Crazy Making

Memories of 9/11

2011-09-10T19:22:00.000-07:00

I should have known right away that something was seriously wrong. But that was then, before everything changed.

I told the cabbie that I’d walk the rest of the way to work. I knew where I was in relation to the office I was visiting, it was a beautiful day and traffic was at a dead stop. As I walked towards the building at Hudson & Canal in Midtown NY, I noticed there were people stopped along the sidewalk. At 9 am on a Tuesday, there was no reason for any New Yorker to be standing still. When I realized they were all looking up, I finally followed their gaze and was amazed at what I saw. “Hmm” I thought. “You don’t see that every day.”

Surely my husband Rick, a construction project manager, would be interested in what I was seeing. “I think this might make the evening news” I told him, as I called him on my cell phone, continuing on my walk to the office. I told him that I could see a large building with a hole in it in one of the upper stories. As I couldn’t provide any details regarding the location of the building, he turned on the news to see if there was a mention. Immediately, he started yelling at me “That is the World Trade Center!” um, ok. “You can see it?” yep, that’s why I called you. “How close is it?” no idea. Not known for my sense of direction. “Get out of there! Do what you need to do and get away!” Sure thing honey.

While Rick was hollering at me, we both watched the second plane hit. I watched it live while he saw it on TV. We were both screaming, as were people around me on the streets. While Rick had the advantage of the news commentary and the media analysis as to what was happening, I only had my eyes to rely on. What I was seeing was surreal, but all around me, people were continuing on to work. That said, I said good bye to my husband, put my phone in my pocket, crossed the street and entered the office.

When I reached the 7^th floor, I found a gathering of my coworkers. They were glued to the window, watching the aftermath of the two planes in real time. The radio was on, the announcer telling us that a third plane was headed for NYC. Some people were sobbing, some were comforting. As a group, we knew something big was happening, and we had no idea what to do about it.

As the SVP of Global Interactive, I traveled quite a bit, and spending time in NYC was not unusual. On this particular day, I found myself as one the most senior people in the office. As people turned to me for direction, I truly had no idea what we should do. Perhaps we were safe where we were. I did not know how close we were to the World Trade Center. 10 blocks. I could not imagine what had really happened to the buildings. Terrorists with planes. Nor was it clear what sky scrapers would do when hit in this fashion. Fall down.

As the first part of the Twin Towers start to crumble, we took action. “We are out of here!” We all grabbed our belongings and headed down stairs, with the directive to stay on the river. Out on the street, we were not alone. There were people everywhere-- people on the move. We soon found a groove in the wave of people working as a group to get out of harm’s way.

As we watched both buildings tumble behind us, we could not fathom the reality of the disaster, the magnitude of the damage, or the change to our lives. The buildings, complete with holes and smoke, were there one minute, gone the next. Our naïve faith in the safety of America was intact one minute, gone the next.

As the anniversary of this day approaches, I find myself reflecting on the transformative power of just one day. The buildings we thought would always stand tall, fallen. People we loved, gone. Activities we assumed to be safe, hazardous. Priorities we thought to be critical, trivial.

9/11 serves as a reminder to me every day to live each day to the fullest, to take advantage of every opportunity, and to enjoy the amazing opportunities that take shape before us.

The Need to Bake

2011-09-07T16:27:00.000-07:00

I just had the funniest conversation with my husband. "I need to bake now" I said. He asked why. "I just do". And, like a man who has been married 15 years, he wisely said "Whatever."

And to make it a little stranger, I decided I needed to bake cookies with avocados. Never have before. Needed to now. Thanks to Natalie at Deconstructing The Home, I made Green Chocolate Chip cookies. The recipe below has been modified to be allergen free.

