An Interesting Resolution List

Yes this is January 1st.Yes, this is the time for resolutions (as I pointed out in yesterday's entry) and yes you should resolve to eat right.The problem with trying to break bad habits is that all of us attempt a Herculean feat when baby steps do the trick better. Try little tricks to eat healthy instead of going cold turkey . Mark Bittman gave his spin on resolutions in the very first issue of The New York Times Dining section.His ideas make very good sense.One is buy half as much meat but make it a better quality.With it comes a recipe for a tasty Thai beef salad using grilled flank steak with a dressing part fish sauce and part jalapeño.Another good idea is cooking big batches of grains and beans.This lightens the daily cooking load because both are easy to make.It's also a healthy switch to pastas and bean dishes.Again the recipe he includes with this is a tasty white bean one with kale and sausage, a perfect dish for a snowy day.Mr Bittman does not recommend getting out of season fresh fruit and vegetAbles because they don't taste as good as when they're in season.He believes that the frozen kind can do the trick as well.His best resolution is splurge when you can but on good stuff such as dark chocolate.That way it really is a treat. Some of his recommendations seem a little off the wall.Not many people would cotton to his eat veggies for breakfast philosophy.His reasoning is that we eat fruit ,so what's the difference?Also he cites other countries such as Isreal that make salads as a day starter.Stick with fruit and oatmeal if you want better eating.He also suggests cooking plants as you would meat.With this he gives recipes for breaded eggplant ,which is always a crowd pleaser.Some veggies such as the root ones do taste good roasted.The better way is steaming them for optimum nutrition and adding spices , lemon juice or even soft tub margarine later on.Since Mr. Bittman is a gourmand, one of his ideas is cooking out of one's comfort zone.This will work for the adventurous home chef but may be daunting for the more timid ones.A better idea would be stick with what you know and then vary it when you become bored with it ortheway it's prepared. Resolutions regarding food are always hard ones.The best advice is to not only eat wisely but shop wisely too.Take from what experts ,like Mr.Bittman,say and make it your own. Decide what works for you and go with it.