CONFESSIONS OF A FAT GIRL

I'm Growing and Trying Healthier Recipes

At the start of this year, I was - and still am - going through a lot of changes and it was time to make some changes in my diet. And much to my surprise, it's mostly felt really wonderful. I've been pinning new, interesting recipes to my "food" board on Pinterest and slowly trying out a few. 

Now, don't get my wrong. I still see recipes for things like "soft baked cheerio monster cookies" and salivate. There's a time and place for those, too, right? But I thought I would share some of the cool things I've tried here and additionally, some of the recipes that remain on my "to do" list. ENJOY! 

GLUTEN FREE EGG CASSEROLE - Fit & Awesome

My friend Lindsay posted this one and it was actually the first new, healthy recipe I tried. I'm not much for ghee so I stuck with some smart balance butter. You can totally mix and match your ingredients, which I like because she uses spinach and I have this weird aversion to cooked spinach. It was maple sausage, peppers and cheese for me. Anyway, the point is, it's delicious and something you can make on a Sunday and then portion out for office lunches for a few days! 

POTATO-LESS POTATO PANCAKES - The World According to Eggface

Mine did not turn out as pretty as the ones on "Eggface" but they were really, really yummy! It would never occur to me to use cottage cheese and an egg together. In fact, even typing it now, it sounds kinda gross, but this was delicious, made a big portion, and subbing some plain yogurt for sour cream was perfect. I didn't have any chives in the house but I'm sure I'll make this again soon.

TOASTLESS AVOCADO TOAST (baked eggs in avocado) - Allrecipes.com

I really love avocado toast and cutting out bread meant this was off the table for me. But then I remembered going to a restaurant where I had "avocado toast" in an actual avocado shell and went on the hunt for a similar recipe. (Apologies, I did not get a photo of this one!) 

Also, not so much a fancy recipe, but I also learned to make GRITS. Go figure! They are tasty sweet or savory. Give 'em a shot! 

And here are some more recipes I am eager to try:

• Risotto... made from SUNFLOWER SEED! WHAT?! - Epicurious
• Paleo Meatball Soup - Recipe This
• Crispy Baked Tofu - Cookie and Kate
• Lemon Ricotta Pancakes - The World According to Eggface
• Healthy Banana Bread - A Cookie Named Desire
• Butternut Squash Soup (Note: I really want to make a soup from scratch and I feel like I could make a healthier version of this somehow) - Thrifty Jinxy
• Spaghetti Squash with Lemon Herb Shrimp - Sarah Peretz
• Parmesan Roasted Cauliflower (Note: I don't even like cauliflower but DAMN this looks GOOD!) - What's Gaby Cooking

WHAT SAY YOU?

What healthy recipes should I try? I would love your recommendations! Please share in the comments or tweet them to me! 

 

Quote of the Day: On Empathy

Quote of the Day

Of course.

2017: The Year of NO

I'll let you all in on something I've learned over the years - and it took a lot of 'em. NO is a great word; NO is not a negative word. It is, in fact, one of the most empowering words in the English language. 

While the literal definition of "no" is to reject, deny and turn down, I prefer to think of it as a means to opening yourself up to MORE. Too often we say YES to things we can't afford -- either with our finances or out time. When you stop saying no, you risk taking on more than you can handle. What happens then? You might get everything done but it won't be at a high standard of execution or effort. Or, you might not get everything done at all. You let people down. You let yourself down. And sometimes, frankly, it leads to more work upon work, when in your guilt you feel like you have to make up for what's happened. 

At a base level, consider that when you over-commit yourself, you're also often depriving yourself of rest and sleep. Even meals. You end up sick more often. 

You're never home. This makes you feel restless. And, in a way, isolated. Home is where you go to recharge. Home is sanctuary. 

You become a terminable people-pleaser. Your personal projects and goals fall by the wayside. (And you should never feel like making time for your own stuff is selfish!)

Passion also falls by the wayside. How can you be passionate about a million things? We'd all spontaneously combust. You become the person just trying to stay afloat instead of the person kicking ass. I argue that it's better to find a just a few things you're excited and passionate about and do them really well. From a business perspective, you want to be an expert in a niche. No one can be an expert at everything. (And hey, no one likes that guy anyway, right?)

The word NO takes courage. It means owning who you are and what you want and need. It shields us from being taken advantage of. Sometimes, it's all there is to protect us from our own kindness. YES is good, too. Yes supports opening yourself up to new things and being helpful but there's a time and a place for it. I completely understand everyone out there having their years of yes but in 2017, I'll be over here having a Year of NO. Because I think saying NO sets us free.

If you'd like to join me in the Year of NO, I've set up a private Facebook group where we can all hold each other up as we learn to acknowledge that NO is power. Please leave a comment below and include your email address.

17 in 2017

I was really fond of my 2016 mantra, "Alright, alright, alright," and plan to keep that in the back of my mind moving forward because that Matthew McConaughey was really onto something when he came up with that. 

Also, in 2017, you'll find me living in "The Year of 'NO'." More on that later.  

I set quite a precedent in 2016, completing every task on my "16 in 2016" list. So even though I'm saying "NO" more, I'm ambitiously after some new ideas and goals, and trying to be consistent with some oldies-but-goodies.

1. Go to The Getty and/or The Broad 

2. Get into the habit of meal planning my weeks. 

3. Visit Whimsic Alley.

4. Send cards and post cards for no reason. 2-3/month at least.

5. Movies I always wanted to see but never got around to: Some Like it Hot, It Happened One Night, Indiscreet

6. Spend a day in high heels. 

7. Volunteer with animals or people in need. 

8. Ice Skate next Winter.

9. Visit friends and family in Northern California.

10. Clean out my closet.

11. Exercise more. Much, much more.

12. Buy/wear tall boots. (Translation: this means I have to shed weight and inches of my calves!) 

13. Wear less black. (This is the longest shot on the list but I included it for a couple friends who requested it and will do what I can.)

 14. Take a vacation - preferably across the country, definitely to a city I've never been to. 

15. Have friends over for a homemade brunch. 

16. Raise money for a charity. (I have a new website launching for this!) 

17. Restaurants I want to try: Post & Beam, Spear Steak & Seafood, Sunny Spot, Gwen, 71 Above and Wolf.

* * *

Completed items are highlighted in yellow.

 Past years: 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012