Eat Well Be Well

I changed my eating habits five years ago for health reasons, not because I wanted to be thin. Losing more than forty-five pounds was a nice side-effect, but that was not my motivation.

Breakfast

I eat the power porridge above almost every morning, topped with whatever fresh organic fruit I have. Find the recipe here.

I have breakfast a couple of hours after I rise and lunch late in the afternoon on most days. Two small meals a day is enough. I go for a long brisk walk every day that the weather allows. I am very active all day. I rarely sit still for more than an hour without moving around. I sip water throughout the day, and I never ever drink sodas.

Late Lunch/Early Dinner

The picture above exemplifies what I have for a late lunch each day. Start with a bed of organic baby greens. Then, add steamed broccoli, peas, a little baked sweet potato, or any vegetable combination you like. I almost always add about a cup of some type of beans. (If you don't cook your own dried beans, buy the kind with no salt added and organic if you can find them. Rinse well and store extra in the fridge.) Some things need to be baked or cooked to digest them well. For example, I steam broccoli for about three minutes.

The plates I use are about the size of my outstretched hand.

I do not regularly eat bread, croutons, cheese, dressings, or oils. I might have a minimal amount once a week because I enjoy high-quality items. (Processed cheese is not something I ever eat.) I always skip the condiments, which may be high in sugar.

When fresh organic fruits and vegetables are not available in the winter months, I often use frozen organic fruits and vegetables. I especially like sauteed onion, mushrooms, and garlic cooled and added to a large green salad. (Again, you can save extra in the fridge.)

Now, on to the following picture.

Caution!

I bought this snack mix at the health food store to serve with wine to guests. Looks healthy with all those nuts, seeds, and sesame sticks, right?

Wrong!

I don't know what was added because it was bought in bulk by a particular order with no label (not from bins). For a few days, I was guilty of having a handful after each meal with a cup of hot tea as a dessert. After about a week of this bad habit, I had a headache, my joints and muscles ached, my sleep was often interrupted, my mind was very foggy, and my digestive system was wrecked. I felt as if I had been poisoned. I felt almost as bad as I did five years ago when I started this healthy eating journey. I finally realized that the mix pictured above must contain all those ingredients I cannot digest. Within two days of ridding my body of even this small amount of processed food, I am back to my healthy, happy, sleeping, thriving self.

Almost all processed foods contain high fructose corn syrup and preservatives at a minimum and many more chemicals on average. Some say to read the labels, but I avoid buying or eating anything with a brand. Instead, fresh, organic whole food is what I consume most often.

I have seen stock boys reach into bulk bins with dirty hands to steal a few nuts while working. Kids can't resist those that are at their eye level. I only buy bulk items if it is something I will wash or cook before eating.

As with my fashion choices, I keep my food choices clean and straightforward. What I share helps you discover what works best for you.

What do you eat?

Summer means family and friends may be gathering for a potluck meal on the deck or by the lake. Whenever I am asked to bring a dish or plan for a summer event, I always use recipes like the ones shown below.

Cucumber Tomato Salad

Click here for the full recipe.

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Baked Falafel Sandwich

Click here for the full recipe.

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BBQ BAKED BEANS

Click here for the full recipe.

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Vegan Strawberry Ice Cream

Click here for the full recipe.

My friend, Diane Smith, is the writer and recipe developer behind PlantBasedCooking.com. We thought it would be helpful to share a healthy meal for those planning summer gatherings.

I always get lots of questions about what I eat and then more questions about transitioning to a plant-based diet. I am happy to tell you that Diane is preparing a course to help people transition to a plant-based diet. Contact her via her website to sign up for the course.

Diane Smith is the editor and publisher of PlantBasedCooking.com. We have so much in common, but most of all, we are passionate about being our best selves and sharing what we learn with others.

I was in a lot of pain, on medication, in and out of Doctor's offices almost weekly, and could not sleep more than a couple of hours. That was all before I switched to a plant-based diet. 

