Please tell me someone out there relates!

Sorry to all of those of you who are sick of posts about health food, it will be tapering off ASAP. But before I do, I started thinking about a post dedicated to Heather and her new love of flax / linseeds {and all others out there who have commented or not but have tried recently or been doing it for years}. As I thought about what I wanted to say for over a week now, this post has kind of evolved so stay with me, it is kind of wordy, but there might be some good stuff in there, who knows?

First of all, I can't believe how much the flax is working for me, keep reading, I'm not going to go into details about being regular! I fought and fought using them or getting "healthier" for a long time because anytime I hear about such things I think of tofu or nasty, dry, tasteless bran muffins. It is really true though, what has been said about tasting them. If there is any discernible difference in taste, then I like it. I have been tempted to go back and list them in to all of my recipes that I use them in, but I don't want to push it on anybody. That, and I'm lazy. However, I have been adding flax, phsylium husk, and soy LSA complex into Caramel Oaty Bars and I swear to you they have NEVER TASTED BETTER! {Which is not a good thing...}

Further, I am amazed at how the change in adding in one ingredient has inspired my whole life and my whole routine. I am now regularly exercising 3-6 days a week. Despite the fact that I got my brand new car this week, I have continued to ride my bike more often than drive anywhere. I take Laine to and from pre-school in it, we go to the park, I have even walked to 1/2 hour to the grocery store. It has been so good for me, but even better for my kids!

My fruit bowl is now more than a decoration, it is filled with fruits that I actually think to serve myself {I have always been pretty good about making the kids eat it, and we're great with veggetables, but I am usually hiding behind an open cupboard and shoving a cookie in my mouth and Laine is saying "Mommy, what you doing, what's that, what you eating?" and I say "Vegetables!, now eat your banana"}. I take healthy snacks with me on the go. I feel like the chains desserts have been weakened, though they are still pretty strong and I did take a step backwards this week as Ben has been out of town the last few days and I can eat and eat with no one seeing how much!

Anyway, I am not going to go back and list the flax / linseeds or psylium husk that I add in to every recipe, but just know that I add it into all of my breads, crackers, waffles / pancakes, oatmeal, and some desserts, I'll try it with anything, but there are obviously some things that it lends it's self better to than others, there may be some occasional updates since it has only been 3 weeks. One thing I also added it to was breading for chicken breasts. I, of course, used whole-wheat flour as well, something so simple but I had never thought of it before.

In the title of this post, I am asking for those who relate to my plight. Here I am going along in my life, and most people around me know that I love to cook and some people hear about my blog or other things I've made and my reputation kind of precedes me. It makes it difficult and there is a lot of pressure when I have to entertain or I have to bring a dish to a party, etc. I've always cooked reasonably healthy, but now I have stepped it up a notch. I just feel like I am never going to parties where other guests are tasting food and someone else says, "oh, you like that, well, eat it guilt-free because it the sugar has been halved, the butter has been cut by 1/3, the flour is whole wheat, and it has this and that healthy stuff added to it...". No one ever says that but me! My food is constantly compared to food that is full-fat, full-sugar, white-flour, etc. Does anyone feel me on this? I know I am not the healthiest nut out there. I know there are people that are spraying their cinnamon rolls with pam and using non-fat cheese and are adding tofu to everything. I am just trying to have a nutritional / taste balance. My stuff tastes better to me than it's fatty /sugary cousins, because I know I am not just satisfying my sweet tooth or hunger, I am giving my body needed nutrients. But I am not sure other people are getting it! It frustrates me a little bit, and I feel like I shouldn't even need to put the disclaimer on my food. I know it is good and tastes good, why do I care what anybody else thinks? But I do.

Anyway, I also want to again let people know not to feel guilt if they are making the full-fat, full sugar food. If you aren't into it, you're not into it. For me, I think it is the season of life that I am in. I've been pregnant or nursing or have had small babies. Now that I am done having kids and Gabe is getting a little bit older, we are going and doing more. And I don't have any excuses looming. It was just the right time for this new awakening in my life, so don't feel bad if it is not your time yet! Thanks for letting me get on my soap box once more. I have two fabulous recipes I will be posting in the next few days, so stay tuned!