Day 13 – Thinking Before Eating and Raw Chili

Don’t reward yourself with food. You are not a dog!

Do you think about what you eat? Do you eat to feel full? For a reward? For a treat? Because you are bored? Upset?

There are many reasons why you might eat, but one should come before all the rest – to fuel your body. Next time you find yourself standing in front of your open refrigerator, stop and ask yourself why you are standing there. Are you really hungry or are you just looking for something to do?

Social encounters revolve around food. It is all too common to meet a friend for lunch or for a drink. Try going out places where food is not the main attraction. Meet friends for a movie, to see a show, to play mini-golf, or to go bowling.

Think before you eat. Think about the ingredients, the amount of sugars and carbohydrates. Think about the impact the food will have on your short and long-term health. Take the time to think about why you are eating, especially if you are over-eating, and you will make better eating choices.

This recipe is adapted from rawfoodrecipes.com.

Raw Chili
serves 2

Marinade
1/2 lemon, juiced
2 Tbsp cold pressed olive oil
pinch sea salt

Vegetables
1 small eggplant
1 zucchini
1 large Portobello mushroom
2 tomatoes
1/2 yellow onion
1 chili pepper (optional)
1-2 cloves garlic

Sauce
1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes
2 tomatoes
2 dates
1/4 cup cold pressed olive oil
pinch cayenne pepper
1 tsp fresh parsley
1 tsp fresh oregano
1 tsp chili powder

• Chop all vegetables and transfer to medium bowl.
• Add marinade ingredients to vegetables, and toss to combine.
• Let vegetables marinate for 3-4 hours in the refrigerator.
• When ready to serve, add the sauce ingredients to the food processor and purée, scraping sides as necessary.
• Pour sauce into vegetable mixture, and stir to combine.