Natala la la la ... ... ...

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Thursday, February 26, 2009

Lent 2009 

I'm not catholic (i was raised episcopalian) but i do celebrate / honor lent. it's one of my favorite religious practices because it provides an opportunity to reflect for a lengthy period of time about something in particular. Plus it ends with easter whcih has all these great "rebirth" overtones (plus bunnies & chocolate!) Over the years I've given up lots of things for lent - sweets being the most popular choice.

This year I have decided to give up "non-whole grains." What does that mean? Basically I'm not eating processed grains. The grains I eat need to have the whole kernel with the wheat germ and all the fiber from the outer bran layer of the wheat, and all the protein from the inner endosperm.

In general, as I restructure my diet, I want to focus on local, whole, and organic foods. I love breads (and carbs) but I don't think they always serve me well...and since i'm good with rules, I've decided that this would be a good way to try life without processed carbs for a meaningful period of time.

So what can I eat?
- whole wheat bread (i'm going to check on this as i may need to go to whole grain not whole wheat)
- steel-cut oats
- stoneground things (like corn) or organic farina (i.e. stone ground wheat berries)
- barley, buckwheat, quinoa, millet
- brown rice

things i can't eat (and will miss):
- french bread!
- cupcakes
- any kind of instant cereal
- granola (i think -- i'm checking on this one)
- luna bars

There are many more things I can't eat...

I do have two exceptions planned -- i hadn't realized lent started so soon!
(1) Dinner at the corson building (where i went tonight -- and it was awesome)
(2) Dinner in CA with my family at some Indian restaurant tomorrow night.

Outside of these two identified exceptions, i'm going to rigorously keep to this lent commitment. i'm excited!

¤ posted by Natala : 2/26/2009 11:33:00 PM


Comments:
Processed grains are a way to outsource the processing of the outer layer. And eating meat is a way to outsource the eating of vegetables. Embrace outsourcing!
# posted by Blogger Amit : 7:55 PM, February 27, 2009
 
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