Category — Healthy Eating

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So The Man and I are on this insane schedule where we don’t make it to bed until 1 a.m. It’s not that I’m tired at night—I could go till 3, really—but mornings suck even more than normal.

I’m convinced I would be five times more productive if I woke up at 11 a.m. and went to bed at 3. The most annoying part about it is that I’m most awake between 9 p.m. and 1 a.m.

Thank goodness for weekends.

Anyway, I wanted to share a cool grocery app* with you. As you know, The Man does all of our grocery shopping. The app’s particularly useful to us, but it’d be just as helpful for humans who can function on their own.

It’s called Grocery IQ, and it’s available on the iPhone/iPad and Android** phones. You can add foods to the list as you think of them or you can go online and add them at once.

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Why I like it

1. It divides your list into categories (produce, grains, etc.) so you can check all of your items off at once.
2. You can create multiple lists. For instance, if you get your produce at Whole Foods but dry goods at Trader Joe’s or Costco, you can keep your lists separate.
3. You can add a quantity and descriptions, like “jar” or “box.”
4. When you search for an item to add, suggestions automatically pop up.
5. When you check an item off of your list, it doesn’t disappear forever. The app keeps your purchase history so you can re-add and item with one click.
6. You can share the list (obviously I share mine with The Man).

Things that sounds cool that I don’t use

1. Apparently you can scan bar codes to automatically add products to your list.
2. Free coupons—I need to check this out.

Oh, and did I mention it’s free?

How do you organize your grocery list? Or do you use one at all?

*The Man will want me to point out that he found the app, not me. Credit has been given where it’s due.

**I always type this as Andriod. It’s like my fingers are protesting the spelling of droid.

Now that I’m on a cow’s milk- and gluten-free vegan diet my meals are a little less exciting. (Yeah, I’m still in that stage where I fantasize about pizza and tacos and spaghetti with marinara from this Italian place nearby.) So, naturally, I deal with it by eating a few favorite ingredients with every meal.

Here’s what I’m addicted to:

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Sprouts
Not that I didn’t love them before, but now they’re almost essential. I throw them in salads (which I eat nonstop), rice bowls, stir-frys, and—my latest favorite—in a corn quesadilla with goat cheese.

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Red pepper hummus
So there’s this medicine I take that possibly tastes worse than gasoline. I can’t be certain seeing as I generally avoid ingesting gasoline, but if I had to guess, the gasoline would win. It’s thick like finger paint, bright yellow (also like finger paint) and oily so it coats my tongue and the roof of my mouth. I follow every dose with something dipped in roasted red pepper hummus. Not only is it super flavorful, but the heat burns away the taste.

It’s also delicious if you’re not taking nasty medications.

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Potatoes
I’m eating grains like rice and quinoa but sometimes I’m in the mood for heavier carbs. Enter potatoes. I’ve been eating them pretty much every way possible: baked and topped with broccoli and goat cheddar or guacamole, roasted with salt and rosemary, and smashed in a skillet and cooked with chili powder until crispy.

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Beans
Maybe it’s because I’m trying to give substance to my meals, but I’ve been adding beans to pretty much everything. My favorite has to be roasted chickpeas with salt and pepper. It’s the perfect snack.

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Kombucha
I’ll admit I was skeptical at first. I tried it once while Synergy was off the market (due to the fact that drinking it was a legal way for minors to get hammered) and thought it was just OK. But then Synergy relauched its new, way-less-alcohol version and I gave it a shot. My first impression of the cranberry kombucha?

Meh.

I kept drinking it, though, and after six sips I was hooked. You should know that A. I love vinegar so a slightly vinegary, highly acidic drink is right up my alley and B. the mango version is a better intro to kombucha. (I’m still waiting to find the guava flavor.)

I’m not sure if I believe all of the health claims but here’s the deal: I cut caffeine and added sugars from my diet, which means the only flavored drink I can have is decaffeinated iced tea or kombucha.

Here’s what I’m not addicted to:

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Nut butters of any form*
Sometimes I think I’m going insane—and I very well may be; you’ll have to let me know—because every healthy living blogger I come across has a serious addiction to nut butter. It doesn’t seem to matter what kind, though judging from the number of peanut butter jars used as vessels for oatmeal I’m guessing that type tops the list.

