Two Great Books and Our “Fast” Food

I’ve recently completed reading two great books on nutrition: “Wheat Belly” by cardiologist William R. Davis, MD and “The Paleo Solution” by biochemist Robb Wolf. 

“Wheat Belly” makes a very convincing argument against eating grains.  As I’ve long suspected, the grains of this age are not the grains of old.  They’ve been genetically modified to the point that they are no longer digestible.  The grains our grandmothers used were far different than the short, high-yield, disease-resistant and Roundup-resistant plants grown now.  Roundup-resistant alone is enough to scare me out of eating them. 

“The Paleo Solution” talks about the original human diet . . . the diet we were meant to consume.  In other words, back to basics folks. 

Mealtime around here is no longer a hands-on, time-consuming affair.  Whether it’s a pot of soup loaded with chicken and veggies or a roast that’s cooked in the oven for a couple of hours, then combined with fresh veggies and a salad, it’s quick.  What it does require is planning.  It takes all of two minutes to throw a roast in the oven and about the same time to put a chicken in a pot of water.  We’ve discovered that low-carb eating is very satisfying and after almost three years, our weight has remained at a healthier level.  What could be better than that?

Thanksgiving 2011

Thanksgiving Menu
Appetizers:
Pesto Stuffed Mushrooms
Frittata Bites
Main course:
Turkey
Mashed Cauliflower
Apple Bacon Sweet Potatoes
Broccoli Salad
Spinach, Eggplant & Artichoke Stuffing
Jelled Cranberry/Orange/Blueberry Salad
Desserts:
Pumpkin Pudding
Cheesecake Factory Sugar-free Cherry Cheesecake

Holiday Tips

Now's the time to begin planning for the holidays. If you're going to go with the carb-laden menu, only make enough for the ONE meal. It's a holiday dinner, not a pass to gorge for a week afterward on leftovers. I'm already scouring recipes that will still be tasty and yet not have me in tears on the day after Thanksgiving, wishing I hadn't indulged. Just like dining out, if you decide what you're going to eat before you're faced with so many carb options, it's easier to stay on track. Preparation is the key. And by the way, purchase Halloween candy that you DON'T like. It'll be easier to stop your hand going from the candy bowl to your mouth.

Fiber-full

There are some great choices when it comes to high fiber foods.  Broccoli, artichokes and spinach are all loaded with fiber.  When cutting out grains you might worry that you’re also missing out on fiber, but  fiber-rich produce makes for a yummy alternative.  Pureed pumpkin can be used as a great thickener for homemade soups and adds 5 grams of fiber per 1/2 cup, 40 calories and only 4 net carbs. 

Getting creative in your meal planning will take away the monotony of a green salad, protein and a veggie and keep you from straying to sugary or refined carbage.  Sour cream stirred into steamed purple cabbage is a gorgeous dish.  Shredded cheese is wonderful on hot broccoli.  Green beans with bacon and onion fried in olive oil are a real taste-bud treat.  All of those veggies come packed with fiber.  The goal is to be as healthy as we can be for as long as we live.  Try staying away from foods with labels for a week and become familiar with at least one veggie you haven’t used in the past.  Who knows, it may become a family favorite.