Sunday, March 16, 2008

The Salad Days

I've been trying to eat better (not less, never that), adding fruits and vegetables more frequently. Fruit with breakfast - and as snacks during the day. I've just finished all of the cantalope and must buy some more. A fresh pineapple sits on the counter; the scent is beyond delicious. And bananas...after an email Robin sent me about the benefits of bananas, I bought a bunch, determined to eat them and not just save them for banana bread.

Bananas are beneficial for depression, heartburn, hangovers, SAD, stress, prevention of strokes--among other things. Wow! I had no idea. My medical knowledge of bananas was limited to the fact that bananas (high in potassium) are useful for people who have leg cramps. I found a version of the email here (and who knew that bananas beat apples in protein, vitamins, & iron).

My favorite salad is spinach with whatever else is available. In yesterday's version: mushrooms, broccoli, avocado, tomato, green onion, hard-boiled egg, olives, and lots of pepper. The dressing is just an olive oil and vinegar dressing. And two pieces of toasted French bread. Now, I have no idea how many calories are involved (and don't want to know) because this meal has lots of greens, is quite filling, and counting calories depresses me. My current goal is to simply increase the fruits and vegetables. That is enough of a challenge.

7 comments:

  1. What a beautiful salad! I love a salad with craisins or apples, walnuts or pecans, and blue or feta cheese, too...and I try to have it as often as possible!=-) Bananas are definitely the wonder food...and I love them, thank goodness!

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  2. Good looking salad! I try to eat fruits and vegetables too, but it's tough sometimes. Oranges are my favorite, actually, and it's still a good time of year for them.

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  3. Debby - I love nuts and feta cheese in salads, too! I was surprised at all of the benefits bananas provide--they really are the wonder food.

    Kay - The diet I was looking at recommended 4-5 servings of vegetables per day and the same for fruit! That is definitely more than I was getting. Or am getting, come to that. Mmmmm, my favorite Chinese restaurant always serves orange slices at the end of the meal...maybe I should try that!

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  4. have been eating bananas to (hopefully) help my leg heal but I had no idea their list of healing uses was so extensive!

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  5. Acey -- Hope the bananas are helping! Their healing properties are surprising and worth the effort of keeping them on hand.

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  6. Yummy salad!
    I try to add as much color and variety as I can to a meal while trying to most of the shopping at the Co-op.

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  7. Kim - we don't have a local Co-op, but at least the groceries stores are making an effort to label things that are locally grown. The Farmer's Market should be opening again soon, though, which is much more fun than the grocery stores.

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Good to hear from you!