Green Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ingredients:

1 Cup avocado (approximately two avocadso)
1/2 Cup Agave (or your favorite sweetener)
1 Egg (or egg replacer)
1 tsp vanilla

1/2 tsp xanthum gum

1/4 tsp salt

1 tsp baking soda

1 Cup Gluten Free flour mix (I used GF Pantry Flour Mix)

1 Cup Enjoy Life Chocolate Chips

1. Preheat oven to 290 degrees. Line cookie sheet with parchment paper or lightly grease.

2. Remove avocados from skin and place in mixer. Mix on medium until slightly lumpy. Add agave and mix on high until smooth. Add egg (replacer) and vanilla and mix until combined.

3. Slowly add dry ingredients to wet ingredients. Mix on medium until well combined. Add chocolate chips and mix till evenly combined.

4. Scoop one tablespoon of dough per cookie and place on cookie sheet one inch apart. If you want flatter cookies you can use the back of a spoon to flatten them out. Bake for 15-18 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool.

Dig in!

Makes 24 cookies! They are good. Kids are wondering why they are green, but asking for more!

Glutened!

2011-05-13T16:43:00.000-07:00

AUGH! Try as I might to avoid gluten, it found me. It found me when I made a questionable decision at a potluck. I knew immediately from the itching. The next day, my joints started to ache, and my digestive system started to complain. 2 days later, digestive system still unhappy.

My daugher is a Celiac, and if she had been there, I would not have served her the same things I ate. But yet I took a chance, and now I'm paying for it.

Nothing like a quick reminder that being gluten free matters!

Food Allergies on NBC

2011-05-10T10:15:00.000-07:00

I just wanted to share this really well done piece on children's food allergies. I knew there were many of us dealing with this issue, but I didn't realize that 1 in 12 kids have food allergies. And that 40% of them are life threatening.

Please take the time to watch this piece, and consider your food challenged friends as you plan snacks & parties.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/42949676#42937966

A Step in the Right Direction

2011-05-10T10:07:00.000-07:00

I'm very fortunate to have a job at a company that encourages people to seek out their dream jobs. Even if it means leaving the company. It makes for an environment that is very open. Employees are free to discuss their side businesses and their future aspirations.

With this in mind, I recently sought out our Director of Health & Wellness. He graciously made time for me on his calendar, and I asked him how his career evolved. He's more into the fitness side of things, while acknowledging the importance of the nutrition piece. We agreed on the individualized nature of nutrition, and how important it is to help people with that piece. It was a great conversation, and since I was open about my dream job in Health & Wellness, he was encouraging and OFFERED ME A COLUMN IN HIS MONTHLY NEWSLETTER!

While I am still on a journey of my own, I find great pleasure in sharing my knowledge and experience with others. I'm so excited that I will have this opportunity to educate people on making better food choices.

I'm Not Cooking!

2011-03-21T18:46:00.001-07:00

Well, not for myself anyway.(Still cooking for the family.) I am taking a week to try a Cleanse, offered by Evolution Catering. This cleanse is called "Eating Like a Caveman". It's a back to basics approach, avoiding dairy, grains & sugar. Perfect since I eat dairy free and gluten free!

I'm so excited to try this menu. Foods I crave, but nobody else here will eat. For dinner tonight, I had Honey Chile Glazed Salmon. Yum! It even had a side of squash & zucchini. Really, the sauce was amazing.

Evolution Catering offers fresh, healthy meals delivered to your door in the Bay Area. Every other week they offer the Cleanse.

I promise to report back. This could be just what I needed!

Doughnut Muffins--dairy free, egg free, gluten free--OMG

2011-03-20T09:29:00.000-07:00

Ok, this post is not about being healthy. but is is about being happy! Once in a while you need to eat something that even SOUNDS forbidden. Let me introduce you to the Doughnut Muffin. This tasty treat was made allergen free by Nancy from the Sensitive Pantry. She thoughtfully modified them to meet all her (my) dietary needs! Thanks Nancy. I do love food blogs...

I'll repost this recipe here, but I encourage you to view her site. She's got a gift for modifying foods for the food sensitive.

My kids fought over these muffins. My husband loved them. My kids said I should sell them--they are perfect. My daughter has never had a doughnut...this may be the closest we get.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease the muffin tin because you’re not going to use liners for these babies.

