Feeding the Machine - Eating Real Foods

[Starch Chick]

I'm taking the opportunity to start a new journal

"Feed the machine" resonates with me, for some reason.

When I stuck strictly to the McDougall diet in the past, I felt good, had lots of energy, and was happier. I felt like when I was eating healthily, I was "feeding the machine". I imagine how an engine runs better when you are putting clean fuel in it and how it gets clogged up with dirty oil or whatever. So when I am eating good I really feel like I am feeding my body what it needs to work efficiently.

So at the end of the day I try to ask myself "Did I feed the machine today or did I clog it up with poor burning fuels and dirty oily ingredients?" and before I eat, I try to remember to ask myself how the machine will respond to this fuel I'm thinking about putting into it.

[Starch Chick]

Just wanted to post a link to Dr Greger's year in review video for 2014. It is 53 minutes long, but well worth watching

Table to Able

[Lizzy_F]

Just wanted to post a link to Dr Greger's year in review video for 2014. It is 53 minutes long, but well worth watching

Table to Able

Thank you for sharing this. I need to watch/listen to more of this stuff. I didn't realize the connection between diet and lower back issues. GOT MY ATTENTION. I also found the info about alzheimer's very interesting.

[Starch Chick]

Tonight making some corn and potato chowder
Yum!

[Lizzy_F]

Tonight making some corn and potato chowder
Yum!

Recipe please??

[Starch Chick]

Lizzy I just throw my corn chowder together. I always start by sauteeing onions in the bottom of the soup pan until very soft, then I add a can or two of veggie broth, a can or two of corn, and half a bag of frozen cubed hash browns. I add a few flakes of crushed red pepper to give it a little kick, and add some salt right before eating.
Sometimes I add some Mrs Dash chipotle lime or another spice I have is chipotle garlic someone bought me in Arizona
This last time I also cut up some celery and carrots and sauteed along with the onions, but I don't always have that.
The main thing for me is onions, corn, and potatoes with salt and pepper
It's super easy, super filling, and I love it. Sometimes if I don't have onions or don't feel like chopping, I add a tablespoonful of dehydrated onion flakes instead, it's just a very versatile un-recipe

[Lizzy_F]

Hehe! "Un-recipe." I like that! Can't wait to try it. I always forget that frozen potatoes are an option! I need to keep those on hand and remember to use them.

[Starch Chick]

One of the forks over knives success stories showed up in my facebook feed this morning. Just the kick I needed to get myself going this morning. I think I'm going to pull my exercise bike out of the corner and bike while watching some TV

Haven't been feeling that good the past few days, couldn't figure out why... Then looked at the calendar and realized it's those yucky hormones. At least I feel better knowing there's a reason and that it will only last a few days

[Starch Chick]

Okay, so I just did 10 minutes on the exercise bike. I need to start slow. Last time I did too much too fast and got shin splints, so will try to increase time slowly to get my muscles used to it

A friend gave me a bag of pears and apples and they are super tiny. So I decided to cut them up, throw them in the crock pot with 1/2 cup water, some cinnamon, and some brown sugar. In six hours I should have some nice chunky apple/pear sauce
YUM

[Starch Chick]

Breakfast: oatmeal with cinnamon and brown sugar

Lunch: 2 slices toast with raspberry jam
Snack: Banana

Supper: chick pea salad sandwich
I love this chick pea salad. I'm so glad I found the recipe. It's good just by itself, eaten out of a bowl, or between two slices of heart whole grain bread.

Snack: breakfast bar

Breakfast Bar:
1.5 cups oatmeal
2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp salt
2 bananas, mashed
1/2 cup apple sauce
1/2 cup raisins 
2 tsp vanilla extract
Mix and bake at 350 for 30 minutes in 8x8 pan

Did I feed the machine today?
YES

[Starch Chick]

Breakfast: applesauce
oatmeal with pumpkin pie spice and brown sugar

Snack: Breakfast bar

Lunch: Chickpea salad sandwich and breakfast bar

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Planning on the exercise bike soon. Just thought I'd post a little of what's been going on with me this past year

The company I had worked for 18 years closed down last June and I received 5 full months of severance pay.
So I enjoyed the time off with full pay and benefits, did some volunteer work, got back into learning Spanish,
spent more time with my elderly Dad, spent some days at the lake, and just enjoyed the summer...

In October/November I went to Mexico City for 8 days with a friend. We had a wonderful time. I got to meet quite a few
wonderful local people, some of whom I will be keeping in touch with. I would love to go back some day.

Once I got back from Mexico, my severance ran out and I started unemployment, which continues for 6 months, or until
I find a job. I am required to do 3 job searches a week, though of course I am doing much more than that.
The problem is there were 35 other pharmacy technicians laid off at the same time I was, so there is
quite a bit of competition for the few jobs that pop up each week. In addition to that, we have a training school in our city
for pharmacy technicians, so there are all these recent graduates flooding the market as well.

I'm not really worried about it. I have several solid leads I am following up on right now, and have several interviews lined up for the end of January. The first of the year is super busy in pharmacy and the managers are waiting to do their hiring until after they have caught up with the first of the year craziness.
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[Lizzy_F]

Hi Beth. Love your Food Porn! How did the apple/pear concoction turn out? I really need to try the chickpea salad. I'm a bit meh about chickpeas but it sounds like this is a good recipe. I'm always at a loss for sandwich makings, and when I go to dog training cold food options are best. So....I better get busy and print out that recipe!

Sorry to hear about the layoff!!! But it sounds like you made excellent use of the time for yourself. Your trip to Mexico sounds awesome!! Best wishes to you on your job search. Sending positive vibes your way!!

[Starch Chick]

Hi Lizzy
The reason I put the pears and apples together is I don't really like pears very much, and it
really needed to be more sweet, so I added some raisins, and that helped.
The chickpea salad is really good. Sometimes when I make a sandwich I put regular mustard on both slices of bread and a few slices of dill pickle, with the chickpea salad in between.
.....................
Rode my exercise bike 11 minutes
My goal is to start doing push-ups again
I had gotten up to 50 a day, 3 days a week, at one time
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Just had a little snack of homemade apple/pear sauce

[Lizzy_F]

It sounds like we have similar taste in sandwiches aka the mustard and pickle! I can't wait to try it. *dashes off to look at ingredients and make shopping list*

Is that your doggy in your avatar?

[Starch Chick]

The current avatar is my 2 year old pomeranian, Cocoa. He is a cutie and keeps my 4 year old pomeranian Lilly company.

They are both on my lap right now. Makes it hard to type

I just made a batch of breakfast bars and forgot to set the timer... by the time I smelled them they are very dark brown, so I cut them and took them out of the pan right away so they wouldn't keep cooking. I think I saved them just in time...

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If anyone lives in Washington D.C., Dr Greger over at Nutrition Facts is looking for volunteers to help out on his website
http://nutritionfacts.org/volunteer

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Supper: chickpea salad sandwich and breakfast bar

Snack: breakfast bar and 1 cup raspberries

I'm at 58 grams of fiber for the day per myfitnesspal