I've Got a Love-el-y Bunch of Coconuts (a deedly-dee)

See that blond over there on the right?  Yup, that's me.  A lot younger me, but still me. (Just to give you an idea, that little girl under my arm?  She is in the middle of her first year of college.  So yes, a much much younger me!)  There I am, with my Swedish friend, a South African teenager, and two little Palauans... and of course, a coconut.

Which is what this post is all about.

Last Saturday I mentioned that I found THE DRINK of all drinks.  And truthfully, it was a great one.  I do not take back my claim.  But then I started hearing from people (via blog comments and FB comments and other comments) that many people had never actually had coconut water before.

WHAT?! 

Although that was my initial reaction, I thought back this moment pictured above.  Notice that Helen (the friend next to me) is holding a coconut and I am not?  It is not because I wasn't given one.  It is because I was given one, and then I promptly gave it away.

It tasted like dirty socks.  What did you expect me to do?

Time, however, has marched on, and I later found myself more long-term in this island nation, and later in the Marshall Islands, and later marrying a Brazilian.  You add all that together and yes, I now love coconut water. 

Roadside stand in Costa Rica

I did a little research and basically found out that the stuff is amazing for you.  A-MAZE-ING.  For example:

• high in potassium and calcium
• promotes weight loss (low in calories and sugar)
• cleanses your digestive tract
• boosts immune system
• helps with rehydration
• and on and on and on...

My man, getting us our much desired coconuts for the day

Of course, some people think this is bogus, and you know, it might be.  Who knows.  But I do know this: It definitely isn't bad for you, that's for sure.  Last I checked eating fruit was a good thing, so I intend to keep on doing it. 

Tiffany has an epiphany...

Fruit.  Most people love it.  Or hate it.  Whatever.  But they eat it. 

Not me. 

The thing is, I like it.  It tastes good enough, and I know my body likes it too since it is packed with essential nutrients.  I guess it just boils down to this: If I can choose between carrots or a banana, I will choose the carrots.  Celery or an apple?  Give me the celery.  Salad?  Yum?  Fruit salad?  It is OK.  So although I like it, I like veggies better. (In my defense, I do drink fruit juice daily.  And I do eat fruit.  Just not a lot...)   

As I was at the gym today, working my butt off -- literally -- I started thinking about my after work snack that I enjoy every day.  Chocolate soy milk and a few Joe-Joe's (Trader Joe's version of Oreos.  Oh so tasty!)  As I was thinking about it, I started thinking about all the work I was doing at that moment.  Cardio, crunches, lunges.  My chocolate Silk and cookies sounded delicious, but they also sounded counter-intuitive.  Why would I be working so hard to just go put that in my body?  But I needed something to fill that spot and wouldn't you know it, the food pyramid popped into my head.

Look at all that fruit there.  Bananas, watermelon, oranges, lemons, strawberries, grapes, apples...  Have you ever played Jenga before?  I really hate that game, it stresses me out.  But I started thinking about this food pyramid like a Jenga tower.  If I take out that fruit section, what happens?  Well, the whole thing comes toppling down.

 Honestly, I don't want my whole life/health to come toppling down.

Clearly, something needed to be done.  I walked out that gym door to the one right next door -- my favorite -- Trader Joe's.  Walking down the aisles I picked up bananas, an apple, a peach, dried fruit for snacks, and juice.  I may not like to eat fruit, but I sure do enjoy drinking it, so why not replace that glass of chocolate soy milk for fruit?  And besides, my dear friend Lisa bought me that blender as a wedding present to be used, not just sit in the cupboard all year long, right?  It is time to put it to use!

Check out my fruit bowl.  (The top one is sad, I know.  Trust me, the veggie drawers in the fridge are full.)

I know it is not a lot, but Trader Joe's fruit is pricey.  This is to get me going.  Then a trip to my favorite Mexican grocery store is in order.

I timed myself to see how long it would take... 5 minutes.  I can easily give myself 5 minutes a day.  And you know what?  It was good!  Tasted delicious and it was filling.  Not only that, but I feel good.  I know I put healthy things into my body and all that hard work at the gym seems not in vain.  I am going to try this and see how it goes.  Not that this means I am giving up my chocolate Silk and cookies, but just cutting back on them.  Wish me luck!

(My parents should be so proud.  My least favorite house rule growing up was that I had to eat a piece of fruit with my breakfast, and now I am doing it on my own.  It may have taken years, but that message they put in me did get stored away somewhere...)

Fruit Smoothie

Jamie Oliver -- A True (non)American Hero

I must admit it, Jamie Oliver is somewhat of a super star to me.  With so much trash on TV (enjoyable trash, albeit) it is nice to find a show that is promoting something good.  Not that it is the only one, I know you have all had a moment with the tissue box in your lap and a permanent smile pasted on your face as Ty Pennington and the crew shout out, "Move... That... Bus!"  Quality TV, to be assured.  It's just that with the Food Revolution it is something a little more to me.  I see others making a change, I learn something new, and then I in turn want to make a change for me. 

The thing that gets me, though, is in the midst of this there are so many people who are not just ignorant, because honestly, we can't really blame someone for being ignorant... most of the time.  You see it all the time, these people are (*gasp*) shocked to learn that feeding your kids food that came straight from the freezer into the deep frying cooker thing is bad for you.  They wax eloquent about how this is what their family knows and likes and what are they going to do differently, really?  Yet they are quick to (1) listen, (2) learn, and (3) make some healthy changes.

No, it is not the ignorance that gets to me.  Ignorance is often the result of a community, not an individual.  The thing that just gets me, and I mean GETS ME is that so many people are apathetic about it.  "Yeah," they say, "I know that is going to kill my children someday, but you know, they like it."  No, sorry, I don't know.  Really, honestly, truthfully, I just don't get that train of thought.  I do get not knowing how to fix it, I do get being sad you have to change a lifestyle you are deeply embedded in; these are things I get.  As someone who lived off of packaged foods for years, I understand that.  But I want more than just quick and easy and a heart attack on the side.

Hence my affection for Jamie.  He has chosen to fight a big fight.  I hope he wins.

(And besides, he makes cooking look so incredibly fun, doesn't he?   I totally look like that when I am cooking... Yeah, that was the sound of my nose growing a couple of inches that you just heard.)