How The Health Are Ya?

March 08, 2020

When Food Is Comfort

Understanding Emotional Eating

Healthy Comforting recipes

Sauce recipe is found on blog dated 9/7/2018

It's been awhile and people have asked if I've fallen off the edge of the earth. Well I have been falling like Alice through the rabbit hole, however, I haven't fallen off the edge quite simply because the earth isn't flat. (regardless of what 14 people still believe).

This is an organic mostly plant based food blog. This is however, not just a blog to teach people how to eat cleaner, but the emotions that sometimes prevent us from doing so.

It is also to explain to others about the challenges I face. There are many posts that convey how I've accomplished such wonderful strides toward a healthier life. This isn't one of those blogs.

This blog is to let everyone know I'm right there with you. No matter how far you've come, the old tapes (in your head) will sneak up on you and like a looped club song they pounding you right on top of your head over and over.

Remember, I've always said that it is not just about food. The whole picture involves mind, body and spirit.

There have been numerous devastating events in my life this year that despite my best efforts have caused me to curl myself into a ball and stay in my bed. I didn't get dressed or shower for days. I quit thinking about self care and I began thinking about food. I haven't gotten sick in years, but I got rushed to the ER sick.

I lost my beloved companion dog Ella Blue a couple of months ago. We were together 14 years. I was hers and she was mine. Now half of me is gone and no amount of logical amount of thinking has helped me through. If you've ever been lucky enough to have the unconditional love of a dog, then you understand. I'd see her face looking out the window for me when I came home even when it was only out to my car to retrieve something. Even one minute seemed like a lifetime to her. I still look for her face in the window and even now as I write this I'm sobbing.

And I ate.

ate

ate.

Stared off into the distance and ate.

So what is emotional eating? It temporarily "feeds" an emptiness. Ease stress. Self medicate when depressed. It is also a diversion from a situation you aren't handling well. It's such a quick sort of comfort. Food never says no. It doesn't judge you. Then it crashes and you have to feed that emotion again. Until you can't hold anymore. It's followed by regret and distain for yourself. Then you do it again. Your body could also be screaming for nutrition that these junk carbohydrates can't give you. Many foods are designed to get you to eat more. Companies have perfected it.

It wasn't until I learned what's behind all this that I started to put the puzzle together. For many years when food disorders weren't talked about I swore I was the only one who ever ate like this.

Some people (I've heard it said) forget to eat when they have stress or loss. In my head I'm thinking "who are these illusive beings from another planet"??? What color is there sky in your world? Is your planet the real flat one?

I believe there are 14 people who are like this.

So here I am.

I'm slowly coming through the grief process although I'm still not sure what level I'm presently in.

Comfort food, believe it or not can be a good thing. Comfort foods in my opinion can be nourishing to your soul. If they are well rounded, organic and nutrient dense they can be comforting and nurturing.

So.....here are a couple of my favorites.

Creamy Polenta with roasted vegetables

I love polenta. It's really a grind of cornmeal kind of like grits only better because I'm Italian. LOL

Don't buy the premade stuff in a tube. It makes me cry. However, if you enjoy a fried hocky puck, go for it. It will still make me cry.

REMEMBER

Adjust ingredients to your dietary preferences.

Make polenta:

2 cups water (more if needed) 1/2 tsp. salt

1/2 cup good quality polenta 2 T butter

1/4 c high quality Parmesan

Bring water and salt to a boil. Whisk in polenta slowly and continuously so it doesn't clump.

Turn down the heat to low and continue whisking until it starts to thicken. Cover and simmer, but check and whisk every five minutes or so for about 25 minutes or until smooth and creamy.

If polenta starts to get too dry, don't be afraid to add a little more water (1/4 c at a time) as polenta loves to absorb water!

When done, whisk in butter and then parmesan cheese.

Plate and cover with a nice amount of roasted vegetables. Top with more cheese if desired.

*Recipe for roasted vegetables can be found on the blog from 2/25/2018

Variation on an Italian Bread Salad.

Believe it or not, this is a comfort food for me. It reminds me of family. There are two ways I like to make this. One is a salad on a plate and the other is an amazing Italian sandwich.

Marinade

Make this salad at least the day before.

1/2 c olive oil 1/4 c (or more to taste)

2 crushed garlic cloves salt and pepper to taste

2 tsp. Italian seasoning

Combine and set aside in a large container;

Chop

Red onion Zucchini Mediterranean olives green and red peppers

you are free to add others that you like.

Slice grape tomatoes in half.

Add to marinade and coat well. Refrigerate at least overnight or up to two days.

Put butter or Italian blend lettuce on plate. Top with loads of marinated vegetables. Tear some Italian bread into pieces and top salad. Add a little marinade to coast bread. Top with Parm if desired.

Sandwich!

My mother taught me this.

Take a nice piece of crusty Italian bread ( I use and end piece so it is not open ended) and hollow out the middle leaving the crust and just a little of the inside. Stuff with the vegetables and cheese. Feel free to stuff any other items that are your diet allows.