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%!!


Saturday, January 9, 2010

Day 23/ Phase 4/ Week 4

I am a bookworm. I admit it! And I've been a total nutrition bookworm for about 20 years now. For me it all started way back with Fit For Life I and II by Harvey and Marilyn Diamond, which lead me to Dr. Fuhrman, William Esser, Susan Smith Jones, Herbert Shelton, Dr. Alan Goldhammer and many many others. So if you know who any of these people/ doctors/ authors are, you know that I've never really been far off the track with what I believe about food. I mean, I've never subscribed to anything like Atkins, Southbeach--none of that nonsense. It's always been a focus on whole natural foods: Vegetables, Fruits, Nuts/ Seeds, Whole Grains, and Beans/ Legumes.


So the question is...how did I get to be overweight? And the answer is....I have no idea!! I worked and had a ridiculous commute and did not have time to cook--so we ate out a lot at restaurants. And spent tons of money too. And we ate junk food. Potato chips are vegetarian, right!!?? But I still read my nutrition books and vegan cookbooks. I would be on the couch reading Eat for Health and Haze would be like, "Are you reading that book again?? GEEEEZUS. Just close your eyes and pick a fricken recipe and make it!!" So this is my year of action/ vs just reading about it. I am DOING rather than reading. But don't get me wrong--reading is good! But it has to be followed with action. Last night I was on the couch again with Eat for Health and Haze was like, "Seriously, what can you possibly be looking at in that book?? I mean, come on, really--what are you looking!!???" I was writing little grades next to all of the recipes! And at my feet (aside from Violet the dog) was another little stack of books!! The Engine 2 Diet, Eat to Live, Julie and Julia... I told you I'm a bookworm!!




And Haze, I know you are struggling. I know you are not feeling well because of the Collagenous Colitis. But hang in there--I promise it will get better!! You are doing great!! Let's have a round of applause for Haze for totally sticking with this!! I am so proud of you!!


Yesterdays menu...


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Breakfast:
Eat Your Greens Fruit Smoothie
Well FINALLY!! I can't believe this is a Phase 4 breakfast--because it seriously tastes like ice cream. I've been eating this smoothie for years now and I am hooked. Chef AJ, on her DVD Healthy Made Delicious says that once people start eating these green smoothies they become addicted to them (in a good way!) And if you miss a day, you actually feel worse. This is sooooooooo true. I neeeed my smoothie every single day. I CRAVE this smoothie and absolutely totally love it! In fact, this could be my most favorite recipe in the whole book!! A+ + + + + Try it!! (But remember--you need a high-powered blender for this--but trust me, it is worth every penny.) Haze is not a breakfast person, but loves this smoothie too!!




Lunch:
Greek Chickpea Salad
Leftover High Cruciferous Vegetable Stew
Haze and I were split on this lunch! He loved the Chickpea Salad and gave it an A. I, on the other hand......hoped it would not be served again real soon. But since Haze loves it I will be making it again! I was out of Spicy Pecan vinegar so I used Pear vinegar. I think maybe it just needed a squeeze or two of lemon on top (which I did not have). The soup was even better the second day!



Dinner:
Indian Mango Salad
Asian Vegetable Stir-Fry
Neither of us loved the Indian Mango salad--we both thought it needed something else. Like beans? Lettuce? Not even sure. But it just felt like something was missing. We gave it a C+. I had made the Asian Vegetable Stir-Fry about a year ago, and neither of us liked it. Maybe we were just not ready then! But this time, I made a few changes. I used a little Garlic Rice Vinegar instead of Balsamic, I used Table Mrs. Dash and SPICY Mrs. Dash, and I added a Phase 1 amount of sodium (via Low Sodium Soy Sauce) and I absolutely LOVED it!! The sauce is peanut-buttery and slightly spicy/ sweet--really yummy and filling. I gave the dish an A+!! Haze said B+.







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Dessert:
Leftover Bluevado Pie "Cupcakes"
Still yummy!




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7 comments:

TheCraftyVegan said...

