Like I said in my previous post, this week I find myself out of the normal California sun and into the humidity of the great state of  Texas.  My internal temperature is not used to being this high, nor is my body used to producing this much sweat.  Along with these few adjustments:

fire ants

accents

 cowboy church camps

people being able to distinguish between north and south texas accents

calling Texas "the south"

BBQ everywhere. all the time. the smoke-smell on your clothes and the taste forever in your mouth.

 

I consider myself very healthy.  I exercise four times a week, I run and life weights, I do pilates, and I walk.  I love to read health books (The Ultimate Tea Diet, got me off coffee and into the world of tea..that I LOVE), and I love to cook delicious things with healthy recipes.   In fact, my husband and I recently decided to wean off milk (what are we, toddlers?) and into the world of soy or rice milk.  So far we have consumed one gallon of rice milk for smoothies and cereals, as well as a small pint of chocolate soy milk ice cream.  Today I was happily notified by a hungry husband that he was going to Trader Joes to buy the Rice milk himself.  Pretty darn good I must say.

A typical day will consist of fresh fruit and veggies (at least 3 servings of each) minimal bread, lean meats of some sorts, lots of tea, and a smoothie for energy at some point during the day.  98% of the time we eat in and it's all home made.  In fact, our biggest problem with food is not eating out too much, it's the amount of fresh ingredients that I get at the store than can out last what we can eat.  I find myself making more trips and buying fewer things and that seems to be working out just great.

 Well here in Austin, my diet is turned upside down.  I am offered doughnuts or cliff bars in the morning, practically an injection of coffee straight to my veins, a meat sandwich for lunch with a side of Lays ( I have forgotten by this point that they make baked Lays), and then BBQ of all kinds at night, and please do not forget a side of cornbread with cherry filling.  Yes read that description three more times and that will be the amount of servings of the cornbread that I consumed tonight. :) My body is feeling the difference.  It is craving a salad, my stomach is constantly rumbling and I find myself not being hungry at all when given the alternative.  There is clearly a habit that my body has formed out of food and that it craves to be continually fulfilled.  I am finding myself being creative with how I eat in one day (because in a place that is foreign and at a conference where you have limited selection then I can't be picky), and making the most of my time and energy.  Here are a few tips that I have picked up:

1. Exercise when you get the chance.  If I say, "I'll do it later, I either wont, or there is no time later and I am bummed."

2. Drink water. All day.

3.Give yourself time to wake-up.  Don't eat right away, but have some tea instead.

4. But out the dairy whenever possible.

5. When faced with meat choice that seems like something you do not desire, then choose wisely.  If you just don't like it, then get your protein elsewhere.  But do not skip the protein.  You need it for energy.

6. Try new things, you will expand your taste buds, but also get a taste of what is around you.

 

Do not under estimate the power of number 6.  Trying new foods tells us tons about the culture.  Big displays of BBQ and grills not only fulfills the "Bigger in Texas" stigma, but it shows this state's hospitality. Truly, they are givers and they enjoy what they give.  But in addition, trying new food gets me out of my organic plastic wrap and into what meal time is really about:

Giving thanks.  Breaking Bread.

There are so many that have none: neither food nor brotherhood and so in the middle of all my "tips and tricks" on surviving conference food, I find myself humbled that I even have food.  Thankful that I have people to share it with, and with each new bite I take, I am amazed that our God came up with such good flavors.