Friday Night = Pizza Night

I believe I mentioned before how bad I was craving pizza.  Once I completed Phase 1 and Phase 2, I was on a mission to find a good GF pizza.  I have tried a few restaurants around town and now have a favorite for dining out but I still needed to find a good pizza to keep in the freezer for nights like tonight. You know those nights; you are too tired to cook and too tired to go out.  In the past those were the kind of nights I would send Hubby out to pick up take-out from some fast food toxic waste dump. 

Tonight, I tried my first GF frozen pizza and I must say, it was quite scrumptious. 

I think I am acquiring a taste for my new GF lifestyle.  This makes me happy happy happy!

Office Party Survival Tips

Last night I went to a party for the first time since I started The Virgin Diet.  Now, I know I had my husband's birthday party last week but that was different.  His party was at my house AND I was in complete control of the menu AND I did all of the cooking.  The party last night was at a co-worker's house and it was a variety of appetizers that were brought by many different people.

As stupid as this may sound, I was really nervous.  I wasn't sure how I survive in a social setting.  Would I throw caution to the wind and eat the grape jelly meatballs?  Would I break down and shove my face full of brownies?  Would my nerves get the best of me and need to be calmed with a giant bucket of strawberry margaritas? 

In the past when going to a party, I would never even try to stick to whatever diet I was trying out at the time.  I would always take a day off so I could enjoy myself and eat all the yummy indulgences.  If I were in the midst of just another "diet", I'm sure I would have had the same reaction last night; however, things are different now.  I have learned that eating certain types of foods will make me sick.  It's amazing how much resolve that gives me.

When planning for my evening, I thought through my choices and made a game plan.  It really seemed to help me come through unscathed and I wanted to share some tips with you.

1. Eat a light meal before you go.
2. Drink water before you go.  I even took a cup of water with me.
3. BRING YOUR OWN SNACKS!!!!!!! (Things you know you can eat)
4. Limit the alcohol.  You can have a drink but don't go overboard.
5. Don't mix drinks with sweet juices or sodas. (use LaCroix, club soda, tonic water, and/or unsweetened organic fruit juice)
6. Don't stand around the food table.

I use to have that little voice in my head and it convinced me that eating the yumminess was part of the fun.  Imagine my surprise when I found I could have a really good time without the 7 layer dip, cookies, brownies, and Jell-O shots.  Who'd a thunk it?   

In case you are curious, here is what I took:

Beanitos Black Bean Chips and Salsa
Nut Chips and Roasted Veggie Alouette Cheese
Pear Vodka mixed with Peach Pear LaCroix and Unsweetened Organic Pineapple Juice

**I also ate some fresh fruit, some of another homemade cheese ball, AND.........5 M&M's (yes I counted them)

New Discovery

I found this salad dressing at my local health food store, Chamberlin's.  It is the bomb diggity.  I have tried the Lemon Herb dressing, as well.  It is delish, also.  Give them a try but don't just limit yourself to eating them on salads.  They make great sauces for grilling, too!

Friday Shrimp Dinner

Friday was a good dinner night.  The meal got 3 thumbs up in the Smith house.  We had oven baked shrimp, sautéed zucchini and onions, sweet potato oven fries, and tossed salad.  The entire meal is approved for all phases of The Virgin Diet.

Here is how I did it:



 

Oven Baked Shrimp

 



 

2 lbs Shrimp

2 Tbs Earth Balance Soy Free "Butter" Spread

1 Tbs Sesame or Olive Oil

1 Tbs Old Bay Seasoning

1 Tbs Garlic Powder

 

Directions:

Melt butter in microwave and combine with oil, Old Bay, and garlic powder.  Pour over shrimp and toss to coat.  Transfer shrimp to a baking dish and bake in a 350 degree oven for 8 - 10 minutes

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sautéed Zucchini and Onions

 





4 Zucchini, diced
1 large Onion, diced
2 Tbs Olive Oil
Salt and Pepper, to taste

Directions:
Heat oil in skillet.  Add zucchini, onion, salt, and pepper.  Cook over medium high heat until zucchini and onion are browned and tender.

 

Sweet Potato Oven Fries

 

 

3 large sweet potatoes

2 Tbs Olive Oil

Sea Salt, to taste

 

Directions:

Peel sweet potatoes and cut into strips.  Mine were approximately 1/2" x 1/2" x 3".  Tossed in oil and put onto at cookie sheet, sprinkle with sea salt.  Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes, then turn the fries over and bake for an additional 10 minutes.  **The key to getting crispy oven fries is to spread them out on the cookie sheet.  The fries should not be touching each other.  If so they will steam instead of crisping.  In the photo above I pushed them together to get the photo.

 





Moooove Over Fake Cheese, The Real Deal is Back!

When I read the Virgin Diet for the first time, I knew one of the 7 HI foods was going to be very hard for me to do without.  No, it wasn't Gluten that I feared living without. No, it wasn't eggs or sugar either.  The one thing that had scared me the most was Dairy.  Now, I couldn't care less about drinking milk and even though I ate yogurt everyday, I could easily do without it, as well.  I really only ate it because I thought it was a healthy choice.  Giving up butter was a little intimidating but I have sense found a delicious substitute from Earth Balance. 

