Baby steps to better foods #1 ............part 3

[Jessica]

Sheri, the last granola I used was raspberry cream.  I add about 5 or 6 chocolate chips to it too.  I eat it as my dessert.

[Tina]

I still don't care for yogurt. It is the aftertaste no matter how you hide the flavor and texture to begin with.
I have been using my coconut oil. It doesn't have a taste that it adds to food but it does have a feel. A creamy but pleasant feel I am getting used to. It also doesn't have a detrimental affect on my digestive system like some other oils have. (Going right through me in unpleasant ways  )
When I use it to do something I normally use butter for like sauteing mushrooms I do miss the browned butter flavor. So I will use butter still where I want the flavor.
I still want to find raw milk when life settles in a bit. The goat milk left me with dry mouth and wanting/needing to follow it with a Coke or something to wash it away.
Lots and lots of fruit and vegetables are being eaten here.

[bestofour]

I've been eating my plain full of fat yogurt with granola and blueberries.  Still not sweet but it's tolerable.  Since it's so good for me I can do it.

[Tina]

You can sweeten it up some Sheri. The suggested sweeteners are organic honey or pure maple syrup.

[Tina]

I have oats and wheat flour soaking in the goat milk and lemon juice to make pancakes for my freezer. Either later today or tomorrow.

[barleychown]

Sheri, great job! Tina's right, sweeten it if it will help you like it more.

Tina, I'm glad the coconut oil is working for you.

Are we ready for three more, or should we wait another week?

[Tina]

I bought free range  organic eggs today. I hope they are worth the hefty price. I grew up eating neighbor's eggs and I don't remember the differences that you talked about, Sarah. I will be interested to see any. But I do like the idea of not having hormones and antibiotics in my food.

[Tina]

Oh, And three more for me will depend on what they are and if I will be able to move them into our schedules which are getting crammed.

[barleychown]

Let me know if you see a difference in the eggs...if not, I would suggest seeking out someone with a small flock like mine. This time of year around here you can find a dozen nice eggs for 2.50 to 3.00.

I'm leaning towards three or four easier ideas, like cutting HFCS, better breakfasts, and more veggies. Easy enough?

[Tina]

HFCS means no Cokes? Just coming in to hot weather season? That would be my one main indulgence. Worst indulgence.
There are commercials out there just for HFCS. Have you seen them?

[barleychown]

I have. I don't believe them...okay in moderation. What's the definition of moderation, according to them?

There are several colas on the market that do not have HFCS, including coke bottled in mexico...where they still use cane sugar.

[bestofour]

I'm cutting down on HFCS in Pepsi but probably not totally cutting out.  I can cut it out in other stuff.  So I'll work on breakfast and eating more vegetables.

[barleychown]

Down is a dramatic improvement.  I've been working on it for over a year, and still can't manage to cut it out completely.

[bestofour]

does ice cream have HFCS?

[barleychown]

Almost every one. 

Breyer's doesn't...and usually doesn't have food coloring or anything either. 

[Tina]

Actually my store brand doesn't. It uses cane sugar. I looked. Sarah has me reading labels. But sometimes I have to bring it home to read because that is where my reading glasses are. 

[barleychown]

Wow, Tina! That's a lucky find there...

I read labels every time. They just added msg to my favorite chips. 

[Tina]

I am not hep enough to remember a label from one trip to another. So would never notice if something was added or taken away.
The store brand is often cheaper than brand name items unless something is on a super sale. And it is a local store purchasing from mostly local farmers and companies.
California is an agricultural state. I don't think most people know that, even Cal. natives.
http://www.agclassroom.org/kids/stats/california.pdf
And don't forget in the 60's California was home the natural food/health food revolution. There are a lot of us old hippies hanging out that still believe. There was more to it than just peace and LSD. Much is available here in organic and real. It just needs searching for.
I am glad to have this education to add to my basic feelings. I just wish that more of the nation were demanding better foods so there were more options.

[bestofour]

Well, I just porked down an ice cream sandwich followed by a swig of Pepsi.  So much for any sized step in the right direction.

[Tina]

You are only practically perfect, Sheri.

[sunsoaker]

I had to google HFCS to know what it is. As a diabetic, I already try to avoid it. But I do at times give in to the cravings. As for the coke, I drink diet coke, which I know the aspertame is supposed to be bad for you, but I haven't found another diet soda I like. I've tried the ones sweetened with splenda and they just don't taste right.

[bestofour]

You are only practically perfect, Sheri.

Just like Mary Poppins.  Practically perfect in every way.


This morning when I was getting ready for work I drank 1/2 class of V8 juice.  No HFCS in it.  It's supposed to have 2 servings of vegetables in 8 oz so I got 1 serving.  When I got to school I had 1/3 cup plain full of fat yogurt with blackberries and granola and about 30 minutes ago I ate part of an orange.  Pretty good huh?

[Tina]

That is actually wonderful stuff. How are you feeling?

[bestofour]

full.

[barleychown]

Are you sure you didn't have 8 oz.? You may have just squeezed in more than you think...

8 oz. is one standard measuring cup.