• Welcome!
  • Made in America
  • Lean Luxury
  • Go Fish!
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube

Lucy Lean

Luxurious and Healthy Meals - Memories in the Making

  • COOK
  • LIVE
  • LAUGH
  • TRAVEL
  • HELLO

in Get Lean· Lean Fixes· Lean Luxury· Lucy Gets Lean· Must read· RECIPES· salad/vinaigrette

Healthy Eating Options – Salad Dressing

I have been eating a lot of salad in the past couple of weeks and when I say a lot – think 3 or even 4 times what you usually think of as a salad. The idea being I’ll fill up on nutritious food and start craving the bad stuff less. I first heard about eating like this from my friend Charlotte who discovered Eat to Live: The Amazing Nutrient-Rich Program for Fast and Sustained Weight Loss, Revised Edition months ago. I’m not a big fan of cutting major food groups out of ones diet – “everything in moderation, including moderation.” Low carb, high protein diets be they Atkins or Paleo will shed pounds but at what cost to the body? All the research points to the benefits of eating a plant based diet for optimum health and to reduce our risk of heart attacks, diabetes and cancer. I’d rather know that I’m getting lots and lots of goodness in the food I’m eating – think salad, veggies and lots of beans – and feeling great with it. And so yes, without really realizing it I have been eating a pure vegetarian diet – almost vegan diet since reading Eat to Live.

I’ve watched a number of food related movies over the years – most widely known is probably Food Inc. but perhaps the one that spoke to me most strongly was Forks over Knives. It definitely changed the way I think about food and more importantly what I feed my kids. Yes, they still get meat and cheese and eggs, but they eat a lot more fruits and vegetables – even when they don’t know they are eating more, like when I make them green soup! Eating salad and vegetables is very time consuming – eased when you blend them up to make soups. We eat a lot of soup for supper in our house these days.

Of all the food movies I found Fat Sick and Nearly Dead the most inspiring. Not that I was about to jump into a car across America and drink nothing but green juice for 60 days – but it makes you think about how we can all turn our health around for the best even if we aren’t as overweight as Joe Cross. (Dr. Furhman monitored Cross’s progress in the film). I do a daily smoothie most mornings for breakfast of frozen berries, spinach, kale, Swiss chard and flax seed meal in the blender. It’s delicious and an easy way to start the day eating lots of power greens.

I thought eating this way and going out would be hard – I was wrong. I ate two side salads when I went out for Mexican recently with Krissy and Kate – topped with fresh salsa as a dressing it was really very tasty and none of the usual uncomfortable heavy feeling post dinner. The hardest part is when the waiter looks as you as if you are crazy. Oh, and the fact that I couldn’t join them in a second round of flaming margarita’s because salad isn’t a great sponge for the alcohol and I was driving!

Even at Didier’s recent ASCAP Film and TV awards I got lucky – the appetizer was a plate of salad – mixed greens, endive, baby tomatoes, walnuts and cranberries – so I skipped the blue cheese and declined the dressing that was offered and instead sprinkled on a little balsamic. It was so good I asked for the same again when the main course was served! I didn’t miss the dry chicken breast or the cheesy veggie option.

So proud of hubs and his win – second year in a row he was given a medal for his music on Gold Rush. Go Friend!

My usual lunch now consists of salad. A favorite is a huge bowl of baby romaine leaves, Trader Joe’s broccoli slaw (if you haven’t discovered this yet it’s a must), baby carrots, a tomato, micro greens and some beans (I like pinto beans which I slow cooked) – all mixed up with this dressing. Healthy, satisfying and so tasty.

When I first read the book Eat to Live I didn’t think in a million years I’d be able to eat so much salad without a traditional vinaigrette. I imagined I’d get very bored eating the same diet as our guinea pigs!  I couldn’t even contemplate no dairy or fat – for the six week program you aren’t allowed oil – not even olive oil. So I was curious to taste the dressing Dr Fuhrman suggests. Let me just say with a few modifications (I don’t have any no-salt seasoning which I don’t think it needs and I hate the taste of raw garlic in salad dressings)  it’s DELICIOUS. Seriously good and you really don’t notice the lack of oil. The cashew nuts give this salad dressing an Asian dimension and a nutty flavor.

This isn’t about dropping pounds (although that is happening!), it isn’t about helping the environment (although this is a much greener way of living) and it isn’t really about not letting poor cows, pigs and lambs, not to mention poultry, suffer in factory farms for our plates. This really is about finding a way to eat for health. It’s not a quick fix but a long term life change and I really think I owe it to my family.

Dijon Date Dressing

Adapted from Dr Fuhrman’s Eat to Live

makes about 1 1/2 cups of dressing

1 cup water
2/3 cup raw cashews
3 tablespoons white balsamic vinegar
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
6 dates pitted
freshly milled black pepper (optional)

1. Place all the ingredients in the food processor and blend to a smooth, creamy paste.
2. Store in a glass jar in the refrigerator, lasts up to a week.

Filed Under: Get Lean, Lean Fixes, Lean Luxury, Lucy Gets Lean, Must read, RECIPES, salad/vinaigrette Tagged With: ASCAP, Cashew and Date salad dressing, Dijon Date Dressing, Dr Furhman, Eat to Live, Fat Sick and Nearly Dead, Food Inc, Forks over Knives, Gold Rush, Green Soup, No oil salad dressing, Salad Dressing, spinach smoothie, Vegan Salad Dressing

« Simple Strawberry Water Ice Recipe
Impromptu Dauphinois »

Comments

  1. Allison [Girl's Guide to Social Media] says

    July 13, 2012 at 7:18 pm

    I liked the documentary, “Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead.” It was well done and resonated with me! I hope it helps a lot of people make lifestyle changes.

