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| Monday, March 09, 2009 |
| Secret Society of Snackers |
For years and years as I struggled with my weight I imagined that most thin people had membership in a secret society. With the right connections and a covert password, these lucky people were admitted to hush-hush meetings where all the secrets and tricks for being slender were shared.
It was perfectly obvious to me that the effort, exercise, and discipline these people pretended to demonstrate was just a cover for the real weight loss tricks they only shared with each other. I knew this was true as I continued to exercise nothing but envy and eat everything but mint and mocha.
No one was more shocked than I was the day I tried rollerblading and loved it. An opposite but equal reaction informed and reformed my old addiction to snacking. I finally processed the notion that what I believed was “only a handful” of pretzels (and yes, they were often the peanut butter filled kind), licorice, or cookies, was often a bag full, which mysteriously became an empty bag by the time the day was over.
I am much less faithful to exercise than I am to the higher power of healthy snacks. I kind of stumbled upon a baked potato as my own secret weapon for healthy snacking around the time I discovered exercise could make you feel good and look better. Zap a potato in the microwave, cut it in half, swipe grainy mustard or a thin smear of peanut butter, wrap in tin foil and you have an amazingly portable snack ready to deliver contentment and defend you from temptation. Almost any kind of cheese, even cottage cheese, melts well and tastes great. Salsa is also delicious, but trial and error taught me to save the salsa for home since it can be messy. I recently began experimenting with sweet potatoes. I’m still regretting all the years I refused to even try them on Thanksgiving at Aunt Muriel’s house. Sweet Potatoes opened up a whole new line of snacking. After the microwave, I sprinkle the ‘sweets’ with cinnamon, this travels really well. Other choices are peanut butter, mozzarella, or laughing cow cheese spread lightly before wrapping up. My newest discovery is a dab of marshmallow fluff which is a little slice of heaven in foil.
The power of a potato zapped, wrapped, and ready to go is my secret weapon. It defends me at movie theaters and at my mother-in-law’s house; it protects me when I’m traveling, and accompanies me in my suitcase (uncooked) or ready to eat in briefcase, shopping bag, or purse.
If you join me, I’ll finally have a secret society of my own. Try my secret weapon! I hope you’ll enjoy, and send me back some of your ‘secrets’. I sometimes wonder what my luggage looks like when it goes through those X-ray machines at the airport. I expect that one day soon the security people will include potatoes on their list of things to remove from your carry-on baggage and place in the plastic bins. Until that day, if you see me in the security line with a huddle of security guards staring at the X-ray monitor, give me a sign so I know you’re a member of the club. A big grin will do.
- Nancy
For more on potatoes try Recipezaar.com or HealthyPotato.com
Labels: food for thought, healthy eating, Nancy
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posted by My Sensei @ Monday, March 09, 2009   |
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