My back, feet, and legs hurt so much I could only walk short distances, even in flat shoes. Now I can walk pain-free for miles, even in heels!

Before at age 54               After at age 58  

The preservatives, sugar, fat, and salt added to most processed foods caused inflammation, fifty extra pounds, severe migraines every week, and numerous sinus infections. Removing those foods from my life allowed my body to heal and my immune system to thrive. I have not had a cold in five years. There are no more migraines! I take no medications now, and my lab results are those of a twenty-year-old. I feel much better now than I did when I was in my thirties. The only change I made was to a whole food plant-based diet. This is one of the most important things I wish I could share with my younger self.

Flashback

After I stopped eating fast, easy, convenience food from a box, bag, or can and focused on eating whole food plant-based meals; I started losing weight.

2008

I was in a lot of pain when I weighed 183 pounds. That pain came from the arthritis inflammation in my hands, feet, and back, so I was very inactive. I remember thinking this is what it feels like to be old. I believed that was the way my body was going to feel from that point on. I was deeply depressed, and it showed in what I wore and how I carried myself. I gave away all of my heels and bought ugly flat shoes that are supposed to be comfortable. My feet still hurt!

2009

A few days after plants became my only source of food, I started to feel much better. Soon I felt like going for long walks, working in my flower gardens, cleaning my whole house in one day, and anything else I wanted to do. The pain melted away. I was amazed!

My spirits lifted because I felt better than I did when I was in my 30s. I gave all those flat shoes to my mother and started buying shoes and clothes that better reflect my personality. It didn't happen right away, but I found my style chops again after a couple of years. (For some strange reason, I believed those horrible print tops hid my rolls and jiggly bits.)

If we go out to eat now, I order a salad with a side of steamed broccoli or some other vegetable, and I ask them to hold the salt and butter. We will always order the vegetarian entree when there is one offered, and we often visit restaurants because they are vegetarian and share an entree often.

I eat some variation of this for breakfast almost every morning. My late lunch sometimes looks like this.

I get questions almost every day about how I managed to lose weight during those hormone shifting menopausal years.

Honestly, all I did was change my choice of food. There was no radical exercise regime. I didn't take any pills or get on any food to order programs. I still don't take any medications!

The book "Eat to Live" by Dr. Joel Fuhrman gave me guidance on what to eat and explained why. The most important thing to know is that you need a variety of colorful, fresh, organic, local, and in-season vegetables and a few berries. My diet includes leafy greens, and other vegetables, mushrooms, onions, berries, seeds, nuts, and ancient whole grains every day. I eat this way 90% of the time.

I still enjoy a piece of dark chocolate, a glass of wine, or a decadent dessert on occasion but not every day. I also know that only a few bites are enough. I don't need to finish the whole dessert. 

2016

I have maintained my weight loss since 2011. No diet or pills. No gyms or classes. No calorie counting or obsessing about food.

I hope that sharing my example helps you to achieve a happy, healthy body as well.

Why Plants?

About five years ago, I stopped eating meat and processed foods. I lost weight, but that was not my motivation. 

When I visited my doctor for my annual checkup in 2011, she warned me about my fatty liver, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, the nodules on my thyroid, and noted that my gall bladder would have to come out. I had gallstones. 

She wrote prescriptions for three different medications that I would have to take for the rest of my life and made appointments to see two specialists. She was also concerned about my blood sugar since I was now a borderline diabetic. 

The flat shoes I wore that day didn't help. My feet still hurt a lot from inflammation because of arthritis. Just walking into her office was painful. I had seven sinus infections that year. At least two migraines per week (sometimes more) were normal for me during that time.

I read the book "Eat to Live" by Dr. Joel Fuhrman while recovering from gall bladder surgery. Within a week, I started to lose weight and feel better. When I went back to my surgeon for my six-week checkup, I had lost twenty pounds. He was thrilled with my progress!

