After a week straight of eating dessert everyday and many glasses of wine + beer, one does not need to go on a diet. The best solution to feel like your old self again is just a change in focus. Reach deep down and pull out your enthusiasm for that fresh fulfilling feeling that comes after a wonderful nutritious meal.
It’s more about what you do put in your mouth than what you don’t.
Like egg on whole grain toast
Crunchy kale chips with smoked paprika and ketchup
Pimento cheese with a garnish of buttery pretzel and colorful carrot crunch
And an orange. Because October is all about orange.
Red Velvet tea satisfies the desire for a thick slab of that famous dessert
A little bit of walking and weight lifting does a body good as well : )
Some hints to what’s going on outside my window this week!
SUPER EXCITING!!
Love this–> It’s more about what you do put in your mouth than what you don’t. So true!
Love all the colors in your lunch! I love the message of making good choices the majority of the time – the rest takes care of itself! Have a great weekend 🙂
Have you ever made your own ketchup? I’m thinking about giving it a try.
Still have yet to try kale chips. I know I am missing out.
Is that a custom bbq on a deck? Busy Busy.
BTW, glad you eat the crusts. lol. So much better that way. 😉
Happy Halloweekend!
Nah that’s one of those things I’d rather let the robots make
haha.
hey, just found out kale came in my CSA box today. Making Kale chips! Yeah!
I like your mindset! We all have days or weeks where we may indulge a little more than normal. Instead of restricting like crazy, all you need is a little shift in focus. Great reminder!
Sometimes whole grains are just what the body needs!
On a side note…..those gourds…..what can be done with them besides enjoy their beauty? Can we say, roast and eat them? Or do they not taste good? I seem to wonder this every year, and always forget to find out! 🙂
I have no idea, but they sure don’t look edible
I happened to have looked this up last week and only certain kinds of gourds are edible, the others are poisonous! So be sure to look up the kind you have before digging in…
Lath, I know right? They are pretty, but those warts are weird…. I just always wondered, since every other squash variety is so delicious!
Katie, that is fantastic news! I will have to look into the ones that we seem to have a plethora of. They seem as though seeded, they would make an ideal vessel for butter 😉 Thanks for letting me know!
I would definitely not eat a gourd! 🙂
You can never go wrong with kale chips!
That egg looks PERFECT!
I totally agree. It’s all about making positive change, and thinking about what you put in your mouth.
After I go for a while of eating too much sugar or drinking too much, I load up on veggies and fruits (and drink plenty of water!), and focus on that more than anything else.
Rarely do I ever see someone’s meal and absolutely love everything about it and want to be sitting at their kitchen table. However, KERF never disappoints. I’m telling you- our taste buds are sistahs!
I’ve gotten into the habit of having a cup of peppermint tea after lunch. It really satisfies my craving for something sweet. I’ve looked at several of the dessert teas but they tend to have gluten in them.
This is what I get for working with thirteen-year-olds all day. When I saw this:
It’s more about what you do put in your mouth than what you don’t.
All I could think was this:
TWSS.
Sorry. I couldn’t help it!
I love kale chips! They are the perfect snack. They taste really good with garlic salt on them. Now I want an egg on toast with a side of kale chips 🙂
They are also good with a sprinkling of cayenne pepper if you like a little heat!
I completely agree –It’s more about what you do put in your mouth than what you don’t.
You are wise indeed!
Exciting house mystery! I can’t wait to you post the new inside pictures too.
lol it’s my birthday weekend, so I’m about to do the opposite! And I’m guessing a fire pit?!!? haha.
GAH! So exciting!!! Also? Those buttery pretzels are MY FAVORITES!! I have a whole bag sitting in my house right now 🙂
Love the gourd. Whatever you are building, put a tiny time capsule inside. Just for fun. A message of one sort or another.
I love that idea! A little bit of history in the new house 🙂
Kath, I just wanted to comment that I love your blog and especially the layout. I read a lot of others and your layout is the BEST of all. Love your photography. (except when you use your new phone….don’t like those much but I know you need to have that convenience with your 3 posts a day) I made your kale chips for my sister the other night and she loved them. I’m going to try some of your dessert teas to help satisfy my sweet tooth. Keep up the great work and best wishes!
Thanks!
i’ve no idea what’s going on. construction-wise i am cluess.
Great attitude- after a bit of indulgence, going back to the basics always makes a world of difference!
That was an extremely well put message and a great reminder, especially as we go into the Halloween weekend, which is sure to be candy-filled. Definitely not worth fretting over a little indulgence!
That meal looks awesome. I’ve been dessert overloading myself lately and could definitely use a change in focus…which is hard to do with so many desserts in my house! I agree with you though, it’s all about remembering how good you feel when you eat what your body really needs.
I never thought to put ketchup on crunchy kale chips.
http://faithfulsolutions.blogspot.com/
That egg looks delicious! You always make everything look so beautiful. Making an app for a Halloween part tomorrow night. Thinking of using canned pumpkin, spinach and goat cheese in egg roll wrappers. Have you ever done anything like that? Flying blind on a mix of inspirations! Wish me luck:)
Sounds great to me!
