So before I dive into the point of this post, let me share a bit of my childhood with you. One of my cousins, who I’m sure was speaking out of love, constantly called me “Cereal” when I was kiddo. I, for some reason, abhorred this nickname, though it was better than my sister’s loving “Cheryl the Rolling Barrel” nickname she’d use for me whenever we staged wrestling wars bouncing on her bed.
Yes, I am Cereal.
So during my conversion to eating By Design, I’ve been pretty craving-free. Today’s groupon for half price froyo from YoYo’s is a bit ironic since I just finished saying how I haven’t even really wanted to eat it lately…
But seriously. I don’t miss bread. I don’t care about pasta–it was always about the stuff that went along with it, which goes fine and dandy on top of spaghetti squash. I think I ate a granola bar every day for 2 years, more Clif bars than anyone should ever consume with all of my bike rides, and enough croutons to feed a small army before I started going against the grain. I also ate a bowl of cereal every day for years. Usually, it was Kashi of some sort mixed with All Bran or Fibre 1. Healthy, right?
Wrong. My breakfasts lately–meat and veggies, eggs and fruit, eggs and veggies, etc.–have left me satisfied, full, and feeling better than I ever did after eating my crunchy cereal or yogurt messes. If I go for a run post-breakfast, I’m not clutching my stomach. If I head out for the morning, I’m not searching for a snack an hour after I’ve eaten. I’m re-thinking the “balanced breakfast”…
I had a nice chit chat this morning with my pal Sarah, whose on the same wavelength with me when it comes to consuming insane amounts of nuts/nut butter eating and dietary approach.
She got me all hungry when she said she made this pumpkin granola from PaleOMG that I’m making immediately and mentioned missing eating cereal–not the food itself, but the bowl and the act and the om nom nom (my words, not hers).
So for lunch, which started in the aisles of on the way home from, Bulk Barn, I gave myself the crunchy, sweet, bowl effect of cereal–without the cereal.
Exhibit A: The normal toppings for your Cheerios (classic), Sugar Smacks (silly), or All Bran (“healthy”)….a banana, some crunchy dried bananas, and some nuts.
Exhibit B: Tastier yet – banana, dried fruit, and nuts topped with flaxseed and some milk (please don’t make it soy).
Craving…crushed! This bowl was sweet–literally. While this is a high sugar kind of lunch, I’m just going with it. Real food that hit the spot…that’s sustainable. My breakfast–eggs, swiss chard, and potatoes–was more the savoury kind. I’ve got roasted chicken and cauliflower for dinner tonight. Are you hungry yet?
I wanted to post about this because like with sugary paleo desserts, it’s worth noting that while they may not be the best choice, they are a step up from eating fake or processed foods. I think it’s safe to say that my “paleo truffles” (read: excuse to eat more nut butter) are a step up from heading to Marble Slab or eating a Snickers bar. If I were still fixated on losing weight or on being skinny, you might say that it’s the same number of calories. In the pursuit of health, if you said that you’d be a tool. Here’s just another way reprioritizing, focusing on behaviours (i.e. what are you putting in your body) and not just on outcomes (i.e. how your butt looks in your jeans), and getting real with myself is manifesting.
PS – Since I know you guys are smart and educated and wouldn’t just give up grains without deciding that it’s right for you, why don’t you listen to this week’s Life By Design podcast about grains?
Have you gone paleo and find yourself missing something?
What do you think about giving up grains? –I’m particularly interested here if you’re a nutrition buff or an athlete or just awesome…
you should try cauliflower sheppards pie! No Potatoes! AMAZING! and healthy!
Well “cereal” certainly isn’t the worst of nicknames lol! I say if you feel better not eating grains, then don’t eat them for sure. As for grains…I’m on the fence a bit. I can get by on squashes and potatoes on bananas, but not if I’m training. And this past week, traveling for work, that’s basically what I ate for carbs, and even though I didn’t have time to work out, I was just in a terrible mood, felt tired and shitty etc. If I try to train on that diet, I really do feel like shit during my workouts, can’t put out as many watts, fatigue way faster….yeah lol. . On the other hand, “processed” foods like gluten-free bread, waffles, and cereals (which, since they’ve been stripped of gluten, are pretty nutrient-devoid)…well they don’t make me feel my best. Plenty of energy, yes, but they turn my stomach a bit and make me feel bloated and out of sorts. On the other hand, straight-up rice, quinoa, farro, millet, oats – yes to those. So I dunno – I think personally, I need a higher % of carbs for basic function, and as an endurance athlete…well, being at CTS and learning the science behind it all, it really doesn’t work without carbs. Doesn’t matter at all where they come from – potatoes, bananas, rice, beans, Gu – you just need more of the macronutrient if you’re going to train that way. I don’t necessarily think you NEED grains to get enough carbohydrates to support endurance training, but it’s really obscenely difficult to do so without at least some. I definitely have cut out most of the processed stuff, but I just can’t support my goals without SOME grains – especially because I’m finding the less meat I eat the better I feel.
In short – not that I’m ever capable of saying anything in short – I’m of the opinion that there are many ways to achieve optimal health. Vegetarianism is healthy, Veganism is healthy, Paleo is healthy, Omnivorous Flexitarian is healthy – eating processed pre-packaged shit is NOT, but there are many different ways to get away from that…and which way is best for you depends on your goals and what makes you feel best. I say if you’ve got ample energy, are in a good mood most of the time, your body feels ready to rock and roll – keep doin’ what you’re doin’ whatever that may be. I’ve tried giving up grains and it didn’t really make me feel awesome, but I know plenty of people for whom it’s worked wonders. I guess I’m still in the process of figuring out my nutrition sweet-spot, and I really do think it’s all about a little trial and error! BUT in any case, all your noms look pretty delicious! I might have to try out that breakfast bowl sometime
Personally I love grains. And if I love something, why give it up? I spent way too long denying myself what I wanted and I vowed never to do that to myself. Even if giving up grains is perhaps better for me (not that I think it is, but even IF), I don’t think we necessarily have to be making the absolute most healthiest choices in our diets 100% of the time. Food needs to be about pleasure sometimes too!
And to answer your question about what I think about giving up grains – I think it really depends on the person! No one way of eating works for everyone. But if someone is thinking of giving up grains just to follow a trend (not because they’re listening to their body), I think that’s silly because whole grains are an awesome source of fibre, folate, B vitamins, magnesium, etc. Plus if people aren’t smart about getting their carbs on a grain-free diet, it would be easy to fall below the 130 g of carbs/day that our brains need just to function!
Also I totally agree with what you said about it not being about the number of calories, but the quality of the nutrition. A 200 calorie dessert made from real food is so much better than a 200 calorie chocolate bar!
hey
and sleep , i cannot sleep at night. Anything you can chat about, give me an email 
are you open to sharing more about your eating choices? maybe email me if so ? i am dealing with low weight, but also zero energy, fatigue, foggy mind, digestive troubles galore. I’m not paleo, but do eat lot of healthy fats, but also going way overboard on food late at night (bored). I don’t really have money or food in my area to support paleo…I’m at a loss
Also struggling with depression-anxiety and wondering if you’re guys know anything about natural supps…my docs are pushing me to take remeron and low dose lorazapam or zoloft. I’m resisting, but I REALLY want my motivaion and intelligence back
Rachel, I just listened to an interview with Dr. Amen this week and they talked all about how the brain works, why drugs can only temporarily change the brain, what kinds of foods/supplements to eat for what types of issues. Hopefully it will give you some helpful info. What do you think about his advice?
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