A New Year, A New Start (Again)

Happy New Year!  Goodbye, 2009--Year of Crummy Health!

It's 2010 and yet, I find myself woefully in a similar position to where I was one year ago.   To make a long story short, November and December were not diet-friendly.  I ate everything I shouldn't have, including products with high fructose corn syrup.  I visited McDonald's twice in one week.  It was delicious--I won't and can't lie about that  But, Oy.  It was ugly.

And I have an eye appointment coming up.

So, welcome 2010!  I am trying to return to my anti-inflammatory diet with mixed success.  Now that I am often eating dinner on the go, I realize just how difficult healthy eating can be!  Yikes.  Eating a sit-down dinner is quite easy, but now my best options seems to be take-out salads with grilled salmon.  

On that note, I've posted a picture of a soup I made last weekend.  From Eating Well, this Collard Green & Black Eyed Pea Soup will keep you full and warm.  Because I am using collards for a different recipe, I substituted my favorite--kale!--instead.  I've been eating the soup for lunch, paired with a multigrain ballard from Whole Foods.  Also, don't fret about the recipe's cheese toasts.  Yours Truly forgot the shopping list last weekend and couldn't remember to buy the cheese.  The soup is pretty tasty with a simply bread.  

The Incredible, Edible (Omega-3) Egg!

I hate breakfast.  Hate it.  Waffles and pancakes, no thanks.  French toast, who cares?  Omelettes, fine.  I am probably eating such a late breakfast because I hate it so much.  But here's the problem: I totally need breakfast.  If I don't get fed in a timely manner, I morph into crazy cranky person or catatonic lady.  No good.

However, as I type this, I am scarfing down my new favorite breakfast (yeah yeah, breakfast at 2pm.  Don't give me that look.  Like I said, I hate breakfast.)  Anyways, welcome to sauteed kale and fried eggs!  Mmmm.  I keep telling myself that I should upload more photos of my meals, but I ate this one too quickly.  Sorry.

I love this meal because 1) it's healthy and anti-inflammatory and 2) quick.

Ingredients:

olive oil

1-2 minced garlic cloves

2 eggs (preferably omega-3 rich and organic)

a large handful of kale

red pepper flakes

salt and black pepper

Heat a tablespoon of olive oil in a pan.  Then add the minced garlic and saute for about a minute.  Add kale (just washed is best because the moisture from the rinsing will help with steaming) and saute until the kale becomes slightly wilted and maintains a deep green color.  I like my kale hearty so I don't saute for more than 5 minutes.  Add a dash of red pepper flakes for a kick.  Transfer kale and garlic to a plate.  Then crack two eggs into your hot pan and fry as desired.  Place cooked eggs atop your lovely bed of kale, sprinkle with S&P, and add a dash of soy sauce.  YUM.

Maybe my hatred of breakfast will transform into a like, or at least apathy?  When I'm in a real bind for time, or just a zombie after work, I'll add brown rice to this dish for an easy dinner.  Sometimes I substitute the garlic with slivers of onion or ginger as well.