So we are barely sliding in February's new fruit or veggie.  I picked out a Canary melon to try.  It sorta tastes like a cross between cantaloupe and honey-do to me.  It is good.  We polished off half of the melon after a bowl of mac-n-cheese for lunch.  The kids liked it and liked stabbing the little balls I cut with toothpicks.  How come food always tastes so good when its skewered onto a toothpick?  Anyway, we decided the rest will be refrigerated--maybe even freeze some.  I think it would make a good slushy.  I think it will taste even better cold. 

February = Canary melon...
What is up for March?  All I know is that I am going to have to branch out from out two little groceries to find something new...

I bought some vanilla herbal tea for my bedtime treat.  I figure I can add a splash of light vanilla soymilk and that will hopefully fix my night time sweet craving.  Hopefully it will help out with trimming off some weight too!  Surely cutting out a nightly bowl (well not every single night~but close) of ice cream will help with my weight loss goals.  Ice cream and portion control are my eating weaknesses!!!  Chocolate is a close third...

Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent.  Lent is a time that we reflect on our mortality, appreciate this life God has blessed us with, and renew our efforts to take care of ourselves spiritually, mentally, and physically.  Every year I try to pick something unhealthy that has been a particular vice.  Last year I gave up ice cream.  If you have read a few posts--you'd know that is BIG for me.  After all, Lent is forty days not including Sundays!  I did pretty well, but really I did cheat.  I ate some gelato.  Technically, gelato is not ice cream--that was what I told myself when I cheated.  This time I'm going all out--no ice cream OR ice cream substitutes!  And I'm giving up soda.  Not really a big soda drinker, but I figure it wouldn't hurt to completely cut that out for a while.  I probably go several months at a time without drinking any anyway.  So that is my lent plan this year.  I'm going to try to kick exercise up a few notches too.  It is time to make the most of this body that I am blessed with!

January food

Okay technically turnips are not a new food--but they sorta are because I have never made them myself--and I can't tell you when I ate any last.  So for dinner last night--I counted turnips as my new January food--yes I know, barely sliding it in...

I made turkey joe's with pumpkin puree (--makes it sweet so you don't have to add sugar), roasted kale chips, and diced roasted turnips.  I peeled and diced the turnips, tossed them in a little evoo, added a few dashes of salt and pepper, roasted at 450 for 8 minutes, stirred and then 8 more minutes--it was fantastic!  I had no idea turnips were so delicious!  My hubby and I devoured ours.  We had to add ketchup for the kids, but then they ate theirs fine too--the best part--healthy, cheap, and local. 

And speaking of local--that is why I bought the kale--cheap and local.  If you have not made kale chips--get on the bus!  I made a whole bunch's worth plus, the kids devoured them.  There was not a single piece of kale left!  I made it the same way as the turnips--you have to wash and dry thoroughly, then just toss with evoo, salt, pepper and roast.  I kept the oven at 450 and tossed them around every five minutes--probably cooked for a total of 15 minutes.  Light and crunchy and divine!!!

Weight loss update--only 1 pound, =(  Have to start downsizing portion size.  I think I got a little carried away over the holidays.  Portion control, portion control, portion control...that is my new mantra...