Time for a Challenge

Okay, I'll go ahead and say it. I have a real problem with saying no to bad food.


Now the thing is, I know how to cook good food. Not just food that tastes good, but food that is healthy. I know the basic guidelines to cooking a healthy meal. When I cook at home, our meals are generally well-balanced and comprised of whole foods - fresh produce, whole grains, and "happy" meat. Maggie has even gotten into the swing of things, from eating vegetarian lettuce wraps without a single tear or protest, to happily requesting snow peas fresh from the garden.


The problem that undermines all of this? Eating out and eating dessert. When I don't feel like cooking, we eat out. And the healthy food options in Ardmore, Alabama (and really, most of the greater Huntsville area) seem few and far between.

Another major issue I have is a terrible, horrible habit of undermining my healthy meals with dessert. I will cook up a fabulous roast chicken with vegetables on the side, be full and happy afterwards... then eat a giant bowl of ice cream. Or a brownie. Or a Sonic milkshake (have you seen their after 8 milkshake deal??).


Since tomorrow poor Mags is getting her tonsils out, we will be mostly homebound for her week of recovery. This will make this new challenge easier (though she won't really be able to participate in much, since her diet will probably revolve around frozen fruit snacks and mashed potatoes).


Here and now, I would like to publicly accept this challenge for our family this week - we will be eating in and eating a little bit healthier than normal, starting tomorrow night at dinner (we'll be at the hospital around lunchtime tomorrow) and ending on Saturday night.  Here are the guidelines:


1. Eat in
2. Eat whole foods for lunch and dinner (we'll give a little leeway to breakfast and snacks)
3. No dessert




Tentative Meal Plan (for the next few days, until Round Two of grocery shopping):


1. Smoked Salmon Alfredo with (homegrown) spinach salad and homemade garlic bread (with elephant garlic I got from market)
2. Kale and Sausage soup plus grilled cheese with spinach and tomatoes
3. Roast chicken with mashed potatoes and roasted carrots
4. Snow pea and parmesan risotto
5. Barbeque ribs (special for my father's day dinner for my dad) 




Wish us luck!