Thinking About Carbs

Since a discussion with a friend recently where I made the comment that "eating low carb isn't about giving anything up, it's just about shopping and cooking differently", I've been trying to think of something that can't be replaced with a low carb equivalent. I'm coming up empty.

"I couldn't live without bread!" is the most common excuse I hear - and the one that I used to use myself as well. But we eat bread. There are plenty of low carb breads on the market (our choice is Aunt Millie's Light Potato Bread which isn't far removed from evil white bread, hence my husband's enjoyment of it) if one must. There are some great recipes for low carb bread machine bread as well (my own version incorporates rich tasty sunflower and sesame meals and is YUMMY - makes great toast)! And we can make/buy/use low carb wraps or tortillas...

Rice? Cauli-rice, which, when used in casseroles or oriental or mexican dishes, is perfect! Potatoes? Fauxtatoes or other, less carby, root vegetables depending on the recipe. Or, just baked or fried potato skins! I can bake a nice big potato and scoop out the white part and just eat the skin, loaded with butter and sour cream, when I feel the need! Desserts? Baking without grain-based flours and sugar and high-sugar fruits is EASY, once you know how! Chocolate? Cocoa powder is very low carb; the healthy dark cocao-based bars are low in carbs! Chips and other crunchy foods? Deep-fried daikon slices, sprinkled with garlic salt and parmesan...thin slices of cheddar cheese, baked until crispy and eaten with a sour cream dip...even buttered popcorn which is high in fiber, eaten in moderation!

I've gotten really creative in the kitchen and lost 90# in 5 months eating my own versions of the carby processed foods, and never missed them.

Concerns about budget? It is cheaper for us to eat low carb than when we used to eat processed foods. Concerns about "artificial sweeteners"? Sugar alcohols are natural if you have to cater to a sweet tooth, you never need to eat artificial anything.

So what's the problem about eating low carb, again?

In Minneapolis

I wrote a big long thing yesterday about our trip: why I'm here, what we've seen and done, etc...then I accidentally hit my refresh button in a moment of sheer stupidity, and lost it all. I will try again...

My sister was coming to Minneapolis because of family business. She was going to drive all this way alone, then deal with all her "stuff" alone - some very emotional "stuff" even - and then drive all the way home alone. I couldn't imagine that so I offered to come with her if I could gather up the funds. She told me that she was already paying for the gas and the room, so I just had to pay for my own food and that'd be it. That made it affordable for me to come along and keep her company in the car (I can't drive, don't have a license anymore due to my eyesight - or lack thereof) and also keep the homefires burning back at the hotel, listen/offer feedback as needed, etc.

(For those who may not know, Gwen has literally saved my life twice in the last 2 years, intervening and advocating for me with a medical profession that wasn't interested enough, setting aside her own and her family's needs for the duration each time, and at great cost to them. We are there for each other, it isn't a one-way street, and there haven't been many opportunities for me to be there for her as she's been for me.)

Anyway, we left Michigan last Wednesday and had a blast driving across the U.P., it was so beautiful! Took lots of pictures across US 2. Stopped in Escanaba for gas and $1 cheeseburgers at McD's, and continued on to Wausau, WI where we spent the night at a forgettable hotel.

Thursday morning (that would have been Jan.29th) we completed our journey across Wisconsin and the Mississippi River, arriving at the hotel that was to be our home for the next 5 nights right at check-in time. (I gotta say, this place is great, very nice, helpful, clean; Gwen could not have chosen a better place. The only problem is that she came here in large part because of the hot tub, and was SO looking forward to it, but when we got here she discovered that it is "closed until further notice" and was bitterly disappointed.)

So far things have been going well for me. She's been busy with her family things, and I have been minimally involved, but have had the opportunity to do the website updates that needed to be done by today (Feb.1st), and will be updating another site that I do as well. I brought along my precious keyboard because, frankly, I couldn't imagine being without it for a week, and have had some special worship time in music as well.

So we'll leave here Tuesday morning, and take 2 days going home so that we can stop and smell the roses (snow-covered though they are) along the way. I am homesick for my husband who is carrying the burden of all of the critters (4 dogs, 11 parrots, and a cat) in addition to my business and his full-time job. I appreciate that he's doing this more than words can say...I also miss our pets, and my recliner and home...but I'm thankful to have had this opportunity to be with my sister and be whatever help I can be. She's told me she's glad I'm here and she doesn't know how she would have done it without me. That's why I'm here.

Some Music

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b-LzATdSrDk

Oh kneel me down again, here at Your feet.
Show me how much You love humility.
Oh Spirit be the Star that leads me to
The humble heart of love I see in You.

You are the God of the broken, The friend of the weak
You wash the feet of the weary, Embrace the ones in need
I want to be like You, Jesus, To have this heart in me
You are the God of the humble, You are the humble King!

(copyright 1999, Vineyard Songs)