Pickled Yellow

September 25, 2013

So I already knew that Ice Cream can have dyes in it if you get the very sugary colored kind but what I did NOT know, was that the food industry are putting dye in my pickles! I mean really, why does a green pickle need yellow dye?? Wouldn't that make it blue? This makes me mad and why a quick trip to the grocery store for me turns in to hours. And our family does not have allergies thankfully, so I can't imagine how diligent those mothers have to be. Well I guess I do understand a bit, due to hubby's gluten intolerance he can't have wheat but you can kind of quickly figure most of that out, except when they tricked us and put wheat in soy sauce. We still run into bouts of cramping when he gets into something that is not obvious which is very frustrating for both of us b/c we are so diligent!

Thankfully I have a network of friends who try to watch out for chemicals and hidden additives, be it real food or petroleum. Otherwise, I would go nuts and feel like a freak. Well most of my close friends would agree that I am a freak but I am ok with that, just not the nut case freak type. As if that clears it up for you....

So the past two days are the type of days you dread. The days that test your resolve and will power. Last night, we had Chinese takeout. Not horrible but I had plans to make some fish balls. Yesterday was a bust b/c the Lawyer and I also had Pizza Inn. I did have a friend show up who only ate the tops of her pizza and not the crust and this totally fascinated me. I am sure I was wonderful conversation material due to my fascination! I had never thought of doing that. Honestly I am not sure I have the will power to do that either, come to think of it. BUT, we had our day and then we got back to it today. I have learned thru my weight loss journey that it isn't about the food, it is how you treat the food, and I am not letting it rule me. So what if I had two meals that were from a restaurant, today I rode on my spin bike hard and ate better. One bad day, does not make for a completely bad week. Work stress has certainly NOT been helpful , but if you work, you have stress at some point. Thankfully, I got thru it and tackled our meal tonight. I got a late start again due to another crazy work day, but I was able to bake the fish until it was flaky, then put it in bowl with cheese and egg, almond and seasonings and throw it in a pan full of coconut oil and fry up some tilapia cakes. (Find the recipe on 24/7 Lowcarbdiner.com and search for tilapia tots. ) My version of crab cakes. Then I just made a pan of white rice. Not one of my better meals but much better than take out!

Speaking of out...so I get a request from Monkey's third grade teacher to discuss her lovely benchmark scores. She will need an Academic Improvement Plan even though she is smart as a whip she just could care less about tests or what they do to her outlook. I too was a horrible test taker and had all over the place scores. Yet I was a B, low A, student. So thankfully, this teacher so far has been wonderful so we shall see what her plan is for Monkey. Even if I home-school, she has to take the dreaded benchmarks. I don't' think half the adults could pass one of the tests these days!