  2. marla says

    July 13, 2012 at 7:26 pm

    Love that photo of you and your hubs! Congrats to him on all of his success. I too eat loads of salad + veggies each day too. All about the volume over here. It is topped with protein + a good amount of fat though. Your dressing sounds wonderful!

  3. susan says

    July 13, 2012 at 8:15 pm

    good for you, Lucy! so proud of what you are accomplishing. I am inspired!

  4. Amanda says

    July 16, 2012 at 10:22 am

    So inspiring!! Can’t wait to try this dressing.

  5. Deliciously Organic says

    July 16, 2012 at 4:55 pm

    What a beautiful photo of you and Didier! I’m glad you’ve found a way of eating that works well for you. I’ve bookmarked the dressing recipe!

  6. Esi says

    July 17, 2012 at 9:39 pm

    Definitely inspiring. I am always trying to find ways to incorporate a lot more vegetables in the diet and I like this approach.

  7. Kristina Vanni says

    July 23, 2012 at 11:16 am

    What a great story and great way to incorporate a healthier way of eating into everyday living. Thanks for sharing!

I have a present for you

a little lean luxury
My 5 ways to get lean, easy tips to a healthier you.

Subscribe Today!

VIP treatment, in the know and occasional newsletter - plus my gift to you
My 5 ways to get lean, easy tips to a healthier you.

Come on an Adventure

  • COOK
  • LIVE
  • LAUGH
  • TRAVEL
  • HELLO

looking for something?

lucylean

Always chasing rainbows 🌈 woke up to this odd l Always chasing rainbows 🌈 woke up to this odd light and thought if the sun just came up and it’s raining there must be a rainbow 🌈 and sure enough there it is! New administration and a new day for America and the world #GoJoe #GoKamala #MadameVicePresident
I lingered round them, under that benign sky; watc I lingered round them, under that benign sky; watched the moths fluttering among the heath and harebells; listened to the soft wind breathing through the grass; and wondered how anyone could ever imagine unquiet slumbers, for the sleepers in that quiet earth.  #WutheringHeights #EmilyBronte the in between - How it started How it ended - bedroom monochromatic light at 7am this morning to 7pm tonight and cocktail time with Tink gin and @david_austin_roses post parents evening and then in the middle I went on a walk with @chloescotland - actually it was an adventure to find the prettiest 13th century church with a moat and a graveyard filled with snowdrops and the tiniest grave - a child? And headstones that were leaning over - I thought tipsy Chloe thought giving up and I was reminded of the Brontë passage about #unquietslumbers #ghostsinmygarden swop harebells for snowdrops - the peace and quiet of a tiny graveyard with a moat and lopsided headstones and peace and quiet - a moment of calm and hope as the #inauguration looms large and as we keep to the rules of lockdown #stayhome #staysafe
Anxiety levels have been high these last few weeks Anxiety levels have been high these last few weeks and just when you think it can’t get any worse it does - Covid levels rising and hospitals dealing with record numbers of very unwell patients, a third lockdown and schools going online and exams cancelled, then there was the runoff in Georgia 💙 overshadowed by the insurrection in D.C. which led to the swift impeachment (again), there’s the excitement of Joe Biden’s inauguration that is being sucked away by the pandemic, the rise of white supremacy with troops guarding the Capitol and ever present fear.  But through it all we have to have hope - for the vaccine, for the teachers helping our kids learn online, for the nurses and doctors working against the odds, for M&S and Ocado deliveries,for a new administration, for arrests of violent rioters, for congress doing its job and for decency to be about to be sworn in.  It’s a lot and we all struggle daily to keep our heads above water.  On a personal level I find painting helps, as do walks in nature and family suppers, I’m wearing pretty dresses, silk underwear and wrapping myself in soft cashmere and yes I’m consuming more champagne than I usually do - if not now then when?  #Lockdown #Stayhome #staysafe #EnglishCountryHouse #EnglishCountryside
#snowdrops went for a walk to search for snowdrops #snowdrops went for a walk to search for snowdrops today - last year the lawn was carpeted in white, this year nothing.  Maybe they are late? Painted a small bunch #oilpaint #flowerpainting #snowdroppainting a sign of #spring I chickened out of painting the tiny glass jug that was a Christmas present - not sure I know how to paint that aqua colour - help!  #EnglishCountryhouse #EnglishCountryGarden #englishcountryside #Lockdown #Staysafe #stayhome
Frosted primroses #oilpainting sketch #sundaysketc Frosted primroses #oilpainting sketch #sundaysketch - we haven’t had snow but this magical frozen landscape is a beautiful alternative - painting again because that’s what got me through the last lockdown #painting #Englishcountryhouse #Englishcountryside #frost #ice #lockdown #staysafe #stayhome
#Lockdown weekend post a crazy time in the world o #Lockdown weekend post a crazy time in the world of #covid #brexit #onlineschool  #Georgia and then the #insurrection in D.C. I took it easy today - I tidied and cleaned #declutter #springcleaning I even cleaned out the #snack cupboard and found the plates I bought and had put in a safe place @jimbobart and made a couple of loaves of @richardbertinet #sourdough ready to wake up and bake tomorrow xxx #stayhome #staysafe #EnglishCountryHouse #Englishinteriors #Georgian #architecture
Load More... Follow on Instagram

Copyright © 2021 Lucy Lean