Later that day, I ran two miles on the path around that same hospital where the gall bladder surgery had been performed a few weeks before. I must say, I felt a little like Rocky when I did that!

Processed foods are deadly for me. I will not buy them. The only things you will find in my pantry and refrigerator are plant-based foods in the most natural and organic state. The changes I made in my food choices made a major difference in my health and the way I feel every day. I no longer take any medications, and my lab results are similar to those of a teenager. My doctors are amazed and motivated by the changes I have made and maintained over the years.

If we eat in a restaurant, as we sometimes do, I will order a salad, a side order of broccoli or some other steamed vegetable, and a glass of wine. I mostly skip the bread and share an occasional dessert when Mr. Mickey wants to have one. Three small bites are enough to fully enjoy it.

This is normally my breakfast.

The photo above shows what my breakfast looks like about 95% of the time. I use fresh fruit that is always changing with the seasons. 

One of my lovely followers shared this with me recently. Emily wrote: "I have suffered from chronic constipation (IBS) for years, and this recipe seems to have reversed this disease. I am very regular with no stomach cramps!!!! PTL!!! Thank you so very much for this wonderful recipe!!!!"

You will find the porridge recipe here when you scroll down to the bottom of the page.

This is normally my late in the day lunch.

A typical late lunch might be steamed veggies over a salad with a baked sweet potato. I often make a meatless chili or vegetable soup for lunch in winter. I use frozen vegetables without any preservatives or salt in my soup. 

Two meals per day are enough for me. If I feel hungry later in the day, I may have a piece of fruit or some hot tea. I sleep much better with an empty stomach.

This might be a different late in the day wintertime lunch.

I drink lots of filtered water with lemon every day. Many digestive issues are a result of not being adequately hydrated. I never drink sodas!

Eating highly nutritious plants, seeds, nuts, dried beans, and grains has allowed me to maintain a healthy weight for several years. This is the first time in my life that I have been able to do that. I have struggled with my chubbiness since I was a child. 

The best part of all this is that my immune system is powerful. I have not had a cold in years!

The many letters I get from readers who thank me for turning them on to a plant-based diet are so special to me. This one came just this week.

"Susan, when I found you on FB, I decided to follow you because you look so fabulous in skinny jeans. I am 64, and since menopause, I have gained a tremendous amount of weight. Anyhow, I wanted to tell you that I too found "Eat to Live" and started a new life on November 16. 

I have lost 25 pounds and have 75 more to go. I will continue to be inspired by you. We are both prolonging our lives. But I have to say what I want to do most right now is look as good as you do in your clothes. 

You are lovely, and I think you ought to talk more about your plant-based diet. It would be a great service. I have inspired two male friends to adopt this way of eating, and they cannot thank me enough! They have lost more weight than I have, and now they think I'm the greatest."

Sharing fashion tips and style inspiration with you is fun, but the most important thing I hope to accomplish with this blog is to encourage you to eat for your best health. Never underestimate the power of plants to help you regain your health.

New Year's Day Meal

New Year’s day means Hopping' John!

Photo and meal by JM Hayes.

Eating Hoppin' John and collard greens ensure prosperity in the new year (the collards represent greenbacks and the black-eyed peas coins, or so they say here in the south).

Hoppin’ John

2 cans no salt added black-eyed peas
1 can no salt added fire-roasted diced tomatoes
½ small onion
2-3 cloves garlic
½ red pepper
½ green pepper
¼ cup celery
1 small zucchini, diced
1 small diced jalapeno (optional)
2 tsp thyme
1 tsp basil

Sauté onion and garlic in a bit of broth or water until soft. Add diced celery peppers and zucchini and continue sautéing in a bit of broth or water until tender. Add black-eyed peas and diced tomatoes—season with thyme and basil to taste. Add jalapeno if you want a bit of a kick. Simmer 20 minutes or longer to let flavors blend.

Serve over whole-wheat couscous or quinoa and alongside collards, kale, or greens of your choice.

