A few simple steps in the right direction

Anyone who knows me, knows that I like to eat and cook and try to live a fairly healthy lifestyle. But I've come to find out, that my eating habits may not have been the healthiest or the most balanced habits. What I thought of as eating healthy turns out to be not the best diet for me. And yes, I did go to a doctor who confirmed that some of the things I eat and thought of as healthy, may not be the best things for me personally. Add to that a very busy lifestyle, which includes lots of family moves, three young kids= STRESS.

So my very busy lifestyle, and the stress associated with raising a family in the military and what I considered healthy food choices gone haywire, caught up to me. I have some stomach problems, although diagnosed as Candida--or an overgrowth of yeast in my intestine-- I'm not 100% sure that the diagnosis is fully accurate. I do know however, that I do suffer from digestion issues and feel this has affected how I feel and how I look. 

For the next few weeks, I'll share some of the small steps I'm taking to try to eat better, more nutritious foods and also find ways to slow down and de-stress. 

One of the steps I'm taking doesn't have to do anything with diet or exercise. It's a simple step to slow down whenever I'm going to eat...anything. I realized that I, who was once teased as a teenager for eating so slow, am the fastest eater in my family. I take a few quick bites between grabbing someone a glass of milk or cutting up one of my children's meat plate. I then get a little stressed with the jumping and nagging and tantrums that inevitably occur when your youngest is 3 years-old. There's very few times that I can really slow down and savor my meals.

So now, I'm teaching myself to eat slow and savour everything I eat. I try to grab a glass of water or tea or just sit and breathe, before I start my meal, in an effort to start eating more slowly. There's a lot of literature that supports the belief that eating too fast can lead to low stomach acid which can cause improper digestion of food, and according to some, further problems associated with your  intestine. My doctor also told me that you're swallowing more air when you're eating too fast and this also hurts proper digestion. I'm not sure where I stand on this, but I certainly do feel better when I don't eat in a rush and try to enjoy my food --- s-l-o-w-l-y. 

Here's a few steps you can do to help yourself and your family eat more slowly:

1) Set parameters. Make sure you discuss the importance of the family meal and, if you have younger kids, discuss some rules (i.e. no t.v., cell phones, computers or toys). Take away as many distractions as possible that will prevent you from focusing on the taste and smell of the wonderful food you're about to eat.

2) If helpful, play soothing music before or during your meals to help you slow down.

3) Encourage family conversation during the meal to stimulate togetherness and also help slow down on fast eating.

4) Try to not eat in the car--instead grab a handful of nuts or a small digestible piece of fruit, if you think you'll have to eat lunch/dinner at a later time. This has been a lifesaver for me. There were many times that I would rush lunch because of an errand or even grab a sugar-laden smoothie thinking it would replace a meal. 

5) Eat a good breakfast and try to incorporate fiber into your breakfast. I also try not to eat first thing in the morning. I drink a glass of water, some people swear by lemon water--I've yet to try that. I also try to exercise, write for a few minutes or stretch before I start fixing breakfast. Once you're fully awake, then go ahead and fix breakfast.

6) Chew your food. It's recommended to chew every bite until it becomes slightly liquefied and the food is broken into smaller particles. Now, it may sound a little gross, but chewing your food thoroughly allows proper digestion of the food and thus absorption of the nutrients instead of it passing through your gut. This also applies to smoothies, try to chew a few time before swallowing  to further break down the smoothie.

7) Take time to smell what you're about to eat. Breathe in deeply, enjoy the spices and aromas from the delicious food you're about to eat. It might even inspire you to start eating healthier and using less additives if you slow down and take time to smell the ingredients you're incorporating into your meal. It's been written that by smelling your food, you're stimulating a part of the brain which then sends a message to the hypothalamus and further down, allows the digestive process to begin.

8) Don't eat when you're angry or stressed out. Whatever you decide to do, don't eat during an argument or in a fit of stress. It's sometimes hard to do, especially with younger kids running amuck, but try to first set a more calm setting. You can always sit during the family meal and drink water or tea, until you are feeling more relaxed.



I leave you with a pic of one of the healthiest pizzas I've ever made: Cauliflower Crust Pizza! Believe it or not, it actually was eaten by all the children.

