Taking the Time To Cook What You Eat

This afternoon for lunch I had a quesadilla with sauteed onions and serrano chiles. My neighbor recommended making them this way. I followed her suggestions, and was pleased with the result. I added some sliced tomato and fresh cilantro, and it was delicious. It was fast and easy to prepare, too.

I've noticed recently that many people don't take the time to cook for themselves anymore. Convenience foods are everywhere. The grocery stores are filled with prepared meals. Many people prefer them. I still really enjoy making what I eat from scratch. It costs a lot less money, and it's healthy and fresh.

People often ask me if I'm naturally thin. They assume that I can eat whatever I want. Often, these people don't realize that I have always exercised for at least an hour a day, for most of my life. When I was dancing professionally, teaching,  and training, I worked out for  several hours each day and night. With the exception of when I was on tour, I have always eaten home cooked meals. If I eat junk and fast food, I gain weight. Most people do. So, I rarely eat those things.

I used to be addicted to potato chips and Nacho Cheese Doritos. I would buy a large bag of one or the other Costco, and think it would last me for a month. It usually didn't. I rationalized that because it was so cheap, (only five or six dollars,) it was okay to eat. I started buying gummy bears there in bulk, too. I sent some to my mother, who also loved them. We both felt guilty. Eventually, I stopped buying all three items. I just knew eating all of those chemicals wasn't good for me. At that time I had osteoarthritis in my hips, and I noticed that type of eating made the pain flare. So, I stopped buying most packaged  foods.  Now, if I want a snack, I'll choose something more natural. I like to have peanut butter on celery, a piece of fruit, or a handful of pumpkin seeds. These seem like much wiser choices. I still enjoy treats, like sorbet and gelato, but I eat them in moderation. I try to keep the bulk of what I put into my body real food. My ballet teacher, Rosemary Valaire, called it "eating sensibly".  How about you? Do you prepare your own meals?