The recipe was created and shared with us by Diane Smith.
http://www.plantbasedcooking.com/

Success!

When you send me emails sharing that you have lost weight, your blood tests are better, you can now play with your grandchildren, or you are no longer diabetic, I am reminded why I continue to share my life with you via this blog.

In 2009, I was so uncomfortable at one hundred and eighty-three pounds, I could barely squat down to visit with this hungry little squirrel looking for a handout. Notice how carefully I cropped the picture at that time so as not to show my girth. I was in denial! 

Fast forward to 2012 on another visit to Brevard, North Carolina. My fashion sense and confidence are improving, and I have lost more than forty pounds.

It was easy to slip into the habit of eating mindlessly and then dressing in whatever was stretchy and comfortable every day. I lived this way for a few years, and my health suffered greatly because of it. (Not just my physical health but my mental health as well.) I had so little confidence that I didn't even want to leave my home. I was deeply depressed for several years.

If you have visited my blog before today, you know that I now have lots of wonderful friends, loads of confidence, and a fun-filled life that I could not even imagine ten years ago. Being healthy, both physically and mentally, has allowed me to fully enjoy life and overcome the depression that dominated my life for several years. 

Sharing fashion tips and style inspiration is a fun part of publishing this blog. I like everything in my closet now, and getting dressed for any occasion is a snap. My style has evolved as I research and share with you what I learn. Dressing this almost sixty-year-old body with style and grace is an entirely different project than dressing my thirty-year-old one. I firmly believe that the most important thing I share with you is the inspiration to learn to eat to properly fuel your body for your best health.

I will continue to share what works well for me and use myself as an example. I hope that you will also be inspired to find what works well for your body and that you can start to enjoy better health and more joy-filled life.

At the link below is a new hearty soup recipe I recently found. I added it to my collection of basics and enjoyed this one as my late day meal. I often add frozen or fresh vegetables near the end of the cooking time. The grain farro is a wonderful substitute for pasta. (I soak the farro along with the dried beans.) I also experiment with the ingredients and spices to add variety and new flavors according to what looks good at the grocery store on the day I visit.

The Melis Family Minestrone

Basic Makeup Techniques

Have you changed your makeup technique over the years? The correct placement of light and dark colors and shimmer or matte finishes can make you look vibrant, healthy, and youthful.

However, the incorrect placement of shimmer can make you look less than your best. I remember putting shimmer on the brow bone under my eyebrows in 1974. I am careful never to do that now because it emphasizes the puffy upper part of my eyelid. If you have a hooded eyelid, you will certainly want to avoid shimmer on the hood because it will make it look more prominent.

Always remember this while you are putting on makeup, light advances, and dark recedes.

You can see more closely in the photos above where I apply shimmer and dark shadow near the outer corner of my eyes for an evening makeup look. I wear a much more natural look for daytime, so it wouldn't even show up that much in a photo.

Notice that I do not add any color or mascara underneath my eyes. That always makes me look harsh, so I skip all that.

I do all the eye makeup first so that it doesn't flake on my foundation.

The video below includes my tips for making up the whole face from start to finish for a light-handed, easy-to-do daytime look.

How To Cruise Without Gaining Weight

Mr. Mickey and I are off on another fun-filled weekend getaway, so I asked my friend, Donna Hull, to share more cruise/vacation tips with you today. 

(Note: her tips work for me every day!)

Don’t Gain Weight on Your Next Cruise.

On January 4, 2015, I boarded a cruise ship for the 64-day journey of a lifetime. After months of healthy eating and plenty of exercise, I stepped onto that ship looking and feeling good. At the end of the voyage, I stepped off a ship that served gourmet food and endless pours of wine and champagne; having gained less than 5 lbs, and I still looked and felt good. How did I do that? 

A big thumbs up as I arrive on Silver Spirit. I made my weight loss goal with exercise and healthy eating.
 Now to keep up those good habits on the cruise.

