Progress Report

I have been on this dang diet for 2 weeks now and am getting the hang of things. I've kept up with the amaranth and quinoa, using both to make porridge in the mornings (with almonds, pumpkin seeds, cinnamon, almond milk, and a small amount of xylitol), and using some quinoa where I would usually have rice. I tried adding kasha into the mix, but the flavor was much too overpowering for me so it's hiding in the back of the cupboard for now. I've been eating lots of steamed broccoli, cauliflower and asparagus with coconut oil. I have made the occasional red curry, and am currently experimenting with making cookies, but mostly I have been keeping it simple, partly out of laziness and partly out of a concern that I might accidentally eat something traif if I go too wild and get too complicated. Mostly I just keep some salads (tabbouleh, lentil salad) and dahl in the fridge so I always have something at my disposal. Rinsing, soaking, and cooking so many ingredients before actually using them to prepare a dish is quite frustrating, but I am getting the hang of it. Thank goodness I am a graduate student, so I spend most of my time reading at home anyways and can sit around waiting for things to soak and cook. I have been getting the occasional (but also extremely difficult to bear) sugar cravings, which make me incapable of thinking about anything but cake and donuts, which is unusual because I've never had much of a sweet tooth. Otherwise, though, I am enjoying the minimalist diet, and have found that my sense of taste is improving. Food is becoming bearable without any salt, my dear old friend and always my greatest vice. Whereas I used to douse things in hot sauce, now even mildly spicy foods seem much much hotter than they did before. All in all, it is an interesting exercise in healthy living. Do miss the alcohol though.