HerStrawberri's Journal, 01 September 2011

Dawn, putting the week you've had, and the stress you've been dealing with in perspective... 4 lbs is NOT a big deal! Finding those constructive ways to deal, will reap you great rewards ... so dig deep if you have to... but start working on those ways every day! So proud of you for going back to school, and for all that you have accomplished so far, and for just being here...and continuing to stay here and reach out... it is helping you tremendously!!! The homelife stuff will resolve, and things will settle again... but there is nothing wrong with you needing to put yourself first right now, or making time to meet your own needs. A partnership is ... just that... a partnership. Two people sharing and equally giving and supporting and helping one another! You BOTH will figure this out, I'm sure :) 

Dawn, I know you do not like veggies can I ask what you do not like about them? I live with my picky niece who only likes certain veggies I may have some ideas to make them more appealing to you. 

Thank you so much Paula! yes we will. =) Pixi~ Ok, so me and veggies. At first, and this is going to sound so juvenile, I wouldn't eat veggies because I was MADE to eat them as a child. I couldn't leave the table untill they were gone etc. So, me being the stubborn person i am, I hated them for that fact. Then as I got older, i started trying them. I don't like how some of them are 'mushy'. I don't like the flavors or textures of broc, cooked cauliflower, asparagas, brussells (YUCKKK), I DO like the FLAVOR of onions, green peppers, mushrooms. i LOVE corn but that has a lot of carbs. Maybe I will limit my carbs to corn though? not sure. I like those pea pd thingys but can't figure out how to make them the way I like them, i like raw carrots and celery and lettuce. Don't like spinach. Maybe I'm just not cooking them correctly. What have you done for your niece? I'm honestly willing to try anything. I'm just a very picky eater. =( 

My son starts gagging (literally) when the veggies are put on the table out of anticipation. We've started making them into the meal instead of on the side, so the taste is not so strong and he can't see them. Add small amounts of broc, cauliflower, zuccinni or squash to pasta sauce to make it primavera. You can even blend the veggies in the sauce so the texture does not get to you. Dice veggies really small and put them in the ground beef / turkey, etc. like you would an onion. We also drink small 5 oz cans of V8 in the morning. Pick your veggies that you like too. USDA says that you should have some green leafy, some red-orange, some beans and peas. You don't have to eat veggies you don't like if you eat the right types: http://www.choosemyplate.gov/foodgroups/vegetables.html 

We combine the veggies into other foods it helps a lot. We have also added cheese to the veggies - may not be super awesome on the cals BUT you are low carb and your cals are often a bit lower so that may be an idea. They make V8 mixed fruit/veggie beverages that taste more like fruit juice than veggies (she falls for that one EVERY time). If you don't mind smoothies - make them with milk - almond/skim/soy etc. Add in fruit (I freeze mine so I don't have to use ice cubes), and add leafy greens like spinach, kale, lettuce (romaine or green and leafy kind) etc. I PROMISE you cannot taste the veggies in your smoothie (if you could i would never suggest the to people who don't like veggies) - I do it all the time and I am picky - just make sure you blend it really well so you don't get chunks. You can pretty much add any veggie to a smoothie - I have tried, trust me smoothies are so amazing and easy to make and easy to take to school with you for breakfast - put it in a bottle and sip it through the morning. They look weird if you add greens so if you don't want everyone staring at you just put it in a colored water bottle. I eat snow peas raw because I like the crunch. If you don't like the mushy texture have you tried roasting them? Perhaps you are over cooking if boiling/steaming them - it happens. I usually just steam till soft but still have a crunch to them. 

Yeah, I get the mushy veggie thing. I like my veggies al dente. I love cauliflower, in the raw form. I don't care for it much when it is mushy, unless I get the California blend veggies and add cheese, or buy it with the cheese already added. Broccoli too, I don't like it too mushy, and got to where I don't care for it raw. Green beans is usually my veggie of choice because it's practically zero calories. lol (unless I add a little EVOO).  

This is a recipe I copied & pasted from a friend on Facebook. It has the spinach in it- she suggested it to me to give to Tessa (its so very hard to get her to eat veggies too) We call it Shrek juice. I never actually had it, but Tess likes it :) 1 ripe banana, cut in chunks 1 ripe mango roughly cubes(or any combination of your favorite berries- fresh or frozen, with or without mango) peel the mango!! 1-2 cups packed fresh spinach leaves 1/2-1 scoop vanilla soy protein powder (giant eagle, organic, non-GMO) optional 3-5 ice cubes (omit if you used frozen fruit) Enough fruit juice (whatever u have) to blend (I usually use orange) Put all in blender, and blend til smooth- add more juice or water if it's too thick. The ice cubes are necessary if you're going to drink it right away and used fresh fruit as it may be warm. They also thicken it up. 

Thank you everyone. I'm going to try your suggestions. Thank you so much for taking the time to help! =) 

It's so important to remember to hold ourselves accountable, but it's also just as important to learn to forgive ourselves and move on. It seems like you've got them both mastered. :) As for vegetables, I think you've been given some really great advice about how to incorporate them into your menu. I have a similar issue with most fruits, but it's because of their texture. Vegetables have never been my problem! 

You know, I'm not a huge fan of juices - mostly as they've had all the fiber removed from them and many are simply sugary non-carbonated drinks. BUT... have you ever had Naked juice? Costco carries them now, so cheaper than the grocery store. I buy the green one called the Green Machine. Looks ugly, but tastes delicious! And full of lots and lots of veggies and some fruit. I think it's a good way to get some much needed veggies in until you learn to either like them in their natural state, or learn to incorporate them into other dishes. As for your four pound gain? If you look at it as a percentage, it's as if I gained 1 1/2 lbs. And trust me, Dawn, I can gain that much by morning! Good to be accountable, just don't beat yourself up over normal body fluctuations (easy for me to SAY... not as easy to take my own advice! lol) Have a great weekend, girl!