MSG vs Mrs. Dash

In our attempt to eat healthier and use less salt in our diet my husband bought Accent salt replacement. And if you've never looked at it, it's just MSG or mono-sodium glutamate. It's supposed to be a "flavor enhancer". It is so not an flavor enhancer. It's nasty. I tried it by itself so I would know what it was going to make the food taste like. It basically tastes like that glue on the sticky part of an envelope. Nasty. So I tried it on meat thinking maybe once it was cooked on something it would taste better. Nope. It was still nasty. So the next night my husband brought home Mrs. Dash after I mentioned it was supposed to be really good and good for you because it has absolutely no salt in it. Surprisingly it is very good. I mean you can tell there is no salt in the seasoning. Which is basically the point. But it has so many other flavors going on in it that you don't really miss the salt. And I think that if you used it long enough you would get to where you didn't even notice there was no salt. I'm not gonna lie, I like my salt. But when it comes to health you can afford to make some sacrifices. Plus there are just so many other ways to add flavor to your food. I'm going to be trying them all I think.
I also plan on trying lots of marinades and different ways of cooking veggies. We did that also. We got some fresh asparagus, fresh mushrooms and fresh bell pepper and sprayed some vegetable oil and liberally sprinkled them with Mrs. Dash. We thru them on the grill and man was it some good stuff. I didn't eat the peppers cause I'm not a huge fan of eating big chunks of pepper, I put them in stuff like soups and chili and what not. But the asparagus and mushrooms were amazing. So it's beginning to look like this is going to be a lot easier then I thought. As long as the food is good and good for us I think we will be fine. I plan on buying all new stuff when we go grocery shopping. My list will include lots of heart healthy foods and gut healthy foods. My gut can't take some things now that I am gall bladderless. Some things that are supposed to be good foods are:
Beans
Nuts
High fiber veggies
fruits of any kind really
spicy peppers (the chemicals in spicy peppers are super good for you)
yogurt
lean meats like chicken and turkey
fish (especially oily fish like tuna and salmon)
olive oil
avocado
whole grain breads
Well you get the idea. It may seem like that limits you a lot but just take a look around the produce section the next time you go shopping. There are so many things to choose from. Especially with spring and summer just around the corner.
So I will try to get some pictures and recipes on  here as we go thru this whole process. I am actually pretty excited about this whole thing. I was scared at first because being a cook in the south the idea of cooking without salt and fat is terrifying. But I love the idea of being healthier and eating fresher more natural foods. And the idea of fitting into my old pair of jeans isn't exactly terrifying either. ;)

Sick and Tired of Being Sick and Tired.

February is almost over and we've all been sick in this house. It all started with Libby bringing home a "viral cold" and spreading it to everyone else. Lucky for her she got over it pretty quickly. Unfortunately for the rest of us it's sticking around. My son now has a sinus infection and both ears are infected. So he's on medication. My husband is on medication for an almost ear infection among other things. Me, no meds other then over the counter stuff and it seems like this cold or whatever the hell it is wont go away. I'm not coughing as bad and when I do it's productive so that's always a plus.
Along the lines of health I have decided do to my recent health issues, my husbands health issues and just for the over all well being of my kids that we need to eat healthier in this house. We eat way too many processed foods, sugary snacks and salt. So the next time I shop for groceries I am going to pack this house full of healthier foods and drinks. More fresh fruits and veggies, more nuts and grains, and definitely more fish and lean poultry. I worry about these things and I think it's time to stop worrying and start doing something about it. I want us all to feel better and live longer, healthier lives. And I think by changing our diet we can do that. Also I want to get rid of a lot of the clutter in my house. I think stress causes a lot of health problems and by having too many piles of junk laying around the house we have unnecessary stress. So slowly but surely I will start to go thru everything and get rid of the things we either don't use or just plain don't need anymore. I'm not a hoarder by any means but we just have too much stuff in too small of a place. And since it doesn't look like we'll be able to buy a bigger place any time soon I guess we just need to downsize our stuff. Plus it would be a whole hell of a lot easier to clean if you don't have move shit around every time you want to clean that area.
So yeah, things need to change. I am going to be trying a lot of new recipes using less salt and less processed foods. I think I'm going to try to include them on here to share with everyone else. I'll try to take pictures too. I'll TRY. I don't always remember to come on here and write but I'll try to do it more often.
So yeah, that's about it for now. I'll try to keep you all posted.

Five Years Ago in a Galaxy Far Far Away...

Tomorrow is my son's fifth birthday. I am both incredibly excited and somewhat flabbergasted by this. I am super excited that he is getting so big. He'll be starting a whole new chapter in his life. Kindergarten is just around the corner and before I know it he'll be smarter then I am. If he's not already that is. He will go off and learn all the things five year olds are supposed to learn and will no longer be the baby I've grown accustom to. I know it's been five years since he was born because I can read a calender. But it's so hard to believe that time has passed so fast. It seems like just yesterday he was in diapers making goofy baby sounds and crawling all over the floor. I am relieved that the baby stage is over, I don't enjoy diapers or formula or baby proofing and sleepless nights. But I also know that the next few years are going to fly by just like they did with my daughter who is 10 now. The years just fly by when school starts and I just can't believe my youngest child is starting school in just a few short months. Crazy stuff man.
Also, this means that I will be looking for work in a few short months. I am both scared and excited about this idea. I haven't had a job in a really long time. I'm not even sure my brain works properly anymore. I just hope someone will hire me for a job that pays worth a shit and has some medical benefits. I'm excited to be out in the world again making money. I can't remember what it's like to receive a check with my name on it. So it'll be interesting. I don't know what I'll end up doing but I do know that the money will be most welcome.
Having just had surgery I  need the money in a bad way. My gallbladder is no longer with us which is a good thing. It was killing me. I feel great now and I don't regret having it removed, but I do regret going to St. Mary's to have it done. I wish I could have gone somewhere else that wouldn't be trying to charge me out the ass for every little thing. Bastards.
Well that's about it for now. I just thought I'd throw a little update in here. I hope you all have a fabulous night.