Busy in the Kitchen

I've been remembering the days after I graduated from high school and had no where else to go. At the time I was tired of school and felt I needed a break for a while before going back so I didn't apply anywhere. All I wanted to do is work for a bit and save up some money. Well it took me about nine months to do so, and between interviews and dropping off resumes there wasn't a lot I was doing. I got extremely bored. What do I normally do to fill time when I'm bored? I eat. Except at the time I was on Weight Watchers and could do that so easily either. I did the next best thing. On my mother's dime, I bought a whole bunch of Weight Watchers cookbooks and groceries and did a lot of cooking. I liked experimenting with different recipes and different types of food. It was fun and new to me. Unfortunately that interested diminished as soon as I went crazy and left WW and eventually started school again.

Now things have gone somewhat back to that but this time it's different. I have been really trying the last few months to improve my eating habits (except maybe a day or two, or ten when I maybe went a little overboard on the eating). But I have been trying to eat better, way better than I have even with Weight Watcher: proper portion sizes, maximizing good foods, minimizing bad foods, and of course exercises is all a part of it too. On WW I was just obsessed with how much food I could get with the least amount of points and the only bit of exercise I did (mostly just walking) was done so that I could eat more! (On that note, I don't not recommend Weight Watchers, I just figure it just wasn't for me.)

Now I'm back to cooking again! I love looking for recipes! And although I love love love LOVE my slow cooker, I'm always looking for recipes that I can experiment with when I have the time.

I recommend these websites. Spark People is really good for recipes and articles. I get a new recipe emailed to me everyday and they're very healthy and always look quite tasty! The name of the second really explains itself. Calorie Count a good source for those who are counting their calories.

Spark People

Calorie Count

If you do count calories, remember to make sure you are getting the right amount of protein and fibre in your diet. Don't always go for the no fat/low fat because they might have more sugar to compensate and that's probably much worse, depending on what it is. Remember, fat doesn't make you fat, it just clogs your arteries, unless they're good fats. Make sure you choose the right types of fat and don't eat in excess. Sugar and simple carbs, to put it simply, make you fat. I'm also not big on low carb diets.

Anyway, I also recommend the book, Magic Foods for Better Blood Sugar. I picked it up the other day because I wanted to get a index-type of book with superfoods which list what they're good for, and although this one is somewhat specific to blood sugar, it was still pretty much what I was looking for. It lists a number of foods that lower your blood sugar level, what else they do and how you can use them in cooking. On top of that they have a number of breakfasts, lunch, dinners and desserts that are popular and explain how you can improve it. Additionally, they include lots of yummy recipes. I plan on making the Oatmeal-Peanut Butter Trail Bars tomorrow. Me and a bunch of friends are having a game night for Earth Hour. I'll also be making a Seven Layer Taco Dip.

Settlers of Catan and and yummy food. What could be better?