1. < Just Want to Talk

Recipes, Food Tips, Healthy Eating & More

Posted by Debbra Williams, Alumna Mentor @debbraw, Feb 22, 2019

Some of the members of the Gratitude Discussion Group were interested in having a place to share recipes and food ideas. I’m hoping that we can use this thread as a place to have that kind of discussion. I’d love to hear your ideas for quick meals, comfort food, healthy snacks, and more.

Personally, I’ve just been through a bad reaction to one of my medications that left me with a very queasy stomach. I would love to hear ideas – or recipes – that might be used when you need to get something on your stomach, but don’t want to overdo it.

Hopefully, this thread will even be a place where we can share recipes for special treats and yummy rewards. It doesn’t always have to be healthy!

I’d love to hear from members who have been part of other discussions AND from new members who have good ideas, recipes and food tips to share. I’m excited to see who might start us off here with an awesome food suggestion!

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Just Want to Talk Support Group.

imallears | @imallears | Mar 5, 2021
In reply to @parus "I have mostly gone gluten and processed sugar free-especially the white sugar as well as dairy..." + (show)
@parus

I have mostly gone gluten and processed sugar free-especially the white sugar as well as dairy I have even started making my own oat flour and using molasses, maple syrup and honey in baking. I have become a creative cook and with all of the information available at my fingertips now I am having fun with experimenting. I still enjoy bread baking but only do so to give to others. Kneading dough is a good way to work off stress. Fast food and carry out has not ever been appealing to me. My crock pot has become my best friend. When I bake treats I use maple syrup or honey and have found others don't seem to mind.
Living alone helps as I need only please myself. A platter of fruit is a snack for the grandson when he comes. This grandma does not have a cookie jar or candy dish. Processed sugar now tastes bitter.
I am not diabetic but have learned that what I eat does affect the chronic pain and depression. Part of my pain management regimen is eating as healthy as I can.
@imallears I do agree with we are what we eat!! I know it is difficult for the younger ones that are working and fast food/carry out has become a way of life for many because of the hurried pace society has inflicted upon us. Also difficult for the shut-ins and the ones relying on meals on wheels etc. Easy for me to do so as I am only feeding and caring for myself. When I think of myself as selfish I remind myself the best gift I can give my adult children is to stay as healthy as I can so as not to add to the pressures of their busy lives.
Once again, I am dismounting soapbox.

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@parus
Very true words. Here in my area we are lucky to have many gluten free and healthy options in our supermarkets for ready to go meals notably Sprouts and Whole Foods and Publix which has added more variety. We have also a good variety of small restaurants with farm to table options. Eating organic can be expensive for a family and it takes a little research to know when and when not to buy organic. I get the best grass fed ribeye and organic chicken at Aldi at very reasonable prices. But then I am cooking for one also and I cut two ribeye into 4 portions for about $16. My daughter also buys organic and subscribes to Butcher Box because they can do that. She also has every cookbook under the sun and loves to read about the impact of food and what goes on behind the scene .
My son and daughter in law tend to eat more vegan....my son is the one who loves to grocery shop especially in speciality stores and he loves to cook.
I blame the supermarkets in general for the immense variety of “crap” that is sold. Do we really need an entire aisle full of cereal?
Supermarkets will stock what people buy and if you live in a more affluent area the choices are better because the customers are generally younger, educated and health conscious.
It is such a struggle for some families to stretch good food on a limited income and too easy to give in to the cheap nasty stuff that parades as food when you can feed an entire family on the not so good for you food at a significantly lower cost.

FL Mary.

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Leonard | @jakedduck1 | Mar 5, 2021
In reply to @imallears "@contentandwell “Chocolate is definitely a necessity of life for me. I love the very dark chocolate.......good..." + (show)
@imallears

@contentandwell
“Chocolate is definitely a necessity of life for me. I love the very dark chocolate.......good for my heart....high quality...”
Finally.....a voice of sanity in the wilderness ..amen!

Dark Chocolate loving FL Mary

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@imallears
I believe you mentioned something to the effect that “we are what we eat”
considering some of the stuff you’ve devoured I'm not so sure that's such a good thing.
Jake

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1 reply
JK | @contentandwell | Mar 5, 2021
In reply to @imallears "@contentandwell “Chocolate is definitely a necessity of life for me. I love the very dark chocolate.......good..." + (show)
@imallears

@contentandwell
“Chocolate is definitely a necessity of life for me. I love the very dark chocolate.......good for my heart....high quality...”
Finally.....a voice of sanity in the wilderness ..amen!

Dark Chocolate loving FL Mary

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@imallears The bar I currently have in my little china box is 95%. It's a Taza, I love them.
JK

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1 reply
imallears | @imallears | Mar 5, 2021
In reply to @contentandwell "@imallears The bar I currently have in my little china box is 95%. It's a Taza,..." + (show)
@contentandwell

@imallears The bar I currently have in my little china box is 95%. It's a Taza, I love them.
JK

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@contentandwell
Taza bars are what I call Wicked Dark...just a tad too dark for me. I think around 80% is more to my taste. @jakedduck1 would be horrified.