Spain-- a country engrained in tradition and passion

It has been almost 15 years since my first visit to Spain and since I stepped away from the beautiful country, I knew that I would never forgive myself if I never went back. So the opportunity came for me to travel with my family and I was beyond excited.

What is it that I loved about Spain? The sounds of the language--different than the accents I hear in my own country, but still very much familiar to me. And not because it's Spanish, and I'm a native speaker, but because it's as if I'm reconnecting with old friends that I understand. Almost like coming back to long lost family. I also love the culture itself. Always passionate, sometimes vain, full of fun and variety. Sometimes I'm glad I don't live in Spain, for fear that I wouldn't be able to handle it all and would die of high blood pressure--sometimes I'm glad my life is rather quiet and bland compared to most Spaniards. But for those times where I long for excitement and fun--I instantly think of Spain and it's people, the foods, the music and even the smells of the fresh orange trees in the summer.

We decided to rent a car and go from the center of Spain in Madrid, southwards towards Sevilla and Granada and a visit along the eastern coast of the country to Valencia, where my ancestors once lived and the name they took during the Spanish Inquisition in efforts to conceal their Jewish heritage--hence my maiden name. First we made a 1/2 day tour to Toledo, one of the oldest towns in Spain, famously known for being one of the few Medieval cities that embraced the country's different religions: Catholic, Jewish and Muslim. Walking along the town's narrow passages and cobbled-stone streets, one does have to wonder how these religions where able to get along and why we can't seem to figure out how today. We visited the Jewish museum one of the must sees for me, to help relate to my children my ancestry and the importance of learning about your roots.

Toledo

Jewish Museum in Toledo

Zip Lining in Toledo (this time it wasn't me)

Admiring some of the welding done in Toledo

One of the amazing sceneries in the Alhambra

Sisters in the Alhambra

Caves that were in ancient times dwellings for the Arabs.
Today, they are mostly used for Flamenco shows
performed by Gitanos (gypsies). 

The traditional costumes worn in Sevilla during the Feria, a celebration of Seville's culture.

Ole! Inside a bullring in Valencia

The Rock

We happened to be traveling during Holy Week--one of the most important times of the year in Spain-- specifically southern Spain. The towns there are still very much ingrained in tradition which date back to the Catholic religion mixed in with a sprinkle of Arabic influence. As we entered Sevilla's downtown, we were greeted by street crowds, all gathered to witness the procession of Mary.  I couldn't capture a picture of this, because we were hauling our luggage and kids since the closest parking spot was over 10 blocks away from our apartment. But picture everyone dressed in their finest Church clothes, waiting to get a glimpse of Mary and her child, carried throughout the main street. After a few days in Sevilla we made our way further south to Granada but before that we made a pit stop in Gibraltar. My husband would not consider a trip to Spain without visiting "the Rock" as the British call it. We discovered beautiful views of the ocean and northern Africa. We also learned that a group of monkeys inhabits the top of the rock. Today, Gibraltar is still a British territory--you can have fish and chips at any of their restaurants and pay in British pounds too!

After Gibraltar we went to Granada a city full of tradition but also very modern because of the amount of tourists that come to visit it's pearl: The Alhambra. Called one of the seven wonders of the world. I never had the opportunity to visit Alhambra and of course I couldn't miss it this time. This palace which dates back to the Roman Empire, but was really brought to it's grandeur by the Muslim rulers in Granada. I could have easily spent days roaming it's gardens and enjoying the calming sounds of it's fountains which are in almost every outdoor patio and garden throughout the palace--but little nudges (and sometimes full outbursts) from all 3 kids reminded us that we needed to keep our visit to a two hour maximum.

As we left Spain, we left a little bit of tradition behind. The scenery of the country is varied and beautiful--a country so vast--sometimes reminding me of the southwest part of the U.S. But what struck me the most were the people: warm and friendly, passionate and dedicated to their families. I remember seeing throughout the many streets we walked, teenage girls holding their mother's or grandmother's hand. Family -- familia-- is so important in this culture. It was so refreshing to see that they honor and value their time with family so much. Spain, I hope to see you again. Hasta pronto.