Food for thought

Not everything in my life revolves around my kids.   I know, shocking right?   

I have issues with food.  

There I said it!!  Now it is out in the open for all to read.  *sigh* 

I have struggled my whole life with being overweight, nay let's just come out and say it...FAT!!   Yep I am fat.   Get all the fat jokes out of the way.....

(everyone done with the fat jokes?  Okay lets move on then. )

Okay, so I hate dieting, I hate counting calories, I hate restrictions on the things I love, and I hate being made fun of because of my weight, or taken less serious because of my size.  I also realize and am sympathetic to those who are on the opposite side who have trouble gaining weight.   

Since I have been together with my husband I think we have completely revamped our way of eating at least 10 times in the past 5 years!!  That is quite a bit of change.  We were Vegan for a few weeks, and we were even vegetarians for 1 full year.   I have done Gluten Free, Weight Watchers and Low Carb.   I even had times when I said "fuck it" I am just eating whatever the hell I want.    Which that phase never ends well.  I end up feeling way worse than I ever did before.  

So why am I posting about my weight and my love of food?   Well because it is part of who I am.   It is part of my story, my life, and the way I interact with others.   Food seems to be the center of lots of social activity!!   We celebrate with food...for birthdays, anniversaries, holidays, summertime bbq's, and everything in between.  

At one point not too very long ago I considered writing a cookbook.  My husband and many friends have told me that I make great food.   So, I started writing down recipes and because I am such a foodie...I took pictures of my meals.   

YES, I am one of those people who posts their meals on Facebook frequently!!   Annoying to most but many of the people I am friends with on FB appreciate and ask for recipes.   

"Healthy" eating and what it means to me

Do you eat "healthy"?   
I ask because there are so many schools of thought on this very subject. 

As a mom I try to serve and eat healthy, balanced meals.  Which isn't always an easy task, especially if you have picky eaters.   I am pretty lucky that our kids aren't too terribly picky with foods.   For several years now I have tried to diet and lose weight trying everything under the sun.   No Gluten, No Carbs, No sugar, No processed foods, No Fat...and on and on.  We were even Vegetarian for almost a whole year.  Always coming back to a basic diet of balanced meals and treats. 

Which is where I find myself now. 

I believe the word my grandmother used to use is "Moderation".  Not always an easy task being a choco-holic and someone who does enjoy beer, wine or a mixed cocktail of sorts on occasion.   

We don't eat out much and if we do there are only a few places that I actually "LIKE" to eat at.  Wait let me rephrase that and say, a few places "I TRUST" to eat at.  We do not eat at McD's,  BK or Subway anymore.  Not to say I haven't in the past fed them from those places.   But, as a personal preference we choose to not eat there anymore.  I don't judge anyone for eating there either just as an FYI!!  We do occasionally enjoy Culver's for a burger if we are out.  But hey they have famous custard there!!  :)

Another reason why we don't eat out much is because I have discovered that I can make similar items at home, with more natural "whole" ingredients, no preservatives and added sugars, salts and refined fats, and they taste so much better.   I had to learn this when I went Gluten free for a few months to test my gut.   We have also saved lots of money from not going out to eat.  Not to mention the chemicals that stay out of our bodies.   

Now I don't make everything from scratch, I wouldn't have time to write this blog if I did, but I do try and keep the few processed items in the pantry to a minimum.  

Previous to this blog, I did have a couple of "foodie" blogs I was managing but would end up so over obsessed that I got burnt out on them.  Besides I felt pigeon holed into one certain food style since one was a LOW CARB venture, and one was mostly Vegetarian.  I think I will share some of the recipes on a page at the top of this blog, to share a few recipes that I have either come up with, tweaked from an original or just remade to be a bit more healthful.  Perhaps one of these will help someone else make different choices with food or even make someone think and change it up to suit their own needs.   I sure hope if you do that you comment and let me know which recipes you liked and which didn't work out so well for you and your family.   

Thanks for reading...and for those who have taken the time to comment I also thank you, it helps a lot to hear where other people stand on things.   :)

Bacon Butter

I don't know about anyone else but our family loves bacon!!  Really what is not to love....salty, crispy, bacony......*drool*    

Since today is my husbands birthday I made him bacon and eggs for breakfast this morning.  We keep a jar in the refrigerator with bacon grease in it, and I sometimes use this to cook with.  Mini me has decided to dub this jar of bacony goodness, "Bacon Butter"!!    

I was so impressed with her creativity with words when it comes to this delectable jar of yummy goodness!!  

So next time you think about tossing that bacon grease, think about how great eggs taste fried in it, or use it to saute veggies in.  Cabbage is delicious sauteed with some "bacon butter"!!