A Moderately Sucessful Day

As I posted earlier my mother and I went to the farmer's market downtown today, as well as a trip to Sam's Club and also the grocery store.

We left early this morning due to the fact that we were meeting up with one of my mom's good friends whom had to get her hair done by her son at 10:00am so we were on a strict schedule. We didn't initially realize that the Farmer's Market during the winter doesn't start until 9:00am. So we headed over to Brewed Awakenings in hopes of snagging a cookie and an extra special, and extremely rare treat for me, coffee! To our dismay we found that they didn't have the cookie we were hoping for in the case, but we found some delish vegan baked goods to nosh on, as well as both of us ordered a mocha, skinny, no whip. I had a wonderful pecan and cinnamon muffin which I only ate half of and honestly it was terrific. I have never been able to tell the difference in most vegan recipes because of my infinity for veggies.

After it was around 9:00am we headed back over to the Farmer's market where most of the vendors were still setting up. It's funny how slowly people in Wisconsin move when it's freezing outside. It's like the whole world around us slows down and everything is based on the light of day, not the time. Because of the limited amount of vendors we only snagged some pasta from the homemade pasta vendor (lemon, garlic, and rosemary) for a meatless lasagna that my mother and I planned to ease ourselves into tonight. A tip if you are open to eating this pasta. We found out from the vendor today that you only cook the pasta from 3-4 minutes, not the 5-6 labeled on the card.

We then ran to the Wholesale Food Market just outside the mall. I honestly think after all the years of shopping and finding different organic, green and other earth friendly goodies that this is one of those places that is a hidden gem. If you live in the Appleton/Grandchute area. It is definately a place to stop to fill up on dried and frozen items, many of which can be used in vegan, organic, and also vegitarian meals. We had gone there during Christmas when my mother had wanted to get materials for truffles that she was making for the neighbors and we discovered that had so many things that were hard to find else where. If you are a baker by the way it's a true paradise! We finished up there picking up all the items we need for the raw cookies we are going to make, which I will be hopefully posting about tommorow because we did not get around to making them.

I will not bore you with anymore of our gorcery shopping exersion. Although a few things we've found that if you eat Organic, and happen to love mixed greens. Sam's Club has a mixed green bucket for only $4.98, which is about equvilant to about 3-4 of the precut and washed bags you find in the store. It even is the same brand and everything that you can get in the Organic department at Woodman's, Copps, and other grocery stores around town. It normally lasts us a week to a week and a half and does not wilt as they normally are good for about two weeks.

When we got home I made some great meatless lasagna. If you don't mind eating eggs, and cheese, here's a rundown of how I make mine;

1 egg
1 small container of Rocotta Cheese (Light or Skim)
1/4 of a container of Parmesano Regiano
1/4 of a container of Parmesan Cheese
1/4 of a cup of Mozerella
1 whole package of Spinach frozen
1 Bottle of Trader Joe's Vodka Sauce (I cheated on my sauce, if you want easy and healthy check out Rachel Ray's or Giada's recipes for simple sauces.)
1 package of homemade lasanga noodles

Dethaw spinach, (I usually take mine out a few hours before and then if it is not dethawed I'll run it under cold water to remove an remaining ice.) Make sure that your spinach is well drained or it will make your lasanga a mess! Combine the three cheese in a small bowl and seperate about 1/3. Combine the remaining 2/3 of the cheese mixture with Rocotta, egg and spinach. Stirr until the spinach is well distributed in the mixture. Place sauce on the bottom and then a single layer of noodles, place cheese mixture on top. Repeat process. Cook at 375 for 35 minutes covered in tin foil. Remove tin foil. Sprinkle remainder of cheese on top of pan and cook another 10-15 minutes until cheese is melted.

I know this is a simple recipe, but it's semi homemade and rather yummy if you are craving Italian. My mom even said that it tasted better than some Victoria's we had on New Year's eve.

Overall today was moderately successful. I hate some meat (chicken for lunch over lettuce) and had cheese but I stayed as healthy as possible. I decided that Saturday will be the day that I am allowed to be a little naughty with my eating. Nothing drastic of course.

Of All Things There Must be a Begining...

Basic Information

I decided recently, and I will not attribute it to a New Year's resolution because of the inevitable failure that often follows calling a life style change that, that I am going to change the way I eat. A few of the goals I hope the accomplish with this life style change is an overall wellness regime that includes eating healthy, drinking water (Yes, mother I plan to drink water!) , and getting back into the swing of cycling, (my ulimate goal is being able to complete a century.)

One of the complications I face are the fact that I take medications for various health conditions. One of which is very high in sodium and is a detirming factor when I purchase ingrediants or premade anything. My mother being the primary cook up until this point in our home, already doesn't use salt as crazy as that sounds so it will not be so difficult but it does take some consideration when grocery shopping. The other downside to my medications has been my gaining of weight within a very short time period due to the fact that it's one of the side effects of the medication. Something again that will be working against me but I strongly feel that this is something that I can overcome. I also can not drink coffee or anything else with strong amounts of caffeine due to the fact that it brings on intense migraines and insomnia no matter what time of day I drink it.

My family history consist of heart health issues, breast and ovarian cancer, and strong connections to diabetes of both my father and mother's side of the family. I will be avoiding a great deal of soy even though I believe that I lactose intolerant due to the risks of cancer and of course processed sugars.

The Plan

• Limited intake of meats; I will be limiting myself to fish and foul.
• Increase in the amount of fruits I consume. Believe it or not I strongly dislike fruit and enjoy veggies a whole lot more.
• Find more complete meals to create at home, so that we do not eat as many prepared items.
• Try to live by the 100 mile rule. If you don't know what that is; it's a green philosphy where everything you get can come from no further than 100 miles.
• Drink the required amount of water per day, with an addition water bottle while exercising.
• 30 minutes - 1 hour every other day until I am able on spin bike. I am lucky that this past December my mom purchased a great bike and neither of us have been using it as often as we should. It is definately time to put some miles on it!

Each day I will post here about my trials on my journey to wellness as well as share some recipes and ideas that I come across for those also interested in being more health concious. I am sure that not everything will be pretty, but hopefully some of it some of you will find entertaining.

Tommorow morning my mother and I are heading the grocery store, and to Appleton's Downtown farmer's market to get groceries. We also are stopping by the former Brewed Awakenings, now Aspen Tea to get a raw cookie that we hope to replicate. Information about what we pull together will be posted tommorow evening.