cheating

there is much debate as to whether or not you should cheat on diets. well, here's what i think.

if you're on a "diet," then no you shouldn't cheat. because i think a diet is something that should be done for a set amount of time and you should work hard to stay with the plan because it's not something you're going to do for the rest of your life. for instance, a year ago i did the 90 day Visalus challenge and lost about 20 pounds. that was the beginning of my new way of eating, i suppose, because up until that point, i hadn't really thought much about what was going into my body. so the 90 day thing was a good way to get me going. yes, it was a diet, and for the most part, i stayed with it. but in the meantime, i worked on changing the way i eat overall.

i switched from sugar in my coffee to splenda, from chips and dip to apples and peanut butter for snacks, from burgers and fries to big salads or soup for dinner. please don't think i'm telling you i eat like the healthiest person ever now, because i don't always. i'm not on a "diet" anymore, but i pay attention to what i'm eating. yes, sometimes kyle and i go to Dead End BBQ and get the nachos, because OHMYGAWD they're good. but not every day. once in a while isn't going to kill us. and most of the time, i'm packing him celery and apples for snacks at work and i snack on carrots and strawberries when i'm at home. 

so if you're just living as healthfully as possible, and you have a cheat day, then that's ok. don't beat yourself up over it. cheating on a diet, isn't going to kill you either, but i think there is a big difference between diets and your everyday healthy eating. and if you do cheat on your diet, move on. keep going. is this making any sense?

so in honor of my rambling argument, i give you two recipes. one healthy. one cheat.

Roasted Vegetables & Goat Cheese Pasta Salad

recipe found here.

i found this recipe on interest several weeks ago, and it was delicious. i made it with just whatever vegetables i had on hand. so great and only 191 calories per serving.

Pink Lemonade Cupcakes

recipe found here.

my mom makes this cake in the summertime when we have cookouts and things, but i made cupcake versions this time. it's so tangy and fluffy. and full of glorious sugar. i mean, it has to be since it's a Paula Deen recipe, right?

so there you go. i'm going to have my cheat days or cheat meals. and you can, too. just try not to think of eating healthy as a "diet," because it's not. eating healthy should be for forever, and a diet is just for a little while. and if you're one of these people who just eat whateverthehell they want and don't gain a pound, then get off my blog. just kidding. kinda. ;)

love.

krq.