514 What I eat

One of the most despised clichés I can think of is: “You are what you eat”. What a load of rubbish … just think about it. OK, I understand one is not to take things literally, but - frankly - that line isn't very helpful when trying to decide on a good diet. We all know what a good diet is or should be; we all know that eating fatty foods and processed foods devoid of nutrients, eating and drinking sugary stuff, consuming alcohol, nicotine and other poisons will screw with our health. A no-brainer. However, here is another cliché I don’t subscribe to: Eat a lot of variety. I don’t. And not only am I surviving, but I’m surviving rather well …

Btw, in order to survive well, two or three other components need to be factored in: Exercise (you must move, especially if you're growing older [and show me a person who isn’t, doh!]; Sleep (it’s so simple, we may not pay attention to it, but adequate sleep is a pre-requisite to good health); and lastly I suggest to look into: Meditation, for a clear, relaxed, stress-free, healthy mind.

… yes, I don’t eat the prescribed variety of foods; to begin with I’m a vegetarian, so no meats, fowl or fish (no seafood at all). This week Nutrition Australia has updated its iconic Healthy Eating Pyramid for the first time in 15 years … obviously that pyramid doesn't quite suit my eating habits, so I don’t subscribe to it either, but I find it reassuring to study it: It gives me a good guideline (though one item is missing ... 72% cocoa Whittaker’s Dark Ghana chocolate; what an oversight!)

OK, so what do I eat, and how come I survive?! And - yes - I have a very limited diet, practically I eat the same every day ... it can be done, trust me. The most important concern in a vegetarian diet probably is protein ... mine is eggs (four or six a day), legumes (I like my beans and lentils), milk/yoghurt and avocado, at least a half a day. Here are the details:

I start the day with a drink of water with half a lime and a pinch of salt

MORNING or MIDDAY ... these two meals are interchangeable:

Smoothy: 2 raw eggs, full-cream milk & yoghurt (all organic), frozen 3 berries mix, protein powder ... or:

2 slices of organic rye toast with either avocado spread on the toast and 2 boiled eggs ... or Green Eggs: 2 scrambled eggs with avocado and a spoonful of pesto dip (yum, yum) on rye toast

2 large cups of coffee (no later than 13:00)

AFTERNOON SNACK

half green apple, walnuts, almonds

DINNER

lots of veggies in three ways: As a stir-fry (with tofu), in a soup or a frittata (Spanish omelet) ... we cook for 3 or 4 days in one go; these are our veggies:

·   a base of onions & garlic, chopped finely & cooked heaps

·   spinach (often in a spinach pie)

·   broccoli

·   cauliflower

·   corn (maize)

·   potato

·   sweet potato

·   all sorts of beans

·   lentils, chick-peas

·   peas, snow-peas

·   carrots

·   cabbage

·   pumpkin (often in a pumpkin soup, with orange juice)

Our grain is quinoa, sometimes brown rice, sometimes - rarely - pasta; with our soup we like corn-crackers. I never add salt to my food ... other than a pinch of salt in my morning lime juice.

I don't eat much tomatoes, potatoes (though I really like 'em), capsicum, eggplant (aubergine) ... the night-shades (I think), nor asparagus or raw onion. And I don't eat mushrooms, they give me migraines (I'm allergic to fungi).

I'm not a big salad eater (look at the things I don't eat; most are popular salad ingredients). But if I do, this is what I like: Lettuces, mayonnaise, two diced hard-boiled eggs, walnuts, avocado, green apple, a squirt of lemon or lime (Waldorf Salad re-invented; OK, if you must, call it Carsten Salad).

Neither do I eat much fruit, other than my daily berries, green apples ... I am a diabetic and most fruit is too sugary for me; on special occasions, though, I may indulge in a broad-range fruit salad.

A once in a while indulgence is cheese & crackers; or cheese on a grilled-cheese-sandwich with avocado & scrambled eggs; or nachos, with corn-chips, mexe-beans and grilled cheese & an avocado / sour creme mix.

And our special treat? Every now and then we'll go out and have an Indian.

DESSERT

·   1/2 green apple & some nuts

·   1 row (5 pieces, 28 grams) of 72% cocoa Whittaker’s Dark Ghana

(I have a favourite restaurant food: Indian. That's a rare indulgence, 'cause I'm aware that a fair bit of sugar goes into many Indian dishes. My favourites are: Dhal Makhani (beans) and Palak Paneer ... spinach & cottage cheese).