Eat Wasa Feel Good

Organic Gum

Jennifer — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 22:35:55 +0000

Ron and I spent July 4 in southwest Colorado. It is gorgeous here – sunny days with quick mountain thunderstorms that roll through in the afternoon and cool things off. We hiked around the Weminuche Wilderness, peering into ice caves (though we didn’t go spelunking). We came across bear piles, deer piles, elk piles, and their tracks, but didn’t actually see any of the animals (except for a dead elk which had fallen into a small ice cave this past winter when the hole was covered with snow – so sad). We hiked our way to the top of the ridge and looked hundreds of feet to the canyon below where the Piedra River rushed along. On our way back, the guide picked something off of a Ponderosa pine tree. It looked like a brown gumdrop.

“It’s pitch,” he said. “Chew it and eventually it’ll turn into gum.”

I stopped and turned back toward the pine tree. Did someone say gum? I love gum. Gave it up (for the most part) because of the artificial sweeteners. But this was different. Gum off a pine tree was natural. Organic gum.

I broke off a piece of the pitch and popped it in my mouth.

“It’ll crumble at first, but chew it really fast and it’ll turn into gum,” the guide said.

“What does it taste like?” Ron asked.

I was munching as fast as I could. “Like nature,” I said. “Dirt and pine with a gravelly texture.”

But sure enough the gravelly texture turned into a chewy texture. I waited for the taste to change to something better . . . something sweeter. It didn’t.

I spit out my organic gum.

I don’t think it’s a taste I could ever get used to, so I guess I’ll have to continue my gum-less days, except for the rare occasion when I pop in a man-made piece, artificial sweeteners and all.

Recovery

Jennifer — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 22:34:19 +0000

Rest.

It’s the best course of action when you’re sick – and I’m sick. Food poisoning. A long, awful night.

Today I’m laying low: sleeping, reading, sleeping, reading.

My gut still feels funny. I’m not hungry or thirsty, but I’m sure I’m dehydrated, so I sip some hot water with lemon. Eat some plain toast. A little soup. Later, toast again – this time I prepare it the way my mom used to make it when we were kids and got sick. A little butter sprinkled with cinnamon and sugar.

What is your favorite recovery food?

High Maintenance

Jennifer — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 22:33:47 +0000

I love the west. I lived in Los Angeles for 10 years, and as soon as I set foot on that Southern California soil I lost myself in the lifestyle. It’s more laid back, easy going, artsy. When my husband and I moved to the east coast, I noticed things moved at a faster, harsher pace. I escape and visit the west often. So when I learned that a writing teacher I’ve wanted to study under was leading a workshop in Montana, I signed up in a heartbeat.

If you’ve never been to Montana, it’s a must see. Purple sunsets. Deep rivers. The biggest mountains you’ve ever known. And tons of animals. Sheep, cattle, deer, horses, fish, fish, fish.

Anyway, there was a wonderful chef – the teacher’s step-daughter – who prepared our meals at the ranch where we were studying. She always had a vegetarian option. But one night we went to the town’s hang-out joint for dinner. Beef this, beef that, beef the other. The teacher – who is from Los Angeles, as were most of the students – thought most folks would probably want a vegetarian dish that night too. At first she was going to bring veggie burgers to the restaurant. But her husband said, “You can’t bring your own food to a restaurant and ask them to cook it!” So she came up with Plan B. Her step-daughter happens to own the building where the restaurant is located (it is a very small town), so her step-daughter brought in the veggie burgers for one of the night’s specials.

We sat down to dinner. There were 11 of us, almost all from LA or with LA roots. As we began placing orders the question arose: “What kind of veggie burgers?” Soy based? Brown rice veggie burgers? Something else?

The very patient waitress went back to the kitchen to retrieve the boxes. As we passed them around the table, each person studying the ingredients list, it dawned on me: LA people are high maintenance! And I have to admit it – I was one of the pack (I studied the ingredients list because I wanted to avoid soy-based burgers). I saw my beloved “laid back” city of LA in a whole new light that evening. It’s hard not to be high maintenance about food if you want to make light, healthy choices. Made me love LA even more.

Another Simple Salad

Jennifer — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 19:40:21 +0000

Diced cucumber. Cherry tomatoes. Sliced red onion. Chunks of feta cheese. Kalamata olives. Albacore tuna (include the water or oil it is packed in as dressing).

I took a “vacation” last week. In the life of a freelance writer, vacation means I only worked on about half as many articles and took a writing class during my week off. The class was a week long intensive in Montana. It was the perfect way to spend vacation. I loved the workshop. For food, the teacher’s step-daughter made our lunches and dinners for us. This was one of the salads she served. Back home, I made it last night for dinner. I added lemon juice for a little extra dressing. This recipe is a keeper.

Summer Salad

Jennifer — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 14:10:28 +0000

My dad is here visiting me at the cabin in Colorado, helping me weed and clean and open up the place for the summer. He put together a delicious salad for dinner last night: Belgian endive, apple chunks, diced celery, and blue cheese. For dressing he used a little extra virgin olive oil and white balsamic vinegar. A perfect salad for a summer evening.