Mix together in a small bowl until frothy and set aside to use later:1 1/2 teaspoon EnerG Egg Replacer 1 tablespoon warm water

Combine in a medium bowl:

1 3/4 cup gluten-free flour blend (I used Authentic Foods MultiBlend Flour)
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

In a separate large bowl stir together:

1/3 cup oil (grapeseed, canola or light olive oil will work well)
3/4 cup sugar
1 egg replacer you made earlier
3/4 cup hemp (or other) milk

Add dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and stir by hand only to combine. My batter was a little lumpy but it worked just fine.

Bake at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes.

While muffins are baking, melt and place in a small bowl:

1/4 - 1/2 cup Earth Balance

In another small bowl, combine:

1/3 cup sugar
1 tablespoon cinnamon

Shake muffins out of the muffin tin while they’re still hot.Dip the hot muffins in the melted butter and then into the sugar and cinnamon mixture.

Place on a wire rack and allow to cool.

Also, if you can use eggs and butter go ahead and do it. Use the same measurements—1 egg and 1/4-1/2 cup butter.

I have to say, adding the butter/sugar/cinnamon to the muffins is AMAZING. I will do this for all muffins in the future.

A perfect Sunday afternoon treat--Enjoy!

Matcha Tea--Super Tea from Japan

2011-03-14T17:09:00.000-07:00

In light of the current crisis in Japan, it seems fitting to take a minute and appreciate a Japanese custom that will benefit us all.

Do you drink tea? Are you open to green tea? Are you aware of the health benefits from drinking green tea? I just learned about Matcha green tea. It's SUPER green tea. Matcha is premium ground green tea. You use a teaspoon of the powder with 8 oz of hot water. Matcha uses the whole leaf, so the antioxidants found in green tea are magnified in Matcha. One glass of Matcha has the same nutritional value as 10 cups of green tea.

Matcha tea can help your body with:

Antioxidant Protection
Detoxification
Weight Loss (yea!)
Fighting Cancer
Preventing Disease
Improving Mood
Increased Energy

Seriously, why wouldn't you drink tea that had all these benefits?

This tea has a strong taste, but it is not bad. It is also more expensive than your standard Lipton tea! It has to be--it is harvested by hand in Japan.

I just had my first cup today. I will report back and let you know if my energy increases or my mood improves. I'm sure my family will have a say in that report!

I'm Back!

2011-03-13T18:38:00.000-07:00

I've been MIA from the blog for almost a year now. But I'm back...because now I know I need to focus on what I love.

I love discovering new ways to use food as a fuel.
I love helping people with food allergies find good food solutions.
I love helping kids with food issues feel included.

So, as long as I'm back, let's fill in the back story.

I have had environmental allergies all my life. As a teenager, I was very allergic to corn. I thought I "outgrew" it, so I started eating corn again.

Fast forward to me as an adult, I was feeling generally crappy. With the help of a nutritionist, I did a food elimination diet. Turns out I don't tolerate gluten, corn or dairy. I really know about it when I slip up, so I manage my food concerns very carefully.

I also have a daughter with Celiac Disease and a severe egg allergy.

All told, our family dinners need to be Gluten Free, Egg Free, Dairy Free and Corn Free. :)

Thus I have learned to read labels, to cook, and to plan ahead.

There is more for me to learn. But I do already have a big bag of tricks to share.

I can't wait to share some with you.

Allergen free banana bread

2010-04-14T11:59:00.000-07:00

Today's recipe, lovingly borrowed from Erika Hastings at MudSpice.

This banana bread is awesome. Light and fluffy and requested by the kids in my daughter's class. And it fits the Food Rules by Michael Pollan.

Use xantham gum if you make it gluten free. I recommend adding Enjoy Life Chocolate Chips (dairy free). And they hold best as mini-muffins.

