Visual Cues

It's clear by the delayed reaction of my body to my mind's orders that today will be a rest day. Rest days are supposed to be meditation days, but somehow that didn't happen either.

I'm feeling yesterday's exuberance in the gym as well those face plants into the powder over the weekend. Every twinge of soreness reminds me that I have done well, that I am alive.

8:00 am. Oatmeal, etc.
12:30 pm. Peasant Pie and vegetarian chili
6:00 pm. I fantasized about a Zen bakery bun at 2:30, but my schedule didn't provide for one. Driving home from school, I'm starving. My daughter offers to share her apple and I refuse. It seems too acidic. I would rather have my meal.

Then I get the left over bag when we arrive home. A quick glance down and I see my children have left lots of fruit attached to the core. Somehow the visual cue activates my hunger, which reminds me that I hate to waste food, and my habit of of eating every last morsel off of apple cores that originated when I was on a 750 calories a day diet 25 years ago. All this engages my arm, causing me to nibble on the remains. Not unlike a hamster. A lot can transpire in an instant.

And yet, it's of no import. The food is healthy. There are few calories, and I'm a shade less ravenous. It's forgotten by the time I'm up the stairs.

7:15 pm. Into the rice cooker went:

brown rice
sun dried tomatoes snipped into little pieces with scissors
4 whole cloves or garlic (chopping takes too long)
olive oil
salt

Meanwhile, the cauliflower and broccoli are steamed to a pulp as I'm managing dinner, kid's homework, kids lunches (which they are attempting to make for the first time ever. I can't say their help is a time saver yet), and the very annoying computer like game they excavated from the toy cabinet. Looks like I better make a salad.

The rice passes the gourmet husband test. Red beans from the freezer, salad, and some sauteed onion with a single sausage for flavor round out the meal. Pretty nice for a weeknight, but too time consuming. I add "look up super easy rice cooker recipes" to my to-do list.

Hunger calls again and I'm off to the cereal cupboard.