I'm still trying to eat healthy and always willing to try new recipes. Tried a few new vegan/plant-based recipes last week :)
First, I made Creamy Wild Rice Soup and this one was fantastic! I questioned it as I made it: I wondered and worried if it would be any good. I thought it might be gritty using almond flour for thickening but it wasn't (I used only almond  flour and simply left out the chickpea flour). I also thought the rice vinegar would be an odd taste but it worked. I hate making new recipes and have them taste pretty horrible and then end up throwing most of it out. Not this one! This is a definite keeper! So creamy and tasty, even Hubby said it was like restaurant soup :)

I also made Vegan Orange Chicken, the chicken being cauliflower. This was pretty good as well, much better than I had expected. Note though, it isn't as good leftover, the cauliflower gets soggy. The battered and baked cauliflower from this recipe would be good as "wings" with a dipping sauce as well.

Finally, I made 30-Minute Stir-Fry (I used regular rice instead of cauliflower rice). This was my least favorite and probably won't bother to make it again. I wasn't a fan of the sauce flavor even though Hubby thought it was fine.

Tried a new plant-based, oil-free recipe tonight and it was really good. Made: Portobello Fajita Stir-Fry and used whole grain wraps. 

I am not really following any sort of eating plan right now and that is fine with me for the time being. I was trying AIEP before Christmas but started to make a few missteps and then pretty much completely gave up trying at all over the Christmas holidays. It is a lot of work trying to cut out a multitude of foods and food groups but I was feeling better. I am still trying to limit my dairy and gluten overall. Some days are better than others. My main focus right now is better food choices (for me and my health, not weight loss), eating more at home, and less unhealthy snack foods.
​We had a pretty good food week this week. I did eat a few chocolates and other things but didn't go bonkers and not feeling too badly.

After walking the dog on this chilly day, in the snow, it was nice to have a huge pot of Beef Stew simmering away for supper tonight. Used the recipe from my Chef Michael Smith cookbook; very yummy!

I have been doing a little better lately with my eating habits but haven't really gotten back to my AIEP full-time. I am still trying to note what I eat and how I feel as well as trying to avoid foods I suspect of being problematic.
​It has been a busy week getting ready for the last week of Pre-K classes and parties for the holidays, getting ready for Christmas myself, as well as having a new addition to the family :) I admit I have been a little more stressed with dog training but on the bright side we have a lovely new family member and I am getting out and walking most days now :)

Not sure why but I keep doing this. I find a plan to follow, do pretty good with it, feel better, and then self-sabotage. By self-sabotage I mean I start slowly sneaking things back in until it starts to get out of control. I was doing very well following AIEP. Yes, it was difficult giving up some loved foods at times but I was feeling so much better. Than I had a few slips, eating things I shouldn't eat yet, a little on the weekend. Than a little more the following weekend. Now I'm back to eating something practically everyday, foods that I haven't reintroduced properly yet. Even foods I suspect are problematic for me. Don't know why I do this but I always do. I've had coffee drinks out, bread/toast, chocolate, cheezies, party mix, battered chicken, Piatto pizza, corn chips, breakfast sandwiches out. That's what I can think of off the top; and I am feeling it :( My feet and knees are paining and stiff a lot lately, pretty much every morning again now. My stomach is still having really bad episodes. I am getting tired again throughout the day. My skin is getting irritated, very itchy, and sore  :(

I feel like the old, negative dieting mentality creeps back in and takes over. I start having thoughts like:
-Just one is fine.
-A little won't hurt me.
-Maybe this won't bother me now.
-I deserve a treat, I've been doing so well.
-I just want it so I'm going to eat it.
-Screw it.
And the most popular thought for me:
-I've already eaten something I shouldn't have, so just as well to eat everything now before I have to get back on track.
Sigh.
Why is eating well/better so difficult for me? I know I can't be the only one dealing with this, so hoping my problems can help others see it's not easy and we are all trying. No one is perfect.
Oh well, new day tomorrow I guess. I still have a meal plan done for this week and did the grocery shopping already.

Sorry all for not posting this past week but I've been a little busy with our new addition among a few other things :) Meeka joined our family last Sunday, she is a rescue and we have fallen in love :)

I have been still following AIEP although not 100% on the weekends. I am still trying though as I am feeling better and don't want to slip back into eating everything and feeling horrible again.
​I did cook some good meals this past week. We had Paella Primavera (vegan), Orange Chicken with rice noodles, and Chicken Soup with Wild Rice. I also had a sandwich from Rupert's, Indian food from the Farmer's Market, and a feed of McDonald's. Not all were the best choices but I was still having cravings and was short on time and not in the mood to cook. I need to be careful of that slippery slope though, and I am aware of it :)

Tonight I made Stuffed Peppers, sorry seems the recipe link for this one has disappeared. I will try to type it up soon and share it.

I have been having a lot of cravings lately so I ended up doing some splurging over the weekend. I had some wings at Wing N' It on Friday. Had toast for breakfast one morning and one evening for a snack, and had a Starbucks Latte on Saturday, so yum. It was all great but I am paying for it now. My hands hurt a little on Saturday but a great deal on Sunday and my stomach is not happy with me today, not one little bit. Getting back on track with AIEP today and will wait a few days before reintroducing anything new. 
Breakfast: Decaf coffee with Nutpod creamer and a couple of boiled eggs.
Lunch: Leftover Shrimp & Quinoa; a new recipe I tried yesterday for supper. It was pretty good. See, everything was a splurge :) lol
​Supper: Prosciutto Wrapped Halibut with Roasted Veggies; very yummy.

Had butter again today so we will soon see if butter is back on my can eat list or a no-no for now.
Breakfast: Larabar and orange juice (mixed with water).
Snack: Banana.
Lunch: Leftover Prosciutto Chicken with baked potato and butter, and green peas from the other day.
Snack: Popcorn.
​Supper: Swiss Chalet quarter chicken dinner with rice pilaf and shrimp.

Still following my AIEP and even had a cooked turkey dinner at my parent's today to celebrate my Sister's birthday!
Breakfast: Eggs.
Lunch: Leftover Chicken Soup with Wild Rice from the freezer.
Snack: Larabar.
Supper: Turkey Dinner!!!!!!! A little excited as a cooked turkey dinner by my Mom is one of my favorite meals :) Even though I am following my eating plan for inflammation I still get to eat turkey dinner with a few minor changes. Mom made me gravy using cornstarch instead of flour so now it's gluten-free :) Also, didn't have any dressing, and I love dressing, sigh. Other than that everything else was fine for me to eat. It was all delicious! I also had a tiny piece of birthday cake, not following my guidelines there but I make my choices :)

Decided to try reintroducing butter as my second reintroduction food for this phase of AIEP. I don't think butter will be a problem for me but it is dairy, and I think dairy is a big problem for me, so better to check it and see for sure.
​Breakfast: Leftover Orange Pecan Rice from the other day. Breakfast can be anything, doesn't have to be only typical breakfast type foods.
Lunch: Leftover Glazed Pork with a salad, same as yesterday.
Snack: Larabar.
Supper: Chicken & Prosciutto (Pancetta) recipe with green peas and baked potato with butter. I used prosciutto instead of the pancetta, and used onions instead of leeks. Also used chicken broth instead of white wine. Again, recipes are simply guidelines. Use what you like and what you have on hand :)