Banana Bread

3/4 cup sugar (OR 3/4 tsp stevia)

1/2 cup butter, margerine or oil

2 eggs (OR 3 tsp egg replacer mixed with 4 TB water OR an extra banana)

2 mashed bananas with 1 tsp baking soda mixed in

2 Tb milk (cow, soy, rice)

1 tsp baking powder (OR 1/4 tsp baking soda mixed with 1/2 tsp of lemon juice)

1 3/4 cup flour (I use Bob's Red Mill gluten free all purpose flour)

pinch of salt

____________________________

Bake at 350 degrees. 15 minutes should work for the mini-muffins.

Recipe--Wacky Cake

2010-03-31T09:47:00.001-07:00

I've had requests for some of my recipes lately. Today I'll share the Wacky Cake. Credit goes to Kathy Przywara, courtesy of kidswithfoodallergies.org.

1 1/2 cup flour (see below for gf options)
3 Tbsp cocoa powder (optional)
1 cup sugar
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 Tbsp vinegar
5 Tbsp oil
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup water

Preheat oven to 350F.

Combine dry ingredients in a mixing bowl and mix thoroughly.

Mix wet ingredients in a separate bowl and stir to combine.

Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients and mix until you get a smooth batter. Do not beat.

Pour into greased and floured pan (8" square or 9" round) or 12 cupcakes. Bake in oven until tests done - about 35 minutes for cake, about 20 minutes for cupcakes.

Wacky Cake is a classic recipe from the depression era because of the rationing of butter and eggs.

The vinegar cannot be omitted since the acid is crucial to making this rise.

Gluten Free: Substitute 1 3/4 cups GF Flour Mix for wheat flour. Add 1 tsp xantham gum. I used Bob's Red Mill All Purpose Gluten Free Flour.

The recipe doubles well. I have not tried freezing it yet--they never make it past the first day!

Enjoy!

Easter--the Green Way

2010-03-31T09:25:00.000-07:00

Easter is upon us, and it's another holiday that finds me fighting old habits. The kids do not need baskets of corn syrup sweetened candy sitting in a bed of artificial plastic grass. This year I have changed my ways (a little).

I'm reusing last year's baskets, and last year's plastic eggs. The kids think they have to leave them out for the Easter Bunny to use. There will be candy, but it will be minimal. There are art projects, sunglasses, and outside games in the baskets. And the "grass" is biodegradable. I found it at Safeway!

I also have to share my favorite CA Green Solutions/Green Irene (http://www.cagreensolutions.com) recycling tip--all the foil that candy is wrapped in is RECYCLABLE! Hersey's kisses for everyone!

Minimal trash, minimal sugar, and smiles all around. Happy Easter!

I did it! A Safe Food Treat for All!

2010-03-04T19:55:00.001-08:00

I volunteered to make "allergen free" cupcakes for the kids at school for Dr. Seuss's birthday celebration. By "allergen free" I mean: egg free, gluten free, dairy free, soy free, artificial coloring free, tree nut free, and peanut free. And they are corn free too.

These "Wacky Cake" cupcakes are easy to make, use pretty mainstream ingredients and are actually good! I topped them with safe frosting. Also easy, even though they did require palm shortening.

Yea! Something everyone can enjoy.

Paper Towels

2010-03-04T18:46:00.000-08:00

Having house guests that still use paper towels is an eye opener to me. My family stopped using paper towels about a year ago. I read about a family that only used them for cleaning up "cat barf". That imagery stuck with me--now we usually have one roll in the house, for really disgusting clean ups. Besides that we use cloth napkins or rags.

My guests went through 2 rolls in 3 days! And there were only two of them. Wow. I guess we really are making a difference by using reusable cloth for clean up.

Sometimes it is the little things!

Yard Trimmings & Food Scraps

2010-02-16T09:17:00.000-08:00

I'm so proud! My block has been chosen to participate in the City of San Jose's Pilot Program for Yard Trimmings and Food Scraps. What does that mean? The city is going to compost for us! From now on, I can put my food scraps into a kitchen counter bin (provided by the city) and then put the scraps in the big green street bin (provided by the city) with the yard waste. The food scraps will no longer go with garbage. Instead they will be composted with the yard greenery.

This program even takes dirty paper plates and paper napkins.

