I’m glad to hear that some of you have noticed a correlation between diet and allergies, too! I really, really hope that I can kick this thing over the next year. The skin allergies in particular drive me nuts!
I’ve been trying to identify more possible allergens, and I’m starting to think that soy might be the culprit. As I mentioned in this post, the only reprieve I’ve had from these alleriges in the past six-or-so years was when I was in India, and when I was in India, I ate NO soy. No tofu, tempeh, soymilk, edamame—nothing. Soy could be an even stronger contender than sweets! Giving up soy probably means a return to cow’s-milk yogurt, and thus requires some thought.
That being said, the “kick-the-allergies” experiment has started already as I try to eliminate unnecessarily sweet foods from my daily rotation. By this, I mean things like oatmeal with fruit and brown sugar/maple syrup; toast with AB&jam; bar snacks (larabars, luna bars, etc.). I eat a lot of this stuff out of habit, not because I actually WANT sweet foods.
Here are some of the less-sweet things I’ve eaten this week:

Pumpkin+almond butter topped whole-wheat bagel. Tastes like a pumpkin pie!!

Breakfast superstar: oatmeal, unsweetened soymilk, spinach, avocado, chili powder, sea salt, black pepper, drizzle of olive oil

I had the same thing today after hot yoga, only blended! Amazing Grass on the side (LOVE this stuff—a more in-depth review to come). This meal was super filling—I have half the oatmeal waiting in the fridge for a snack later!

I was able to turn down Baskin Robbins because I knew I was coming home to this (yes, it's sugary, but less so than ice cream!): apples, TJ's crunchy almond butter, and 65% dark chocolate chips
- BUT . . . I’d be misleading you if I didn’t also reveal the sweeties that are sneaking in:

Downfall #1: My "healthy" chocolate croissant: Arnold's whole-wheat bread, TJ's crunchy almond butter, and 65% chippers. I cannot for the life of me go a day without having this at least once!!

Downfall #2: There are more flavors of that wine sorbet than I originally thought.

Oh boy. This sugar monster is going to be hard to tame!
Hope you’re enjoying your Saturday!
June 20, 2009 at 9:37 pm
Love the healthy chocolate croissant! Yes, bagels are DEFINITELY savory
They get a big thumbs up from me!
Good luck with the no soy!
June 20, 2009 at 11:36 pm
ooh, that healthy croissant looks awesome
i hope you can figure out how to help tame your allergies!
have a great rest of your weekend, Vani
June 20, 2009 at 11:45 pm
I definitely do better when I’m not eating sweets and when I cut down on fruit.
Good luck
June 21, 2009 at 1:49 am
I love your bagel, pumpkin, and nut butter combo! It tasted like pumpkin pie you say? That sounds delicious! And the healthy croissant looks amazing, too. Good luck with the no soy!
June 21, 2009 at 7:35 pm
Blackberry Cabernet? I’m in!
June 22, 2009 at 3:29 pm
your healthy chocolate croissant is brilllliant. and you make savory oats sound so gourmet! i NEED to try your method. it will be the first thing on my agenda next time i have an avocado!
June 22, 2009 at 7:31 pm
I’ve tried that brand of sorbet before and got the blood oragne, so delicious!
That healthy croissant looks perfect!
June 22, 2009 at 9:00 pm
You know, I made a soy “meat”loaf for dinner last night and I just have not felt right today – pretty intense nausea this morning, actually! It sat in my belly like a brick. I don’t need more convincing to give up (or at least go light on) the soy.
As admirable as your attempts are to cut down the sweets, do not give up the chocolate. It would be sad.
June 23, 2009 at 8:19 pm
progress not perfection
June 26, 2009 at 2:55 pm
Dude. You have inspired me with the avocado/oatmeal deal. Looks AMAZING. Breakfast next week! Did you cook the spinach or throw in raw?
See you SUNDAY!!!!!!!!!!! xoxoxox
June 28, 2009 at 10:03 am
Oh, I’ve heard of that wine sorbet, looks super good!
July 1, 2009 at 12:01 pm
[...] I incorporated the poached egg into Vani-inspired savory oats topped with a Brandi-inspired egg (though the non-runny part is [...]
July 2, 2009 at 11:40 pm
Oh my god! that avocado breakfast looks totally divine!!
July 3, 2009 at 11:19 pm
I’ve been thinking I might have trouble with soy as well. I gave up soy protein powder and the meat analogs made from soy. I think soy makes me bloated?
Love that pumpkin bagel!
July 4, 2009 at 10:03 am
Heeeeeey you!!! I’m so thankful for your inspiration to be gym-free, I just had to say that again! As for the soy – try rice milk or almond milk. I find both yummy and very easily digestible. And cutting out soy is quite had – alot of things have soy lecithin in them! I would advise trying out different versions of soy-free and recording the results. Soy milk may be the culprit, or tofu. I doubt edamame would be, as it’s so unprocessed, but you never know!
July 4, 2009 at 9:50 pm
Happy July 4th!