Today marks the end of my second full week without sugar. I can honestly say I don’t really miss it. I don’t crave it and I like the steady energy I feel without it coursing through my veins. It sounds dramatic to say “coursing through my veins” as if it’s an illegal drug or something. But in my opinion, it is like a drug! The more of it you eat, the more you want, and the more addicted you become. It gives you a “high” and then you crash. It can ruin your health. It can rot your teeth. It’s a slippery slope.
(Climbing down from my soapbox…)
Breakfast, by request from my kids, was pancakes. I love sending them off to school having eaten a warm, nutritious meal. I know they’ll be able to think clearly and make it to snack time without feeling hungry.
For lunch I used up the remaining half of my canned salmon in an omelet with arugula and spinach, with a side of the Creamy Cucumber Salad from yesterday.
Dinner looks complicated, but it wasn’t at all, and there was very little mess to clean up. I modified the Bacon-Wrapped Smoky Chicken Thighs from the book Practical Paleo using pork tenderloin instead of chicken.
With a sharp knife, I removed the tough silver skin from the tenderloin.
Next, I sprinkled the Smoky Spice Blend onto the pork.
Then, I placed the pork on a bed of bacon (atop a rack sitting on a foil-lined jellyroll pan, to catch the grease and for easy clean-up).
I wrapped the bacon around the pork in a sort of braid.
I peeled and sliced carrots and parsnips on a Silpat, drizzled olive oil on top, added whole, unpeeled cloves of garlic, fresh rosemary sprigs, and sprinkled it with salt and pepper.
I put the pork and veggies in a preheated, 375 degree oven, for 40 minutes.
Meanwhile, I opened a bag of broccoli and drizzled olive oil over the top with salt and pepper. This went in the toaster oven during the last 15 minutes the pork and root vegetables were in the oven.
I used an instant read thermometer to be sure the pork was cooked through.
And voila!
I love preparing simple meals where I can cook at least a couple of things in the oven at the same time. This meal took little time to prep and there are leftovers for tomorrow’s lunch boxes.
One more week! I think I’ve got this!
Nourish Portland 