I'm going to do my best to reduce/cut out gluten and dairy from my diet, and use honey as a sweetener instead of sugar. I was never big into dairy in the first place - and have recently been trying some milk alternatives. I rarely eat cereal and I mainly use milk to make my Chai. I got a pumpkin chai from Argo tea a while back and the barista suggested Soy milk - it was the best chai I've ever had, so, score for that. I'm not sure how well I can cut out cheese from my diet. Some make me more sick than others - I should research that more. I'm allergic to artificial sweeteners used in place of sugar, anyway, so while sugar and I get along pretty well, my sister and her husband use only honey to sweeten things, as he's on a very strict diet for his well-being on the road to recovery and I figure why not give that a try. And gluten. Ahh, gluten. That glorious mix of deliciousness. How terribly I shall miss you, especially when we were just getting so well acquainted. I shall miss you, most of all. But, eating and feeling well is preferable to eating and wanting to remove your entire mid-section because of the agony it causes you. So, we're gunna try this. Which will be very, very difficult. But more meat, fruits, and veggies, and I hear they make gluten free pasta, which I might try. I've also never had quinoa, but hear it's delicious, and though I'm not sure exactly what it is, I'll give it a try and see how it makes me feel.
That's the new beginning. Alas, this change necessitates a call for an ending, an ending to my Pinterest Food Challenge, before it had barely begun :( I was planning on a solid year of cooking and recipe trying and sharing, but alas, dear readers, have only made it to the 32week mark. I'm sure there are recipes on there that would fit with my new regime change, which I may explore at some point, but not with the fervor of several recipes a week, carefully examined and documented. I need to focus on the new diet and try to limit my temptations. I, of course, will continue to write about all the recipes I've tried with my PFC and haven't had time to post. So, be looking forward to several more posts on that. And I might share some new recipes I've tried and liked, substitutes I've discovered, and things of that nature regarding my new changes. Already a favorite is rolls made out of ground almonds. I'm considering how to bake it into a loaf. Most likely more on that later.
Now, I don't plan to give up alcohol. It's just too wonderful, and my birthday is coming up. It helps being back in NYC in that drinking is waaaaay more expensive here, but still. There we are. I think even with a bit of drinking thrown in here and there, with the substantial changes in my eating, I should still see improvement in my health and well-being. I'm not worried about not getting enough nutrients because it's not like I'm depriving myself of anything essential. Actually, when I was home I felt like I was eating way less than normal, because the meals we were having were so rich in nutrients and deliciously healthy goodness, that I got full faster. Before I went home, I felt like I was eating eating eating all day long. It's nice to eat and feel full, not sick.
So, here's to a new beginning. May it see me well.