Something new again!

We are doing so well!
It is irritating really.. I just *have* to watch this 'You are what you eat' programme with this horrible Gillian McKeith. I just absolutely *hate* the way she bullies people and how she thinks that food addicted people 'just' change their diet to be eternally happy.

Well.. I tell you first hand that it doesn't work like that at all! If you are used to eating as your comfort blanket there is no way that a change of diet will save the day. Getting over an eating disorder is like getting over alcoholism. Just as dangerous as it is for an alcoholic to drink one drink, it is as dangerous for a foodie to eat. What makes dealing with a food addiction so difficult is that you have to eat. (thank goodness I say :-))

Anyway, as a recovering foodaholic I know where my problem areas are and how to stear away from them by always planning what to eat when and prevent getting hungry so I don't choose the wrong things at eating time. I always followed the healthy eating guidelines of a bit of bread/potatoes, fruit, vegetables, lean meat/fish and bit of fat.

And for years, that was considered THE healthy way to live. Now... when I watch these 'eat and live well' programmes, potato is considered too starchy, bread is a nono, fat and dairy is crap and the only way to go is fruit, vegetables, beans, nuts and seeds!

Now.. because of my eating issues I know that changing my diet instantly is certain to fail. So, what I have decided is to gently add the good things and take away the 'bad' things. As Ms McKeith always says 'try something new every week'.

A few weeks ago it was 'green lentils' (which surprised mr Presentnapper a lot, he could not imagine that someone did not know how to cook with lentils (the red ones I got sussed now ;-)) and if all goes well he is gonna teach me a bit about the green ones :-)))

Last week it was 'fennel'. Yeah I know.. probably again for normal people a normal vegetable but I had no clue what to do with it, found that it was really nice stir fried with onions and something else I can't remember.

This week it was 'Quinoa' and that is such lovely stuff I had to tell you about it..

They are apparently seeds (see the little excerpt of www.dictionary.com at the top) of the 'goosefoot' which look like little beads which when cooked fall into 2 bits it seems, little balls and spiral like bits. I know it doesn't sound really appetising but it is brilliant stuff.. it is very filling, full of protein and today I used it in the following soup recipe. (sorry, not for vegetarians unless there is a good alternative for bacon taste, and if so I would love to hear it!)

Ingredients:
bit of oil
1 onion in chunks
6 rashers of bacon
350 grams cauliflower in bits
1 leek in bits
handful of quinoa
stock cube and 600 ml water (ish)

Soften onions in a bit of oil. In the meantime cut 3 rashers into bits and add to onions for 2 minutes. Add cauliflower, leek and give a stir. Add the water and stock cube and cook for 20 minutes. At the same time in a separate pan cook the quinoa with plenty of water for 20 minutes.

Dry fry the other 3 rashers (or put in microwave between 2 sheets of kitchen paper for 3 mins) and cut in bits.

When time is up mash the vegetables with a blender, drain and add the quinoa

Put the bits of bacon and a bit of grated cheese on top.

Lovely!