Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Navigating the food pyramid for a healthier me.

I've been thinking alot lately about my diet since my husband got diagnosed with high cholesterol, and what I can do to make not only our family's diet better but also mine to help with getting a fitter and healthier body. The saying "you are what you eat" couldn't be more true. Now if we look at the food pyramid below:
The bottom part of the pyramid which is the largest states you should be eating more veggies, beans, lentils, cereals, bread, fruit and nuts. I love my veggies & lentils - and I eat a tonne of those but the rest are slightly put aside. It's not that I don't like fruit, but in winter I struggle to eat a cold piece of fruit when the weather is equally as cold. And the only real nuts I like are almonds but I always seem to forget to buy them and when I do, I can't stop at a handful. Bread, not a big fan unless I am eating a sandwich - must be multigrain though.

Next level up is the meat, fish, chicken, eggs, milk, yoghurt section. Meat, I love but have trouble digesting it. So I tend to only eat it once or twice a week at best. Absolutely love chicken and what the chicken has to offer, and have been focusing on buying the best quality - free range chooks and eggs around. My brother in law manages a chook farm and I get 30 eggs a fortnight. YUM. They are the biggest eggs and so orange yolked - delicious. In terms of the dairy section - I have not had milk since I was about 2 years of age. Don't like the smell or taste to have it on it's own or even as a milkshake. But I can add it to things in cooking, but this still doesn't amount to having the required daily amount. Thank god for supplements.

The top section I probably don't really need to mention because I don't use margarine at all for myself and I only use olive oil sparingly in the cooking anyways. Sugar is probably my only "naughty", but I compensate by using raw sugar.

The one thing I know I don't do is drink enough water. I drink alot of coffee - 4 to 5 cups a day and I really should stop this. This is only serving to dehydrate me more, and considering the body really needs water to function correctly - I am really doing it an injustice.

So last night I served up the yummiest dinner - Butter Chicken and Salad Corn Wraps served with a spread of hummus. What do you think?
It was so very yummy. And the kiddlets just loved it, even my fussy youngest son who ended up devouring 3 rolls worth. But my quest for supreme nutritional intake has taken me one step further. I have been listening alot to a Triathlon podcast by Chris Elmore on TriTopics and his friend Rick Kattouf from Team Kattouf speak alot about nutrition and how to use it to enhance your sporting performance. So I sent an email to Chris and Rick a couple of days ago and today I will be speaking to Rick personally about the possibility of having a coaching plan for my nutrition. I am so excited. Rick's credentials are amazing and if I can even just have a smidge of his expertise in the sporting arena I will be an absolutely happy woman.

Will keep you all updated.

Your hard work will be rewarded.

"The path to a dream is paved with sacrifices and lined with determination. And though it has many stumbling blocks along the way, and may go in more than one direction, it is travelled by belief and courage and conquered with a willingness to face challenges and take chances" Barbara Cage