Healthy Eating

I'm a conscientious eater. I don't eat meat and I buy local/organic/whole-grain/etc., and just generally try to make responsible choices about what I put into my body. Imagine my horror, then, when Kelley and I started dating and I gradually became aware of her daily eating habits.

Breakfast:

Lunch:

Dinner:

With a diet like that, it's a wonder she hadn't lapsed into a diabetic coma or that her bowel function hadn't ceased completely.

Yet again, Kelley had to count her lucky stars that she found me, because I know how to cook and I know how to balance a meal (thanks, Mom!). Together we began a delicious journey of food education.

Fortunately Kelley has an adventurous spirit and would try whatever I put in front of her, even if she had no idea what it was.


We discovered that she really likes tempeh:

"It tastes like tater tots!"

Beet+chard quesadillas with roasted red pepper soup were also a hit.

Late for a party that night, she shoved the last few wedges 

into her purse on her way out the door. They might still be in there.

At each meal, we talked about whether we had a good balance of protein, fats, carbs, vitamins, minerals, and fiber, and whether we we combining foods well (vitamin D to help calcium absorption, for example).

Finally, armed with her new knowledge of nutrition and her refined palate, it was Kel's turn to try her hand at making dinner. I waited in the living room, fairly gloating with pride at my expert instruction. I had no doubt she'd emerge from the kitchen with a beautifully plated, nutritious meal for us. 


Sadly, before we could reach that point--

SHE SET HERSELF ON FIRE.

And while trying to put herself out, she also burned up one of my oven mitts.

I had only myself to blame. In the course of teaching her about food, I neglected to cover kitchen safety. I didn't realize that she didn't know not to lean over the gas range while it was lit. (Or that a box grater would shred her knuckles if she wasn't careful. Or that frozen pizzas left in the oven too long will, you know, burn.)

So I'm back to doing the bulk of the dinner prep, though Kelley still insists on contributing one night a week: 

photos: Dunkin Donuts; McDonald's - Double Cheeseburger; Pad Thai