That rocks! Composting is scary to so many people. This will make a big difference in the amount of garbage our city produces. Thank goodness, because the city estimates our landfills will be full by 2030!

I love EWG

2010-02-09T17:16:00.000-08:00

I love EWG--They have changed my life. Clearly put me on the path to Crazymaking. It is so cool that they are digging through all the information, including clinical studies and detailed scientific information, so that we can make better buying decisions. I now make better choices for my children for skincare, hair care, sunscreen and hand sanitizer. I changed my hair products, deodorant, toothpaste and moisturizer.

I'd work there if I had a clue how to help...Maybe they need fundraisers or loudmouths on their team. I qualify for the latter...

Hand Santizer--OMG

2010-02-09T17:11:00.000-08:00

I really did think I was doing the right thing, carrying Purell or bargain hand sanitizer with me all the time. I made all kids, mine or not, clean their hands with it if there was no soap available.

Our friends at EWG tell me this is a mistake. I need to use specific brands--I shouldn't be surprised. The major brands are accused of causing cancer, developmental toxicity and more. The major brand is rated a 7 out of 10--10 being the worst!

Fortunately, I found bodysense.com. They only sell EWG "approved" products. YEA!

I will still let kids use other kinds at school, but atleast I know I'm carrying and providing a safer choice.

Brainwashing

2010-02-08T20:26:00.000-08:00

I admit it, I am brainwashing--greenwashing--my kids. We were at the grocery store (major chain) on Saturday and there was not a reusable bag in sight. I prompted my 6 year old to look at the number of plastic bags being used. She jumped in immediately and knew the bags were made from oil, a non-renewable resource from the earth, and that one day it will all be gone...And then I mentioned that the bags are not recyclable and just end up filling up the dumps. :) How could I not?

Food Inc.

2010-02-02T20:13:00.000-08:00

I love that Food Inc. was on Oprah this week. It is so important. Watching people discuss how it is cheap and easy to buy junk food, versus whole veggies and real food. Michael Pollan says pay the farmer now, or pay the Dr. later. Great way to think about it. I actually just got up and threw away the few pieces of junk that were in the house. Oprah is calling for a food revolution--I wonder if that is what she will do next! How cool would that be!

The Challenge is On!

2010-01-26T19:07:00.000-08:00

Ok, turning 40 in 79 days. I would like to lose 10 pounds in the 10 weeks. I have more than that to lose, but this might be doable.

More info...I refuse to do this via Weight Watchers crappy low point food. Or via artificially sweetened shakes (lost 50 pounds that way previously). I am all about whole foods now, local, organic--u know the drill.

And I've got money on the line. My friend and I are both working towards the same goal. If either of us don't lose the 10, we owe each other cash.

Ate lots of veggies today, but no exercise. Time to hit the elipitical!

I Have a Sugar Problem!

2010-01-25T12:55:00.000-08:00

I've decided I have a sugar problem. And I think I'm ok with it.
I am eating very well. Had fruit and raw chia with rice milk for breakfast.
Home made soup, veggies and hummus for lunch. But then I needed a treat.
There is no nutritional value in NERDS. AUGH. It's embarrassing. But they are gone now.

I'm Back!

2010-01-24T21:10:00.000-08:00

The holidays kicked my butt and made me crazier than usual. (Lots of travel, lots of relatives.) But now it's almost February and I can safely say the Christmas decorations are away. (Well, atleast in the garage, but that makes my husband crazy, not me.)

I had lunch today with an old friend and I found myself spouting about all my crazy making stuff. I had to try to shut up so I wouldn't make her crazy! Taking it all with a grain of salt now.

Reduced dairy, minimal meat, whole foods, home made...

Today, home made potato soup, home made bread and muffins. And a trip to Whole Foods. Off to a good start.

Halloween

2009-10-08T22:29:00.001-07:00

Let it begin. Ghosts, monsters and other scary things abound. But even scarier than the decorations are the ingredients in the candy and treats our kids are about to receive. Don't get me wrong--I LOVE CANDY. But why does it all have high fructose corn syrup and partially hydrogenated oil in it? Gross! I'd take straight up sugar over those things.