Its seems we have much in common as far as our interest in nutrition books. Like you I read them over and over, gaining something new each time. I also find in reaffirms MY beliefs which help me TRY to stay on target and actually eat the way I believe. I find it even more helpful to "listen". I have book 1 of Eat for Health on audio. I also have a lecture of Dr. Fuhrmans "Nutritional Excellence" on audio. I have listened to each at least a hundred times. lol
All this tells me that I and probably you know exactly how to eat and why but just need that push these books give us since in real life there is to much adversity to eating this way.
Sorry I was so long winded . I am very glad to have found your blog and enjoy it greatly.

Anonymous said...

Let me start by saying, I love your blog!!! It has gotten me out of the "reading" mode and in to the "doing" mode as you describe. We have a lot of similarities with our addiction to books on nutrition. If someone was to come into my house and just look at my bookshelf, they would think some very healthy person lived there. On my bookshelf I have numberous books about health/nutrition including The China Study (an awesome book), Anti Cancer, PH Diet, Quantum Wellness, Eat to Live, Eat for Health, etc... I would read these books and it all made sense, I just couldn't take action. This is where I want to thank you, because seeing pictures of the recipes in Eat for Health finally made me spring in to action and I am loving it. I check your site daily to see what you've made and how you have graded it. Thank you, thank you!!!

Susan said...

Hi, Jana!!
Another question for you! Since I'm one of those people like you USED to be (a reader, but not a doer), but I'm gearing up to do this challenge in a couple of weeks, I have a question about the "extra" things in the recipes.... I know you mentioned earlier that you had to buy a lot of new things at Whole Foods (which I'm not oppposed to), but can you find *MOST* of the things like weird vinegars, spices and whatnot there? I noticed in one of your pictures that you had Dr. Fuhrman's Black Fig Vinegar and I'm wondering if I need to place some special orders for things before I get started on my shopping or if I can get most of it by shopping at Whole Foods and our local Co-op?

Thanks again for all of your insight and sharing the tough parts along with the great parts of this challenge! :)
~Susan

SelfCure said...

I love the blog. Thanks much for your comments on the recipes.

I think the book you need to read is "In Defense of Food" by Michael Pollan. A must read book on food and America's food system. Dr. Fuhrman's books are very good (I've read them all); Pollan's book helps to complete the picture.

Jana Diedrich said...

Thanks for your comments!!

Lorri--I have all of the Dr. Fuhrman stuff on my iPod too!! Ha ha ha!! Yes--I think we are both nuts!! He also has teleconferences on his website that you can download--and some stuff on iTunes.

Anonymous--thank you for reading and commenting! It makes me feel great to know that I am helping people!

Susan, yes--most of the things you can get at Whole Foods. On Dr. F's website he has a sampler vinegar pack that I would recommend you buy. Here is the link: https://www.drfuhrman.com/shop/salad_dressings.aspx That is all that I had (the sampler pack), and I did buy a large bottle of the Fig because I really liked it. I would also recommend lots of different no-salt seasonings like Mrs. Dash and Spike. Dr. F has one called Vegizest that you can try too. Good luck and let me know if you have more questions!

Thank you Selfcure for the book recommendation! I will look for that one!!

TheCraftyVegan said...

Thanks for the reply Jana,
Am I correct to assume that you belong to his member site? I have gone back and forth mentally a thousand times on weather I should join or not. I would love access to more recipes and to his teleconferences. I have downloaded and listened to everything that Itunes and Voice America has.
If you are a member, would you recommend joining?

Jana Diedrich said...

Hi Lorri,
I am a member and I would recommend joining! There are discussion threads going on all the time--with lots of different topics and many like-minded people who can help you and who will talk to you. There are TONS of recipes, a member library--lots of free stuff to read on every subject, and all of his past teleconferences. There is an Ask The Doctor section where you can speak directly to Dr. Fuhrman if you are having a medical issue. It's a pretty cool site! Especially if you USE it, and join in talking to people on the discussions. I've been a member for a few years--but just recently joined in talking to people. I know have a long-distance friend from the site who I talk to on the phone!! It makes a difference when you have other people pulling for you!! That's just my 2-cents!!