Jennifer

Sugar is opportunistic!  I should write about all the reasons that sugar is bad for our health and I am talking the highly refined sugar, but I will just keep it specific here.

Raw sugar,  honey, molassas, maple syrup in fact do come with some healthy properties like vitamins and minerals.  On the other hand, the biggest thing that refined sugar does to us is that it depletes our bodies.  Now in this society, people are eating less and less completely whole food and so vitamins are lost during processing.  Not to mention healthy oils are lost or changed and unhealthy fats are added. Anyways, back to sugar!  Sugar requires vitamins inorder to be metabolised in the body.  Now the body needs glucose, but this can be attained from fruits, vegetables, legumes and whole grains and rare and natural sweeteners.  Refined sugar that comes into our bodies depletes vitamins and minerals from our body (minerals that are necessary for an INSANE amount of other bodily funtions) and gives nearly nothing back.  Well it provides us with low energy and excess weight if that counts!  Plus disease loves sugar because it lowers our immune system.  So what is the pay off ?  Why eat the crap?

Well I was CRAVING last night and I know I had a light supper on carbs.  Not absent, just lower as I had a little rye garlic toast, veggies and some corn (made a southwest chicken stir fry with corn, veggies and Franks hotsauce).  I was okay with this because I was in control.  But I SO WANTED peanut butter pie!!!  (and I was not craving fat, I did get plenty yesterday).  I wanted and I could hardly remember what it tasted like.  I could feel the texture, but the tastey nutty sweetness was gone from my tastebud memory.  And so, I road the wave.  Talked with David and realised that I have gone 19 nights (going on 20….tonight is a big one, BBQ) withOUT eating at night for emotional reasons or boredom.  I could not do it to myself.  I was not even hungry.  I nearly let myself convince myself that I was, BUT I WAS NOT.  So, I am better for the discussion and the ride on that wave.  I was in control and I came out of it just fine.  (In the past I did not come out fine.  I caved many a times because my brain was operating on sugar from past meals.  No more.)  Note to self: Health was NOT what got me through these moments of craving.  Intellectually I could see that it was a poor choice, but that was NOT the reason I got over my craving.  I needed to remember my goal.

So tonight I want to have a hearty supper and enjoy some fun times with some good people.  I think I am making a Mediterrianin chickpea salad for the BBQ.

A buddy sent me a recipe and I had to say….YUM.  I will be making this SOON.

My tweaked version of Cranberry Spinach Salad:

*   1 t. of butter + 2 t. of cold pressed olive oil
* 3/4 cup almonds or pecans (soaked and dried)
* 1 pound spinach, rinsed and torn into bite-size pieces
* 1/2-1 cup dried cranberries
* 2 tablespoons lightly toasted sesame seeds
* 1 tablespoon poppy seeds
* ~1/4 c. raw honey
* 2 teaspoons minced onion
* 1/4 teaspoon paprika
* juice of one lemon
* 1 t.-ish apple cider vinegar
* 1/4-1/2 c. cold pressed extra virgin  olive oil or any lighter tasting oil AND a couple T. of water if need be

DIRECTIONS

1. In a pan, melt butter and oil over medium heat. Place nuts in pan until lightly toasted. Remove and set aside.
2. In a large bowl, place spinach with the cooled nuts and cranberries.
3. In a medium bowl, whisk together the sesame seeds, poppy seeds, honey, onion, paprika, lemon juice, cider vinegar, and oil. Toss with spinach just before serving and ENJOY.

*Note I made changes to this with out trying.  I am not having sweeteners at this time so I will enjoy this later.  But I love this recipe.  I have had something similar in a restaurant with strawberries instead of cranberries.  YUM!  This will be great.  I think next week I am going to do some tweaking and make this, but I will use a fruit puree -pineapple or a few dates instead of sugar??? not sure.  YES dates come with some nice nutrients.  I can not wait!  Ahh it seems sinful to have dates and yet I know better… Moderation, Mother Nature and my butt will thank me later while my tastebuds thank me im The Moment  :)  I am leaning towards pineapple, oil, pineapple juice, 1-2 dates and then the rest of the ingredients for the dressing.

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Jamies-Cranberry-Spinach-Salad/Detail.aspx   -  site of the original recipe.

Hope Everyone has a wonderful weekend.  *hugs*