Hi all. I’ve been MIA for awhile, haven’t I?
Well, let me explain. After the birth of my fourth (which was about EIGHT months ago, can you believe it?), I expected life to a bit more busy than usual as is natural after any birth, for awhile, but then I anticipated getting into the rhythm of things. Life would get easier. I would have more time to do things, like blog, bake, read (ha!). Fond wishes, eh?
Well reality has hit me for some time now, and I cannot deny it. I simply have to simplify my life if I am to survive. I don’t want to just survive, I want to have a happy, balanced, life. (Ahh, is that too much to ask?!).
I have dozens of food pictures to upload and recipes to share, and lots of thoughts bumping around my head about books I’ve come across, or issues I’ve been thinking about.
I love this little blog ALMOST as much as one of my babies. After all, healthy living, vegan issues, these are all passions that color my world, and I’ve put a lot of time and effort into this thing. Not for the money, that’s for sure (I think I’ve made a grand total of $2 this year with my Amazon Store), but because I feel so strongly about letting people know they are not alone. Especially Mormon moms who choose the plant-based/vegan lifestyle, since it can feel a bit like your the only carrot amidst all the cream of chicken casseroles and green jello molds. So I’m not ready to give up this blog yet. There are still recipes to share, issues to talk about.
One thing that has tickled me to pieces recently are the amount of veg-friendly cookbooks coming out these days. Have you noticed too?
One that I’m particularly fond of is Alicia Silverstone’s The Kind Diet. I really love her approach–it’s all about grains, beans, and veggies! And listening to your body. Making that connection.
Another cookbook that’s come out recently is the Happy Herbivore. This book is on my wish list, so I don’t have it YET, but I perused it’s pages at my local Barne’s & Noble, and this book looks like a winner. All of her recipes are plant based AND oil-free AND uses easy to find ingredients. These are the kind of recipes I’m always on the look out for.
Another book that I’ve come across, is by Barbara Rolls, PhD, where she shares her research at Penn State (??). Volumetrics is an approach created by Barbara Rolls that is based on the principles of calorie density. Similar to what Jeff Novick, RD, teaches, fairly effortless weight loss and weight maintenance is based on creating a diet with the appropriate calorie density. Essentially, eat a higher volume of low-calorie plants to displace higher calorie foods and you will keep your caloric intake in check. I think a light bulb finally went off for me when I realized that eating a TON of vegetables is not just for when I want to lose weight. It’s a way of life. Women, especially, have to use this approach if they don’t want to go absolutely out of their minds micromanaging every calorie (or point) for the rest of their life in order to maintain the weight they want. This approach has helped me realize that my weight is my choice, and I’m in control, without deprivation and guilt. Really love this approach, even though, I must say it’s not vegan, but is very plant friendly.
That’s all I have for now. Again, I hope you’ll be forgiving of my on-again, off-again, fair-weather friendish blogging behavior. I’m still here, just a bit more boggled down by the day-to-day affairs of being a working mom of four little ‘uns, which means less time for blogging. My next post I hope to finish the discussion about weight loss and breastfeeding and show you some recent food pics.
Ta ta for now, and have a happy plant-filled, blissful day!
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