Planning for the New Year

Jan's Peanut Butter Smoothie post on Monday focused on just what I'm thinking as I head into 2016.

I need to get back to my healthy eating regime. Regime makes it sound nasty, but really it's a good word choice.
 

If you look up the meaning of the word regime on Dictionary.com, you get this:

noun

1.

a mode or system of rule or government:

a dictatorial regime.

2.

a ruling or prevailing system.

3.

a government in power.

4.

the period during which a particular government or ruling system is in power.

5.

Medicine/Medical. regimen (def 1).

 

Click on #5 regimen and you get:

noun

1.

Medicine/Medical. a regulated course, as of diet, exercise, or manner of living, intended to preserve or restore health or to attain some result.

YES! That's what my brain was looking for. See, all that sugar makes my thinking less than clear. ;)

 intended to preserve or restore health or to attain some result.

In my heart, I yearn for days of tea and scones, baskets of muffins to go with the morning coffee (or a delicious sour cream coffee cake). Alas, my body cries from energy levels depleted, resources to fight fatigue drained away by all those delicious carbs.

Truth is, when I listen to my body, I feel healthier and happier. I forget that sometimes in the rush of daily living, in the "grab something fast because I'm starving" end of the work day blues. Cooking a healthy meal becomes overwhelming, another task to accomplish. And oh that delicious cookie beckons with it's fast, sugary energy rush.

Followed by the inevitable crash.

So, as 2016 approaches, I vow once again to listen to my body's lament and learn to relish delicious, healthy foods, to become again the healthy writer!

I was reminded this past week that healthy eating doesn't have to be an insurmountable goal. My daughter and I made a delicious nut roast for our part of Christmas dinner, and I had leftovers for days. Eating healthy was an easy choice when I had meals stockpiled to choose from. 

I plan to share that recipe and others with you in the upcoming year, but for today, as we bid farewell to the old and plan to greet the new, I'll share our plan for a healthy New Year's Day dinner.

We plan to adapt this recipe - substituting black-eyed peas for the lentils to observe the tradition. Maybe we'll add some collard greens on the side. :)

The original recipe is called Vegan Lentil Shepherd's Pie with Parsnip and Potato Mash. You can find the recipe at Food52.com.

 I was curious why black-eyed peas, so of course I Googled and found this:

Southern tradition holds that the first food to be eaten on New Year's Day should be black-eyed peas for luck and prosperity -- specifically, one pea for each day of the year. To really ensure a good year, add a mess o' greens for wealth.

That's the tradition I'd always heard, but this one fascinates me:

 According to Wikipedia, the tradition dates as far ancient Egypt. During the time of the Pharaohs, it was believed that eating a meager food like black-eyed peas showed humility before the gods, and you would be blessed. According to Wikipedia, the Babylonian Talmud, which dates to 339 CE, instructs the faithful Jews to eat black-eyed peas at Rosh Hashana.

The belief was similar: those who ate black-eyes showed their humility and saved themselves from the wrath of God.