You Are What You... Read?

I've been editing a cookbook for my family. Just the two of us - some of our favorite recipes, with tips and tricks noted. There were rules for getting in this cookbook. 1. The recipe has to feed at least 2 people. 2. The calorie, sodium and essential nutrient totals for the recipe have to be within healthful limits. 3. Ingredients must be as fresh as possible. This was a big one - I am not usually pleased with recipes that start out, "Well, I had this (produce item) sitting around for 4 days, so I suggest you let (produce item) age for 4 days, too." And yes, I've seen those kinds of notes on recipes. As I've been going through the list of recipes I want to include, I've noticed something:

Since I took the time to seriously evaluate the calories, ingredients and methods of the recipes I have, most of the ones I'd flagged on Pinterest are not in my cookbook. More from Tastespotting have made the cut. The majority of the recipes that meet the requirements I've set out have been taken from cookbooks written by chefs, family members, and research into the ingredients I want to use.

What does this mean?

For me, it means that the things that seem interesting on sharing pages aren't necessarily the wisest choices for every day meals. It isn't just about making your own good choices - it's about making good choices with where you start, as well.

As a kind of challenge, I asked a friend of mine to pick out 10 recipes on Pinterest that she wanted to try for her family. We compared the Pinterest versions with ones selected from appropriate cookbooks. Without exception, the dishes we put together with books were lower in sodium, higher in fiber and required less of the following ingredients: butter, salt, cream, sugar.

While I was pleased to see we could give my friend's choices a healthful make-over, I don't want to demonize Pinterest. Just like most of the other opportunities out there, it's about knowing how to look for the Right for My Health ones, not the Right for My Eyes and What My Tongue Says Will Be Perfect recipes.

You can satisfy desires for a beautiful meal as well as one that makes your tastebuds pass out in sheer delight, and you can do it without ruining the hard work you just put in at the gym/ taking that walk/ lifting that extra bag of potting soil while gardening. Get ideas wherever you can - inspiration is *always*  a good thing. Take that idea you saw on Pinterest, TasteSpotting, or whichever place you prefer, and research it! Find a way to make it that fits your dietary needs, your budget and the plan you've made for yourself. There's more than one way to make that hunger-inducing pin you found, I promise!

Dessert Of The Day
Had this with my lunch yesterday - the sweet and cool was refreshing, and the high protein helped me stay full all afternoon! Love this little dish of wonderful!

1/2 cup  Greek Yogurt (plain)
5            red raspberries (washed)
5            blackberries (washed)
2   tbsp  slivered almonds
1   pkg   Truvia sweetener

1. Mix.
2. Eat.

Midnight Snacks, Breakfast Solutions

Is it strange that I'm awake just after January 3rd has begun?

Is it weirder still that I'm contemplating making a pot of chili?

I have everything to make light, delicious alfredo sauce. I've even got the yellow and orange peppers, along with the sliced chicken breast, to make it a complete feast. I have fruit or even a full salad to accompany. Does it strike anyone else as bizarre that I'm just remember these things?

The reason I mention this is somewhat simple. Life gets complicated. Sometimes, throwing light kidney beans, dark kidney beans, chili beans and black beans into a pot with a can of tomato sauce, simmering for 4 hours, adding shredded sharp cheddar cheese and watching The Lake House for the millionth time makes more sense than anything more complicated.

I've pretty much talked myself into alfredo, because I want time to enjoy the development of my chili. I also just remembered that literally all of the ground beef I bought today went directly into my freezer. No use to me when it's solid and I have a midnight chili craving!

While I'm waiting for this midnight dinner special to come together, may I just mention:

2 oz Blueberries
2 oz Blackberries
2 oz Raspberries
4 oz Gyuava Peach juice
1/2 cup ice

Combine berries in blender. Pulse twice in short bursts. Add juice. Pulse once. Add ice. Pulse until constitancy appeals to you.

Delicious, nutrient-rich. Easy. Pretty to look at. Did I mention breakfast time comes quick these days? Give yourself a chance to enjoy the day. Speaking of enjoying, I'm off to eat my midnight delight. No worries; seriously, my hours are completely off. I got up at noon on Jan. 2nd. ;)