I realize nut butter of some kind would be a nice addition to my new diet. And I’m all about eating some celery with peanut butter here and there. But that’s about as far as I’ll go. I’m just … not … into it.

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You reserve the right to unfollow my blog for that comment. I’m bracing myself.

What are you addicted to these days?

*Unless you count Nutella, which I don’t. Yes, it’s made from hazelnuts but it’s also loaded with chocolate and awesomesauce.

Are you guilty? From time to time, I am.

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Thanks so much for your kind words about my upside-down day. Some days you just have to stick your feet in the air and close the laptop. But you guys are awesome and made me laugh, SO THANKS.

So I’ve had a realization. Less than a month in this new apartment and I already know that living across from Whole Foods, while convenient, is going to make me broke. It’s so easy for The Man to just head over whenever we’re craving something we don’t have at home.

I think I need to set a limit on the number of Whole Food trips I can make each month. Or else I’ll have to start taking up a collection for rent money.

Speaking of things that I can’t afford at Whole Foods…

Here’s something you don’t know about me: When I was in high school, I was obsessed with trying exotic fruits. I started with kiwi and pomegranate, which aren’t really exotic unless you’re a 14-year-old girl who had spent the better part of her life eating apples, oranges, and bananas.

These were my favorite:

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I had fresh passion fruit in Fiji and loved about 2 million times more than the fruit you can get at the grocery store. Passion fruit can be sour (which I like) but the fresh ones were much sweeter than any I’ve eaten from the supermarket.

So, if I were made of money and could spend a boatload on tiny fruits, I’d buy these:

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Dragon fruit
I had this one time, and while it was refreshing it wasn’t overly flavorful. It has the texture of a kiwi with a mild sweetness. I’d eat it after a spicy meal or at times when I think a popsicle is the only way to hydrate and tame my sweet tooth. (Also, aren’t they gorgeous?)

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Lychee
I’ve only had lychee fruit once, but I loved how sweet the flesh was.

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Rambutan
They look a bit like lychees but not quite. Honestly, I have no idea what this tastes like, just that people are crazy about it, especially in Thailand.

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Mangosteen
Another one I’ve never tried but have been meaning to (you know, when the lotto ticket actually pays off).

What exotic fruit is your favorite? Or, which do you most want to try?

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Do you ever look at the clock on Sunday night to find it’s thisclose to Monday morning and you barely had a weekend? That was me last night. I didn’t watch the clock all day and then, all of a sudden, it was time to go to bed.

It’s not that my weekend was super eventful, though we did unpack some of the bedroom. I promise you two things once I’m unpacked:

1. Photos

2. Your winnings (for many of you that means bumper stickers and for Urban Solstice that means a poster, all of which are still boxed up).

Thanks for understanding.

In other news, after a month of debating with my doctor, BlueCross BlueShield decided I don’t meet the right criteria for Cymbalta. A lot of people with EM say the drug helps with the pain. But when my doctor told them that, BlueCross BlueShield replied with something you couldn’t say in a PG movie.

Of course, I spent the past month waiting for the drug like a kid counting days till Christmas. I’m on Lyrica for pain, but it just takes it down a notch. Combined with Cymbalta, though, I might not feel crazy intense burning as my feet are consumed with fire.

I paid for the drug out of pocket—$115 a month, which isn’t a big deal considering we live in a mansion and I make $2.5 million a year. Um, riiiight.

40 of these teensy pills are $115. Also, ignore my chipping polish.

If the drug works, I’ve hatched out a plan to visit BlueCross BlueShield’s offices and scream at the top of my lungs in pain until someone says:

“Wow Tracey, those beat-red feet with bulging veins feel hotter than my oven. It sure looks painful, especially when you burst into tears while walking. I think we should cover Cymbalta for you. And for being such a pain in the a$$, we’ll fly you home on our private super air conditioned jet.”

Oh, and I’m on an avocado kick again. My latest creation: BLT with cheddar, sprouts, avocado, and whole grain mustard. You can use mayo on it, but I’m gonna warn you ahead of time that it will most likely be gross. (As is everything with mayo.)

