Sunday, May 19, 2013

Can I Just Complain...


Can I just take a minute to complain? I stick to my diet; I cheat now and then, but usually only just a bite. For the most part, I just find alternatives. I work out. I keep a steady schedule. I sleep on a normal basis, except weekends are usually off. So all in all, I’ve earned my minute of grumbling reflection.

For those who don’t know (feel free to read my story: “Why I Can’t Eat Normal”), my body decided to kick my butt into health gear. It decided (by itself, I might add) that it didn’t want to deal with a good deal of the food that encompasses America.

A short review.

I cannot eat white flour (unbleached, enriched, white, any of that); refined, granulated sugar (the natural stuff’s alright, but not too much); dairy; fried foods (usually because of the batter); bananas, avocados, oranges; and some artificial sweetener/sugar alcohol thingy called sorbitol. (Oh, plus, I’m also vegetarian. Due to the fact I can’t eat dairy and rarely eat eggs, I guess that sort of makes me almost vegan.)

First, I’d like to complain about bananas. I have this thing called Fruit-Latex Syndrome. Yea. Wahoo for me.

Bananas. They’re nutritious. They’re tasty. If you like it, the texture is quite desirable. Good for a quick snack. So yea, I guess they have their pros. (That’s sort of a lie, I really wish I could eat bananas.)

But honestly, another let down about not being able to eat them? Peanut butter is ALWAYS have to be paired with bananas!

Life just isn’t fair sometimes.

Second. Gum.

Do you know what is in like 99.9% of that chewy, sweet, jaw-entertainment, breath-freshening treat? Sorbitol.

This excessively used sweetener happens to swell my stomach to an uncomfortable size of an early pregnancy (of which, I am not). However, I had a terrible gum addiction. I mean, to the point where I’d chew gum, take it out to eat, finish eating, and grab a new piece (or two dependent on the type of gum). Now? I can’t eat most it. The Boy did find a type of gum I can eat. But still! That’s a whole lot of gum that’s out of my reach.

Third. White flour.

I won’t complain about this one often. I’m actually sort of grateful I can’t eat it. Recently, however, pizza has smelt extra good. And I don’t think you can understand how much I miss egg rolls. I keep telling The Boy and Pyro that one of these days I will suck it up and brave to eat an egg roll. The stomach pain can’t last too long, right?

I don’t know if that’ll happen…But man, I miss egg rolls. Plus, The Boy doesn’t like them and is always putting his up for grabs.

Four. Smores.

I’m not sure anyone understands how depressing it is to not be able to eat smores. I mean, I guess I can sort of handle the marshmallow, it’s basically all sugar, so my blood sugar wouldn’t be too happy, but whatever. Not being able to have milk chocolate sort of sucks, but dark chocolate is like a million times better anyhow. (Although, even finding dark chocolate without dairy is difficult.) The real kicker? I can’t eat graham crackers. I can have one type, but they’re Annie’s so they’re bunnies (kind of hard to make smores with them, though they are tasty). I have yet to find any graham cracker (pre-made and store bought) that I can eat. I love graham crackers. I love smores. I miss them.

I probably could continue to complain, though it won’t help. It may relieve temporary frustration, long term it won’t do much. Besides, I don’t wish my life any other way. I like where I am and how I have to eat.

To counter balance my complaints and finish up this post, here a few ups from this past week.

The Boy made Johnny Cakes!


I have cinnamon raisin bread again.


Oatmeal is always a win. It’s quick oats (usually I eat old fashioned); these are quite tasty!



I’ve also enjoyed a few cold veggie salads.



Plus, a fortune cookie!

Saturday, May 11, 2013

Operation: Eat More Veggies


So with recent realizations about my health and my body (yes more than before). I’ve been determined to eat more vegetables and more fruits, to try and re-straighten myself out.


I haven’t ventured to full organic veggies and fruits yet, though there are local Farmer’s Markets, so eventually, that is the goal. For now, I just appreciate the fact that I can go to my grocery store and find some good stuff to slather with peanut butter.

Sweet potatoes are always a must. There is never too much sweet potato (it’s sort of like peanut butter in that regard).



I’ve been making a lot of stir-fries. Not so much out of lack of knowing what else to cook, but I just really love stir-fries. They’re easy to prepare, cook, and carry if needed.




