The Food Ponzi...oops, I mean Food Pyramid.

One of my good friends sent me a very cool e-mail about the food pyramid. It was early mind you, so I was not sure that I was reading the information correctly? The information I was reading suggested that the food pyramid was in fact upside down?  Does this mean that Cloudy with a chance of Meatballs could in fact be possible?  Well I think, I would like it until my car was totaled by a ginormous donut.

Well lets ponder the food pyramid and then flip it over.  

Eat a variety of foods~ that means not just all the colors of skittles, fruits,vegetables, protein, starch and dairy are good starting points.   Eat more of some foods and less of others.  Logic tells us that an apple pie does not constitute a serving of fruit in the good sense of the word.  Hmm, less cheeseburgers, more carrot sticks check!  I want arms like Michelle Obama!! let's get serious here.

Really, it does not take a degree to understand the delicate balance of what you should eat and what you should not eat, it is a matter of desire...will what I want, override what I should have? I can be honest and say at least 7 times out of ten my desire overrides my conscience.  Quit making tasty things!!!
  Lets flip the table..with the food pyramid.    So what we would be seeing is that grains would make up very little of your diet.  That would be at the top.  Well that makes sense.  Think about it?  If you lived in a field of wheat, how long would you really survive?  My guess is not long, because you would have no way of processing what you have.  Keyword here!!  Process...this is where we are going wrong..the processing.  So we need to make fruits and vegetables the foundation, instead of the grains. Next, would come the dairy and proteins in the middle of the pyramid.  Key to this, is moderation, choose healthy dairy and lean proteins.
 You know what, fat is not all that bad for you, I am not recommending that you make a bee-line for McDonald's, what I am saying is the body needs a degree of fat. Without it your body starves and creates imbalances.  Fat with protein blocks the sudden rush of sugar into the body from certain foods, and prevents a flood of insulin being released into the body.  Fat as well, aids in the feeling full sensation and helps in the healthy functions of the organs including the brain.Good sources of fat are olive oil, nuts, salmon, and avocados. 
Gradually changing what you have been taught takes time, and common sense always applies here. Here is a great recipe for the waist: dinner serves 4

1 spaghetti squash, cut in half, seeds removed oiled and seasoned salt and pepper
1 tomato, diced
1 can sliced mushrooms drained
1/2 bunch of scallions sliced thin
4  4oz portions of salmon any kind will do(wish I still was in AK)
1 cup panko crumbs (panko japanese bread crumbs~the best crumbs)
1 tablespoon fresh chopped garlic
4 ounces prepared horseradish
3 ounces mustard~dijon works
2 ounces maple syrup
1 tsp chopped dill weed
1 lemon squeezed
4 ounces olive oil
salt and pepper to taste.

Heat oven to 350F and cook deseeded and seasoned (meaning use 1 ounce of olive oil that you rubbed up the squash with)..hehe..and cook until soft meaning when stabbed with fork it feels done.  Set aside and let cool.    In a bowl mix panko crumbs, garlic, horseradish, mustard, maple syrup, dill weed, lemon juice and 1 oz olive oil and set aside.  In one saute pan heat 1 ounce of olive oil, season your 4 salmon pieces with salt and pepper and add to hot oil.  Do not turn until there is a crust , turn over and let cook for a minute and remove.  Place par-cooked salmon on a oven ready pan and divide the horseradish topping between the 4 pieces.  In another pan heat 1 ounce of olive oil until hot and add green onion and diced tomato, saute for a minute or two add mushrooms and cooked spaghetti squash.  Season and keep warm.  In the same 350F oven finish cooking the salmon.  When it flakes, typically it is done.  Top the the spaghetti squash with the salmon and enjoy a waist friendly meal that keeps you satisfied.

New Orleans food is as delicious as the less criminal forms of sin.~ Mark Twain(1835-1910)