First of all, let me clarify—it’s not about the weight. The main focus should always be on your health. But being able to fit into clothes at the end of the cruise is definitely a bonus. And staying slim while having fun is a double bonus. My healthy cruise strategy allows for both, and I’m happy to share it with you.

Develop a plan of action

Celebrate your health by bringing the exercise habits and sensible eating you practice at home along on the cruise. Do not follow the thinking: “This is my vacation, so I can eat anything I want.” Splurging occasionally is fine; overindulging on a nightly basis is not.

Create an emergency plan of action. If you splurge one night—and you will—know which measures you’ll take the next day to offset that splurge. Don’t wait until the cruise is over!

Pack a tape measure to record measurements every three days. As soon as you notice creep up, double down on self-control, eating habits, and exercise.

Print out a list of positive affirmations that inspire you. Tuck them into your purse. When temptation strikes, read an affirmation from the list before giving in. One of my favorites: “I feel and look great when I’m eating healthy.”

A hiking excursion in Dunedin, New Zealand, is a great way to work off calories and have fun!

Stay active

• Vow to use the stairs for the entire cruise

• Locate the gym and use it

• Take a fitness class

• Practice a water aerobics routine in the pool or swim laps

• Walk the outdoor track

• Walk the outdoor track for 3 laps after each meal (or at least breakfast and lunch)

• Book the most active shore excursions available

• Dance the night away

• Wear a step-counting device. Don’t go to bed until you’ve reached 10,000 steps. Hint: dancing will really up the step count, so boogie down. 

Eat (and drink) smart.

Frequent the buffet for breakfast. You probably won’t find Susan’s power porridge, but there are enough fruit, nut, and grain selections to create a cold version. Many cruise lines also offer protein smoothies.

Revisit the buffet at lunch. You’ll find plenty of ingredients for salads or fill your plate with fruit and hard cheeses. On my cruise, I preferred the small desserts at lunch to the ones served at dinner. I enjoyed a couple of bites and then walked off the calories in the afternoon.

Turn down appetizers in the lounge in favor of a bowl of nuts. Bonus points if they’re unsalted.

Fill your stomach with lots of water before starting an evening of drinking and dining. And I substitute club soda, and cranberry or pomegranate juice served in a champagne flute for my first evening drink. It’s fizzy and looks pretty in the glass.

Think of dinner as an event. Focus on the ambiance, conversation, and dinner companions rather than the food.

Ask for small portions or a half plate at dinner. And skip the bread and starches.

Choose low sodium options whenever possible. My experience is that cruise lines over salt their foods.

Take advantage of the plentiful seafood offerings usually found on ships but ask for sauces to be placed on the side of the plate.

Savor your glass of wine and decline second pours.

Enjoy dessert but stop at 3 bites. Did you know that after 3 bites, your taste buds have been satisfied?

Substitute a decaf skinny latte—a green tea skinny latte is even better—for dessert or order from the low cal dessert menu. Yes, ships have them.

No drinking alcohol after dinner. Sip water instead.

Listen to your body. Suddenly switching from a lean, healthy diet too rich foods filled with fat and calories leads to health problems. Indigestion, heartburn, constipation, headaches, lethargy, and sleeplessness are signs of immediately getting back on the healthy eating train.

Swimming with stingrays in Moorea is my absolute favorite cruise excursion. I giggle every time they bump into me. It’s another fun way to stay active and work off calories.

Final tip: Once you let your guard down, it’s easy to overindulge. Concentrate on fun rather than food and drink, and you’ll return home a healthy cruiser. That’s how I did it. You can, too.

Donna L. Hull writes about active travel for baby boomers at My Itchy Travel Feet, The Baby Boomer’s Guide to Travel. This cruise lover has spent over 300 nights at sea.

Weekend Brunch

We always enjoy having brunch on the weekend.

The brunch in the Dining Room at the Inn on Biltmore Estate is fabulous!

