G_d bless my Mom. She is the BEST Mom and such a loving, giving Bubby.
Like many people, one of her ways of showing love is through food.
But not just any food.
Generally speaking it has to be something with loads of sugar and fat. She wants her loved ones to really enjoy it!
Think ice cream. Think Oreo cookies. Think Cracker Jacks. Think chocolate bars. Think donuts.
Yesterday she brought this treat over – “Caramel Apple Danishes” from the Sobeys bakery. She knows 
my eldest son loves apple crumble, baked apples, etc. so she thought this would be a treat for him.
What she didn’t realize that every time she brings those kinds of foods into my house, that it’s a temptation for me.
I grew up on those sweet pastries, and I love them.
Yet, I do not bring those foods into my house for 2 main reasons:
(1) I don’t want anyone eating them. They are NOT healthy by any stretch of the imagination. Just because there a few pieces of apple does not make up for all the health-deteriorating stuff in there – the loads of sugar, refined white flour, pr0cessed oil, and salt.
(2) I don’t want to be tempted to eat them. On an intellectual level, I know that I don’t want to put that into my body, but my emotions are a whole other thing. If I’m feeling agitated, tired, frusterated, etc. I may end up eating one, and I definitely don’t want to eat one! And then there’s the whole internal dialogue that can become exhausting – “no, you don’t want to eat… oh, but it’s just one danish”. I have enough decisions to make in my day that I don’t need to be bogged with yet another decision! This is why I always tell my clients that the best way to be successful when making dietary changes is to make sure you’re environment is set up for success. Part of that is not having foods available that will derail you.
So this morning when those danishes were staring me down, I decided that I would show them who’s boss – ME!
I snapped a photo of them, then chucked them in the garbage where they belong!
Then, I made myself a way better version of caramel and apples – this Caramel Apple Oatmeal. This is full of only good stuff – organic oats, an organic apple, some cinnnamon, chopped walnuts, and for the caramel a drizzle of organic date syrup. Delicious and full of so many nutrients that will fuel my body, keep me satiated, and help balance my blood sugar through the morning.
Here’s the recipe:
1/2 cup quick cook oats*
1 cup water
1 small royal gala apple
4 walnut halves, broken into small pieces
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp date syrup for drizzling – optional (I actually found this too sweet); I use the Lior brand – it’s organic and no sugar added
Add oatmeal and water to a microwave safe bowl and cook for 2 minutes.
Once cooked add the rest of the ingredients. Mix it up, and enjoy.
*Please note, cooked whole rolled oats or steel cut oats are more nutritious than using instant oats, so if you have the time, I encourage you to use those. Today, I just didn’t have the time. It is one of those busy summer mornings with loads of work to do and I’m running my son’s round robin camp this afternoon! I’d much rather cut corners here by having instant oats, than indulging in those danishes that are loaded with sugar, refined flour, and oil.