Tapping a Well

Jennifer — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 16:16:21 +0000

I was talking with a yoga teacher the other day. I mentioned I’d be traveling and really wanted to develop a home practice, but that I haven’t had too much success with trying to do that in the past. My yoga practice is much more stable if I attend a class in a studio. Also, I tend to feel overwhelmed and intimidated alone on my mat. I like an “expert” teacher telling what pose to do, demonstrating how to stand, or reminding me to press my thighs back or soften the space between my eyebrows. How was I supposed to figure out all that on my own?

She said, “What do you want to focus on during your practice?”

I said, “I like to open by sitting cross-legged with a meditation. Then I like to do sun salutations, Warrior I, Warrior II, and Trikonasana. I want to practice Tree pose and forward bends and then work on my hamstrings – lying on my back and using a strap. After that, Bridge pose and twists. Then Savasana.”

Whew. That whole “flow” flew right out of me. I had no idea where it came from – it was as if I tapped an inner well of yoga knowledge. Then I realized I’ve been practicing yoga for quite a few years now. I’ve been to various classes and taken from various teachers. When it comes down to it, I know what I enjoy and what I need. And even without the “expert” teacher (at least, temporarily), I know as I practice on my own, I can trust myself to guide my practice – I’ll be able to remember the poses, how to stand, and to remind myself to press my thighs back and soften the space between my eyebrows.

Piece of Heaven

Jennifer — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 17:55:57 +0000

The past few days I’ve been traveling across the country – from Washington DC to our summer cabin in Colorado. We made it here safe and sound (thank you, God). The roads were free of traffic and construction. Eating healthy on these types of journeys is always tough (we hit McDonalds twice), but we also found some great local joints that offered fresh fruits and vegetables. And in Santa Fe we found a gem of a place to stay: Ten Thousand Waves. It’s a sanctuary amidst the sage brush. And it’s dog friendly. My pooch was thrilled to be welcomed with a dog bed, bones, and fresh water. The rooms are grounds are neat and clean and quiet. You can soak in Japanese baths, or recline outdoors and listen to the breeze. There is no restaurant on the premises, but if you’re organized enough there is a Hibachi grill on the patio. There is also granola, fruit, and soymilk in the room, and a selection of mixed greens salads, sushi and sandwiches near the baths. It was a little piece of heaven after three long days in the car.

Milk Alternatives

Jennifer — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 17:55:04 +0000

Milk. I’m beginning to think it does the body not-so-good. That is, if you have dairy allergies or if you’re consuming milk from cows stuffed in feedlots and given shots of antibiotics and hormones. I’m still torn about my approach to dairy. Organic milk? Goat’s milk? Raw milk? What is the best option for my body? Right now I’m giving myself a break from milk and almost all other dairy (I’ll sprinkle goat cheese on my salads). Instead, I’ve been experimenting with rice milk, almond milk, and hemp milk. The other day a woman I’ve talked with about dietary choices suggested mixing all three (rice, almond, and hemp milk) together in a pitcher and using that for my oatmeal and cereal. Anyone tried this? How does it taste? I’m going to use it for breakfast this week.

Cleansing Diet - Take Two

Jennifer — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 20:10:39 +0000

The first week of the cleansing diet – a plan where I’m eliminating wheat, dairy, meat (except fish), and sugar for 3 weeks – went swimmingly. I had mapped out meal plans and snacks for 7 days and stuck to it. The recipes tasted good, and I was surprised at how satisfied I felt (not too stuffed but not hungry either). Then I came to the end of the week . . . thus the end of my meal plans . . . and things went downhill. My husband and I ate dinner out. We shared an appetizer with cheese. And the restaurant was serving rosemary bread. I savored every bite. The next day, I didn’t map out meals for week two and didn’t shop at the health food store. So wheat and meat and came right back in (along with some oatmeal chocolate chip cookies). I would still like to try this for three full weeks. I’m about to hit the road to travel from DC to Colorado, so I won’t initiate “take two” until I’m settled. Then again when Oprah traveled she simply had a chef Fed-Ex her breakfast and dinners. I could dig that if someone wanted to do the shopping, meal prep, and mailing. Any takers?

Calm Face

Jennifer — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 20:09:26 +0000

We have finished a series of sun salutations and now the yoga teacher has us face sideways, standing so our toes are pointing to the long edge of our mats. We jump our feet wide apart and begin a series of standing poses. Warrior II. Trikonasana. Extended Side Angle Pose. During certain stages of each pose, we’re required to stretch our arms out to the side (parallel to the ground). As the seconds tick by, it gets harder and harder to hold them up.

“If you think you’re the only one whose arms are getting tired, you’re not,” the teacher says. “Those of us who have been practicing yoga for a long time have learned to maintain a calm face.”

This is one of those yoga lessons I’m trying to apply to the real world. To be peaceful in the midst of chaos – or at least appear that way. Not hiding or denying or pretending – definitely being fully aware of my circumstances and feelings, but not panicking or reacting irrationally in the face of them.