So what is a health freak like me supposed to do? I run a candy swap with my kids the day after Halloween. They give me all but 10 pieces of candy, and I let them buy a toy at Target. More stuff, but less crap in their bodies. Of course, then my husband eats it!

What about handing out treats? What would be fun and not awful? How about toys? Nope, plastic crap. Pencils? Maybe, but boring. Money? Thinking about it...

Birthday Dilemmas

2009-09-21T15:21:00.000-07:00

It’s my son’s 4th birthday! And we had a big Monster Truck party. For the first time, I decided we could not have balloons. They are so pretty, but so environmentally irresponsible. And flat the next day. I also decided on no goodie bags. Too much crap. Who needs more little plastic (AUG) toys to step on at home? Instead everyone took home one toy monster truck that will serve as the decoration on their cupcake.

But the Monster trucks are made in China. And I put them into something the kids will eat. I probably should have washed and dried 20 Monster trucks. Sigh…

We had no bottled water. No juice boxes (not recyclable at all!) Husband made signs for recycling and trash containers, making fun of me. Oh well. We had a great day, ran the kids silly, and tried to contain our carbon footprint!

Cell Phone Radiation

2009-09-14T10:53:00.000-07:00

Our friends at the Environmental Working Group are at it again. They want you to know that cell phone radiation can be dangerous and cause brain cancer. Yes, this is something I had previously thought about, but I had let it go. What do I know about cellular technology? Well now, the EWG has ranked cell phones by the amount of radiation they emit.

According to EWG,” The U.S. government ought to require cell phone companies to label their products’ radiation output so that consumers can do the numbers at the point of sale. It doesn’t, so EWG has created this user-friendly interactive online guide to cell phone emissions, covering over 1,000 phones currently on the market.”

Get more information regarding the emissions of your phone at http://www.ewg.org/cellphone-radiation.

Skinny Bitch Part 3

2009-09-10T11:30:00.000-07:00

Ok, I want to be a vegan. I really do. But oh my, it’s hard! We are gluten free at my house, so that adds a level of complexity to everything. I’ve had mostly vegetarian days this week, but not really vegan. It’s the cheese and milk hidden in things that are catching me. And really, the SB ladies want me to give up sugar too. If I had a nickel for everytime I tried that, I’d be rich! I know being a vegan gluten free, sugar free goddess will feel good, but how will I socialize? What do you do at parties and school functions? Eat your own gf, vegan, sugar free bar, I suppose! So, I’m a wannabe vegan. Veganish. Vegetarian with greater aspirations. With a cheese and sugar problem!

Skinny Bitch Part 2 (I’m sure there will be more)

2009-09-03T21:46:00.000-07:00

Ok, I went to Trader Joe’s tonight for a quick veggie (all organic) stock up. Feeling a little more capable with veggies in the fridge. And, having Skinny Bitch on the brain, I didn’t buy any chocolate. That’s a big deal for me—I usually buy a snack for me at TJs! Score one for the bitches!

Skinny Bitch--Reality Check

2009-08-30T19:19:00.000-07:00

OMG. OMG. Really, what else can I say? I am reading Skinny Bitch, by Rory Freedman and Kim Barnouin. Help me. It hasn’t told me anything I didn’t already know. I read a lot of this type of information. But OMG. All in one place, and so graphic. Yes, I could do without all the swearing. Please. That limits who I can actually share this book with. However, it is amazing to have it all laid out in one place! How am I really going to do this? I want to be a vegan. How do you go to social functions? How do you cook for a family that still WANTS meat?

I need help…Help to do this. Help to make meals interesting. Grocery shopping, restaurants. And convincing my husband!

First stop, the library for Vegan Cookbooks.

Green Protein Shake

2009-08-26T18:45:00.000-07:00

I did it! I actually bought the supplies for and made a green protein shake. And I drank all of it. And there was a lot! It really did fill me up for lunch.

