JOURNAL YOUR EATING WITH US

Tanya Day # 1: December 26, 2012
So, I had tea with a tablespoon of honey to kick me out of bed this morning, since I am not sure that I am ready to drink coffee black, and I don't think coconut milk in my coffee is going to cut it for me. Anyway, I just went in another direction with the morning wake up call. It worked.

Meal #1:
So this morning I got up and prepared the family, organic cage free scrambled eggs and nitrate free bacon for breakfast! I must say, it was delicious. I had this exact same meal 2 days ago at my grandmothers and it was not nearly as tasty, her regular bacon was so salty, and the eggs didn't have nearly as good flavor as what I noted today. This definitely supports the fact that high quality ingredients do make a difference! Now I am off to plan the meals for the remainder of the day. I am optimistic!

Snack #1:
I went shopping at SAM's for some salad greens, fruit and nuts. On my way out I realized I was getting really hungry, so I grabbed a Honey-crisp apple, to hold me over until lunch. (It worked!)

Meal #2:
OK, so lunch. I prepared a chicken breast salad. I marinated the chicken breasts in a little lemon juice, garlic, black pepper and OEVOO, then pan sauteed them in the marinade. Removed chicken, sliced and served over a bed of salad greens with sliced avocado, sliced almonds and tomatoes. I made an orange vinaigrette modified from the Make It Paleo cookbook. It was great! Hubby even ate the same salad, but since he is not so Paleo (yet) he chose a different dressing. But he didn't complain. And that is part of the journey when eating so dramatically differently from what you are used to....getting the family on-board. I don't expect them to jump in with me right away, but a little at a time for them is fine by me.

While I was prepping lunch, I also juiced some limes for the marinade for steak fajitas tomorrow night. I will have a steak fajita salad, while the rest of the family will likely do the traditional preparation with the flour tortillas. I need to get back to the store to pick up some of my spices. My pal Sherri already gave me the tip to go ahead and marinate and grill two flank steaks when preparing this meal and have enough for leftovers. So, I shall do that! I have a feeling advance preparation is going to be the key to this. That and save everything leftover for use in another meal.

Tanya Day #2: December 27, 2012
Meal #1:

My very sweet and thoughtful hubby made me a cup of coffee with the "old" creamer in it, and unfortunately I had to politely turn it down and remake it with coconut milk and honey. This was unfortunately not my favorite, so I don't know that I will continue with coffee and I may make a permanent substitution of herbal tea for my morning wake up call.

So for the food... Steve's Paleo Crunch Cranberry "cereal" with a sliced banana and a handful of blueberries and unsweetened coconut milk. Man, it was really good and filling. I truly did not feel deprived at all and it didn't take long to prep. Before I left for a 9 am dentist appointment, I threw the sweet potatoes in the oven to slow bake and put some eggs on to boil for my lunch later. When I got home the potatoes were baked, and hubby had taken my eggs off the burner to cool. They will be ready when I go to mix up my Paleo deviled eggs with my mayo I prepped last night and the sweet potato. Unconventional lunch, but it works and I will be happy.

Later today I will make some guacamole and salsa, Paleo approved for my steak fajita salad this evening.

Meal #2:

First let me say, I was not that hungry before lunch and did not need a snack after my breakfast this morning.  So that is a score for the Paleo Crunch Cereal from Steve's.

What about that lunch? I boiled 3 cage free eggs this morning and let them cool. I then halved and removed yolks and mashed them in a small bowl with a tablespoon of my Paleo mayo, a tiny squirt of yellow mustard and some dill for flavor and then put them back into the egg whites for a traditional deviled egg (which is one of my all time favorite treats!) I had all of them, all to myself and I enjoyed every bite. Were they a little different from what I am used to? Uh, yeah, a little, I love the tart taste of the sweet pickles, but hey, this wasn't a bad substitute by any means. Let's say I can live with it. I also ate a plain baked sweet potato. I love these too, I am known to even eat the skin when they are slow baked and fresh from the ground like we are lucky enough to get in the fall here in South Louisiana. The ones I am cooked today aren't that fresh, and not quite as tasty, but it is yummy nonetheless, and I am satisfied and full. I am looking forward to the fajita's that have been marinating all night for my steak fajita salad this evening. Believe it or not I LOVE salads and always have, so this fits me well!

Meal #3:

Steak fajita salad. MMM. I used flank steak from US Wellness Meats. It was really good with the coconut milk sour cream, guacamole and salsa that I made. I put it all on a bed of spinach and romaine lettuce!  

Dessert: Sherri let me in on a secret weapon, a sweet treat that was yummy and allowed! It was a mixture of mashed banana, egg, cocoa powder, almond butter, and nuts, popped in the micro for 2 mins and viola! Dessert! I enjoyed it thoroughly! 

Tanya: Day #3

Meal #1: Fried eggs and organic bacon. YUM!

Meal #2: Leftover steak fajita salad. LEFTOVERS ARE YOUR FRIEND! 

Meal #3: