Thursday, January 03, 2013

Resolutions Tour 2013 : Eating My Heart Out with Jessa Slade

 Welcome Jessa Slade, author of The Darkest Night (A Marked Souls Christmas novella)  to Jenna's Romantic Notions... What are your thoughts on my New Year's resolution to eat healthier?
As anyone who follows me online or in real life knows, I am powered by chocolate. Note I say “powered by,” not “addicted to” ;) Eating chocolate is an unavoidable occupational hazard; after all, I write romance novels! But thanks to good genetics and several carefully cultivated nervous tics (plus an hour and a half of dog walking every single freakin’ day) I tend to burn off most of the chocolate I consume. Which sounds great, except that it doesn’t necessarily motivate me to eat healthier.
 
But over the last several years (pre-warned by my mother that my good genetics would only last until my 40s) I’ve made a couple changes for the better that -- considering my pathetic lack of willpower -- I think everyone who wants to improve their diet might try.
 
  • No more sodas: Okay, not NO sodas -- what else goes with pepperoni pizza? -- but very few sodas. I used to drink a soda every day or two, and now it’s a special treat, maybe once or twice a month.
  • A good salad every night: I start with a base of spinach, red cabbage and carrots and then dress it up with broccoli, apple, peas or whatever else comes out of the garden and top it off with a vinaigrette.
  • Pretty little plates: This sound silly, but I love to eat off pretty little plates. Replacing big white dinner plates with pretty little plates makes eating a mindful art.
 
Do you have a favorite additive for your salads? I’m always looking for fun new flavors since I’m eating a salad every day. Please share in comments.
 
Goodreads, My website, My newsletterFacebook, Twitter, Pinterest
And follow my A LITTLE NIGHT MUSE blog tour for a chance to win goodies!
 
**Thanks for sharing your tips, Jessa. Today, I'm at See Jane Publish, talking about reducing stress.**
 

8 comments:

Paty Jager said...

HI Jessa, your plan sounds like and easy one to follow. I stopped drinking sodas when I started the Eat Right diet. I like craisins in my salad. And I agree! There is nothing that helps you cut down than eating off of a pretty "little" plate. Great suggestions!

Jamie Brazil said...

Good for you for 99% kicking the soda habit. That's fabulous. As for the salads, I use Lucini Cherry Balsamic and Rosemary. Buy it at New Seasons even though it nearly kills me to pay about $6 a bottle. Still, I always use every drop, none goes to waste. It is the BEST dressing I've ever tasted.

Jessa Slade said...

Paty, for awhile I got on a candied almond kick in my salads. Yeah, making a dessert from my salad. Had to knock that off :)

Pollidog, this is the second reference to rosemary on this blog tour, and I'm always looking for ways to use rosemary. I'm thinking my spirit plant in 2013 is rosemary.

Anonymous said...

I've had no problems with the whole give up sodas part. I don't like all those little bubbles anyway. I'd actually enjoy a salad every night, but DH (who is major cook in family) isn't into it. Maybe I'll push for that a little more. As to favorite toppings: different kinds of nuts and home-made dressing. Again, thanks to DH.

I've heard the small plates idea, but not pretty plates. Interesting.

Linda Mercury said...

Goat cheese = Most Yummy Salads ever.

Jessie said...

1.5 hour walk - my dog is jealous :-)
My favorite salads are from Safeway because they are in bowls and list their calories. I add more pepper but it's helping to stay on the New Year's diet.

Jessa Slade said...

Maggie, I'm not sure they HAVE to be pretty, but I think it's more satisfying. And I think one of the problems with our food culture is that we've forgotten how to be satisfied.

Linda, I flee in horror! Can't do goat cheese. Too much flavor terrifies me :)

Jessie, I'm a newer inductee into the pleasures of pepper. With XY having a touch of Cajun in his cooking, I've slowly been upping my heat tolerance :)

Unknown said...

CHEESE! I love cheese on a salad. Balsamic/pear/mesculun/blue is my fave. Apple cider/apple/mesculun/cheddar is another