Healthy Choice ... ?maybe

I am totally NOT a health nut or anything. In-fact I am quite the opposite. However, I have recently become much more conscious about what I am eating - trying to make smarter decisions. Just little things like drinking more water instead of soda, baked chips instead of fries, jello instead of a piece of pie. I am certainly not limiting myself -- just taking a second thought before I indulge. As part of that I have re-evaluated my lunch-time options.

It was typical for me to eat out every week and spend $8-$15 dollar per meal -- on food that wasn't even that good. Sure my Green Chai flatbread pizza with fresh spinach and feta is probably pretty decent on the health-o-meter. But I know the cheeseburger and fries from What-a-burger would score a big fat zero.

So the last two weeks I have tried to limit myself to only eating out once or twice a week (give me some credit - I can't go cold turkey). And then the other 3 or 4 days I bring in my little "Healthy Choice" microwavable dinner.

Well - it hit me today....as I ate my Chicken with bow-tie pasta in a pesto sauce, my measly three sprigs of broccoli with some carrot shreds, and the Cobbler-esque 'dessert' -- "Hey - can I really call this a healthy choice if I have to load it down with salt and pepper just to get it down. And then find myself snacking by 2 p.m. because I didn't get full from lunch" Needless to say I may have to re-evaluate the situation again. I am sure - somewhere out there - there a blissful combination of yummy, easy, cheap, quick, healthy goodness that I could work from. If anyone has any suggestions please feel free to let me know. (And I don't do sandwiches).

What I want ...

What I had ...

BIG DIFFERENCE

It's just been one of those ....

Days Weeks Months. I can't believe that it has been over a month since I posted. Seems like thinks are finally back to normal after the whole cancer thing. But I forgot how busy 'normal' can be. It seems like there is something going on every day. And now that the weather is nice we are spending a lot more time outside (a.k.a. - gone). Darren is doing a garden again this year with the help of my dad and B-I-L Jeff. All three are really into it. And this year it is located down at my dad's instead of in our back yard. While I love this - it also means that we are down there just about every other night - if not more. And it is never just a 5 minute - water the plants - kind of thing.

Nat has really gotten into gardening too. She loves to go look for (and then eat) strawberries every day. If you are lucky she might share one with you. I love that she seems to be picking up on the green thumb I never got. And it is a great way to get her outside. We also have the typical squash, peppers, and whatnot - but she isn't near as excited about those things.

We've also planted a few new things this year like potatoes and 'black tomatoes' - so we will see how those go. I am little leery about the black tomatoes. From what I have seen online - they look like they are a few weeks past their expiration -- but apparently they have this great flavor. I will keep you posted on that one.

Just as a reference -- this is what is expected to come up ...