MY JOURNEY
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Having struggled with weight and health since a 2000 hit and run rear ending that ended a dance career, I recently challenged myself to cook every day for 30 days. Inspiration came from a TV show my parents introduced me to from the UK, Food Hospital. I decided to see if I could actually skip my convenience food options and cook a meal when I got home from work every night. Those meals often came with extra portions, so I started adding the leftovers to the fridge and freezer, creating my own version of microwave meals. What I discovered was that it didn't have to be an arduous chore, and I actually got more enjoyment from my meals. Gone were the days of pouring a bowl of cereal for dinner, and boring sandwiches or salads for lunch.
Whether you are a single like me, or someone who has not yet found the joy in cooking, the tips and recipes I will share can help you in your own journey. There are plenty of websites out there designed around meals for 2, or 4. My best friends and I discussed that we "still ate like college students", and the idea to create a place for those who cook for only themselves was born. Most of my recipes do feed more than just you, so feel free to cook for your special someone, or double the recipe and feed a whole bunch of your friends. But that's the point. My tips and tricks are more about food storage and buying than just the recipes themselves. Often I build the recipe around the size of ingredient containers readily available. I hate having 1/2 a can of something left in my fridge that I have no idea how to use it up, so it ends up in the trash or compost pile. Although I am single myself and aiming my recipes towards others in similar circumstances, the options I have will work for anyone no matter the size of the household. Scale up and scale down as needed. The only difference with my recipes is that most have been tested for reheating on my lunch break. If the texture or taste failed after coming out of the microwave, it will not get posted. Not every recipe has been through the freezer, but if it has I mention that on the recipe page. Has my health improved? Definitely. Maybe not as much weight loss as I'd hoped when I started this journey, but all around I feel better. So far I have seen a small change in the scale, 10 pounds in 6 months, but it is a start in the right direction. As a dancer, my weight had always been dependent on my exercise level and I have not added that back in yet. However, I had just started this journey when my doctor had my yearly blood tests done. When she got my results, she decided to follow up with another round in a few months, as a few of my markers were high and and a couple were low. I decided not to change anything on my plan and see what the results after a few months on this new eating plan would tell me about the changes I'd made and where else I needed to focus my attentions. Update, December 2020... I retook those tests and all my results were trending in the right direction! That includes my cholesterol, which is my main focus right now. I will let you know when everything is back in the normal range, which I am hoping will be in just a few more months. Update, November 2021... At my last doctor's appointment I lost another 4 pounds and all my bloodwork was normal. This has really helped turn my life around, and I hope the journey will continue to add more recipes and tips and tricks. I hope to inspire other single cooks to keep working on their own journey and find the healthy alternatives, not just for the number on the scale, but for how our bodies feel on a daily basis. |
HAVE QUESTIONS, SUGGESTIONS?
I'd love to hear from you. From how your personal journey is going, to recipes you want me to try out, you can get in touch. I cannot reply instantly, but I do try to get back to everyone who emails!
last updated 11/19/2021