I want to be a person who can do this. I need to eat more veggies. I hate making lunch. This could be what I need. So, I read a ton of recipes, but settled on my own creation. Water, a handful of spinach, half a cucumber, a handful of frozen blueberries, one scoop of protein powder, ice and agave nectar. 2 veggies, 1 fruit, protein and water. Check! It's not really green...

Next,I'll try to switch out the blueberries for an apple or two!

Food choices

2009-08-19T20:54:00.000-07:00

I had lunch with a friend today who just came back from Tony Robbin’s latest seminar, The Power Within. Apparently he has a whole segment on food choices. He is advocating a vegan-ish lifestyle, calling attention to the way food is processed and what happens to animals before we eat them. And calling into question why we eat carcasses and drink another mammal’s milk. Good questions. But my favorite quote of the day was how he explained why chicken and beef taste the way they do. He says it’s the animal’s uric acid that makes the unique tastes we are familiar with. So when you are enjoying your chicken soup, you should be thinking “MMMMM, chicken poop and pee.” Now I have to carry that information in my head…

Plan, plan and plan again

2009-08-18T21:12:00.000-07:00

For the record, I have struggled with my weight for years. I know what I’m supposed to do. But actually doing it is another thing. With all the weight loss programs I have tried, the key to success has always been good planning. I’m not a great planner.

However, I got to see good planning in action yesterday. I had the chance to spend the day with someone who has successfully kept off 50 pounds for 20 years. She is a working mom, and also has 6 kids. She was here on vacation. She had insisted on a hotel with a good gym. And she used it first thing in the morning, while the kids were sleeping (they are teenagers). She went to the grocery store the evening she arrived, buying the supplies she would need while in CA. Specifically, I saw her pull yogurt from a cooler in the car for a mid day snack, and cut up bell peppers for a snack before dinner. I have no idea what else she bought.

We had two meals together. At lunch, she requested a large green salad. When the server said they didn’t have one, she ordered the Cobb Salad, “hold the meat, cheese, egg…”. Greens in a bowl. Dry. For lunch, she ordered another dry salad (no cheese, no croutons), but this time pulled out a fresh bottle of dressing, obviously purchased since she arrived. She also ordered two sides of veggies to go with her salmon. No bread. No wine. More than half her dinner was veggies! I know it’s supposed to be that way, but it was so cool to see it in action. I’m feeling inspired!

Sunscreen

2009-08-11T21:11:00.000-07:00

One of the top crazy makers in my life this summer is sunscreen. Last summer I discovered the Environmental Working Groups database. As you know, this comprehensive database evaluates the toxicity of all products you use on your hair and body. I decided to start my evaluation and behavior changes with sunscreen. We are blonde and I have had 3 pieces of skin cancer removed so we use sunscreen religiously. So last year I bought California Baby and we learned to rub sunscreen in more thoroughly. The sprays that were purchased previously were saved for the beach.

Well, California Baby only comes in 3.5 oz tubes and costs over $17! There has to be a better solution. I have spent hours (and hours) on the EWG database, analyzing the ingredients in the sunscreens with a 0-2 rating, and even some 3s. I even used the database from my smart phone while in Walgreens. EWG highlighted sunscreens that are easy to find, but of them have parabyns or nano particles. (I’m not a chemist, but I read the news!) It’s August and I still don’t have a sunscreen I like!

Even crunchier!

2009-08-05T20:38:00.000-07:00

Recently we had a playdate with a new friend. We thought the kids would get along. And they did. But the mom was even a bigger Yuppie Hippie than me! All food was purchased at Whole Foods (Whole Paycheck). I was feeling very proud of myself that my kids had been eating apples dipped in (organic) peanut butter for lunch. Guaranteed fruit, protein, fat. Her kids ate green veggies dipped in sunflower butter. No naturally occurring sugars, no contaminated peanuts, no risking nut allergy in public. Sigh. I brought cut up watermelon to share as a snack, knowing all the kids have food allergies and fruit is safe. But who knew watermelon was a dessert, not a fruit?