I am planning on having the Baked Alaska at Delmonico's - I have gone back and forth with myself on whether or not I will, but it's my Birthday (not an excuse), it is something Ryan and I planned pre-whole30/paleo, and I am not going to feel guilty about it! It will be my first taste of sugar and dairy in 47 days and I hope my body doesn't hate me. I am expecting some stomach aches, maybe a headache, and I am sure I will feel gross the next morning, but to have this special meal with Ryan is worth it. We could easily change our dinner reservation or not order the baked alaska but I don't want to fear food. I want to be able to have this treat in moderation and be able to control myself while eating it. It will be a true test, but Whole30 has taught me so much and I think that even with a few tastes (with a big spoon), I will come out of this experience happy, healthy and wise! And the next morning go back to my wonderful new eating habits.
I have decided to not begin reintroducing foods to my diet yet like dairy, weight, legumes and sugar (honey and maple syrup) because I love how I look and feel. My body feels amazing, my mind is clear, I am focused, energized and happy. I will eventually begin slowly having honey in recipes if I make something for me and Ryan or dairy on special occasions like my birthday but I really want to not have grains/gluten and beans because I know those will seriously hurt my stomach and it is not worth it! I know how I felt, how I feel and how I want to continue to feel. This is a way of life, not a diet and I choose to live like this!
Ryan has expressed more interest in working towards a primal lifestyle. Similar to paleo but with some dairy and legumes in moderation. This is better for him because the restrictions of paleo are too much and he has already changed his eating habits so much in the last year that a little milk and black beans won't hurt him. He used to have a bagel with cream cheese, cereal and a pastry/muffin every morning for breakfast, a foot long sandwich for lunch, and multiple dinner rolls with his dinner. His mindset has completely changed and his eating habits are so improved that he is on the right track for a primal way of life. He just needs some help and guidance and I think we can do it together and he will be successful.
This week was wonderful. It was so beautiful out and we had our first brunch outside of the spring/summer season. We went to a cute belgian restaurant near our house - I ordered the tuna nicoise salad which had green beans, tuna, hard boiled egg and fingerling potatoes and Ryan had a roast beef club sandwich (I said working towards primal, not there yet)!
After brunch we went home and I meal prepped a few items for my birthday brunch that we were having Sunday at our apartment with our close friends! I prepped a few dishes Saturday and only a few on Sunday to lessen the stress of hosting brunch. I made all Whole30 approved dishes (no sugar) and everything was paleo (except the croissant I had for a few non-paleo guests and the flourless chocolate cake provided by my mom - but still gluten free), and everything was absolutely delicious.
BIRTHDAY BRUNCH MENU
Prosciutto Egg Cups (nonnompaleo)
Hidden Vegetable Muffins (Against All Grain)
Tex-Mex Hash Casserole (PaleOMG)
Roasted Brussel Sprouts
Zesty Shrimp & Avocado Salad (Skinnytaste)
De-Constructed Salad with tomatoes, peppers, pepperoni, smoked salmon, oven-roasted chicken)
Prosciutto Wrapped Dates
Flourless Chocolate cake
Chocolate - Walnut Banana Bread (Civilized Caveman) - I left out the vanilla and added 2 tbsp of cocoa powder and cacao nibs and walnuts
Fruit Salad
Croissants
Everyone loved the meal and there were barely any leftovers, which is great when you're hosting and want everyone to enjoy the food, but sad when you don't have anything for the rest of the week. This was my first event at our apartment that I cooked everything - Passover my mom "catered" and I am so proud of myself. Next time I would love to have fun table settings and dishes but this was a great start and I can't wait to do it again.
Ryan and I were so full from brunch but at 8pm we decided we should eat dinner so that we weren't ravaging the fridge for food at 10pm! Ryan made us both bison burger salads and I topped mine with avocado. It was light, delicious, fatty, juicy - and I was overly full. So full that I went straight to bed after eating.
This past week was really busy and I didn't get to as many Bar Method classes as I would have liked. I didn't go Wednesday or Thursday because I bruised my knee and couldn't move it (bending and stretching is all Bar Method is) but I did go Friday evening and I had a great class. I was so much more flexible and worked a lot harder than the morning class. I always say this after I take an evening class but I would love to do more evening ones - especially now that it is still light out and warmer. Because I was home 3 mornings this week I had breakfast with Ryan before work. We had scrambled eggs with spinach, tomato and chicken sausage. I didn't meal prep or have groceries so I had a lot of mixed green salads for lunch. I also wasn't home after work Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday so I had a few RxBars.
Thursday night Ryan and I made dinner together! We made shrimp scampi with zoodles! Ryan made the zoodles and had so much fun using the spiralizer and the shrimp was cooked in a lot of garlic, shallots and lemon juice. So simple, so easy, and I had some leftovers for lunch on Friday. Friday after Bar Method I made a quick bison burger with avocado.
Zoodles are now my favorite pasta substitute - I bought green and yellow squash this week and hope to make a mixed zoodle dish sometime! We finally went grocery shopping too and got some chicken, pork chops and steak so I think this week I will be more prepared for meals and not have to eat out as much for lunch. I need to save money and buying groceries per dinner and eating lunch out was costing a lot more than buying bulk groceries and prepping at home!
This mornings Meal 1 was leftover prosciutto egg cups, a slice of tex-mex hash and some smoked salmon. I don't have too many leftovers from brunch, but saving money on breakfast after Bar Method helps too! I loved eating at home with Ryan but I missed my morning Bar class and I am happy to be back on track with my routine!
It's also a little easier to go to my morning Bar Method class now that it is light out when I leave in the morning - no more dark commutes which make it feel like the middle of the night!
 |
| 5:50am Madison Square Park |
I hope everyone is doing well and having a great day.
XO
No comments:
Post a Comment