Good Dirt On Food

1. Use a smaller plate for all your meals. You will automatically take smaller portions and eat less if you use a smaller plate.

2. Keep yourself well hydrated. Keep a bottle of water at your desk or readily available during the day, and make it a habit to drink a glass of water between other beverages at parties and other social functions.

3. Keep your hunger at bay—don’t skip meals, even if you are planning to attend a party. Being overly hungry sets you up to over-eat.

4. Indulge a little in your favorite holiday foods—just keep the portions small, and take time to savor them. Skip the foods that are readily available at other times of the year, or that you don’t really care for.

5. Make sure you get enough sleep. Current research shows that sleep-deprived people have higher levels of ghrelin, a hormone that increases appetite.

6. Safeguard your fitness routine—but you might need to be flexible. All exercise counts, so if you know you won’t be able to do your usual workout, make it a point to take the stairs, park a bit farther from the entrance, get off the bus one stop earlier, or walk around the block during your break. Or plan active times with your family or friends that also celebrate the season, such as ice skating or visiting light displays at the zoo or public garden.

7. Be careful of the little bites and tastes. These can really add up quickly. Check out this slide show.

8. Find a comfortable place at parties that is across the room from the buffet table, and focus on the people and the conversation rather than the food.

9. It is OK to leave a few bites on your plate. You don’t have to be a member of the clean plate club.

10. Brush your teeth as soon as possible after you eat or taste something. That bright, clean feeling will discourage further eating.

For those of us living in the Pacific Northwest tomatoes are starting to ripen in our home gardens. What a treat this is! If you have never had the pleasure of eating a tomato from your garden (or someone’s local garden) or from a local farmer then you really do not know what you are missing and I’m sorry for you. One of life’s simple pleasures.

Depending on the store you frequent the tomatoes you find will range from “good” to “terrible”. I appreciate the luxury we have that allows tomatoes to be available pretty much all year around. But, they just don’t live up to the truly fresh ones.

There are hundreds of varieties of tomatoes so I am being very generic. The recipes below do not call for any specific type so use what you like or probably more appropriate, use what is available at your local store. Fresh tomatoes are the star in these recipes. They are great side dishes and easy to prepare.

Tomatoes with Balsamic Dressing

1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar
2 teaspoons white vine vinegar
1 teaspoon sugar
1 teaspoon traditional pimenton* (use regular paprika if preferred)
½ cup extra-virgin olive oil
Scallions (2 – 6 depending on taste) thinly sliced
1 cup shredded basil
3 pounds of tomatoes thickly sliced (1/3” to 1/2”)
Salt and pepper

In a bowl whisk the vinegars, sugar and pimenton together. Slowly whisk in the extra virgin olive oil. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Stir in scallions and most of basil. Place the tomatoes on a serving dish in one to two layers. Pour the balsamic dressing over the tomatoes and let stand at room temperature for 1 hour. When ready to serve, sprinkle the remaining basil over the tomatoes.

*Pimenton is Spanish smoked paprika.

Tomatoes with Edamame

1 ½ pounds tomatoes
½ pound edamame in the pod (fresh or frozen)
½ cup white onion
3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
Salt and pepper

Steam the edamame until tender. Remove from cooking and allow to cool then remove beans from pod. Coarsely dice the tomatoes and place in bowl. Add the edamame. In another dish whisk together the olive oil and vinegar. Season with salt and pepper. Pour the dressing over tomatoes and edamame and gently mix.

Simply Tomatoes
2 pounds tomatoes
Extra virgin olive oil
Salt and pepper

Slice the tomatoes and place on serving dish. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Drizzle a little oil over the tomatoes and enjoy.

Thank you so much for visiting our blog! We welcome feedback from our readers: good and constructive. We love food and drink and look forward to sharing knowledge and information with all other food and drink lovers.

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