The one dairy item that I didn't think I could give up was cheese.  I know if it made me sick, I would have/need to give it up but man-o-man that would be a toughie.  You see, cheese and I go way back!  When I was little my parents jokingly referred to me as a little mouse because of the amounts of cheese I ate.  I remember the highlight of our vacations in Tennessee were taking a trip to Uncle Roy and Aunt Jean Ownby's Cheese Shop in Gatlingburg.  You would think it was a candy shop by my excitement.  Aunt Jean would always let my sister and me pick out what ever flavors we wanted and she would cut off  chunks and hand them to us to eat.  Oh, and of course, she would wrap up more for us to take home with us.  The worst part of the visit was trying to decide which cheeses to pick.

Lucky for me, I am having success as I am reintroducing dairy (cheese) this week.  I started on Tuesday with a GF cheese pizza and Wednesday I had a grilled turkey and brie sandwich.  So far I have not had any stomach aches, headaches, sinus problems, or joint pains.  I am so relieved that cheese isn't affecting me, YAY! 

As I wrap up the end of the Reintroduction Phase of The Virgin Diet, I feel a lot more in control of my body and the various forms of discomfort I felt before.  I have learned which things to avoid at all costs (SOY); which things I need to try to avoid as much as possible (Gluten, Sugar, Corn, Peanuts); and which things I need to keep testing (Eggs, and other forms of Dairy).  I also need to concentrate on following the Virgin Plate rules, focus on eating well balanced meals, and incorporating exercise into my life.  Just because I am at the end of Phase II, this doesn't mean I am done.  It's actually quite the contrary; I am just beginning.

I still need/want to lose about 40 pounds and my weight loss has slowed down a lot while I have been reintroducing foods.  I was told to expect this, so I am not getting discouraged.  I am ready to start living the program and using the tools and knowledge I have gained through this 7 week process.

Stay tuned........

Birthday Celebration Cleaned Up

Yesterday was my dear husband Barry's birthday.  I made a menu for his birthday dinner and then changed it twice.  I felt I was facing three major hurdles with his celebration meal. 

• First, I wanted the meal to be healthy. 
• Next, I wanted it to be enjoyable for everyone.  (That seems to be something that I struggle with these days.  I am always afraid that guests will not enjoy eating the food that I have switched to.) 
• Finally, I needed to come up with a dessert worthy of his birthday celebration.

The final menu looked like this:

Mojo Grilled Chicken Breasts
Organic Chicken Italian Sausage
Pan Fried Sweet Potatoes
Oven Roasted Broccoli
Tossed Salad
   ........and, drum roll please...........

Gluten Free Apple Crisp with Vanilla Ice Cream (SO Delicious Vanilla Coconut Milk Ice Cream)


I know you are dying for the recipe, so here it is...

Ingredients:
4 large Apples, I used Fuji Apples
1 Tb. Lemon Juice
1 Tb. Cinnamon
1/2 tsp. Allspice
1/8 tsp. Nutmeg
1/8 tsp. Ginger
1 tsp. Vanilla
1 1/2 Tb. Arrowroot
2 Tb. Coconut Sugar (you might need more if you use an apple that is tart)

Topping:
1 c. Gluten Free Oats
1/4 c. Earth Balance Soy Free Butter, melted
1 Tb. Brown Rice Flour
1 tsp. Honey

Directions:
Peel, core and slice apples.  Toss with lemon juice, then rinse with water.  In a bowl toss apples with spices, vanilla, arrowroot, and coconut sugar.  Transfer into an 8 x 8 baking dish.  In a small bowl mix the topping ingredients.  Sprinkle topping over apples.  Bake in a 350 degree oven for 30 minutes.  Serve warm with vanilla ice cream.

I tried the SO Delicious Vanilla Coconut Ice Cream and it was fabulous.  Honestly, it tasted like regular ice cream.  I highly recommend it!

My Barry loves apple pie and that is normally his request for dessert on his birthday.  He prefers it to cake anytime.  He is not a huge sweets eater and will almost always pass on dessert.  So, when he woke up this morning and again complimented me on the Apple Crisp, I knew it was a keeper.

Chicken, Eggs, Soy, and Corn....Why Must You Guys Go Hand In Hand?

Last week was my reintroduction of eggs and unfortunately it wasn't very successful.  HOWEVER, I don't feel I can say with 100% certainty that I am egg intolerant.  You see, from what I have learned from JJ, the old saying, "You are what you eat," needs to have a disclaimer added or really needs to be changed to, "You are what you eat eats!"  With regards to chickens, most are fed a vegetarian diet which consists of corn and/or soy.  The problem being that chickens (and pigs) can't filter out a majority of allergens from their feed like animals with a rumen digestive system can (beef, lamb, deer).  So, if the chickens are fed soy, which I am intolerant to, the soy will be present in their eggs.  I searched locally and was unable to find soy-free, corn-free eggs.  This type of egg is difficult to find in markets because chickens are typically fed these items to help them produce more eggs which are needed by companies selling eggs to make a profit. 

I found a farm in Wisconsin that sells soy-free, corn-free eggs and I have ordered them.  I should receive them by the end of the week and I will be able to try the reintroduction again.   If I find I can eat the eggs without having any stomach issues, I will be one happy girl.  I will keep my fingers crossed!

To say I am getting educated is an extreme understatement.  I told Barry we just need to sell the condo and buy some acreage where we can grown our own fruits and vegetables and have a few chickens to produce eggs.  I feel like that is the only way I will have complete control over what I put in my body.