Confession.....

I have been eating canned soup for lunch at work.  It is easy, sort of cheap, and I've been doing it for years.  It also helps that my office building is right across the street from a grocery store.

These cans of soup are also the only remaining sources of simple carbs in my diet.  So as of today I am making soup each week, bagging it, and taking it in with me.

I also have begun some experimentation with my morning oatmeal.  It's not that I'm bored of it, just felt like trying something totally different.

So today I will share my new culinary discoveries.

CURRIED OATMEAL
Cook oatmeal according to directions.  Add curry powder and splenda to taste....maybe a dash of cinnamon.  If you are brave, spice it up a bit with hot sauce, peppers, or cayenne.  I think it's better just a bit on the sweet side, but it's also pretty interesting more on the savory side.

LENTIL STEW
Saute 1/2 chopped sweet onion in a little canola oil.  Add a chopped red bell pepper. Saute until slightly brown.  Add 4 large portobello mushroom caps (about 1 pound), chopped.  Cover pot and lower heat to let mushrooms cook while you mince 5 cloves of garlic.  When mushrooms are cooked down a bit, add garlic, 1 T cumin (or to taste), 3 cups dried lentils, 12 cups water or stock.  Cook over high heat until boiling, then lower heat.  Cook for 30-45 minutes or until lentils are desired consistency.  Add liquid as needed.  Salt and pepper to taste.
I've made this before with greens added.  Beef stew meat, browned with the onion would also be good, or grilled chicken chunks added near the end.  If you are vegetarian, then tofu or seitan.

Crazy....

Thursday is my crazy day.  Actually they're all a bit crazy, but Thursday is in particular right now as I am trying something new with my scheduling. 
So I left work early, so I could take my daughter to the early karate class, so that I could fit in a workout after.
Normally, we would have stopped to grab Chinese or pizza as they are both fairly convenient and cheap. Instead I pre-planned. We ate tuna sandwiches on whole grain bread while we waited for the bus from karate to my gym. An urban picnic. In 30 degree weather.

I have not posted in a couple of days, but I have stayed true to my course. I've been too busy to eat naughtily, or even to cook anything interesting.
The bag of whole wheat rotini in my cupboard dares me to come up with something though. I have always hated whole grain pasta. Again, I have always HATED whole grain pasta. But now my blood sugar concerns are winning out over my sense of culinary asthetics.
I shall challenge myself to come up with something I find tolerable.

Victory!

I took my daughter for ice cream last night, and passed it by myself.  Also, we had to make sculptures tonight with gumdrops and toothpicks for her kindergarten class tomorrow.  I did not eat a single gumdrop.  I swear.

I diverged from my planned dinner tonight, but still stayed within the guidelines of no simple carbs.  I had planned on a spartan meal of one whole grain tortilla, two scrambled eggs, with salsa verde.  I ended up having a garlic cheeseburger with mushrooms on whole-grain bread, sweet garlic coleslaw, and a slice of cantaloupe.

Yeah, I'll not be kissing anyone tonight.

Oh, and I also found some 'no sugar added' Moosetracks ice cream at the local grocery. Maybe this healthier eating stuff won't be so hideous after all.

The slaw was actually pretty danged good, so here goes.......

SWEET GARLIC SLAW
Mix together---- 2 T mayo, 2 T  milk, 1 t white vinegar, 2 t Splenda, 1/2 clove minced garlic
Add----2-3 cups shredded cabbage (depending on how creamy you like your slaw), 1/2 cup finely sliced red onion, 1/4 cup shredded carrots.
Mix it all together and dig in.

The measurements here are approximate. I never measure for slaw. So if you like more or less of something, feel free.

So I Had a Health Scare......

Don't want to bore you with the details, but it's sufficient to say that it led to a major decision. I gave up simple carbs as of 2pm on Saturday.
It's a process I know, and I haven't been quite perfect about it. I do need to continue on this path though, as I feel it is crucial to my longevity. And I have a little girl to take care of.

Oatmeal in the AM is a no-brainer. I am now adding to that a soy/whey protein shake. More fresh fruit, vegies, legumes.

And whole grains, which I have avoided like a disease for most of my life.

I went to Trader Joe's today, after my workout, and bought $18 worth of whole grain tortillas, pasta and bread.  By the time I got home I was starving.  So I made this....

I CAN'T BELIEVE I'M EATING THIS....QUESADILLA
Saute 1/2 clove garlic in a teaspoon of olive oil. (OK, I used butter.) Add 1/4 cup frozen chopped spinach. Set aside. Warm a whole grain tortilla in a pan with 1 teaspoon olive oil. (Yeah, butter again.) Cover one half of tortilla with spinach mixture, 2T goat chesse, 2T shredded cheddar. Fold over half of tortilla and press with a saute pan. Check after a minute or so and when it is brown, turn. Press again with saute pan for a minute or so. Use a pizza cutter or kitchen scissors to cut into three wedges. I ate mine with salsa verde.