As an additive to my stir-fries, I’ve finally adventured to try making squash myself. During the winter, my mom uses butternut all the time, it’s one of our favorites. However, I’ve been wanting to try spaghetti squash. A friend’s mom made it one night, and now I have at last made it myself.




So good.

I also made an acorn squash at Pyro’s once when the gang was hanging out. Topped it with almond butter and Haitian Hot Pepper peanut butter.


Veggies for dinner is all nice and good, but I also worked to get veggies in my lunches as well. Of course, not far, was the peanut butter.

Carrots are great with peanut butter. Plus, like 14 of those baby carrots is only 35 calories. So I pack a bunch and pile on the PB.


Baby carrots and Jif To Go was perfect for school lunches.

Operation Eat More Veggies gave me reason to confiscate a good portion of the celery in our fridge as well. What else can you make besides ants on a log?


(Okay, I’m sure there are plenty of things, but are any of them really as worth it as ants on a log?)

Another vegetable that I forgot how wonderful it is with peanut butter (it was a joyous reunion), cucumber!

Finger sandwiches…


Actual sandwiches...


By the whole…


All good stuff.

On a nice day out with Pyro, we stopped for food. I invested in some organic strawberries and raspberries. The raspberries didn't make it home.. The strawberries didn't last the night. 


Looking back into my childhood I remembered the ultimate joys of eating frozen peas. Lunch today was a vast amount topped with a good few spoonfuls of crunchy peanut butter. 


The whole, "Eat More Veggies" and "I'm a vegetarian" thing - definitely about the simple pleasures in life.

All in all, so far, success!

Saturday, May 4, 2013

Follower Favorites on How To Eat Peanut Butter



For the month of April (or at least most of it) I ran, what I call, a Peanut Butter Promo. Tell me what way you BEST like eating peanut butter and why, and I’ll feature you on my blog. I ran it mostly through Tumblr, but it visit Twitter as well.

I ran this for a few reasons. First, so I could get to know a few more of my followers on Tumblr. Also, to get my own name out there a little more. And thirdly… To see how others enjoy this wonderful food we all come here to enjoy and marvel at. I wanted to see if I could gather any new ideas.

I didn’t get too many responses, but I liked the ones I got. So in a list (in no other order than who responded first) here are some favorites from Tumblr.


On a piece of toast topped with honey and raisins :) It’s delish and a great breakfast combo”
[Toast...peanut butter...honey... Also a favorite of mine.]


“I like it on waffles :)”


“On top of my oatmeal, it melts into my oatmeal and tastes amazing!”
 

“As well as the existing replies, I love to top my carrots with PB as well  as Australian Weetbix topped with PB then dipped in yoghurt! Yum! :)”
[Okay, so I eat carrots and peanut butter all the time. People around here look at me like I'm crazy! Anyone else enjoy it this way?]


“on a sandwich with strawberries and banana (but you already knew that) !”


“with oatmeal,banana,chia seeds, hemp hearts cos it makes me happy and feels like my taste buds are dancing =)”


“straight up out of the jar :$”


“Drizzled on top of a warm sweet potato, because that my friend is pure heaven in a combo!!!”
[Pure heaven for sure...]


“Two spoon fulls of peanut butter in the blender along with milk and chocolate protein shake after workout. :)”


“i eat it in between two kallo corn cakes because it is so crunchy and delicious - it is also perfect for a post-gym boost! xx”


“My favorite way to eat peanut butter is straight from the jar because it’s that good :)”
[It is just that good.]


“dolloped onto warm cookies!”


“I like to get a spoon full of it, make a hole, pour honey into said hole and fold the PB over top of it and then eat it!”


i love peanut butter in pb&j sandwiches and/or on nutter butter french toast. and my gf loves its on multi grain toast :)”
[Your girlfriend is a smart lady, you should keep her.]


peanut butter with bananas and raspberry jam (bonne maman) because it’s heavenly delicious :D”


“On a crepe, perhaps with nutella mixed in, and strawberries. It’s so delicious but not too sweet”


“on a spoon!”


“with a giant spoon :)”

[I love how you specified "giant spoon," perfect.]





If you have anymore suggestions, I'd love to hear from you! Plus, give me some weird ideas to enjoy peanut butter. Always looking for more.