Shades of Grey

No, no, no...this post isn't about the Fifty Shades of Grey series (although I have read the trilogy and enjoyed it).  I know that the title of this post might have gotten your hopes up, but today's post isn't a book review.

Nope, today's post is about food choices.  

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I don't know about you, but most of my food choices aren't black and white (Figuratively speaking, that is.  I'm not talking about black figs vs. white rice here).  Instead, the vast majority of my food choices come in various shades of grey (thus, the title of this post).  For instance:

Recently, Bo and I were craving rice crispy treats.  Since I'm not a huge fan of packaged foods, I decided to make my own at home.  Luckily, I found organic puffed rice (cocoa flavored, no less!) at the commissary, and I keep Earth Balance (sometimes Smart Balance) at home.  However, the challenge came with the marshmallows.  Now, I know that Whole Foods carries vegan-friendly marshmallows, but a single bag costs between $5.00-6.00, not to mention the thirty minutes it would take me to drive across town.  In the end, I bought a package of Jet-Puffed Marshmallows that contain gelatin...and I felt a little guilty.

In situations like that I feel really conflicted about my food choices.  On the one hand, I feel good about choosing an organic rice cereal and Earth Balance (or even organic butter); but on the other hand, I feel a little ashamed of myself for buying the Jet-Puffed Marshmallows.  In general, I'm not a fan of the use of gelatin (if you're interested in knowing what's in it - and how it is made - read here).  I also try to steer clear of any products that are made with dairy products that are not organic (you would be SHOCKED at how many packaged products contain dried egg whites, dried milk, etc.).

But sometimes

- OK, a lot of the time -

it is really difficult to steer clear of every product with which I have an ethical dilemma.

Sure, pretty much all produce is a safe bet (although, there again, you have to be careful about pesticides and the whole organic vs. conventional debate), and we buy organic eggs, cheese, yogurt, milk (although that's for Bo, I drink almond milk), and cottage cheese.  In general, our grocery cart consists of LOTS of fresh fruits and vegetables, organic dairy products, whole grains, meat (for Bo), and weekly odds and ends that aren't food related.  (And yes - to answer your question - buying organic dairy products and some produce costs us significantly more money than if we simply bought conventional (see dark, but relatively true, comic strip below).)

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But even then I frequently feel conflicted about things.  

For instance:

• What about the whole wheat bread that we buy - is it sprayed with harmful pesticides?  Is it grown on land that could be used for grazing happy cows?
• What about the tortilla chips that we buy?  Is the corn produced in a way that is sustainable for our environment over a long period of time?
• What about the jelly that I spread on our PB&J sandwiches - does it contain pectin?
• and on...and on...and on...

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After reading things like Michael Pollan's The Omnivore's Dilemma and In Defense of Food, and watching movies such as Food, Inc. and Polycultures: Food Where We Live, I want to be a responsible (and educated) consumer.  I want to be the type of consumer that makes the earth a stronger, healthier, and more balanced ecosystem.  And I suppose that, sometimes, I feel a little paralyzed by the fear of making an uninformed - or simply a lazy - decision that will negatively impact the earth, all the animals in it, the atmosphere, etc.

And then I think that - perhaps - I am being a little too dramatic.

Maybe what the world needs is a little more balance.

Maybe I am being too hard on myself.

Maybe the fact that I am writing this blog post is a sign that I really care, and that I am really trying to be a good steward of what I have been given.

And maybe

- just maybe -

the world

- along with all of its multi-legged inhabitants -

will cut me some slack when I buy Jet-Puffed Marshmallows.

Question of the Day:

Do you ever face an "ethical dilemma" related to the foods you purchase?  Do you try to buy organic for certain foods (or food groups)?  

I would LOVE to hear your comments and feedback on this topic!

Blessings,
Ally and Bo

Whole Food Supper Club: Grande Cena Italiana

Last night Bo and I tried something new: we went to a "Supper Club" hosted by our local Whole Foods (WH).  Come to find out, this is a new monthly event that our WH just started up last month.  We attended only the second event of its kind!

For a four course dinner, the event only cost $15.00 per person, and online registration was required.  Upon arrival, Bo and I were pleasantly surprised to see that the event was SOLD OUT!  Whole Foods must be on to something, because it was a packed house!

