Purple Potatoes and 100 Calorie Pack Cookies
I recently watched Live to 100: Secrets of the Blue Zones on Netflix.
I am a sucker for a good documentary and when the topic is health fitness related I am even a bigger sucker. I had heard of The Blue Zones and had an idea of what it was all about but that was as far as it went.
The documentary opened with Okinawa and the practice of eating purple sweet potatoes. I had never heard of purple sweet potatoes and I’m not sure I had ever even seen them. Apparently they are common in Okinawa and partially credited toward the longevity there, along with active lifestyles, and eating whole foods.
I was inspired.
My journey to becoming vegan started with health. I had seen the documentary (told you I was a sucker) Forks Over Knives and decided to participate in a 30 day Vegan Challenge. After the 30 days I just kept going because it felt “right.”
I started looking for purple sweet potatoes and finally found them at a grocery store chain in a different city. I also picked up some other groceries from Aldi, including a box of individually packaged cookies that were 100 calories per pack.
I ate those potatoes. I have also tried to be more aware of including veggies in each meal. After my competition I noticed I had been stuck on the “diet food carousel.” I had been so focused on eating foods that were low in carbs yet filling, that I paid less attention to nutrition and more attention to numbers.
If it fit, it worked. That was all that mattered.
Yes, I realize this is not the best philosophy — certainly not for someone hoping to live to a spry 100. The goal was short term, though.
So here I am, four months away from my last competition and not feeling the sweet cravings as strongly as I once did. Yet, those 100 pack cookies still get me almost every day. Almost as though I am not even conscious of what I’m doing, I reach for those cookies and nibble away without giving it much thought.
I’m not here to knock cookies.
There is room for all foods in moderation. But one habit I am hoping to work on is that mindless consumption of food, whether it be cookies, granola or even purple potatoes. I know nothing can be perfect, but I’m working to get a little better all the time — especially if I’m going to walk on that stage in another year.
How are you working toward your goals?
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