The turquoise and amethyst stone necklace from Chico's goes well with my turquoise Sam Edelman shoes, so I wore them together again on Saturday morning. The royal blue cold shoulder top is from Clara Sunwoo via My Fair Lady. The pants are Travelers from Chico's.

There were so many beautiful flowers throughout the Inn, including a fresh rose on every table.

That's the Biltmore House off in the distance. 

We love being on the estate!

I get many emails each week asking how to eat out so often and not gain the weight back. The truth is, I do gain a few pounds when I indulge on these short trips. However, that being said, it is now Wednesday, and I am back down to 142 pounds. 

I taste all the foods that I want to try, but I eat only a small portion of each. I am never on a diet. My lifestyle is one of balance and pleasure. I thoroughly enjoy whatever I want to have in small quantities, and I am always mindful that food is fuel, not entertainment. I did have a croissant, a decadent dessert, and some lobster with pasta on this trip. After an occasional splurge, I return to eating some fresh fruit, lots of vegetables, whole grains, and raw unsalted nuts.

Meet Janet M. Hayes

I will be spending a lot of time ordering products and preparing my warehouse for the busy fall season this week. In my absence from the blog for a few days, friends will be sharing some interesting tips with you. Enjoy!

I was so inspired by a letter from Fifty, not Frumpy follower, Janet M. Hayes. She is a 52-year-old finance professional living with her husband and her elderly mother in Omaha, Nebraska. She is a CPA currently employed at West Corporation as a Senior Vice President and Assistant Treasurer.

  

She loves to provide healthy meals for her family of three and included some pictures of meals from the past couple of weekends and her trip to the farmers’ market.  She tells me that she has very high energy, which she attributes to healthy cooking, including everything from scratch and very low sodium.  

She spends time on the weekend planning and preparing meals so that she can still come home after a long day at the office and provide a healthy meal for her family. 

Cauliflower “Potato” Salad

I large cauliflower steamed and chopped

2 large celery stalks, diced

1 small red onion, diced

2-3 hardboiled eggs, peeled and chopped

1 cup Greek Yogurt

2 tablespoon Olive Oil based Mayonnaise

2 tablespoon Low sodium sweet pickles, chopped or pickle relish

1 tablespoon yellow mustard

salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste (optional)

paprika and parsley, for garnish

Steam Cauliflower for approximately 7 minutes (can steam in the microwave with a bit of water). Do not overcook. Cool to room temperatures and add remaining ingredients.  Chill for several hours to allow flavors to absorb. Garnish with paprika and parsley and serve just as you would potato salad

Oven Roasted Beets with Feta and Walnuts

Heat oven to 400.  Wash beets well and wrap in foil (easy clean up too)

Cook, undisturbed, for at least 45 minutes (it could take much longer for larger size beets), until a thin-bladed knife pierces one with little resistance. Beets may cook at different rates; remove each when it is done.

Allow cooling.  Slice or quarter depending on size.

When ready to serve, splash with a good amount of Organic Balsamic Vinegar, toasted English Walnuts, fresh Rosemary, chopped and crumbled Feta Cheese.

Stuffed Bell Peppers

4 green bell peppers, tops removed, seeded, and halved

1 pound ground turkey

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 tbsp. chili powder

1 tbsp. ground cumin

1/2 onion, chopped

1 cup sliced mushrooms 

1/2 red bell pepper, chopped

1/2 yellow bell pepper, chopped 

1 cup fresh spinach

2 Cans No salt added Diced Tomatoes 

1 Jalapeno, cored, seeds removed (if you like mild salsa, only use ½ jalapeno)

½ yellow onion

1 cup cilantro 

2 garlic clove

1 tsp salt (optional)

1 cup cheddar, Monterey, or other cheese (optional)

Drizzle the peppers with 1 tablespoon of olive oil and roast in the oven at 375°F for 15 to 20 minutes until they start to soften.