As you probably noticed from the title of this post, the theme of last night's Supper Club was "Grande Cena Italiana" (translated as "Big Italian Dinner").

Menu:

Italian Chowder with Cod (or Tofu) & Kale

Mediterranean Crunch Salad

Eggplant Bolognese with Spaghetti Squash Noodles

Tiramisu

The event started off with a brief explanation of what we would be eating, how it was prepared, and an overview of the "Four Pillars of Healthy Eating:"

1. whole food - any food in its most essential, pure, delicious, and basic form: an asparagus spear, a lemon, a scoop of quinoa, or a fillet of salmon;
2. plant-strong - begin to reconfigure your plate so that the majority of your meal is made from an abundance of plant-based foods;
3. healthy fats - eat whole plant-based foods like nuts, seeds, and avocados.  Then, work to minimize (or eliminate) the amounts of extracted oils and processed fats you cook with on a daily basis; and
4. nutrient dense - choose foods rich in micronutrients when compared to total caloric content.

Then we got straight to the best part: EATING!

Course #1 was soup: Italian Chowder with Cod & Kale.  I enjoyed my bowl with baked tofu, while Bo enjoyed his with fresh cod.  Overall the soup was delicious.  My only two points of contention were:

1. it is still a little bit too hot outside for me to truly enjoy hot soup (for me, it needs to be at least 65 to warrant hot soup); and
2. a pinch of salt would have taken this dish from "good" to "great"!

Course #2 was salad: Mediterranean Crunch Salad, to be specific.  The salad was one of both Bo and I's favorite courses of the night.  Although the only dressing that it had was a few tablespoons of red wine vinegar, it - surprisingly - didn't need it.  The tomatoes, cucumber, olives, and other vegetables were so flavorful and fresh that they really "popped" on their own.  In retrospect, I think that a heavy or creamy dressing would have just overwhelmed the natural flavors completely!

As you can see, I had no problem polishing off my entire salad...hehehe. :)

Throughout the evening, we drank Cucumber and Lemon Infused Water.  Who knew that something as simple as a few sliced of cucumber and lemons could elevate boring table water to something spectacular?  You better believe I will be recreating this at home!

For our main course, we enjoyed Eggplant Bolognese with Spaghetti Squash Noodles.  By far, the bolognese was my favorite part of the dish.  Don't get me wrong, I enjoy spaghetti squash as much as the next person, but the vegetables were really far and above better than their "noodle" counterparts.

Again, the squash could have used some garlic, salt, pepper, and maybe even a little EVOO (while the bolognese was delicious all on its own).  I know that the point of the dinner was to show us how plant-based, fresh, food can be delicious without the added sodium and fat (i.e. oil), but a little bit really would have gone a long way here.

In the end, I ate all of the bolognese while leaving about half of the squash on my plate!

Course #4 was, by no surprise, another one of Bo and I's favorites of the evening.  I mean, truly, who can say no to decadent tiramisu?!  Surprisingly, the tiramisu was vegan!  To prove it to you, here is the ingredient list:

• 4 cups medjool dates, pitted
• 2 1/2 cups water;
• 4oz. espresso;
• 1 1/2 cups cashews, soaked and drained;
• 1 cup coconut milk;
• 2 cups whole wheat pastry flour;
• 1T baking powder;
• 1/2 tsp sea salt;
• 1 tsp lemon juice;
• 2 tsp vanilla extract;
• 1/4 tsp cinnamon; and
• 2T cocoa powder.

Creamy, D.E.L.I.C.I.O.U.S., and sinfully good, this dessert was as good as any tiramisu I have ever eaten.  Even Bo said that he never would have guessed it was vegan and relatively healthy!

Obviously, we both ate every single bite (and I might have even used my finger to swipe off the remaining cream a time or two). ;)

More photographic evidence of the deliciousness.

By the end of the evening, we were fulled (but not stuffed), a little bit more educated on healthy foods (but not overly inundated), and relaxed (the sign of any good date night, if you ask me).  I definitely think that we would be interested in attending another "Supper Club" at Whole Foods.  In fact, next months menu is already looking pretty intriguing:

• Yellow Split-Pea and Sweet Potato Soup;
• Kale Waldorf Salad;
• Quinoa with Balsamic Roasted Mushrooms; and
• Banana Ice Cream Cake.

