One Week Later (in the New Food World)

— For the “backstory” on what I’m writing about, please see this post --
So I’m one week in on the new gluten/dairy (etc.) free diet. Since some of you have asked how I’m faring, here goes:

After seven full days of ridiculously healthy food, I am relieved to find that I have no desire to join a commune or burn my bra. Not that a commune would have me, but that’s another matter. I’ll be honest, I’ve had moments where I’d considered selling my soul for some almonds, a 20 oz. Pepsi or a hunk of chocolate. Like the York peppermint patty I usually have after my massage. I picked it up, sighed and put it back in the bowl.  Even my massage therapist was bummed out on my behalf.

The cravings have been lighter than expected. The weight is trending downward slowly (huzzah), but not as rapidly as my bank account is depleting because of buying all that healthy food. (If you own shares in Whole Foods, Fresh Market or Kroger, expect a tidy uptick in that stock over the next quarters). I really wish there was a correlation between weight loss and $$$ spent. Alas, no.
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The biggest thing that was driving me slowly crazy was the lack of options for breakfast since I can’t eat: Any form of cereal with gluten, no rice, no oats (there goes my beloved Scottish oats). So none of the usual workaround cereals were an option.

I was starting to fantasize about hot cereal. Seriously. I finally broke down and bought some Quinoa flakes (wow are those expensive – I swear illegal pharmaceuticals are cheaper!) that cook up in 90 seconds. I’m not a great fan of quinoa, but after a week of eating non-dairy yogurt and fruit for breakfast, I was willing to try anything. They wear you down after a while, like Chinese water torture. Apparently when you’re desperate anything tastes good so now I’m looking forward to my morning hot cereal to augment the BACON, fruit, yogurt and nuts for breakfast. Of course anything is edible when you put enough honey on it.
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Thank heavens for crockpots. We have two — a smaller one and a way bigger one. Currently Chicken Tikka Masala (homemade masala) is cooking in one and the other has a whole chicken that I am cooking down to its component parts so I can make stews and soup. Yeah, you heard right — I’m doing some serious cooking. Like making Kale Chips. They were okay. I think I like my kale in soup better, but then that’s just me.
So that’s the latest on the Jana front. I haven’t killed anyone for a Snickers bar (though I was thinking about it) and I have found I have more energy. All good, methinks. Stay tuned for updates. And whining about the lack of chocolate. That, my friends, is a given.

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