FL Mary

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4 replies
imallears | @imallears | Mar 5, 2021
In reply to @jakedduck1 "@imallears I believe you mentioned something to the effect that “we are what we eat” considering..." + (show)
@jakedduck1

@imallears
I believe you mentioned something to the effect that “we are what we eat”
considering some of the stuff you’ve devoured I'm not so sure that's such a good thing.
Jake

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@jakedduck1
I think you are referring to my love of grilled octopus. Last I looked I didn’t have 8 legs. So you don’t like anchovies or sardines or sushi of any kind? All that fish I eat hasn’t made me a better swimmer......but boy can I dance!

FL Mary

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1 reply
Leonard | @jakedduck1 | Mar 5, 2021
In reply to @imallears "@contentandwell Taza bars are what I call Wicked Dark...just a tad too dark for me. I..." + (show)
@imallears

@contentandwell
Taza bars are what I call Wicked Dark...just a tad too dark for me. I think around 80% is more to my taste. @jakedduck1 would be horrified.

FL Mary

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@imallears
Yep, horrified indeed. When I read 95% I almost gagged but I found comfort in some luscious silky smooth creamy textured milk chocolate as it melted between my fingers not to mention the tantalizing sweet aroma. Of course the taste is Heaven on earth. Followed by a few girl scout cookies. Compared to the stinky, rough, sandpaper texture and the horrific bitter taste of dark chocolate.
I’m convinced you so-called dark chocolate lovers don’t really like it that well you just eat it because of the so-called health benefits.
Bon appétit,
Jake

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1 reply
avmcbellar | @avmcbellar | Mar 5, 2021
In reply to @fiesty76 "@gingerw, Thanks for posting this link and for posing the question of how nutritional eating affects..." + (show)
@fiesty76

@gingerw, Thanks for posting this link and for posing the question of how nutritional eating affects us. Until diagnosed with pre-diabetes and kidney disease, the word "diet" had never been a part of my vocab. Maintaining a slender frame and stable weight most of my adult life, I ate whatever appealed at the moment. Those diagnoses coming close together, along with an unwanted large wt loss really changed my approach to food.

Suddenly, my changed circumstances brought foods and meal planning a high priority. Help from a dietitian, who provided a combined diabetes & CKD meal plan, incredibly shortened and simplified the time and effort I'd been spending printing out lists of recommended and to avoid foods for each condition.

I became interested in preparing new, recipes and greatly reduced carry-out and restaurant trips. Fortunately, I'd already adopted this healthier food style before Covid so was already spending a far greater amount of time in the kitchen. By greatly restricting red meats in favor of more veggie protein foods, adopting a more Mediterrean diet and following the meal guidance given by the dietitian, I was able to improve my kidney scores and move A1c "pre-diabetes" lab scores back to "normal" range. I became friends with a wider range of veggies, used and liked new seasonings and became a true advocate of "we are what we eat". Smiles!

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Hi @fiesty76 congratulations to you and to all who made dietary changes for the better. It takes a lot of willpower and commitment. I have come across a video which may be of interest regarding the seed oils in our diets throughout the years. Dr. Chris Knobbe is the speaker. The so called “bad” vegetable oils are difficult to omit in our diets because they are in most of our foods found in our grocery stores. Those oils are cheaper for the food manufactures. I have always used olive oil, a good oil in my cooking, but yesterday I was amazed to find how many foods contained the “bad” vegetable oils. They are everywhere. For years, like you, I made my own foods and only went out occasionally to a restaurant as a treat. I am sure the oils can be found in many restaurant foods too. I make my own foods for better control of ingredients. Now I will be more careful with my food selections. I will follow Dr. Knobbe’s advice to see if avoiding those “bad” vegetable oils makes an impact on my health. Take care. Toni

Here is the video link

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2 replies
lioness | @lioness | Mar 5, 2021
In reply to @imallears "@contentandwell Taza bars are what I call Wicked Dark...just a tad too dark for me. I..." + (show)
@imallears

@contentandwell
Taza bars are what I call Wicked Dark...just a tad too dark for me. I think around 80% is more to my taste. @jakedduck1 would be horrified.

FL Mary

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@imallers. I can do the 72 haven't tried others yet will get my nerve up to do it someday

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marjou | @marjou | Mar 5, 2021

Amen to sweet tooth! At times I substitute lemon cookies or cakes for chocolate!🍋

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Leonard | @jakedduck1 | Mar 5, 2021
In reply to @imallears "@jakedduck1 I think you are referring to my love of grilled octopus. Last I looked I..." + (show)
@imallears

@jakedduck1
I think you are referring to my love of grilled octopus. Last I looked I didn’t have 8 legs. So you don’t like anchovies or sardines or sushi of any kind? All that fish I eat hasn’t made me a better swimmer......but boy can I dance!

FL Mary

Jump to this post

@imallears
I do like sushi (vegetable) but not sashimi or those other ghastly things.
Jake

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