Have you seen the movie Julie and Julia? Or read the book? Julie Powell became an internet celebrity with her 2004 blog recording her yearlong adventure cooking every recipe in Julia Child's Mastering the Art of French Cooking. I am taking on a similar challenge, only I am blogging my way through a very healthy cookbook! And I will learn to master the art of healthy cooking! The book is called Eat For Health by Dr. Joel Fuhrman, M.D. I will cook every recipe start to finish in four weeks just as they are laid out in the book. I will write about the recipes, show you pictures, and tell you how my SAD (Standard American Diet) eating, carnivorous husband likes them too. (See archives below.) He is behind me 100%!!


Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Day 1/ Phase 1/ Week 1

If you are a member of Dr. Fuhrman's website, you can also follow along there under Discussion Forums/ Cook To Live/ The Jana/ Dr. Joel Project.

So... I spent about 2 hours over the weekend planning my shopping list for the entire Week 1, and then about 2 hours at Whole Foods yesterday buying everything (except the meat items for the end of the week). I will freeze leftovers, otherwise I will make smaller amounts (it is only my husband and me). Hopefully I will not have to cook for the month after this! I will have a stocked up freezer!!

Here we go!!! Phase 1/ Week 1/ Day 1

Hello All! Well let me just say that Day 1 was spectacular! I am not new to this whole Dr. Fuhrman thing, so I am already feeling great. Haze however, had a headache pretty much the whole day (which is totally understandable as he is detoxing). But on the upside he commented that his stomach felt really good after each meal. He is normally uncomfortable after eating anything--so he is really excited about this!

Breakfast:
Cinnamon Fruit Oatmeal
We started the day with Cinnamon Fruit Oatmeal which was hearty and filling for a chilly Colorado morning. It made the whole house smell like apple pie! Haze couldn't believe how big the portion was! He totally hates breakfast in general, but he ate it all and gave it a grade of "A"

















Lunch:
Russian Fig Dressing/Dip
Whole-wheat tortilla stuffed with avacado and veggies
This makes a really nice and easy lunch. The almond butter in the dressing and the avacado make you feel like you are not just having "rabbit food." We had mixed fruit with it and it was very filling. We gave it a "B"































Dinner:
Tossed Green Salad
Spiced Tilapia
Chunky Sweet Potato Stew
Brown Rice
Braised Bok Choy
Dessert: Poached Pears with Raspberry Sauce
OMG!!! and HOLY COW was this a yummy and tasty dinner!! I cannot wait to make this again!! (I will have to wait 4 weeks though!!) It was truly restaurant worthy and most definitely worthy of a dinner party. Every element was perfect. I won't ever make one of these recipes without the other--it was an absolutely perfect combination. We both gave it an A+ Haze always claims that he hates sweet potatoes--but he totally chowed on the Chunky Sweet Potato Stew (I actually used a yam instead). It was awesome! Make sure you have enough liquid when cooking the stew--I had to add a little bit of water while cooking. Haze's only complaint about the meal was the lack of salt, but he ate it all like a champ. Next time I make it I will add the topping for the Tilapia only for about the last few minutes of broiling. The topping sort of got too well done and I had to flip it over half way so it would not burn. Other than that it was an absolutely delicious and beautiful dinner. I did not think I would like the Poached Pear with Raspberry Sauce--but tasted absolutely heavenly.

Hooray!! On to Day 2...

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

Amazing!

Anonymous said...

Hi Jana, did you buy dr.fuhrmans fig/ pecan vinegars? I don't have them available where I am and am anxious to see if I can duplicate them. Any ideas?

Anonymous said...

Because of your blog, I've decided to go through Dr. Fuhrman's books as well, just like you are. So far we really loved the sweet potato stew (I didn't need to add any extra water) and the pears with raspberry sauce.

Jana Diedrich said...

That is sooooo great!! Good luck on your journey--and keep letting me know what you think. I love to hear your comments and thoughts!
Jana

Unknown said...

Jana--Where did you get Dr. Fuhrman's Black Fig Vinegar?

Jana Diedrich said...

Here is the link for Dr. Fuhrman's shop. You can buy the vinegars there...

http://drfuhrman.com/shop/salad_dressings.aspx?a_aid=4b5799702609d

The fig is my favorite!!

Jana

Sophia said...

Thanks Jana! Made the Chunky Sweet Potato Stew this morning and had it for dinner tonight. OMG! OMG! I can't believe how amazing it is. If you hadn't written this blog I think I would have left Eat for Health on my bookshelf for years--somehow the recipes don't appeal to me in written form--but seeing your photos has me totally inspired. There aren't enough hours in the day!

Jana Diedrich said...

Wendy and Sophia--thanks so much! I know, me too--I had the book for a few years and had only made one or 2 recipes. I think the trick is to make meals with main course, PLUS side dishes PLUS dessert! It has made life so much more fun! Thanks for reading, and thanks for commenting!!
Jana