Yes, the sprouts and avocado slices make this huge. (So huge that when I ordered this they added an extra slice of toast. Truthfully, you don’t need it—or the extra slices of cheese or bacon. They just had no faith in my ability to reorganize the ingredients into a well-balanced stack.)

It almost takes my mind off my arch nemesis, BlueCross BlueShield.

Almost.

Q of the day: I love avocados on sandwiches and salads, but what other ways do you like to eat them?

The consensus seems to be that you guys want to hear my picks for YA books.

In other news, I’ll be unpacking all weekend. A girl’s gotta wear real pants once in a while.

What I wish I were doing is going to the movies. I haven’t been in forever and a half (winter = freezing temps = heat indoors = major foot flares) but I’m dying to see:

Because it’s Jane Eyre and judging from the trailer it might be as good as the book.

Even though I have a hunch it’s Twilight-esque.

Because I love Topher Grace. And John Hughes movies, which this is obviously a tribute to.

Kidding. Just seeing if you’re paying attention.

The premise just seems cool.

A. Creeptastic B. Totally exciting

Speaking of movies, did you guys hear that when calorie counts come to restaurants they’ll also be at the movie theater snack bar.

This is a good thing, because a large popcorn (you know, the one you spring for because it’s only a quarter more than the small and triple its size?) has 1,460 calories.

This is a bad thing because my favorite junk food is movie theater popcorn. I’m going to be honest: The scent alone is like crack to me. Now I’m going to have to buy the stuff with that number staring me in the face.*

And, finally, here’s a laugh to get you in the weekend mood:

Hipster Wicked Witch:

And:

Oh, and if you won one of my bumper stickers or other prize, I’m sorry I haven’t sent them out yet.** There was this whole moving thing. But once I unpack them they’re yours!

What movies are you most looking forward to seeing? Seen any good ones lately?

*Yeah, I get that that’s the point.

**Please don’t hate me!

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They say there’s no such thing as a miracle diet. That the only way to lose or maintain weight is to eat healthy and exercise. But you know what I say?

Liars.

I stumbled upon two diets that will have you down 20 pounds in a matter of weeks. Yes, they’re that good.

First is what I like to call the Being On A Deadline Diet.* Here’s how it works: You volunteer for at least three work projects, two volunteer events, and party planning for a good friend’s birthday/engagement party/bachelorette party/baby shower/just-got-dumped pity part.

Make sure each of your tasks is due on the same day. This is important.

Make sure you start each task exactly a week before the due date. This is critical.

When you’re too busy to pee, let alone eat, you’ll watch the pounds slip off.**

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Just look at these testimonials from satisfied customers:

“I was 5 pounds overweigh and depressed about my body. But after three days on the Being On A Deadline Diet I could fit into my skinny jean again!”

“I weight 370 pounds when I started the Being On A Deadline Diet. Three weeks and four trips to the emergency room later and I can fit into my size 6 jeans!”

“I didn’t believe in crash diets before I started the Being On A Deadline Diet. But I’m a true believer now! I lost 75 pounds in two weeks and only passed out twice!”

See? It’s that easy.

If you’re unhappy with your body, stop your whining and star the Being On A Deadline Diet. Skinny jeans are just a deadline away.

But wait, you say. That’s not realistic for everyone. I know, I know. There are people who don’t have strict deadlines at work, who don’t volunteer, and who aren’t lucky enough to have a pregnant/engaged/dumped friend.

No worries. Jimmy Kimmel has the diet for you:

*Don’t try this at home, kids.

**For legal reasons, I’m obligated to tell you that you should be drinking water. I apologize if that appears obvious; I don’t want to get sued. Again.

Thanks to everyone who filled out my Totally Unofficial (But Super Helpful) Blog Survey yesterday. I can’t wait to tabulate the results. And if you didn’t get a chance, please enter the TUBSHBS. I’ll be forever in your debt and—awesome news—you can use the results to make your blog better. And if you don’t have a blog, well, I’m sorry. This isn’t as useful to you.

