I Love This Quote!

"There's a difference between deprivation and discipline. Discipline means being aware of our needs, and being able to identify true needs verses things that we're simply craving at the moment."

I love that! It was on one of the many blogs I follow. Mark Bittman, who is quoted, writes a column for the NY Times. He was being interview on his new semi-vegetarian life style and whether or not it is difficult for him to stick with it.
I think it can be applied to healthy eating in general. If most of the time you eat foods that are healthful (those things you "need") and save foods you "crave" for special treats, 2 things will happen:

1. your overall diet will become more healthful (which could help you lose weight if you are trying), and

2. you will probably start to "crave" foods that are more nutritious.

I also think that sometimes you "need" to eat a food that you are "craving"...like a piece of cake, or some ice cream, or a bacon cheese burger...but only occasionally so that you really enjoy it! For a special treat! If you treat yourself everyday then it's not special anymore.

So next time you pass on ice cream after dinner and have a piece of fruit instead, you aren't depriving yourself, you are showing discipline and having what your body "needs"!


Lagniappe...


A few weeks ago Mark Bittman wrote an article, 101 Simple Salads for the Season and alot of the recipes look really good! Actually, they aren't even recipes, just ideas to inspire you!

Update on Me

Now that I've been back in Baton Rouge for about 9 months, I get the question all of the time, "So what are you doing these days?" When I was in Houston everyone knew I was dancing, teaching dance, and working as a dietitian (or "nutrition coach") at LifeTime Fitness.

"Well...lots of things!" I tell them. I am teaching at Tari's School of Dance, which keeps me REALLY busy (and I love it and wouldn't trade it for the world). In the fall, I choreograph for the Saintsations, the Saints' NFL dance team. I manage this blog. And now I'm in the process of starting my own business. "Deliciously Golden" is going corporate (well maybe one day!). I hope you have noticed the new logo that I had designed. I love it and want to thank Hannah of Sherbet Blossom Designs for all of her creativity!

Since I've been back in Louisiana, I've been working with several high school and college ages girls on weight management issues. I love this age group because they are so impressionable...the girls don't have many hard-set, preconceived ideas about food...they are mostly just confused and very willing to learn. And I think this is where it all starts - teach young girls how to eat and cook healthfully, and they will in turn pass it on the the next generation.

One of the things I do with the girls is cook with them at their homes (and sometimes at mine). It gives them a little confidence in the kitchen and helps build a healthy food relationship. What do we prepare? Lots of things: oven-fried chicken tenders with sauteed tomatoes and a side salad, chicken enchiladas, butter pecan ice cream, baked chicken with wild rice salad and roasted squash, and KING CAKE!

Last week, because it was Mardi Gras, I made a king cake with one of the girls. As you can see, I don't only cook "healthy" things with the girls, because I feel that having a "special treat" is part of eating healthfully. I follow this same philosophy myself...95% of the time I eat foods that are good for my body, but the other 5% I relax and enjoy a special treat or two.

The king cake was chocolate chip pecan and let me tell you, it was AMAZING!

A Special Day

Me, mom, and Hil right before "step-off" at an LSU game

I originally sent this message as a TWL email on Mother's Day earlier this year when I was still living and working in Houston. Tonight marks 4 years since my mom suffered a brain aneurysm and passed away. Needless to say, Halloween is not one of my favorite holidays to celebrate (and on top of that, I am sick right now with a sore throat/ear infection and I always miss her more when I am not feeling well). However, tomorrow is All Saints Day...a day of celebrating those who have left us for the most perfect life in heaven...and she could not have passed on a more appropriate day. My mom was a Saint in more ways than one and I am so blessed to have had her in my life for 23 years. So in honor of my mom, here is the email I sent:

Morning!

First I want to wish all of the moms reading this Happy Mother's Day! I hope someone fixes you breakfast in bed...that's what my brother, sister, and I always did for my mom on Mother's Day. I talk about my mom a lot in the TWL classes and most of you know that she had a big influence on my healthy eating habits. What a lot of you don't know is that my mom passed away 3 1/2 years ago. She was such a great person and I am so thankful that I had her in my life for 23 years...she had (and continues to have) such a huge influence on my character, personality, and values.

When I was younger I probably couldn't appreciate the fact that she didn't keep sugary cereal, Oreos, and candy in our house or that we could only have a Coke for a "special treat" (we actually used to ask her, "mom, could I have a coke tonight for a special treat?"). Now that I am older I can appreciate what she did for me!

However, sometime I think I see things about her and the way we ate "through rose colored glasses". If I really think back to it, we didn't always eat perfectly...we ate spaghetti with beef meatballs, pizza, hamburgers, and fried chicken tenders. She would occasionally bake a cake or make cookies for us...sometimes we would have a frozen store bought fruit pie after dinner (with ice cream). She would pick up Popeye's fried chicken and biscuits or order delivery pizza sometimes. And during the summer we would get snow balls (snow cones in Louisiana are called snow balls).

But, all of these things were occasional...and weren't readily available in our house. We didn't eat out a lot and my mom cooked on most nights...mostly things like baked chicken, pork tenderloin, or fish. We always had at least one vegetable with dinner and we didn't have dessert every night. This way, when we did have a "special treat" it was okay...no need to feel guilty.

That's how I eat now too...believe me I eat my share of dessert, beef, full-fat cheese, etc. (although I rarely eat fried food). Most of the time, however, I eat more nutritious foods...that way I can afford to have a treat.

So just remember, it's what you do MOST of the time that's important. Don't keep junk food in your house...it's too tempting (so many parents tell me they have to keep it around for the kids, but the kids don't need it either!). Make it a family event and go out once or twice a month for ice cream, pizza, or another treat, instead. That way those "forbidden" foods go from being "bad" to "special".

Happy All Saints Day to everyone!

Me and mom on the beach in Atlantic City for the Miss America Pageant