You are what you eat.

Sunday, April 28, 2013


Food and I have a complex relationship. Some weeks I have a torrid love affair with bagels. Others, I want nothing more than green stuff in my belly. Unfortunately, the latter adds up to fewer weeks per year than the former. 

Spring is always a time of change for me. I come out of my winter cocoon and start gravitating toward sunshine and movement. My semester always ends about six weeks before Kiddo's school year comes to a close, and I find myself inadvertently adopting a morning workout schedule. My diet becomes a lot lighter. My life grows a lot greener


  As I mentioned before, a new food co-op opened up in town about a month ago. And for the first time in the 5+ years we've lived here, I have access to a salad bar. Not just any salad bar, either. House made dressings, roasted/marinated tofu, organic veggies... it's amazing. Last week, while the boys were in NYC, I stopped by not once, but twice, to grab a quick dinner. I am also head-over-heels for their "Rawr" smoothie with kale, spinach, pineapple, and mango.

Of course, it is much more economical to make such things at home. It's still nice to know I have it on standby for those days when brown bagging seems impossible.  In the spirit of eating in, Mario and I made our own salad bar of sorts on Friday night. We roasted beets that were still hanging around from last summer's farmshare. If you think you don't like beets, you have to try them fresh from an organic farm. I thought I disliked them for most of my life. We cooked up some off-the-hook cilantro-lime chicken, courtesy of the co-op. Mario whipped up some homemade croutons using locally baked whole grain bread. We diced, grated, and chopped a wide assortment of fresh veggies. Then we piled it up and went to town. It was the best dinner.


Now, of course I know that you've eaten, and made, a salad. Probably many. But I'm notorious for buying the big container of organic mixed greens then letting 2/3 of the package wilt and disintegrate. I get on a kick then quickly abandon it. But taking a moment, even during these crazy times, to realize what a green diet does for me is of the utmost importance. My skin imparts a glow no serum can induce. The usual afternoon slump starts to lift. My belly feels less, well, rounded. My ring no longer leaves a dent on my finger. How I feel when I take care of myself trumps a bagel any day. 


Unfortunately, when under a great deal of pressure and stress I don't tend go back and re-read these types of posts. I put my head in the sand and eat what makes me feel good... in the moment. Not what keeps me going and energetic. To make eating green a lifelong habit as opposed to a seasonal tendency is the constant goal. 


Another goal? Figuring out how to make this dressing based on the ingredient list (which took me by surprise). I could eat it every single day... I'm that crazy about it.

P.S. I won a free large ad space over at The Perfect Pair earlier this month. It is such a lovely blog. Lauren was so nice and offered me all the perks normally given to her sponsors. You can see me, and enter to win a raffle, here.

5 comments :

  1. I need this co-op thing to pop up in my hometown NOW. :D

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  2. That dressing looks and sounds amazing!

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  3. oooh. that dressing sounds so good! i want to try it too!

    -Emma from little motley

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    Replies
    1. I've never been so wild about a salad dressing. I think I talked my husband into playing mad scientist with me this weekend until I get it right. :)

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  4. you're smoothie and the dressing look to die for!

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