Gulf Coast Family

by Leanne Ely (The Dinner Diva)

As I’ve been assessing this year and thinking about everything I’ve learned food-wise in the past 365 days, I made a quick list of the hard lessons I’ve learned. I’ve noticed that I am (unfortunately) one of those people who regularly attends the School of Hard Knocks. I think I’m earning my doctorate, to be honest.

I’ve gained some of my body clutter back and it’s because I got lazy and let go of my previous rules for myself. I know my body, I know what I can and cannot do, so why do I think I can somehow fool myself? Here are some answers to that perplexing question:

1. Everything counts. Yes, even a bite. Our bodies run on simple math; too much will show up on your body.
2. Everything counts, No. 2. Standing over a sink eating, eating in the car, eating in front of an open refrigerator, it all adds up when it comes time to a morning of reckoning on the scale.
3. “Just this once” or other such similar phrase usually means I am setting myself up for a downward spiral in eating and it will take a few pounds gained to knock some sense into me.
4. “Good-for-me” food doesn’t mean its a free-for-all. Portions matter and I don’t need as much as I think.
5. Being good in a restaurant means not finishing everything on my plate. I still think clean plate and I don’t need to do that! Restaurants typically give you enough to feed three to four people. Bag it up and take it home!
6. The only free food is water. Everything else has something in it and will ultimately count when I step on the scale, including a glass of wine or a nip of eggnog!
7. The scale is my friend. If the numbers have gone up, it’s a wake up call to fix whatever it is that I am doing to cause them to go up. Getting on it every morning keeps me honest.
8. Movement is not optional. If I don’t exercise, the numbers go up even if I eat like a bird. I have a thyroid issue. The only way to keep it in check for me is to exercise daily, eat small meals and take my medication everyday.
9. It’s OK to be hungry. I’ve been so paranoid about being hungry (that’s when I overeat) that I’ve taken to eating too many times a day and inadvertently putting on a few pounds because of not being aware. Becoming friends with hunger keeps my food in check; a little bit hungry is OK.
10. A food diary is essential! It’s way too easy to get lax, forget and eat unconsciously. Food is an issue for me, I need to stay aware by making sure what I write down is the same thing that has gone in my mouth!

Body Clutter is a book that tells the story of FlyLady’s and my journey into wellness. We have discovered one year later that understanding and dealing with one’s body clutter is a neverending process. I hope my ten things will help you in your own journey with Body Clutter.

CREAM OF BROCCOLI SOUP – Serves 10

• 1 tablespoon butter
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 1 large bunch broccoli
• 3 medium potatoes, peeled and diced
• 6 cups chicken stock
• 1 1/4 cups milk (lower fat grams by using skim)
• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese (can use less)
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 1 cup low-fat cheddar cheese, shredded (can use less)

Melt butter in a 4-6-quart soup pot. Saute onion until softened, about three minutes. Cut broccoli into flowerets and thinly slice tender upper portion of stems. Add to pot along with potatoes and chicken stock. Cover and simmer until potatoes and broccoli are tender, about 20 minutes. Puree mixture in several batches in food processor or blender. Return puree to soup pot and stir in milk, Parmesan cheese, salt and pepper to taste. Gently heat (a hard boil will cause the soup to break and the milk to turn to curds!)

To serve, ladle 8-ounce servings into broiler-safe dishes. Sprinkle each bowl with a little bit of shredded cheddar cheese, put it on the broiler for a second and serve, all hot and bubbly. Your family is going to love it!

NUTRITION per serving: 234 calories; 15g fat; 10g protein; 15g carbohydrate; 3g dietary fiber; 21mg cholesterol; 1728mg sodium. Exchanges: 1/2 grain (starch); 1 lean meat; 1 vegetable; 0 non-fat milk; 2 1/2 fat.

For more help putting dinner on your table check out Leanne’s website www.SavingDinner.com or her Saving Dinner Book series published by Ballentine. Copyright 2006; Leanne Ely Used by permission in this publication.