Pleasing the Palate

Ok, I planned on writing this post a few days ago...better late than never right?

So, I've been thinking alot about feeling satisfied (with food) and eating, and hunger cues, and fullness cues. Often times after I eat a meal, I'm left feeling like I want something sweet. I'm not still hungry....my mouth wants something sweet. Which results in a visit to the office candy stash, or eating a little bit of ice cream after dinner. Neither of those things are bad, obviously it is fine to eat desert, and let's be honest, I'm going to eat something sweet everyday. I really need to read "Fit From Within" by Victoria Moran. Anyway....so I've been paying attention to what food leaves me wanting more "taste." If my oatmeal is too boring, or I have something like a plain turkey sandwich, with plain veggies, then I'm left wanting.

So this week I've been focusing on eating flavorful lunches. This lunch was from Tuesday...
I know it looks gross. It was leftover green salad ( read leaf lettuce, tomatoes, cukes, green bell peppers) and leftover been panang curry. I know...wierd combo. We went to thai food last friday, it's a new place and they have like 7 differen curries. I love curry, an unholy amount. I tried this one at spice level four, and it was almost too much for me! Anyway, I loved it, and didnt' want to waste it, nor did I have any leftover pasta or rice to put it over...so I threw it on the salad. DELICIOUS. Absolutely delicious, spicy and crunchy yum.

With that I some leftover baked beans from our sat. night bbq. I have a serious love for baked beans. My mom NEVER made them (she hates them) so I see them as a "treat." I made these, it's a Sandra Lee, semi-homemade recipe.

2 cans of vegetarian baked beans

1/2 pound bacon (I used 1/4 for the whole recipe)

1 tbsp honey

2 tbsp of hot sauce ( I used five, I looooove my heat)

and 2 tbsp brown sugar.

1/2 cup ketchup

Her recipe has it cooked quick on the stove top, but I didn't want to have the stove on for 30 mins when I was 90 degrees out, so I cooked these in the crock pot on low for 2 hours. Again delicious, a great combo of salty and sweet.

This meal was fantastic. Sweet, salty, Spicy, crunch, soft. So good.

After this meal, I didn't want desert. My palate was satisfied. So this..is what I'm aiming for.

I tried for a similar combo today....I'll post it later.

Yesterday I used www.mapmyfitness.com to see how far the loop I'd been walking in my new neighborhood is. Turns out it's about 1.7 miles. Sweet. I think for the summer I'm going to run/power walk in the neighborhood loop (2x) and then do some strength at home 3x a week. The good weather just has to be utiltized! Then the other 2 days a week, I'll get to the gym. I think my plan will be 20 mins cardio warm up, and then 30 minutes of total body strength training.

I'm really excited to start that next week!