My Red Tutu

stir fried veggies with shrimp and rice

I’ve been focusing on the things I’ve had to give up while doing this Cleanse as well as on my pursuit.  This week, instead of focusing on those foods that I’ve been avoiding, I’m going to focus on new discoveries.

I forgot how much I like bok choy, stir fried with some broccoli and shrimp served over brown rice…yummy!

I don’t like broccoli cooked as much as I like it raw.

I can’t believe that I never had celery with peanut butter as a snack.  Well maybe its because I don’t like peanut butter BUT celery with Almond butter (yes, I know I’m weird) is one of my new favorite snacks.

I really enjoy cooking and this cleanse is making me cook more often and get creative.  Still working on the creativity though

I am adding Cayenne Pepper to almost everything.  That little zing makes everything taste better.

In Trader Joe’s the other day the cashier was talking about using avocado in lieu of mayonnaise when making tuna.  I stopped using mayo over a year ago so I thought I’d give it a try.  It was good but still needed a little something…so I added some cayenne pepper!

Medjool Dates are the BEST THING EVER!  How I never tried these before I don’t know but now I am in love!  Watch out avocados you have a new rival!

So those are some new discoveries this week.  What about you?  Anything new you want to share, any new recipes or ideas?

Don’t forget to visit with Karen over at Journey Back to Self to see what she has learned this week.

And if you want to try the 21 Day Cleanse, go visit Melissa at Wellness with Melissa.

When I hear the word CLEANSE, I immediately think of those all liquid cleanses where you only drink lemon water and don’t eat a thing.  Or remember the cabbage one?  Or the one where you only ate orange food?  You may have the same reaction when you hear the word cleanse.  Well this week I started a 21-day cleanse with my friend Melissa who is a Health & Wellness Coach.  There are two reasons I am doing this cleanse.  One, because Melissa asked me, and two, because I can still eat real food!  Oh and three, because I already cut most of these foods out of my diet already so I didn’t think it would be too difficult.

Here are a couple of things I have learned so far on this cleanse.

• For me, its been about being more mindful of how I eat than what I eat.  Savoring each bite and slowing down.
• I have had to plan ahead more.  Making a batch of quinoa and roasted veggies to have on hand.  Because several nights a week I get home after 8pm, this has been great to have at the ready.
• I can still go out to eat and make good choices and if I want to enjoy a beer or glass of wine with dinner, then I should go ahead and do that, as long as I’m not going to beat myself up about it afterward.

I still have 17 days to go on this cleanse, so it will be interesting what else comes up for me in the days to come.

Also on the health and wellness front, I had a great conversation with Karen over at Journey Back to Self yesterday and her recent health challenges.  Go over to her blog and see what she has been facing these past couple of weeks.

And don’t forget to check out my friend Melissa’s blog, Wellness with Melissa!

Guacamole made tableside - Rosa Mexicana, NYC

Last week I spent several days in NYC with some wonderful friends, including the lovely Karen over at Journey Back to Self.  We ate, we drank, we walked, we talked and we laughed…alot!  I then headed to PA, to spend time with more wonderful friends and continued to eat and drink…alot!

I love traveling and spending time with friends and when I get in social situations tend to throw my healthy eating habits out the door.  Its not like I ate donuts AND ice cream (that was someone else who shall remain nameless), but I did indulge in a bit of wine and cheese and chips and guacamole and margaritas, oh the margaritas!  I did not have toast with my morning eggs but did have diner coffee every day.

All of this to say that sometimes its hard to stick to your guns and its OK to indulge once in awhile.  I did put on a pound or two while on vacation and while I did try to order healthy meals off the menu (salad, egg white omelet, fish), I find it harder to stay on the healthy path while traveling.

I’m not sure where I’m going with this or what lesson to take away other than life is meant to be enjoyed!  And well I truly enjoyed my vacation to NYC and PA, spent with great friends, eating good food, drinking good wine and laughing…and laughing…and laughing some more.