The Raisin Monster

So, I found out that I have another food that I'm better off NOT having: Raisins.

I know. What?

After teaching this morning, I made a run to the grocery store to stock up on lots of veggies and fruits and assorted goodies. We had cleaned out the fridge recently and there was plenty of room for fresh, new stuff. So there I was in the aisle with the olives and pickles (I've been on a big olive kick lately) when lo, across the way? Raisins. A medium bag of Sun-Maid was on sale so I got some. When I got home and C. saw them, he was like, "Oh no! I turn into a raisin monster. You should hide these, or I will eat the whole bag." I thought this was really funny and odd, until I brought the bag to the couch with me as an after-dinner snack. A wee while later? I realized that I was a Raisin Monster, too. There was just a little left, and I tossed them over to C. to enjoy.

I couldn't believe it! Gobbled up like nothing. Sure, there are worse things to indulge in, but still. Any food that makes me eat like that has no business in my mouth, to be honest. It's no big sacrifice, since it is so rare that I'd buy raisins anyway, but still. What a surprise.

Dinner was great. It was sort of a late lunch that turned into an early dinner, actually. Roasted salmon with roasted asparagus (my favorite way to prepare veggies), plus some mashed acorn squash (dressed with olive oil, cumin, salt, and pepper —yum!) and a lovely side salad. (I'm going to miss those heirloom tomatoes that we've been harvesting from our little garden the past couple months, by the way!) Delicious.

OK, so I think that I am noticing a difference in my energy level, finally! Case in point: Usually after any teaching day, I come home and crash. Literally. I'd come home and take a nap for a few hours. Well, not today! I went shopping afterward, and when I came home, I did relax a bit, but then got up to prepare dinner. And I am not half as tired now as I usually might be.

Of course, it could also be that I got a decent amount of sleep last night, too. Ever since school started, I've gotten to bed late on a school night. When you need to give yourself an hour before class time to get to school, and class starts at 8am, that is a recipe for disaster the next day. I always make it through teaching just fine, but by the time I get done at 12:30, I've had it. (I know, I sound ridiculously spoiled.)

Whatever the reason, it is nice to feel like I am going to keel over on Mondays and Wednesdays. I'll keep eating what I am eating, and drinking lots of water (I always get really dehydrated when I'm teaching for some reason, so I drink a LOT of water). The no soda thing has been SO easy, I can't even tell you. Sometimes I'll want to reach for a can out of habit, but it is not hard to flick that switch and turn on the tap. I got some fresh limes today to squeeze in, and I also got some seltzer water to try.

I'm excited about using the eggplant, spaghetti squash, and cauliflower I bought today. Not all in one dish necessarily. ;)

You should have seen me at the grocery store! Talk about shopping around the perimeter — that was totally me today.