tried them all. Low calorie, low carb, the grapefruit diet, the cabbage soup diet, Weight Watchers (although I did lose on that one), the paleo diet, the keto diet, and so many more. I have come to the conclusion that I am meant to be fluffy.  Perhaps I need to ponder the diet information I've been harboring. Diet information like:

1.  You can eat anything that is green.  Lettuce, broccoli, spinach, brussel sprouts, pistachio ice cream...
2.  Calories are afraid of height. So you need to store your cookies and cakes on top of the refrigerator so that all the calories jump out.
3.  Always break your cookies before eating them. That way, the calories will fall out before the cookie hits your mouth.
4.  Eat while standing. The fat will not settle on your rear end like it does when you eat while sitting. It will just drain down to your feet and then out to the floor.
5.  If you want to try a low carb diet, just lay on the floor when you eat pasta. The lower, the better.
6.  If you eat something and no one saw you eat it, it has no calories. 
7.  If your movie ticket comes with a free bucket of popcorn, it doesn't count as food.  It's free.
8.  When ordering pizza, ask that the pizza not be cut, especially if you are only allowed one slice.

I once heard that a good way to lose weight is to eat while standing in front of a mirror... naked.  I tried that once, but the manager of the restaurant asked me to leave.

Apparently these diet tips did not work because I actually GAINED seven pounds while binge-watching Game of Thrones!

In all seriousness, I am going to try again. I really want to lose weight before our trip to Europe this summer. Here is how I will start:

My fitness tracker is set. I will start out at 6,000 steps per day with 30 minutes on the exercise bike.  Every day. No excuses. I will gradually increase the daily steps to 10,000 or more.

No more sugar. 

That means no more Girl Scout cookies (darn those little demons in green who accost me in front of Publix with their sweet little smiles and innocent looks!) ***Here's a hint*** If you just can't resist those sweet little smiles, you can always donate them to our military (the cookies, not the little girl scouts)!

Eat smaller portions. Use a smaller plate. Only half a bagel if I absolutely MUST have one. Use fat free milk in my coffee instead of those wonderful flavored sweet coffee creamers (sigh).

Getting on the scale now. I'll let me know how I'm doing. If anyone wants to join me on this adventure into the salad world, let me know! We can do this together.

The recipe I'm including today is:


CAULIFLOWER CHEESE SOUP

This recipe is copied directly from a cookbook I wrote several years ago for my family.  "Recipe's From Home, Volume II" was created from hand-me-down recipes from family members and recipes I received from good friends and neighbors. This particular recipe was given to me by Phillipa Lewis, one of my granny friends from Wales. She got it from her slimming class.  It tastes a bit like potato soup and is low in calories. 

Ingredients:
* Pam cooking spray, or olive oil mister
* One onion, chopped
* One head of cauliflower, cut into florets
* 2 cups fat-free chicken broth
* 1/2 cup fat-free milk
* 12 triangles Laughing Cow light swiss cheese
* 1/2 teaspoon paprika
* Salt & Pepper to taste
* Spring onions for garnish

Procedure:
Spray a large saucepan with olive oil or cooking spray; heat. Saute onion until tender. Add chicken broth and cauliflower; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, covered, for about 15 minutes or until cauliflower is tender.

Add the milk and simmer for another 5 minutes. Stir in the Laughing Cow cheese triangles; transfer to a food processor and blend until almost smooth.

Pour the mixture back into the pan and reheat, adding salt and pepper to taste.  Serve garnished with a little paprika and shredded green onion.



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