As the week chugs along....

Boy oh boy... back to my FULL schedule. I had to take in a huge bag of groceries and meals yesterday. Back to lunch and dinner in my office, as I teach right after work. I have to feel things out though - I'm finding I don't need as much food as I've allowed... but some days I do.

Yesterday: I had a very large salad with salmon for lunch. Also, my popcorn and later in the afternoon tea with Almondina cookies. Then I wanted to make sure I had dinner before class because it's never good news when I've gone to my 7PM class without dinner. However, I just did not feel like eating everything I brought with me. I had a small portion of the ziti I made the other day, but not the veggies I brought with it. On the way in to work I suspected this might be the case (not wanting to eat everything) so I stopped and bought apples, string cheese, and whole wheat pita bread. So, on the way home from class I had bread, apple and cheese for a snack in the car, and lo-and-behold, I didn't even go into the kitchen when I got home around 10.

So... today.... I'm hungry! At about 10AM I had the vegetable plate that I did not have last night with the ziti, and that's enough to hold me till lunch which is, again, salmon and salad. I am going straight to class tonight after work, but the difference is that it's an hour earlier than last night's class so for sure I won't want dinner before class. Thinking ahead (boy this is becoming a habit!) I packed a vanilla yogurt to mix with a cup of blueberries, 1/2 cup of some kind of Kashi cereal, and a TBS of walnuts. I'm sorry I forgot to bring my apple/cheese/bread snack for the car after class - I'll be very hungry when I get home. I have to think this through so I don't go haywire when I walk through the door.

Yesterday I made (but did not eat) a crockpot chicken dish with stuffing and veggies. That might work, or maybe I'll stop in at Trader Joe's on the way home to pick something up. Morningstar (fake) riblets just flashed before my eyes!

Tomorrow I have my challenge as I am going out to lunch with mom. I'm watching Phantom Gourmet now (it's a restaurant review show that airs in the Boston area) to see if they come up with any lunch restaurants we haven't tried yet. Always on the lookout for something inexpensive that has good parking. (Mom has a walker and I really have to be able to pull up right at the door - harder when there's snow on the ground.)

Okay - so I was asked - what IS normal eating? LOL - still trying to figure it out. But, I'm realizing that normal (for me) eating does not mean free for all, or totally unplanned meals. I still need to think ahead and have some structure. I can have anything I want - just not all at once! I have an awareness of my fruit and vegetable servings (I never skimp on veggies but sometimes I might hit a day where I have 1 or no fruit) and my carb intake. But, not necessarily in terms of limiting it, just in terms of eating it. However, I am careful to pick whole grains and try to stay away from white flour and sugar - which lets out all the processed junk that I'm not eating anyway!

Haha - they are reviewing the place where mom and I go - Jim's Deli in Brighton. Old fashioned and oh so huge portions at a small price! Once all the snow is melted we'll head there again because there is only street parking and it's hard to find something close. They put this review show on just before lunch so I'm chomping at the bit to eat as soon as it's over. LOL They also reviewed The Fireplace in Brookline - we went there the night my daughter got her PhD from Harvard. They have a lunch menu too, but a little pricey for mom's lunch pocketbook. Oh my... now they are giving a gourmet recipe for grilled cheese. Can you say HEART ATTACK?????

Anyway - it's about lunchtime and I have a salad with grilled salmon waiting for me...

Samida