Shortcuts

In 2011, I made strides toward making changes in my lifestyle. Prior to that year, I had been almost completely sedentary, and pretty much existed on a junk food diet. My efforts paid off with a 40lb weight loss in 14 months. And then: I stalled. I haven't been doing my strategies consistently, no matter how many challenges I set for myself. As a consequence, in 2012 I have re-gained 10 lbs, which means I am looking at a whole year of zero progress. 

One day I hope to look back at this year from my goal weight, realizing that it was just part of the journey, of me getting to know what does and does not work for me. 

I've recently figured out one new element that is very, very helpful. I finally faced the fact that despite my dreams of it, I am just not committed enough to become someone who plans, shops, and cooks all my food at home. And trying to force it, only to repeatedly fail, is not getting me where I want to be. 

And then I found it- the perfect shortcut. If I can't be the Domestic Diva who preps healthy food at home, turns out, I CAN be the Eat-Out Queen who commits to eating HEALTHY FOOD out! Enter, The Sugar Plum Vegan Bakery Cafe: 

Behold: A sweet potato and avocado panini with tomatoes and other veggies, as well as a side salad. Just farmer's greens, carrots, and sunflower seeds. It's delicious, and in the future, I will use their thinner rice bread. 

I love everything I've tried so far on the menu, like today's "street tacos". They are filled only with veggies, and no cheese, because it's vegan. Yet it tastes AH-MAZ-ING!! Mushrooms and spicy kale, amongst other veggies. 

Sometimes you gotta go for the shortcut. I've been doing better with my eating ever since I just threw in the towel and stopped trying to force myself to cook and prep. It has just lead to meal disasters when I end up eating out high calorie foods at the last minute, because I'm hunnnngrrrrryyyy.  

Loving this place is helping me meet my goal of staying on track with my eating. And, I'm learning new ways to put together food, which I can occasionally try at home. At my own pace! Because  I need to eat right most of the time, like 90%, not just when I feel up to the prep work, which is like 10% of the time. 

One caveat: the desserts there are delicious, but a no-go. Too much sugar. Vegans make up for all the other stuff they take out- oils, butter, etc, with SUGAR. Raw sugar, but it's still like a million grams per serving. Fortunately, my budget can only sustain the meal!