Holiday Food Indiscretions...

Well another week back in the work-a-day world, only now we can wear white pants!  Though, the focus should be on the remembrance of those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for our country and those "left behind," Memorial Day weekend also marks the unofficial start to Summer for many families across the United States.  With the end of the school year just a week or so away and the weather heating up (Michigan, get your act together!), vacations and camping trips are well within sight.  Unfortunately, the Memorial Day summer kick-off usually starts with a plethora of unhealthy food choices that leave us wondering how we're going to squeeze into those white pants--let alone a swimsuit for the annual family camping trip!

Despite the overall healthy lifestyle I try to live up to, my weekend was no different from that of the average American, and I too suffered from several "food indiscretions."  American society and culture is a funny thing--always on the go, our nutrition suffers, but given time off, a "holiday," we likewise celebrate with generally unhealthy food.  

Though I try to eat healthy every day, I am by no means on a "diet."  This is 
an impossible concept for some to grasp--inundated with images of Jennifer Hudson and advertisements for Weight Watchers, Jenny Craig, Medical Weightloss, Sensa, and something known as Zagorra "hot pants" (which allow

you to lose up to 2 jeans sizes in a week!), it is far too easy for Americans to assume that if you're eating healthy or trying to lose weight you're "dieting."  My friend Howard recently posted a meme on Facebook to this effect, and it got me thinking.  The word "diet" has somehow taken on an entirely different connotation in this modern era of consumerism, instead of its once simpler meaning "The kinds of food that a person habitually eats."

I eat healthily, yes, but I couldn't imagine going to my best friend's wedding and not eating a piece of wedding cake or having a Memorial Day cookout and not eating a hotdog and baked beans.  I once read an interview with Victoria Beckham--"Posh Spice" of the Spice Girls to all my 1990s counterparts--where she stated that she doesn't even allow herself to indulge in a single cookie, ever. Really? How freaking unnatural is that?  You don't have to avoid all sugar, all calories, all fat, altogether to be healthy--in fact, while that sounds really "healthy," it seems more realistically unhealthy given the role of food in American culture.

Yes, I know, 36% of all American adults are overweight and the average female size is a (socially-imposed unhealthy) 14 these days--but as Jack McCoy often notes on Law and Order, "you can't unring the bell."  The same saying goes for American society.  All one can do is give eating healthy a shot, make better choices, as I've discussed in earlier entries, and get back on the wagon when you fall off--one weekend of food indiscretions shouldn't ruin your entire "diet" plan.

How do I compensate for bad food choices?  Run MORE if possible!  This weekend I ran in my first 10k race at the Alma Highland Festival.  It was a blast!  I ran the 6.2 mile course in just under 57 minutes and burned off somewhere around 640 calories.  I then ate pizza for lunch, hamburgers for dinner, and s'mores and sangria by the campfire that night--but most importantly, I was conscious of it, knew that the morning race helped, and then I ran another nine miles the next morning as well.  Did it all even out? Probably not.  But all you can do is stick to it, and get back to eating healthy and regularly exercising once the festivities are over.

Likewise, if you can't eat healthy, eat smarter.  Yes, I ate pizza--but I opted for cheese only, instead of adding on calorie-laden pepperoni, sausage, etc.  Even better, if you're at home, try making your own pie.  I included my favorite recipe below.  Yes, I eat hotdogs on occasion--but opt for a lower-calorie choice of dog and bun, like Ball Park's lean pork franks (70 calories each in comparison to 150 for a regular dog--I can't deal with turkey dogs, but they are another smarter choice) and Meijer brand light hot dog buns (70 calories each as opposed to 110-120 for a regular bun).  Finally, enjoy all the delicious foods you love, but enjoy them as treats.  S'mores, sangria, baked beans, potato salad, hamburgers--should not be part of an every day meal plan, but are fine on special occasions.  And if you try not to overindulge, you won't hate yourself too much the next day. :)

I mean, you just can't celebrate summer with a carrot stick!

Smarter Thin Crust Garlic-Herb Pizza

Ingredients:
For Pizza Dough:

• 3/4 C. warm water (110 degrees F)
• 1/4 t. garlic salt
• 2 cloves garlic minced fine or crushed
• 1 t. dried basil leaves
• 1 t. dried oregano leaves
• 1 1/2 C. bread flour
• 1/2 C. whole wheat flour
• 1 pkt. instant active dry yeast (or 2 teaspoons)
• Canola Oil Spray

Directions: 
In a small bowl or measuring cup, add yeast to warm water and stir to combine.  Let sit for five minutes while you prepare the other ingredients.  In  a large bowl, add flours, oregano, basil, garlic salt, and minced garlic, stir to combine.  Make a well in the middle of the flour mixture, add the yeast mixture and stir to combine.  

Once mostly combined, dump dough onto floured work surface and knead until fairly smooth and elastic (about 8-10 minutes for beginners), adding flour as needed so dough is not too sticky to work with.  Spray another large bowl lightly with canola oil and place dough ball in it to rise.  Spray top of dough lightly with canola oil as well and cover bowl with plastic wrap.  Place in warm area to rise until ready to make pizza or rest at least 10 minutes.

Preheat oven with pizza stone at 450' F. for at least 30 minutes.  

To make your pizza, place dough onto a piece of parchment or pizza peel and roll out with a rolling pin until about 16" in diameter (I don't recommend stretching this one by hand due to the herbs and garlic in it, which can tear the dough when stretched).  Place uncooked pizza crust on the pizza stone (using peel or a flat stiff surface to transfer).  Cook for 4 minutes.  Remove from oven, pop any air bubbles with a fork, and let cool completely before topping (this will give you a crisp, yet chewy crust).

Top with your favorite sauce and toppings.  Place back in oven, directly on pizza stone and let bake for another 10-15 minutes, until desired doneness.  Enjoy!

I like to top my pie with homemade spaghetti sauce (1/2 C.), a combination of 2% shredded mozzarella cheese and sliced fresh mozzarella (6 oz.), a few shreds of deli ham (1/2 oz), and marinated artichoke hearts (4, drained and sliced).  Likewise, I spray the edge of my crust before topping it, with a little canola oil and sprinkle it with fresh grated Parmesan cheese and garlic powder (1/8 C. cheese).

Per slice (1/18 of 16" pizza) with my toppings = 191 calories.

Per slice (1/18 of 16" pizza) crust only = 102 calories.