It must be working. Seriously.
Strange thing happened today. And something cool.
I volunteered to work the Classic Wine Auction at the Oregon Convention Center under Chef Christian Smith and his staff. A few maties of mine from school trundled off before school and worked on a menu created by Chef Dave Machado for the event. A huge operation, tons of kitchen work for 800 diners at the event tomorrow. We peeled, molded and sliced red and yellow beets all day for beet and pear Napoleons with Gorgonzola cheese. We toiled for the entire morning and as we headed out at 2, the crew asked if they could prepare us lunch as we were leaving. Sandwich menus were offered and I, sticking to my guns, asked gently if I could get just a vegetable sandwich- some lettuce, tomatoes, maybe a slice of cheese instead. I wound up with a lovely grilled eggplant on wheat with hummus, sauteed bell peppers, onions and greens. I was very grateful for the time and attention the lead cook gave my request and I passed on my gratitude to him and the other staff. That was the cool part.
The strange part happened about 7 pm tonight.
I wasn’t hungry. At ALL.
And I was in a freakin’ culinary school surrounded by filet mignon, NY strip steaks and gobs of baked goods. How damned frustrating is THAT?! I did run over to the bake shop for a teeny slice of foccaccia to keep my body heat up (the classroom is so fraking cold, you could hang meat in there), but I had no appetite to speak of. I wondered to myself if all this vegetable material is somehow screwing with my brain’s satiety center. I had no restlesness, either. Like one giving up smoking, I expected to have munchies, withdrawal, irritability (well, that goes without saying…). I’m in the throes of a raging PMS fit and I still have no urge to lick the inside of a bag of Fritos corn chips to get my salt jones cured. I have no jones to speak of (um… not EVERY urge is asleep, don’t worry. Sex and chocolate are still in full, raging glory, I’ll have you know!).
I did not expect to have curbed hunger- its something I have wrestled with all my life. I watched my mother eat like nobody’s business and I learned from her how to pack it away. I have a bet with Michael, my veg buddy, that someday we are gonna face off and have an eating contest when this is all over. I think I can take him if I nap enough and have a really horrid ovulation cycle (as soon as I see a zit the magnitude of Kilauea, I am making plane reservations for a flight to meet him and Mrs. Michael at the nearest all you can eat rib joint). The combining of foods may be tedious, but sometimes, when it hits just right, the hang time lasts a long time. I am impressed…
Daily Report
Morning blood sugar: 92
Today’s food:
Granola, yogurt, protein powder and milk
A bagel sandwish with egg and cheddar cheese before work (for more gas to get the day done)
A huge green salad with vinaigrette, a tureen of melon, pineapple and strawberries and that nice sandwich
3 chocolate Madelines and 2 chocolate covered graham crackers
Various spoons of Sauce Bordelaise as I made filet mignon and NY strip steaks for class (Brian is mooing happily tonight with a full belly, of course)
One cup of mashed potatoes with shiitakes and white truffle oil
The breakdown is too tedious to get to this evening, as I am plastered tired, but I know I am way too protein light. The hummus and bread made a complete protein, as did my whey supplement this morning, but I am still shy a few grams. I can live with that. Tomorrow, before I head back to the wine auction, I will have black beans, steamed rice and an over easy egg for breakfast. A nice Latin American way to get the day off right.
Eating contest?! bring it Sister! I am pound for pound, the heavy wieght champion of eating……. Incidently, I have not noticed any ill effects from this little exercise either, although my menu has been much less varietal than yours.