Week 5 and Touristy NYC

Last weekend Melissa and Eric were in from Boston and we had a great time showing them the city and catching up. They wanted to go to the Empire State Building and I've never been. It's something I figured I should do at least once in my life. However, after going there I can definitely say I prefer Top of the Rock because of it's open views.

Sean and I also enjoyed our first New York City Ballet performance at Lincoln Center. We saw Romeo and Juliet and it was wonderful (although Sean did take a little nap in the middle haha). I hope we'll be able to go back soon for another show.

Then on Thursday we saw the long awaited Book of Mormon. I used to walk by the theater every day on my way to work at the Red Cross and have been wanting to see it since it came out. It definitely lived up to the hype. A very entertaining show with catchy music and we were laughing the whole time. We received several questions about how we managed to get tickets since most shows are sold out in advance. We didn't do anything special, just bought our tickets in November for a random Thursday in February. We finally used a gift card for Broadway.com that helped take down the sticker shock of the prices (thanks Ryan and Callie!). It was well worth the wait!


In food news, this week we added soy to our diets. I think I may be slightly sensitive to it and plan to avoid it more in the future. We also added oranges and peanuts and it was nice to be able to make some of our favorite dishes again like veggie korma and orange tempeh. Tomorrow we're adding caffeine (finally!) and on March first, gluten. I'm sure that bread is going to taste amazing!

Week 4 and Valentine's Day

This week we added beans. Beans, a staple of our diet. Who knew how delicious a black bean or a chickpea would taste? I ate black beans and rice with avocado for breakfast 3 days this week, that's how good it tasted.

Week 4 of the Elimination Diet was a challenge in other ways. I had a huge work event that required me to stay past dinner time and come in much earlier than normal. We were able to eat meals and snacks provided to the guests but that didn't really work for me, not knowing what was in the salad dressing and polenta (CORN) being the vegetarian option. Instead I took lots of snacks and extra meals and everything worked well. Nori rolls were excellent to have on hand.


Also, Valentine's Day was this week. Sean and I aren't that into the holiday, but we usually do something fun to celebrate. Last year we made homemade brownies. This year, slightly depressed about not being able to celebrate with food, we bought tickets to see the New York City Ballet's Romeo and Juliet the following weekend. And Sean, being the great guy that he is, still found a way to make Valentine's Day fun, by bringing home flowers, actually setting the table with place mats and candles, and finding an organic treat we could enjoy...sweet potato fries!

This weekend our resolve was tested by going out to eat with friends. We survived and enjoyed our salads. However we did learn the lesson that when you let your guard down and enjoy some wine, it's easy to accidentally eat a couple peanuts or order a drink with grapefruit juice in it (two items that are still off limits).


We've added in bananas and pineapple, making our smoothies more delicious. Tomorrow begins soy and I am very excited about having tofu again! The diet will officially be over on March 16th. Not that we're counting down the days or anything...

Elimination Diet Week 3

This week the sadness of not being able to eat out hit hard, and prompted us to plot out the rest of our diet on a calendar so we know when we can officially look forward to being done. March 16th, just in time for St. Patrick's Day!

We tested tomatoes and potatoes this week. Tomatoes seemed to give me a bit of a stomach ache but nothing major, Sean has not been feeling great during the potato phase. Today we're starting peppers and I can already tell it's not going to go very well for me.

One thing I have been loving about this diet is the new foods it is forcing us to cook. This week we made homemade tomato soup for the first time and loved it. I'm sure we'll make it in the future, along with nori rolls, stuffed squash, and some of the other great soup and curry recipes we have been using for the diet.

I've realized that we weren't eating so badly before we started. When we actually cooked at home, most of the recipes were heavy on vegetables, beans, and whole grains. However, it's very easy to go out to eat, order in, or eat food that isn't great for you just because it's there (ahem, candy drawer at work, I'm looking at you). I'm hopeful that after 6 weeks of NOT eating out, the habit of cooking most meals at home will stick.

This week after peppers, we are adding beans and all nuts other than peanuts. I'm very excited to make some of my favorite chickpea recipes, and to pull the walnuts and almonds to the front of the cupboard.

In non-food related news, Downton Abbey! Great show, you should watch it. The episodes are available on PBS.org. Do it. Now.

Week 2 Update

Brown rice nori rolls

The second week of the Elimination Diet was an interesting experiment in some good meals and some pretty bad ones. We added lemon, lime, and tamari.

Monday night we made a delicious kale salad with a lemon/garlic dressing. Unfortunately the next day at lunch I felt like I was eating grass.

Tuesday night was a really good lentil soup that made a big pot, big enough for our dinner guest, Sean's Dad, and two lunches the next day.

Wednesday night things went very badly with a rice salad and too many scallions that left a horrible taste in your mouth.

Thursday night we created a bok choy, napa cabbage, carrots, and onion stir fry. It was ok, but when you're used to spicy peanut sauces, it's hard to get excited about a little lime juice and tamari.

Friday night we made an interesting dish with kale and coconut and discovered that the new kind of quinoa we bought tasted horrible.

Stuffed acorn squash, fabulous!

This weekend we made our own sushi filled with avocado, cucumber and other fresh veggies. It was delicious and not at all as difficult as you'd imagine. Definitely something we will do again! We also discovered fried sweet potato breakfast "hash" with some cooked beans and collard greens, and tonight are making a lentil/sweet potato Shepard's pie while we watch the Superbowl on our computers and avoid drinking the one beer that is left in our fridge.

I've noticed this week that I have been in an overall better mood and am not feeling as stressed about various situations. Sean and I have been nicer to each other. However, we are both sick of cooking every single meal.

This week we are adding tomatoes, peppers, and then potatoes. These are the foods I am expecting to be sensitive to, so in few days I'll know for sure!