Sounds pretty good, right?!

Question of the Day:

What sort of unique events does your community offer (and I'm not just talking about grocery stores here, it can be an event hosted by your local mall, pet store, etc.)?!

Blessings,
Ally and Bo

Summer Picnic With My Love

Even though Bo and I are married, live in the same house, sleep in the same bed, and see each other (almost) every day, sometimes we forget that "date nights" (or, in this case, "date afternoons") are still important.  And since, by some miracle, we both had today completely off from work, we decided to go on a picnic!

This morning, I spent an hour or so whipping up a special lunch; and I must admit that I felt like a regular Giada de Laurentis in the kitchen! :)  By 12:30 we were both starving and ready to hit the road!

Thankfully, we didn't have to travel far.  Less than a mile away is a local park; and since dogs are allowed, we decided to bring Lola along for the ride!  She has gotten SO BIG (over 50 pounds!) that now she has to ride in the back seat.  No more floor board of the passenger side for this little Labrador!

While Bo walked Lola around for a couple of minutes, I took my time setting the stage for our picnic date.  I brought an old family quilt along to decorate the table, and then I spread out our feast:

• Warm Goat Cheese, Spinach, and Tomato Panini;
• Macaroni Salad;
• Minted Fruit Salad (see recipe below); and
• specialty drinks from Whole Foods.

Since Bo wanted a little more protein with his lunch, I added some ham to his sandwich.  In the end, he actually said that he thought the sandwich was a little better without the meat.  SCORE for the vegetarians!

I guzzled my lunch down with Virgil's Zero Cream Soda, while Bo sipped on Steaz Zero Calorie Orange.  Both were delicious; but truth be told, my cream soda was the best out of the two.  It really tasted like the real thing!

Lola sitting pretty for a treat!

My handsome hubby enjoying his panini.

Me - chowing down.

(And yes, I burned my bread.  

What can I say, I am my mother's daughter (hehehe)!)

Absolutely LOVING what natural light does to my photography skills!  

Lesson: I think I need to take more pictures outside!

This fruit salad was simple and out-of-this-world delicious!  It was - in both of our opinions - the best part of the whole picnic.  And since I know you want it, here is the quick and easy recipe:

Minted Fruit Salad
Serves 2

8 medium strawberries, diced
1/2 C blueberries
1 medium nectarine, diced
1 packet of stevia
1/2T lemonjuice
1/2 tsp dried mint

Directions:

1. Add the strawberries, blueberries, and nectarine to a small mixing bowl.
2. Sprinkle the stevia, lemonjuice, and mint over top.
3. Toss to incorporate.
4. Chill until ready to serve.

It really is as easy as 1-2-3-4!

Lola chillin' in the shade...no doubt wishing she could play with the kids on the playground.

This macaroni pasta salad wasn't my recipe, and it wasn't a home-run.  Truthfully, it was just so-so.  Next time, I think I would do better to just come up with something of my own.  Regardless, it did hit the spot when Bo and I were still a little hungry after eating our sandwiches (Bo has a full sandwich, I just had a half). 

Yummm...

All gone. :)

Afterwards, we took a little walk to help digest our food.  Since it was VERY hot, we tried to stay in the shade as much as possible.  We watched Lola carefully to make sure she didn't overheat, and we also gave her lot and LOTS of water.

At one point, we even talked Lola into playing on the playground!

She and her Daddy even went down the slide!  

(I'm not sure she enjoyed it.)

We didn't get a picture of it, but Lola thought the swings were so. much. fun.  While I was swinging, she kept trying to jump up and catch me!  It was too funny to watch her.  On the one hand she was totally confused by what was going on; while on the other hand she thought it was this new game that she couldn't wait to play. I can't wait to see what Lola will be like when we bring our future children to the playground.

It is certainly something to look forward to...

Next up:  a creative way to use up all of the zucchini that is abounding in your garden/local grocery store!  Delicious AND healthy potato filling anyone?!

Question of the Day:


When is the last time you went on a date with your significant other, and what did you do?!

Blessings,
Ally and Bo