Whole 30: Day 24, 25

I forgot to post yesterday.  Here's a combination summary of the last two days:

Breakfasts:  Salad.  Loved it again.  I have gotten used to giving myself extra of the things that the twins love to eat, because they crowd my plate and "please" for more.

Lunch: Salmon and celery.  I ran out of greens and frankly didn't even want to eat them again, anyway.

Dinner: Yesterday was scrambled eggs and celery and carrots, and today was something new.  I was excited to make a dairy-free mac and cheese recipe that my sister-in-law sent me for Lincoln.  He loves mac and cheese and it just breaks his heart not to have it.  It's just that home made does not even come close to the experience of boxed; of course, most people prefer the former, but not a 4 year old who can practically inhale Kraft.  This recipe is all done on the stove, which I thought would make it closer to what he is used to.  It made a ton, and without even thinking, I put some on my plate too because I was curious and excited.  I haven't had wheat noodles for what... 25 days now.  Oh well, I don't mind, the bigger bummer is that Lincoln wasn't impressed.  He did pick at it, though, so that is encouraging.  I didn't add enough salt and almond milk, I think.  I do still have hope.  I think maybe some turmeric too for coloring.  Tyler ate it out of support and the babies dumped it on their heads.  You can't please 'em all!  And yet... you can't stop trying either.  

Snack: Chia seed pudding with honey and cacao nibs.

Thoughts:  Having made a conscious practice of listening to my body and how it feels after eating certain foods, and what it wants to eat, I am curious about the female hormone cycle.  It would appear that chocolate is really good for the soul sometimes.  I have willingly and lovingly complied with the desire to eat sweets this week, felt no guilt, made sure it was still stuff I can easily digest, and continued onto the next meal of glorious veggies, fish, etc.  I feel like I'm feeding myself how I would my best friend or my mom: the best stuff, at the best time, to create my best self!  

Whole 30: Day 23

Breakfast:  The last of the coconut chicken and some more swiss chard, plus avocado and balsamic vinegar.  Those last two make a dynamite combination.  I first learned that from a sandwich shop in Salt Lake City.

Snack: Cherry Larabar.

Lunch:  A gross failure!  I tried wrapping prosciutto and cherry tomatoes (uncut) and carrot sticks in a noi wrap.  The moral of the story is that nori wraps need to be pretty solid inside, just like sushi.  Too much space between the ingredients inside means you notice the crunchy frailty of the nori, which I didn't like.

What I did like, was playing in the afternoon sun with these two:









Dinner: Spinach chicken sausage, cherry tomatoes, and mangoes.

The kids had the same thing plus apple sauce.  They also had waffles for a snack after bath.  This afternoon, Lincoln wanted waffles.  He has asked a couple times lately, so I found a recipe and we answered his craving.

All I had was plain white flour, and while the smell was delightful, I didn't want to eat any.  However, I do have some flourless peanut butter brownies in the oven right now!  It's that week.

Thoughts:  Lincoln has complained four times of a tummy ache since we added cheese back into his diet a week ago.  Considering the fact that he hates to mention pain at any level, I have a feeling that it's been worse than he lets on.  That might partly explain his sour mood.  Argh.  Dairy free is a pretty intense commitment.  I was hoping we wouldn't have to go there with our kids.  Not sure of what we're going to do yet.  

Whole 30: Day 22

Breakfast:  Another salad.  Leftover brussel sprouts and coconut chicken.  This is the first time I have bought swiss chard.  I like it so much better than lettuce!

Lunch: Cream of broccoli soup.  This is a recipe my mom sent me.  It has carrots, celery, broccoli, sweet potatoes, and the "creamy" texture comes from cashews blended into vegetable stock (but I used chicken stock).  I break up sweet potato chips into it.  Everyone loves it but Lincoln, who would not even try it.   

 

We also had pickles, plums, and a chocolate chia seed cookie.  Ami and the kiddos were over for a play date.  We put them in boxes and left them to fend for themselves.

  

Just kidding.  Lincoln was a pretty grumpy pill, though, and to be honest I did take him straight up to his room when they left, and shut the door.  To my surprise and relief, ten minutes later he came out with a more neutralized demeanor.  That kid really drains me sometimes.

Dinner:  Another salad.  Pretty much the same thing as my breakfast, but I was all out of brussel sprouts.  Sigh.  

Thoughts: Is spring really here yet?  Yesterday it sure felt like it!  We saw the sun, felt the warmth, and ushered the munchkins outside to play with our like-minded neighbors.  I hadn't seen some of them for months.

Ezra rode a balance bike for the first time.  I was amazed at how quickly he got the hang of it!  

Just look at them!  They are really kids now.  Not babies.  It gets easier and harder, which I guess is the way it always will be.  Within change, there is consistency.

White or Black?

Whole 30: Day 20

Breakfast: Coconut chicken over a big bed of lettuce, with sunflower seeds, dried cranberries and balsamic vinegar.  I woke up this morning really wanting brussel sprouts, but there wasn't time, so I chose a salad.  I've seen my mom eat salad for breakfast and thought it'd be hard to face a bunch of lettuce so early in the day.  But wow, this morning it hit the spot!  Great start to my birthday!