Moving on…

If you follow me on Twitter you know there’s one benefit to moving:

That’s right. My mom’s visiting and therefore cooking like, well, like a mom. I’ve been eating normally (that is, not gluten-, dairy-, and everything else-free) because we’ve been moving. No pots, pans, plates, or food = no cooking. (I’ll be switching back to that boring diet once we’re all unpacked.)

The great thing about having a mom in your house 24-7 is that instead of something totally random and fast for lunch, you can eat a delicious fennel and radicchio salad. During the workday.

And then for dinner? You can eat this:

Chicken potpie. With mashed potatoes.

And cornbread.

$100, friends. That’s all it takes. For $100* she’ll cook for you.

Speaking of home cooking, what’s your favorite mom-made meal?

*And a bed, naturally.

Right now I’m moving.

OK, to be honest, I’m sitting around as the pros move. If you’ve never hired movers let me tell you: It’s the way to go. Best. Idea. Ever.

There are three things I want to tell you in this (short) post:

1. Someone made a 24-ounce burger. When I waitressed, my restaurant served a pound-and-a-half burger. That looks like a slider compared to this behemoth:

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On that note, I’m never taking The Man to Long Island City because I know for a fact he’ll want to order this and prove he’s man enough by devouring the entire thing. And then I have to hear him whine about his stomach ache and heart palpitations.

2. The winner of the case of Cascade Ice is…

Oh, first, I wanted to tell you to have a good weekend.

And that I’ll be unpacking all weekend.

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But why does the box have to gooooo?

And when I want to find that thing I put in a special box because I couldn’t lose it, I’ll be running around the house, razor in hand, opening every box in the place. You know it’ll be in the last box I open.

So, yeah. And now for the winner!

Oh, I forgot to tell you: I live across the street from a Whole Foods.

There goes the budget.

I’m taking donations.

And now to what you really want to know (and possibly already do if you skipped my babbling). According to random.org, the winner of the Cascade Ice case is …

Number 10! That’s Suzy Greer. Congratulations! E-mail me at tracey(at)notsuperhuman(dot)com and I’ll make sure Cascade Ice knows where to send the goods.

Everyone else, thanks for entering and this is your consolation prize:

Q4U: What are you WINNING at?

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TODAY IS THE DAY. This is your last chance to enter my giveaway to win a case of Cascade Ice sparking water in a bunch of flavors. Make sure to do it before midnight because after that you’re out of luck.

We’re in the home stretch here. This time tomorrow, we’ll be moving again. If you haven’t moved recently, I suggest you do. It’s all sorts of fun.

So, last night I saw my new apartment for the first time. I think The Man was about to collapse from worry that I’d hate the place. He was very wrong, though. It’s cute and, while smaller, has everything we need, including a kitchen with more than two lights. Halleluiah!

In other news, McDonald’s oatmeal is about as healthy as a filet o’ fish. I read Mark Bittman’s op-ed in the New York Times and here’s how he describes it:

Yet in typical McDonald’s fashion, the company is doing everything it can to turn oatmeal into yet another bad choice. (Not only that, they’ve made it more expensive than a double-cheeseburger: $2.38 per serving in New York.) “Cream” (which contains seven ingredients, two of them actual dairy) is automatically added; brown sugar is ostensibly optional, but it’s also added routinely unless a customer specifically requests otherwise.

There are also diced apples, dried cranberries and raisins, the least processed of the ingredients (even the oatmeal contains seven ingredients, including “natural flavor”).

A more accurate description than “100 percent natural whole-grain oats,” “plump raisins,” “sweet cranberries” and “crisp fresh apples” would be “oats, sugar, sweetened dried fruit, cream and 11 weird ingredients you would never keep in your kitchen.”

I’m not surprised. Still, I’m pretty sure there are people out there who think it’s healthy because it’s called oatmeal.

Get this: McDonald’s oatmeal has more sugar than a Snickers and only 10 fewer calories than a cheeseburger. Mmm … I’m lovin’ it.

I’ve never tried the oatmeal so I can’t comment on taste. But I do know how easy it is to throw some oats in a bowl with water, microwave it and call it a day.

Have any of you tried McDonald’s oatmeal? What do you think? And do you think most people consider it healthy—or bad-for-you simply because it’s from the fast food giant?