Pure food challenge update

It’s been 3 days since I started this challenge and I feel that it is going very well. I was hoping to get my family on-board with me but unfortunately you can lead a horse to water but you can’t make him drink!

It is not deterring me as I am set on being more of a food purist and am tired (literally) of eating food that makes me feel bloated and sleepy!

One of the first things I did was make spicy salsa. I wanted to have it on hand for when something was too bland and needed kicking up a bit! It has tomatoes, onions, garlic cloves, garlic chives, small zucchini, green and red bell peppers, jalapeno peppers, cilantro, cumin, salt, and a squirt of lime juice!

For lunch that day when everyone was eating potato chips and bologna and cheese sandwiches on white bread,  I made this for myself! Grilled and spicy fish topped with fresh tomatoes, avocado slices, and dill. I paired it with steamed sweet potatoes and onions. It was very tasty!

At dinner I made the unhealthy nachos my family prefers. (Store bought tortilla chips, ground beef, refried beans, sharp cheddar cheese, salsa, lettuce, onions, and tomatoes.)

BUT…look what I made for me! Delicious fried green tomatoes. I made them by breading them in seasoned oatmeal that I powderized in my food processor. Then I gave them a drizzle of olive oil and baked them for about 30 minutes. In the center I used pinto beans, lettuce, tomatoes, onions, salsa, and guacamole.  I didn’t even miss the cheese or chips!

The next morning I made an organic egg white omelet. It has spinach, onions, home made mozzarella, and lots of cayenne pepper. I made the mozzarella using organic 1% milk, vegetable rennet, lemon juice, a crushed vitamin C tablet, and salt. I will post later exactly how this is done.

I was really starting to crave bread by this point so I knew I would have to quit being lazy and make some! I used quite a few ingredients for this bread including the leftover whey from making the cheese. Whey contains the water-soluble proteins, vitamins, and minerals in the milk, so it’s a shame to just throw it out! To the whey (about 3 ½ cups), I added yeast, soy flour, brown rice flour, oatmeal, milled flax seed, bran flour, whole wheat flour, extra virgin olive oil, and salt. I didn’t measure anything (sorry). But I just kneaded the dough until it formed a ball and could rise a bit. The dough was quite sticky and took a LONG time to rise because of not having any white flour in it. It turned out very good for a healthy, dense, and filling bread!

For another dinner I made the family pork chops, mashed potatoes and gravy, canned corn, and buttered bread. For my version, I made mock meat (a vegetable patty), using egg white, soy flour, spinach, mushrooms, onions, salt, pepper, and chopped garlic. On the side I had mashed sweet potatoes (I used almond milk to make them nice and creamy), and steamed broccoli and mushrooms. It was incredibly yummy!

For dessert my husband made chocolate ice cream from scratch. He used a ton of egg yolks, heavy cream, and sugar. Everyone was raving about how wonderful it was so I had to think of something quick to resist temptation! I made something really decadent that tastes similar to an Almond Joy candy bar. In a large zip-lock bag I added cocoa powder, honey, slivered organic almonds, and shredded organic unsweetened coconut. I mashed it around making sure it was all coated and mixed thoroughly. I coated my hands in olive oil and rolled into balls. Then I set them in the freezer for about an hour. They definitely satisfied my chocolate craving and made it possible to watch them eat my husband’s famous ice cream!

So far so good, and I believe I’m on the right track here! Fresh delicious food prepared with health and taste buds in mind! Now if only I could get my family to join me…

Baby steps. Meatless Mondays perhaps.