Lunch: Today I was out with my friend Ami.  We looked at the food court in the Natick Collection (a fancy mall) and I wasn't feeling it.  So we stopped by this cool place called Wasabi, where plates of sushi rolls on conveyer belts pass right by your table.  Grab anything!  So we did!  We each had a roll, then shared another one.  I ate all my wasabi.  And hers.  Mmmmm!  I love that spicy rush!  Obviously, rice is a grain and therefore not Whole 30 compliant.  I'm technically not following the challenge exactly now, even though I'm thrilled with it.  I've really learned a lot about how my body reacts to things, and how much I love vegetables!  I'll still blog for the 30 days, though, and do a final recap of my experience.

Dinner: Oh my word, this was good: roasted brussel sprouts (waited all day for these!) wrapped in prosciutto.  Wow.  I was oohing and aahing the whole time I ate these.  Tyler had a few, but the kids just ate leftover spaghetti and meatballs.  I guess this was just too awesome for the likes of them!

Dessert:  Lincoln insisted that I have birthday cake (you know, so he could have a piece, of course) so I did.  Chocolate but dairy free.  

Thoughts: Today I am 27!  Some people might say that on their special day, they just want to relax at home with their family.  Considering that's what my lucky pants gets to do all the time, I really wanted to be OUT!  Luckily my dear Ami thought to suggest touring the Orchard House, which is where Louisa May Alcott based her book Little Women.  When Liz visited us two Octobers ago, we drove by the house but weren't able to go inside, as we had three sleeping children in the van.  I'm so glad I finally got to experience the treasures inside this place!  The tour lasted 2 hours and was delightful.  Original quilts, paintings, drawings on the wall, trap door to the well underneath the kitchen floor... too many little details to relate here, but I highly recommend visiting this place if possible.  After you come by my place and pick me up, of course, because I'll willingly tour it again!

Then we ate lunch at Wasabi, like I said, and then on to dress shopping!  I tried on a few, but still no luck.  It's probably picky of me to want something fabulous for a tiny price.  Ha!  There are some stylish consignment stores around here that I will continue to check.  That's where yesterday's gray one is from.

Whole 30: Day 19

Breakfast: Scrambled egg, sausage and sweet potato noodles.

Lunch: Lettuce wraps with: pulled pork, cherry tomatoes, and sweet potato chips.  I have noticed I'm eating a LOT of sweet potatoes.  Maybe tone it down a bit...

Dinner: Meatballs and marinara with celery bits.  If you get annoyed by the strings with celery stalks, just chop them further into bite size pieces.  So much easier to eat!

Thoughts:  After my disregard of this Whole 30 Challenge yesterday, I returned quite easily today.  I felt pretty awful and smelled pretty awful after eating cereal and some cheese.  I am still recovering from the stomach ache and headache it gave me.  I didn't really feel guilty, like I "cheated" on my diet or anything, but I guess I just wanted confirmation that avoiding those foods is even worth it.  And you know, this way of eating may be more of a permanent thing for me than I thought.  I am not going to go crazy about added sugars in sauces at restaurants, or refuse sweets that people make me, but I probably won't eat grains or dairy on a daily basis.  As for Lincoln, his dairy experiment ended during the trip with a cream cheese bagel.  We aren't going back to cow's milk, but I didn't see enough of an added benefit keeping cheese out of his diet, too.

Oh, and despite my cereal yesterday, I still ate a Whole 30 lunch of coconut chicken and salad:

Whole 30: Days 14-18

Our trip to Portland, Maine, was exhausting but enjoyable.  We got to see Tyler's cousin Kenny and his pregnant wife Sarvi.  You guys, why didn't we take any pictures together?  Maybe there was chaos enough just to talk over three playful, rambunctious kids.  I hope you come down to visit us as soon as Sarvi feels healthy enough to travel.

We played in the pool...

...ate the abundant amount of food I prepared..

I stocked the hotel fridge for two days.  Over prepared!

Meatballs and marinara, or lemon garlic chicken.  You chose!

Or, just eat whatever mommy does.  

...visited the city library and children's museum...

....and slept together in one room: a king size bed, two cribs, and a couch fold-out.  Tyler read aloud, and put everyone to sleep at the same time.  It was a beautiful chorus of breathing!

It was good to be in a different environment, but traveling with our family means Tyler and I forego our evening break.  At home, usually we put the kids to bed, and then have a few hours to clean up, read, watch shows, decompress.  In this case, it was lights out for everyone at the same time.  It was lovely to have someone wash our towels and make our bed, though!  

The irony is that, after extensive preparation food-wise for this trip, avoiding everything in the hotel breakfast buffet except scrambled eggs, then eating out with book club last night and ordering from the menu according to Whole30, I ate cereal this morning for breakfast.  What?  I don't know.  I just don't know.  

I do know I'm looking forward to Tyler's spring formal next month.  His parents will be here to take care of the kids, while Tyler and I dance the night away!  I looked around for a dress last night.  I just love dresses!  (Excuse the purple bra.)

I haven't found the perfect one yet.  I am going to take some time this weekend to shop some more.