Last week when I talked about losing enough weight to go down a shirt size, I receive much congratulations.
Very Berry Salad
I appreciate hearing that because on a day-to-day basis I do not see it. I do not see it until something fits differently, and I mean in a good way.
But one of the comments struck a nerve as a person stated how hard it is to lose weight when you are a foodie.
You don’t have to tell that one to me twice, I understand completely.
This time of year, once the tomatoes come in, it is BLTs every night of the week. Bring on the butter for Corn-on-the-Cob. And did I mention it is fair season? That means fried food galore.
It does not help that I and my husband like trying new recipes. I find them in the newspaper, on the web, around the blog circuit, cook books; well, you get the picture. We like to cook.
My favorite recipes are cream sauces with white wine, tomatoes and/or mushrooms. Braised chicken is better once it soaks in Marsala or Imperial sauce.
Then there is dessert. My son and I learned how to make lava cakes together. My daughter made a fabulous tart last year. The seven-year-old allowed me to buy Italian ice for his dessert last week. We have done dirt cups and jello desserts topped with whip cream and strawberries.
This has made my weight-loss slower than it should considering I am not taking any medicines and I am able to walk near daily with the dog. It has taken me two years to lose 40 pounds. Other people seem to do it so quickly.
I have a neighbor who looks great after losing 50 pounds in six months. Another has worked to get 30 pounds off in the same time period. Meanwhile, I am struggling to get past the next five-pound threshold.
I admit to binge-ing late at night so I am trying to get to bed at an earlier time. When my feet hurt thanks to arthritis or I am simply tired for no good reason, I do walk less.
However there are bright spots. Thanks to the latest heat wave, I am near my initial goal weight. I nearly fit into not one but two dresses. Clothing that fit the bigger body is starting to feel too big.
But the other half of the story is I am making lifestyle changes and not some crazy short-term diet. I am choosing to eat more fresh veggies and fruits. Whole grain breads are becoming a part of my life as well as my husband’s. Soda is a treat that I have once a week and I prefer getting it from a soda fountain as opposed to pre-bottled.
Is any of this going to stop my foodie explorations?
I hope not. This fall I want to work on making real ramen dishes. And I want to work on a stroganoff which calls for sour cream. Oh, and there is the egg nog cake and a Noel log I have always wanted to make for the holidays.
Yes, I am on a diet but that has not stopped my love affair with good tasting food. It simply means I eat a little less of it and adapt the recipe to have healthier ingredients whenever possible.
Now for the recipe. Two weeks ago I made this great salad that has fruit in with lettuce leaves. I have always been suspicious of such salads because I was never sure the sweet fruit would work with slightly bitter greens.
I found the recipe in an American Profile insert in my newspaper. It called for a Spring Mix salad bag but I went with a Red Heart bag when there was none of the former in the racks.
Salad Ingredients
Very Berry Salad
One Salad Bag
4 oz. sliced strawberries
4 oz. blackberries
1 handful each of dried cranberries, dried raspberries, and chopped walnuts
1 sliced Shallot (We did this on the side for the husband)
4 oz. goat cheese
Vinaigrette (on the side)
Because I could not find dried raspberries, I allowed the vinaigrette to be the raspberry element. The other dilemma was what to serve with the salad. The author suggested baby back ribs. We went with pork chops marinated in orange juice. My husband thought we should have had a french bread with this. We did not and it all worked just fine.
Our younger children liked the fruit but not the lettuce. The fifteen-year-old, who is becoming a foodie himself, thought the vinaigrette was too sweet but he had two helpings.
Pork Chop and Very Bery Salad
What new dishes are you making?
Thanks so much for this recipe. I am always on the look out for ways to make salad a bit more interesting. I get very bored very quickly with just leaves, tomatoes and cucumber. Your salad looks delicious! I have found some other great recipes on my search, the ones on this site are professional but not too difficult to master at home! The Staff Canteen
Thanks!
I am pretty sure this is a spam that made it through the filter. But at least Sophie liked the salad recipe.
Sounds like you are doing a great job with your weight loss! You are probably more likely to keep it off with the lifestyle changes you have made. I think portion control, not depriving oneself is the key to long term weight loss. Keep up the good work!
I have always hated those crazy diets. Never did the cabbage soup one. Thanks for the congrats!
I always remind myself that I put on those extra pounds gradually, over a period of years, not months. It therefore stands to reason that I should expect to take the same amount of time getting rid of them.
I know what you mean. But some days it feels like I am taking forever to get back to what I used to weigh when I only thought I was fat.
(Deep sigh of solidarity.) I hear you.
Give yourself lots of credit for the progress you’ve made and the sustainable way you’ve made it. I’ve been seriously thinking about getting a dog so I can’t beg off the daily walk (it’s too hot, it’s raining, too much housework).
You can’t go wrong adding cranberries or fruit to any summer dish! And thing to make it more nutritious! I add cranberries to my oatmeal! Makes it SO much better (not has bland or boring!)
What if I added cranberries to home made granola?
Works!
I’ll have to try this as cranberries really do jazz up dishes..They are also good in chicken salad (just a few) ..Love summery food!!
I have done cranberries in chicken salad and it is very tasty.
Good for you on your weight loss. I think you are miles ahead of those who lose more quickly. In your two years of loss, you have given yourself time to establish a new way of approaching and thinking about food. As difficult as it is to lose weight, keeping it off is an even bigger challenge, but I suspect you will do really well.
My tomatoes are coming on, too, and I love BLT’s. I tried a new ploy. Instead of wrapping my BLT in bread, I bought a cabbage and try to wrap my tomatoes and bacon in a cabbage leaf. It’s a bit messy, awfully difficult to pry a cabbage leaf off the head w/o destroying it. But it’s quite satisfying.
The problem there is I hate cabbage. Love it deep fried in an egg roll and … that is about it. But what if I used one of my favorite lettuce leaves instead? Hmmm…
Oh, yes! Butter lettuce!