What I've Been Eating Lately

Even with my new hair cut, I'm still pretty out of sorts thanks to the on-going back issues. I'm still in physical therapy and next week I meet with my neurosurgeon - the guy who performed my back surgery just over a year ago. My hope is that he'll run some tests, find out what's wrong and find some non-surgical way to magically fix me right up. In the meantime, I'm doing everything I can to help the healing process along.

I am doing my physical therapy exercises every day, even if it means I have to use the conference room at work to lay down on the floor and do my stretches. And I'm trying to eat mainly anti-inflammatory foods, and low-carb, low-fat meals. I generally eat healthy but this no sugar, no processed starch thing is challenging. Thank God I can cook!

So here's a snapshot of what I've been eating:

Breakfast: Hard-boiled egg, 2 slices of Canadian bacon, 3 small tomatoes

Snack: 2 celery sticks with hummus

Lunch: Grilled chicken, roasted asparagus, cauliflower puree

Snack: 2 celery sticks with almond butter

Dinner: Grilled steak, tomato and cucumber salad (pictured above)

Of course I've fallen off course a couple of times, but that's the key to sanity. I highly recommend that everyone have one cheat meal a week. Last Sunday I had a slice of my sister's plum tart, and I did indulge in some wine at the Chateau last Saturday. How could I not? The sommelier brought out a bottle of a 2005 Peay Vineyards Pomarium Pinot Noir, and it was fabulous. And totally worth it!

Overall, it's been surprisingly easy, probably because I feel so much lighter and that, in and of itself, is a big motivator. I've been doing this for about 2 weeks, and have already shed 5 lbs. I wish I could say it's helping my back pain, but I'm still hopeful.

First Post: It's rainy AND it's a Sunday!

Who would've thunk it? My first post is entirely appropriate considering it's Sunday and it just happens to be bleak and wet outside (a rarity here in Los Angeles). I chose the title because A) I cook my week's worth of lunches every Sunday and B) on rainy days, I tend to go even further by baking or cooking something special. What else are you going to do on a cold, wet day?

I've been inspired by many of the food blogs I read on a regular basis: Orangette, Becks and Posh and The Amateur Gourmet.Though there is a high risk of looking like a food-blog-bandwagon-jumper, I decided to start my own.

Recently I have changed my eating habits due to some back pain I've been experiencing. I had back surgery in May after an accident (fell down some steep, concrete stairs - ouch!), and every now and then, I get flare ups that leave me unable to walk or pretty much do anything without pain. I'm in physical therapy now, but my doctor recommended that I try an anti-inflammatory diet to help calm down my angry back muscles. The diet somewhat resembles a gluten-free one (thanks to Gluten Free Girl for many wonderful ideas), but it's a bit stricter: No dairy, no red meat, no sugar, and no nightshade plans like my beloved tomatoes and bell peppers. But, unlike someone with celiac disease, I don't have to absolutely and totally stick to this rigid diet - it just helps me out a bit if I choose to be on it most of the time. And that's the plan - do it 90% of the time then leave the other 10% for luscious plates of pappardelle with cream sauce and decadent chocolate cupcakes and other special-occasion treats. Hey, balance is key, right?

But as an avid cook and food lover, I am taking this new diet on with gusto. It's a challenge, and I'm excited to see what I can create within the confines of the AID (<--horrible acronym) diet. Besides the anti-inflammatory benefits, this diet also promotes clear skin and helps clear up basic allergies like hay fever.

OK, enough of the background check - "Get to the cooking!" you say.

I hope you enjoy this blog :)