We just had a wonderful family vacation. And I could have made healthier choices but opted for indulgence. In the moment indulgence is divine - but the aftermath not as fun. I feel overstuffed, overcrowded, and out of sorts. But when one is in New Orleans there are many yummy temptations and I tended to fall for everyone. However we are back home and back on the healthfull track!!! Routines, familiar ground, and cozy comforts are within easy reach! Our first matter of business was to have healthy produce at the ready which also meant produce of the week! We spent the afternoon shopping after my son and I had a sleep in morning do to our vacation colds - BOO! One of our quick purchases of today was pearl tomatoes on the vine from Trader Joe's. (love this place!!!) For supper my husband baked a beautiful salmon, with roasted brussel sprouts (my fave - honest to goodness one of the best finds of our new produce of the week - definitely a staple around here!!!) and dirty rice. I am not the biggest fan of dirty rice. I enjoy it but feel it really doesn't satisfy me as an entree and rarely can think of a good meal where it can play side dish. Tonight's dinner worked. And to sweeten up dirty rice which texturally can be a little heavy and "dark" tasting. I chose to just dice up the tomatoes real quick and threw one into my rice and delicious. It added a sweetness and a bright note to the heavy side dish. This is a great find for me. Because I have an odd palate when it comes to tomatoes. I like tomato based sauces but not a fan of just the tomato (unless of course it is Bob the Tomato from Veggie Tales in that instance - HUGE FAN!!!) . I find a lot of tomatoes to be sour, sometimes bitter. I like them as thin slices on a burger or the sweet little bombs in a salad. But salsa, spaghetti sauce, pizza sauce, and of course ketchup - delicious! There are just few tomatoes though that taste yummy out of the gate for me. These pearl tomatoes on the vine were a great note to the supper. They added a touch of sweetness, a dash of sour, and just lifted the heavy side dish.
Also it is nice to add a fruit/vegetable to the mix without too much fuss. That's when it becomes difficult to broaden our tastes. If the healthy alternative costs too much, requires too much effort, or just tastes nasty we let the excuses and the negativity turn us off and choose the familiar junk food because its cheap, easy, and we have convinced ourself tasty (which if you turn off the tv, close your eyes and really focus on the choices we eat - you will be shocked how little you like most of those comfort choices. I have been - (but still am guily of reaching for these items out of simple familiarity)!
However I try to focus on the positive. I may stall out. I sometimes even take three steps backward. But I remind myself every moment I can do better. If I lose my footing and trail three steps - I need to try to push myself forward at least four steps and take no less than three. Little by little as the Little Engine that could proved I think I can I think I can eventually will turn into I did it - I did it!!!
So lets crush these tomatoes and improve our health together. Don't let the vines tangle you but carry you closer to your goals. May your HealthFULL journey be full of pearls of wisdom, precious gems, and the occasional irritant that turns beautiful with a little extra effort. 'Til we meet again. . .
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