The Skinny on Food + Fashion

I typically never use recipes when in the kitchen, but each time I've made this dish it's been a huge hit, so I just had to jot it down.  Such a hit, in fact, no one even misses the actual pasta!  Try topping this dish with grated parmesan cheese!

I’m writing about food this week.  That’s right, food.  Do I have any authority whatsoever to teach healthy eating habits?  Well, not really (although I have always been an advocate of a balanced diet and am fairly well versed on this topic).  Have I ever worked in a kitchen?  No, unless you count my brief stint in my church soup kitchen 10 years ago.  I do, however, really like to eat and I also really like to cook!

I know this column is supposed to be about style and fashion, but to be quite honest, the only thing that has popped into my brain this week that is even remotely worth writing about has been edible in nature.  Perhaps my hunger issues are due to the twelve-day fast I’m currently undergoing, during which I have removed meat, gluten, and coffee from my diet (I cheated on my birthday for a red velvet cupcake and enjoyed every last crumb).  You better believe that when my 12 days are up I will thoroughly enjoy being treated to a 12oz birthday filet mignon.  I do think that this food-related topic does come at an apt time, seeing as though many of you may be initiating New Year’s resolutions to lose weight or healthify your lifestyles (yes, I am aware that I just made up a word).    All jokes aside, food is definitely related to style and fashion in some manners.  Personal style is absolutely affected by a confidence that can grow from knowing that you are healthy, regardless of size, and eating properly is definitely a solid place to start. 

I have been known to have some extreme opinions on a few things, and food (unfortunately for you) is one of them.  I gained approximately 60 pounds during pregnancy, which is A LOT for a typically active person who enjoys eating healthy (it wasn’t until I buckled down and revamped my diet, re-joined the gym, and started seeking a personal trainer’s help regularly that I finally lost all of the weight 12 months later).   It’s so hard to get sucked into eating poorly for so many reasons!  Eating crappy is fairly cheap, it’s “easy”, and it tastes so good, right?  Yes, these may be true, but feeling lethargic, irritable, and developing lasting health concerns are just a few of the very common issues that coincide with a poor diet.  Not to mention being unable to fit into your favorite pair of “skinny jeans”.   Obviously a nutrition lesson would be a bit too lengthy for one column, nor can I really claim to be a professional on this topic (i.e. Please seek a medical professional before drastically revamping your diet and blaming Moi.  I don’t need any lawsuits on my hands).  I will, however, tell you what I believe to be a few key factors to maintaining a healthy diet and staying in your favorite skinniest jeans.

1. What are calories?  We all learned about them in grade school, but it’s so easy to forget what calories actually are, and what they mean to us.  Of course I remember from Chemistry that a calorie is defined as a unit to measure the energy needed to increase the temperature of 1 gram of water by 1 degree Celsius.  Umm, ok, that’s a great little piece of info to remember but doesn’t mean a whole lot to the vast majority people.  I like to think of consuming calories as putting gas in my car.  Yes, food is enjoyable, but just as overfilling a gas tank can cause a mess, so can overfilling your body!  Although the amount of calories needed is dependent on age, sex, weight, activity level, and muscle mass, figuring out an average number of calories that you consume to maintain your weight will also help you to determine what you need to do to lose weight, if that’s your goal.  Many people stick to the 2000-calorie guideline (which is unfortunately, I believe, quite high for an average adult woman whom is not exercising regularly).  Here’s a reality check:  Hypothetically speaking, let’s say McDonalds is your thing and you rather enjoy the Angus Chipotle BBQ Bacon Cheeseburger they now advertise.  Well, according to www.mcdonalds.com, a Medium Value Meal featuring that sandwich contains 1390 calories, which is practically an entire day’s worth of calories for the average lady.  Ew!  Not to mention the harmful trans fats, sodium, and sugars this meal is packed with.   You wouldn’t want to fill your precious vehicle with bad gasoline, would you?
2. What's a balanced meal look like?  Pretty, duh, just like your new wardrobe after dropping a pant size or two.  Lots of color!  Contrary to popular belief, traditional carbohydrates as we know them are not a necessary part of a healthy diet, although they are tasty and rice does make an excellent side dish.  I like to fill my healthful plate with as many textures and colors as possible, and always a lean protein such as fish or chicken (there’s nothing wrong with red meat, either and eggs are essential for breakfast).  By colors I don’t mean fruity pebbles (whoever invented cereal for breakfast is a moron, anyway), but I do mean lots of veggies and fruits!  The best vegetables are always the most colorful, and those are typically the best for you, also! Diet tip:  Mashed cauliflower with garlic is in my opinion just as tasty as mashed potatoes and so much better for you!
3. How much is too much?  Portion control is never fun for anyone, but the key to success is to eat until you are satisfied, as opposed to eating until you are full.  Not only is it a good idea to eat until you are satisfied, eat frequently.  For me, eating frequently seems to keep my metabolism at it’s most efficient, and also prevents me from overeating a bunch of crap from being famished.  I always keep nuts on hand for convenient snacking, especially natural raw almonds.  I eat almonds daily for the most part, with Greek yogurt and fruit for breakfast, in salads for lunch or dinner, and for snacks in between.  They’re chock full of protein, magnesium, potassium, vitamin e, and antioxidants.  They are also high in fat (the good kind!), linked to lowering the risk of heart disease, and known to lower cholesterol.  As with anything, it’s important to not over do it and eat an entire jar of peanuts daily, but nuts are a tasty snack that always seems to do the trick to keep cravings at bay.  Try them!

Obviously for some, losing weight is far more complicated than following these silly guidelines, but hopefully this may give you a little food for thought. (or at least squeeze you back into those skinny jeans a few weeks sooner!)  As with any diet, always consult a physician before attempting to diet, and adding an exercise routine to your plan is always the best bet!  For more fashion wholesomeness, check out my store website at www.purplezebrashop.com and follow me on twitter at @goodnpretty.  For questions or column ideas, email me at goodnpretty@gmail.com!