Yucky! Icky! Phew! I Don't Like That! Lament

Very few have missed the fact I'm trying to shed much maligned fat for health reasons. I never intend to be as svelte as Luckie, nor runway models.

After 26.5 lbs of controlled, tormented starvation and over six months, using Weight Watchers On-Line, I still am no closer to loving vegetables than when I was six years old.

I rarely tolerate more than one serving/meal. The only way I meet my diet requirements of 5-7 fruits or vegetables is with fruit, all of which cost me infamous points!

Starchy vegetables also cost points: white and sweet potatoes, most root vegetables, peas, dried shelled beans/peas, pumpkin. Naturally, those are the ones I like a bit more.....

Mother tried, but I regularly refused stinky vegetables, Brussel sprouts, broccoli cauliflower, turnips, cabbages, parsnips, rutabagas. Onions I liked. She ate a lot of vegetables RAW. I gagged, just watching her.

You get the picture ... this old dog isn't learning any new tricks! But I keep trying. I know...I know. It's good for you.

I've found a miniature variety of bok choy, a Chinese cabbage, baby bok choy, I tolerate fairly well. It has little odor and can be cooked, stir-fried or eaten raw. WalMart used to carry it in a packet of three, but their marketing strategy seems to be this: they no longer carry it after you get hooked on it.

On my frequent trips to Springfield, MO I have purchase moderate supplies at a local Asian Market. Debbie Meyer Green Bags keep Baby Bok Choy fresh for a long time.

Today, I chopped one baby bok choy into stir-fry bits, added 1/2 tablespoonful of olive oil, 1/2 cup of leftover Bush's speckled butter beans, 1.5 oz of leftover Crock Pot pulled BBQ pork loin, finely minced crystalline ginger and a liberal sprinkling of black pepper in to a 6" skillet. [2 vegetable servings here!]

I cooked the mixture until liquids evaporated. I served myself in a small bowl ( so it looked like a BIG serving - perception is everything to a dieter) along with 15 Kashi TLC 7 grain wheat crackers.
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UPDATE: LUCKIE AND HER TOYS

I think Luckie has caught on to Christmas - - Starting in July, start hinting what Santa should bring down the chimney and place under the Christmas tree. Meanwhile be sure to demolish a few toys so you have a few new ones from which to pick the next "favorite toy."

For at least two Christmases, my best friend has provided her the most popular toys; this year I have no name for it, except it had two ears, two arms and two legs. I am amazed its nub of a tail remains intact!

To date it has had 5 amputations and the 6th is due any day. She has a huge box of untouched toys, of which a select few CLEAN ones will find their way to the yard sale Labor Day.

I have purchased her a chipmunk (toy) for Christmas. I have deep reservations about her having such a toy, given her penchant for hunting the cute little critters.''

"I GET TO BE THE TAIL END!!!"

Little Things Sometimes Bring Joy

Wednesday, husband (H) and best-nearly a sister-friend (BF) went shopping in Springfield, MO. We all had different objectives.

H was big-time looking at a new pick-up, Toyota Tacoma. Although he did not buy, we will be returning in early June, if both of us clear our 6-month health exams.

BF wanted pots for her water lily plants. Despite several stops at nurseries, she came up empty. She will pursue the search on the Internet.

I had two objectives, a 6-quart stockpot ( Dutch oven) and baby bok choy (BBC). I found the pot at Target and the BBC at an Asian food market. [Not acquainted with BBC? Check out Farm Fresh: Grilled Baby Bok Choy]

The baby bok choy was highlight of my day - above Target (stockpot, two hats), above Red Lobster, above Kohl's, above Sam's Club, above all else!

When one decides to diet [my definition: long term food deprivation, controlled starvation], especially Weight Watchers (WW), a truce with vegetables is mandated. The current WW diet is based on a point principle. The dieter is assigned a daily point allowance based on weight at any given time. As weight declines, so do points on which to dine. Most vegetables are ZERO points; e.g. eat all you want all day long! That is enticing to a member of Foodaholics Anonymous!

I intensely dislike most vegetables, especially strong smelling, tasting ones - turnips, parsnips, rutabagas, cabbages, cauliflower, broccoli, brussel sprouts -YUCK! YUCK !YUCKO! I have passing acquaintances with green beans, shelled beans, peas, corn, onions, potatoes, tomatoes, iceberg and Romaine lettuce, sweet peppers. I can tolerate some items on the Yucko list, if slathered with melted cheeses, or concealed with southern-style gravies or rich sauces.

To counter boredom, the bane of dieting, variety in food selection within the boundaries of most diets is required. A few years ago Wal-Mart was selling an interesting Chinese cabbage called BBC, 3/package, which appeared identical to its larger namesake. A simple little recipe on the packaging lured me to try the somewhat pricey babies.

I knew my husband would snub it. If it isn't corn or potatoes, he's not interested. I LOVED it - no strong odors, relatively easy to chop, can be eaten raw, stir fries in a few minutes, stores for long periods of time in refrigerator.

For the rest of that year, I regularly purchased my new-found love, but, come next spring, it was no where to be found in my rural area of Arkansas. Now that I am again participated in controlled starvation, I searched, without success, for BBC at available food supplies within a 50-mi. radius.

I began to think BBC was a Chinese import, banned, when melamine food and drug contamination reared its ugly head. By the way, melamine is in fertilizers used in US agriculture-consider the ramification of that fact.

Eureka! Wednesday was my lucky day! I bought six BBCs and have the hope of future purchases, since H and I will be traipsing to Springfield in pursuit of his dream truck. I am searching for ways to freeze it...maybe blanching, freezing and my food sealer process.

Amazing how little things, like baby bok choy, can elicit joy.