Love, love, love your “focus” mentality. I hate dieting! I have no idea what is going on in your yard, though.
i love your outlook! i’m still working on tea satisfying my urge for a thick slab of cake, though 🙂
That egg looks so yummy! I’m going to attempt kale chips this weekend. I am studying for the last section of the cpa exam and I always feel like I need a snack for brain food when I sit down to study. Do they keep for a couple days after you make them, or no?
I haven’t ever tried to keep them – I don’t know if they would maintain their crunch
Mine lasted 5 days w/a crunch.
I don’t think they do. I mean they kind of do, but they are 10x better fresh.
Guess I could just make a little at a time it’ll prob last longer fresh, now I need a salad spinner 🙂
I’ve had great luck saving them in a tupperware container for up to a week. Sometimes I put them back in the oven for a couple of minutes to re-crisp them.
Hmmm… garage??
No way! I think it is a new deck just off the house — not way out in the yard.
Love the orangeyness of your lunch
Now that looks like the perfect lunch! YUM!
Hahah October is about orange!! Great lunch 🙂
Outdoor kitchen or firepit?
After your birthday post I’ve been working on a list of “things I love” so I can fill my life with them. Reading KERF is way up on the list. # 1 is spending time with my 24 yo daughter. She’s always been the light of my life.
I love your mentality about shifting focus to eating a nutritious meal, rather than dieting after an indulgent week.
Your lunch looks delicious and so well balanced! 🙂
This looks fantastic, so many yummy eats!
I could definitely use a change in focus, too… I moved close to 2 weeks ago & have been busy trying to dig everything out of the many boxes & have not spent the time I should have to make healthier meals. Thanks for the kick into gear, Kath! 🙂
Eggs on toast is one of my favorites! The best way to get back on track really is to start eating good for you foods. You know how to do it’
My favorite saying when it comes to eating healthy is that it’s not about what you ARE eating it is what you ARE NOT eating.
Way to get back on the horse!
I’m so excited for you and your new home addition- it’s definitely got me thinking of adding on onto our house too!
Well, that or get a hot tub. Totally not the same but both things I want. 🙂
I am saying a flowerbed or deck?!
SO true about what we are eating—more important than deprivation or NOT eating. Hah.
you always have the best looking eggs, how do you do it?
I have circulon pans and spray them with olive oil in my Misto, plop the egg in and wait 5 minutes
I want to try everything here!! The pretzels and carrots seem like a crunchy and, yet, healthy snack. Your salad also looks amazing and I love that you’ve added oranges, which must make the meal juicy and sweet. It all looks delicious! I’m excited to try these healthy meals.
I can practically see the nutrients emanating from that meal…so much goodness!
I love your non-dieting mentality Kath! It’s such a healthy and positive approach. 🙂
I have yet to try pimiento cheese but given the fact that you seem to nosh on it pretty regularly, I think I’m ready to give it a try. What kind of cheese is it exactly?
Can’t wait to see what super exciting event will be taking place outside your window! 🙂
It’s cheddar mixed with pimentos and often mayo and a few other spices
I was curious if you drink all decaf teas? I have been trying to get pregnant so obviously no caffeine for me and I have a hard time finding good decaf tea other than the ordinary herbals in the grocery store. What kind of coconut tea do you drink and where do you get it? Also what is the red velvet tea like? Thanks, Kath!
Mine do have caffeine – black tea is the only kind I really like. It has about 1/3 of the caffeine of drip coffee (I looked at this chart for a reference: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caffeine) but most importantly, that reduced amount means I don’t get dependent, shaky or headaches.
The Red Velvent is Rooibos based though, so perhaps you could try that kind?
I’ll check that chart out to see what’s safe to drink during pregnancy. Maybe I will try that Red Velvet; gosh I miss coffee and tea…I really want to find something that’s warm and delicious for the mornings. Thanks for your feedback.
If you still feel uncomfortable having any, there are tons of herbal + caffeine free teas – my favorites are Mint + Rooibos and Candy Cane Lane!
Candy cane lane! Is it that time of year already!? Love it! Thanks Kath!
your picture just inspired me to make kale chips…eating them slathered in ketchup as I type…THANKS!
wow that looks heavy duty…can’t wait to see the final result!
Your comment “It’s more about what you do put in your mouth than what you don’t. ” is SO true!
I’m guessing its a SUN ROOM!
Love the fried egg! They’re so good on top of those No Bull burgers you’ve mentioned recently :]
Hi Kath – I just wanted to say I’ve had a pretty “filling” week myself. Part of me was thinking I need to skip a few meals (which I know is not right!) and then I read your post. You are right – it’s just a change of mindset! thx for the reminder!
I love the idea of “refocusing” instead of feeling like you need to deprive yourself after indulging! I also love that my body now starts to CRAVE veggies after eating lots of sweets. It’s a beautiful thing!
Such a great point! So often we worry more about telling ourselves what we can’t have instead of relishing in what we are fortunate enough TO have. Thanks for the reminder 🙂
I liked the “refocus” vision of this post. I’ve been a gigantic SWEET TOOTH this whole week bc I’m making pals and they all want to go for coffee and dessert (Korea is HUGE on themed cafes!!) but I’ve just reached the point in my workouts and body that I’m cooking along grandly and feeling really proud of myself. This was a good reminder to not feel shame for that extra beer this weekend and those sweets that snuck in…but to refocus and more forward. Thanks for the inspiration.