Food | BulgingButtons

August 6, 2013
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The Perils of Fruit

So I’m trying to make better food choices as part of my 47 for 47 challenge, and as a result I’ve been trying to eat more fruit. When I was visiting my mom it was easy. Every morning a plate of delicious cut fruit magically appeared on the breakfast table. While visiting I counted no fewer than ten types of fruit in the house at all times. There were juicy grapes, sweet pineapple, succulent peaches, crisp apples, delicious berries of several varieties, and more. It was fantastic. When I got home I resolved to continue my fruit eating ways. A trip to the store later, and there were several types at my house. Funny thing though, they just weren’t as good. The grapes tasted sour, the strawberries lacked any flavor at all, and the nectarines were crunchy. Nectarines are not supposed to be crunchy. I didn’t give up, though. I keep buying fruit, and sometimes even eat it. The cantaloupe in the fridge right now is wonderful. I’m told I’m too picky about fruit, and that it’s supposed to taste like that. I disagree. Fruit can be one of nature’s most wonderful delights, or it can be a revolting mouthful of sour mush. I’ll keep trying, but some fruit is just not that good. I wish my mom and her grocery store were here to help.

July 15, 2013
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Oh the Joy!

It’s good to be home. I loved being on vacation and spending time with friends and family, but I’m happy to be back in my own house with my sweeties. I kept itching to write while I was away, but didn’t have the resources to pull it off. Oh sure, I could have used a pen and paper, but what fun would THAT have been? No, I wanted, but didn’t have, internet. But oddly, being disconnected (aside from the Facebook feed on my phone) was a good thing.

While I was gone I made good on my vow to have a fun, active vacation. I was playing soccer with the kids, taking long walks (and some short ones), and working out in the pool. I also found and purchased my pink boxing gloves. I LOVE them. I’m not entirely sure what to do with them yet, but just wearing them and jabbing at my teenager’s palms (making him laugh) was enough to have me hooked. I also got outfitted with a slick new pair of sneakers, so naturally I want to use them.

My vacation saw me down six pounds in spite of having every delicious thing I wanted. Yay, me! Now I have to take that attitude back to everyday life. My keys were fruit for breakfast, trying to be active everyday (I missed two days and felt like a slug), and eating what I enjoy, just less of it. So far, so good.

July 3, 2013
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Vacation Victory or Victim?

Ah Summer. That time of year when many of us make an annual (or semi-annual, or occasional) pilgrimage back to wherever it is that we came from. I’m no different. I live in a place that is approximately 18 degrees cooler than hell in the summertime, so I do my best to escape the heat and head out of town for at least a week or so each summer. Well, my annual trek is coming up, so I’ve been doing some reflecting. You see, I come from a place of good food. Wonderful food, really. In fact my Facebook feed is full of hometown food every summer, placed there by my compatriots who have likewise made their annual trek and posted pictures of all the delicious things we grew up eating. It’s enough to make my mouth water on any given summer day. We all do it. We go home and we hit all the “hot spots” food wise. Maybe it’s the nostalgia, maybe it’s the feeling of comfort, maybe it’s the idea that we might never be there again. I don’t know what it is, but it’s a little bit crazy.

This time I want it to be different. If I want some of that creamy custard at the little stand down by the river, fine, but this time I’d like to take a long walk along the river first. If I want the wine and hors d’oerves at my friend’s pool party (and I do, I really really do), I’ll have to swim a few laps first. And maybe walk there. And maybe take a cab home. I’m escaping the heat to a place where it’s generally wonderful in the summer. Walks, bike rides, swimming, and tennis at the high school (my high school) are all available to me every day. I just need to reframe my idea of vacation from a non-stop feeding frenzy to an outdoor activity buffet. This should be easy to do, since I’ll have my son and my mom there, both of whom will do those activities with me. I know I can do this. Now let’s hope it doesn’t rain!