Meanwhile, heat the remaining 1 tablespoon of the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.  Cook the turkey until no longer pink and add the remaining ingredients except cheese, cooking until the vegetables are tender.  Fill the peppers with the meat mixture, top with cheese, and place in the oven until the cheese is melted and warmed through.

Garnish with sliced avocados, Greek yogurt, and cilantro

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Janet ran her first half marathon at age fifty and her second at age 51 and is looking forward to many more. She spent her 50th birthday running and working out with her husband, celebrating their health.  

She included some photos of that day and the fun she had with a hula hoop showing off that she could still perform high kicks from her days as a professional cheerleader.

Most of Janet's professional wardrobe is from Ann Taylor and Talbots.  She wears suits to work every day and loves to be fashionable. Her weekend look is very stylish also!

Janet supports my efforts with this blog and would like to help to promote the message of good health also.  She would like women our age to know that they can enjoy good food and good company while making healthy choices that will contribute to their vitality and help them enjoy life more.

I hope Janet's message inspires all of us to start enjoying an active and healthy life.

What Do You Eat?

That question comes my way so often, I decided to share more information about nutrition with you today.

The items I am wearing here are all from Chico's, including the necklace.

The Cynthia Rowley shoes were old from Belk last year.

I was also unsure what to eat before reading the book "Eat to Live" by Doctor Joel Fuhrman. After I started making better choices at every meal, it took me about six months to lose forty pounds. Better health was my goal, but weight loss was certainly a plus.

I drink more than a gallon of filtered water each day. Sometimes I add lemon, lime, or cucumber.

Breakfast is usually this hot cereal recipe, topped with whatever fresh fruits are in season.

I try to eat all these items daily.

At least an ounce of raw seeds and nuts.

At least three fresh fruits.

A large bowl of green salad.

A large serving of steamed greens.

A cup of dried beans cooked in water only. (Add the spices and herbs of your choice afterward.)

I also eat tomatoes, peppers, onions, mushrooms, herbs, and garlic on most days.

I normally have only two meals a day. If I am very active on certain days, I will have another salad or some fruit or some raw almonds later in the day. I eat breakfast at about 6 every morning. My lunchtime is around 2 on most days.

It is important to let your body rest by sleeping well for about seven or eight hours and not eating all the time. If you graze or snack often, your body is constantly working to digest food.

I take a brisk walk around my neighborhood each morning for about three miles. I move around a lot during the day as well. I do not watch TV but rather read a book to unwind before bed.

 

Never eat in front of any kind of screen! You will likely eat a lot more than you think you have. Use your good china and set a place for yourself. Enjoy your food and take your time eating it. Stop to chew well and breath deeply as you eat. 

In the photos above, Mr. Mickey and I are on our way to dinner. We eat out a couple of times each week. I normally order a salad with dressing on the side, a glass of wine, and if I am starving, once a week, I will have a fish entrée such as grilled wild-caught salmon with vegetables. We sometimes also share a dessert.

Casual Bohemian

When I was a teenager, this was very much my signature look. However, my jeans were low rise bell bottoms. (Don't laugh!)

This beautifully embroidered linen and rayon top was sent to me by J.Jill. It is so much cooler than a knit top!

The jeans are slim ankle jeans from Chico's. The shoes are old by Anne Klein Sport via T.J.Maxx. The bracelet was a gift from my friend Lois.

This was our late lunch on this casual lazy day. This sandwich includes Rudis organic ancient grain bread with some veganaise, sprinkled with garlic powder, organic lettuce, heirloom tomato, avocado slices, balsamic vinegar, and a tiny drizzle of olive oil. The wine is Apothic Red.

While I am showing you a look that was one I wore in my youth, I was not this slim when I was sixteen. When I was a Junior in high school, I weighed about twenty pounds more than I do today. My weight was never consistent until about five years ago, when I switched to a mostly plant-based diet. I read the book "Eat To Live" by Dr. Fuhrman, which taught me what to eat and why. My weight has remained about the same since I lost more than forty pounds at that time. This is a life-long record!