Change can happen

If there is one thing I know about my husband it would be that he is very resistant to change. When we first met it was instantly apparent that he was a strict meat & potatoes kind of guy. The staples in his condo kitchen were chips, salsa, beef, potatoes, and frozen beef & bean burritos. I wasn't the healthiest at that point in my life either - about 6 years ago - and when we first started dating we would go out to eat. A lot.

I probably gained about 5-10 pounds just in that first year. After a year of dating we bought a house & moved in together. Slowly, I began cooking more meals for us - lots of hamburger helper, frozen meals-in-a-bag and other easy options for a beginner cook. Eventually I started getting new recipe ideas from my mom, online sources and various friends/family members. I'm still not an experienced chef by any means - honestly, I'd rather bake! - but I'm trying my best.

With hours and hours of searching online for recipes came a new discovery: food blogs! The first one to catch my attention was Eat Like Me from Self.com. From there came KERF, Carrots 'N' Cake and Eat, Live, Run. Soon, I was buying exercise equipment, workout DVD's, and nutrition books.

Then the changes started.

I tried veganism, The Abs Diet, The Blood Type Diet and, most recently, the Intuitive Eating approach to food. Then I started a blog & began taking photos of my food, - Heaven forbid, even in public! - buying new foods, & eating more fresh fruits & vegetables.

My husband flipped. He was scared that I would try to change him and make him stop eating meat or drinking beer. It was the end of the world! After some time, I was able to squash those fears & reassure him that this is for me. He is welcome to do whatever he wishes. He does, however, love (most of) my cooking. Vegetables are always welcome on his plate, as long as they come with meat & a starch. Standard American Diet.

The funny part is, he has changed. But I'm not sure he's noticed it yet! He eats more fruit, juices his own fresh juice in the mornings, goes on walks with me in the summertime, we only eat organically raised beef from a single source, we avoid chain restaurants whenever possible & the other night he was even telling his mom how much he loves nutritional yeast!!! <--- That one made my jaw drop.

So, my point? As much as people are resistant to change - it can happen. Just be a good example to those around you and eventually your habits might just rub off on them.

Thursday's Eats

For breakfast I had a near-empty jar of almond butter. This can only mean one thing right?? Yoatgurt in a jar.

Usually I mix my yogurt with almond butter & cinnamon but this time I just added some plain nonfat Fage on top of my oatmeal and finished it off with a glob of Sunbutter. Who says you can only have one nut better at a time?
It was too much - unfortunately I couldn't finish it. What is up with me lately??! Not finishing breakfast is like going without dessert - it just doesn't happen.

Mid-morning protein fix:

A few of you have asked about this Luna protein bar. Personally, I really like it. It's definitely more of a treat because of the long ingredient list but I like the chewiness & mini chocolate chips.

Lunch was a salad with spinach, yellow bell pepper, black bean & corn salsa, refried beans & hot sauce. With a pink lady for dessert.

Afternoon snack: Banana with AB & Sunbutter

Dinner was some meatloaf and a slice of millet toast with hummus. No veggies. :( I wasn't feeling it.
The rest of the evening I spent doing some laundry and playing with my kitty. Get your mind out of the gutter. I mean this kitty: