I recently re-subscribed to the Nutrition Action Healthletter. To thank me, they sent me a nifty little booklet with a rating system for fruits and veggies, and a few other foods. Interesting. Guess what vegetable was at the top of their list (rating fiber, potassium, vitamin C, Lutein, and vitamin K.) Kale! I gotta try that stuff again! Spinach was right below it, and guess what! Canned pumpkin was way up there at the top of the list! Romaine lettuce had a surprisingly high score–above butternut squash and tomatoes and asparagus. And believe it or not, a potato with skin was above my beloved beets!
Then on the fruit list, guava was far and away the highest scorer (scoring fiber, folate, potassium, vitamin C, and carotenoids.) Never had one. Guess which one was second. Watermelon! Wow. I be eating a little more watermelon this summer. Plus, it only has 80 calories per two cups diced. Orange, strawberries, mango (my latest love) and pineapple were all high on the list. They were all above the mighty apple. Hmmm. Oh, and blueberries were farther down the list. Raspberries and blackberries had a considerable higher score than blueberries. All this just served to remind me to stock up on a variety of fruits and vegetables, and to try to get more of them into my daily food choices, especially the vegetables.
About the same time I checked Georgie’s blog, and she had a most excellent article on ‘losing weight on a vegetarian diet.‘ But it was just a very balanced overall view of the best way to eat. And she had that reminder in there to have fruits and vegetables filling half your plate! Well, I’m not there yet. But I’m trying. This week I’ve had apple, orange, mango, strawberries, and pear. On the veggie side, I’ve had green beans, asparagus, artichoke, brussel sprouts, beets, romaine lettuce, tomatoes, and carrots.
On to other stuff. Well, truth is, not much other stuff to report. I’ve had a very uneven week of eating, starting with the ‘super bowl of dog shows’ last week. One day, I eat just ‘perfect,’ and the next I overeat a bit. I do not like it when I overeat. Sunday I took a quick trip to the bay area to visit my mom. And of course I ate too much. But that I expect. I did visit a farmer’s market, and paid $6/pound(???) for some brussel sprouts. Good grief people. Good luck on that farm. Personally, I do not think that is sustainable. They were good though. Of course, the trouble with farmer’s markets is THE OTHER STUFF. I also got a giant chocolate chip cookie, and some kettle corn, which I shared with my mom.
On to good news. I am continuing to be very consistently active. I am very happy with that. Getting to the gym 3X/week to work out on the weights, and if there is time, I do a little bit on the stationary bike. Working out consistently, I have been able to increase some of the weights I am using.
The other day I was grousing about how I had overeaten the day before, and that famous line from “City Slickers” came back to me–“today is a do over.” I don’t have to get stuck in that mode of overeating and making poor choices. I can just start from today and get it right. I think that is a key to continuing on a healthy life of good food and exercise. It made me feel better, anyway.
I have been doing a lot of quilting, and having fun blogging about it. I’ve also been knitting more than usual, thanks to Shelley’s inspiration!
And now, I have to get a going, because it is ‘sewing day,’ and I am going to stop at the gym before I head over to join my friends for a day of sewing and quilting together.
debby weighs in 
I have to say that even as much as I like veggies, eating Paleo has made me consume even more of them as they are my main source of carbs. I still don’t eat very much fruit, usually only 1 serving a day, but I guess that’s ok, right?
Glad to hear you are keeping your fitness up. It’s important!
I was just thinking this morning as I was packing my lunch for the day, “I have 4 fruits in here, but no veggies – that’s a little unbalanced!!” I really am so bad at eating enough veggies.
Good idea on hitting the gym first before sewing day – especially since you aren’t bringing the food this time!
Ha! You know the routine well. I did okay today. Had one scone and 1/2 piece of bread. Brought my own cottage cheese combo.
Glad to hear that watermelon is so high on the list, as I think I could eat my weight in watermelon on a weekly basis! Interesting that the almighty blueberry wasn’t rated as high as so many other fruits – you are right, eating a variety is where it’s at. Of course, I am NOT doing well on eating fruit, which is weird for me, but honestly, knitting is taking up my “eating” time. You’d think I would be a beanpole by now but sadly, that is not the case.
So knitting – how can you talk about it without showing what you’re working on? Curious minds, you know. 😉
knitting–Yes, I need to show it, because I really like it–just a scarf, but came out very nice. Considering I started it probably 4 years ago, and then I left it out on the back deck for half the winter!
Oh how I wish the ‘busy hands’ thing would work for me to lose weight. but sadly, I have no problem putting down my knitting or quilting for a few minutes to get a snack in.
I’ve always been pretty good with the veggies and never had ANY problem eating a wide variety of fruit. Some of those selections on the list were interesting.
Hooray for canned pumpkin! One of my favorite veggies. I really have trouble with getting veggies in. I am better, but still stuck in my rut that I like. Better to eat just a few kinds than none at all, I guess.
Fruit- no problem. John calls me the fruit hoover, which is an unattractive visual image.
So glad you are being active and liking it! Think about how you thought of exercise years ago.
haha, I thought of you when I saw canned pumpkin on the list. Aren’t you pleased that it is considered a vegetable? Come to think of it, that is probably the easiest way for me to get a vegetable at breakfast. Must take advantage of that!
Fruit hoover and ‘unattractive visual image’ both are very funny.
Yes, I am happy with this ‘new’ active. It only took me what? six years to decide I LIKED it?
I love fruit, but then I’m a diabetic with a sweet tooth..of course, i love it. I would eat my latest concoction anytime –cabbage slaw mixed with nuts and cutup fruit and just a little orange or pineapple juice. I’ll admit I mixed it up with some left over cranberry sauce and it was especially good. …. but it was the sugar that made it so. Sweet potatoes are supposed to be really good for you too, but I consider those carbs. If I have really tasty veggies I can eat them . The challenge is to get them really tastey.
Ooh, I like the fruity cabbage slaw idea. Another way to get some veggies in.
oh, something i read in a meditation book today that I don’t think I’d heard but it resonated for me.
” do your best, let God do the rest”
Love that quote. Need to print it out and put it on my fridge. My problem, though, is that I will start obsessing “am I doing my best?”
I just pulled this kale recipe to try! http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/recipefinder/kale-salad-recipe-ghk0312 It may have to wait for a while though, I’m working my way through a pantry/freezer eat-down first. Last night I put brown rice in the rice cooker with a brick of old frozen spinach, some minced onions and salt / pepper. It turned out surprisingly well, but I do have low standards when I’m in eat-down mode instead of follow-a-recipe mode. 😉
That is a fascinating recipe! Must try. Especially with the dates in there–yumm.
LOL at your eat-down mode. I actually like the spinach/rice combo too.