Fighting the winter brain slowdown

[missdiane]

Currently listening to the Food as Medicine congress testimony. While I like Cory Booker ok, he seems to be a little too much with the "OMG!ALLPROCESSEDFOODBAD!" stuff and fat shaming. Interesting that one thing that isn't at all being referenced in this is the access to universal or at least reasonably priced HEALTHCARE.

Anyhoo, I'm getting stuff done but my willpower is battling me - as well as my back. Lately it's been my lower back which I suspect something is out of place. Eh. I have holiday/Xmas cards to send out but I really don't think that I have the energy to fill them out and mail them this year. I will have to get a few promised things sent but I'm going to try not to beat myself up for not getting cards sent. I really do love and appreciate the ones that I'm receiving, though.

Speaking of the healthy food stuff, I got the first email from the VegNews folks mentioning Veganuary and it gave me a bit of a punt in the brain that I need very much to do that. I've been slacking more and more. First it was eggs and occasional fish for the omegas (which I do need) and then I let milk products sneak in little by little if they weren't all that much, then I would get cheese now and then and would get turkey lunchmeat with my egg when I was feeling low energy. I'm also nibbling too much and at odd times and need to curb that since the weight gain certainly isn't helping my back or knees.

So....anyone else that's not already vegan going to do Veganuary or another healthy kickstart at the beginning of the year? Speaking of which, anyone ever try the Purple Carrot food delivery? I'm tempted to supplement with some premade meals from there just because with low-energy time, it's difficult to find time or the willpower to food prep as much as I'll want to.

Comments

[threecee]

My energy is very low too. I'm blaming it on being old, but when I was younger all the old women stayed up till the TV stations signed off around 2AM and slept late in the mornings. I'm getting up at 6:00 AM and going to sleep by 9:30 at the latest. I really want to nap several times during the day too.

I know I'm not eating right. I make myself eat breakfast in the morning: fresh fruit, bread or oatmeal, and one cup of instant coffee with soy milk. (Can soy milk be microwaved with the coffee? I like a half coffee/half soy latte but it makes the coffee cold.)

I need to find a whole grain bread/rolls that survives freezing well (max two slices a day means freeze or grow penicillin), doesn't have seeds that get stuck in my lousy teeth, and doesn't have the sour taste whole wheat started having back in 2020. I rarely want lunch or a snack and by 5:00 I just want to get my evening chores done and go to bed. So whatever is quick, easy, and takes as little cleanup as possible is the choice: half a can of vegetable barley soup and three Saltines, or cold cereal with soy milk, or cheese and crackers, or a granola bar ...

Purple Carrot looks very good, but too pricey for my wallet.

If you want to PM me your address, I'll send you a Christmas card, no obligation to send one in return.

[missdiane]

I microwave soy milk (and sometimes mixed with non dairy creamer) for about 30 seconds in a little pyrex cup and put it in my coffee so the coffee isn't cold.

I freeze bread too. The good stuff is way too expensive to just let mold. I know I need to prep some veggie soups and stuff but like right now, I need to lay down because my lower back is royally pissed off at me for going to work this morning.

Will do!

[spiffikins]

I have a friend who hasn't made a "meal" in years - she just "picks" at things - some veggies here, a piece of bread with butter and a slice of cheese there, some fruit - she lives on her own and she just doesn't FEEL like cooking for herself, so she doesn't!

I find that on weekdays, I have no time or energy to cook meals for lunches/dinners - so I make myself a big pot or pan of *something* and reheat it all week. Soup, stew, roasted veggies/chicken - I cook once on Sunday and make 2 things and then have leftovers all week.

[missdiane]

I like cooking, but lately standing to do the prep is rough on the back. I'm hoping over Xmas break that I can get rested up enough as well as get some ideas of healthy things to make that I'll start off the month right.

I do pick but then sometimes I end up just picking and picking and picking which isn't good.

I'm curious about some of the premade meals from Purple Carrot since it might be useful to have something already made for when I get home for lunch during the week.

[spiffikins]

I think, if you can swing it in your budget, having premade food available, to supplement your groceries, is a great idea - you have to work with what works for you!

I did meal kits for a bit a few years ago - the idea for me was to see if I could pick up any new recipe ideas - I did Blue Apron, I think. It was kind of a mess, organizationally - they would more often than not deliver late - and I would get an apologetic email saying "sorry, please don't eat that food!" LOL

And then I found that I still had the whole issue of not really being interested in actually cooking multiple times per week!

Premade stuff sounds interesting - I guess it depends on if the meals they offer are interesting/tasty and if the portions are reasonable?

[threecee]

You're right, I should make a couple batches of stuff ahead. I have in the past; vegetable black bean soup, spaghetti sauce, occasional stir fries, but I just haven't been that ambitious lately.

[spiffikins]

I hear you on being lacking in ambition. There are weeks where Sunday comes and Sunday goes and I just have zero enthusiasm for planning and cooking anything - those weeks I have a lot of "tuna on triscuits" and cans of soup :)