The milkshake. Wait, I'll back up. I've been off dairy and white flour products for a year. Off sugar and meat for about 6 months. I've been making valiant attempts to eat organic produce and avoid alkaloid-ridden nightshade vegetables. All in the name of health, mostly. Saving the planet maybe a little too.
But all my efforts did not keep away my yearly sinus infection. After 2 weeks of living in a congested, antibioticized daze I deserved a reward. Yes, that's it! Something to congratulate myself on finally feeling better. Something comforting and indulgent. Suddenly an undeniable image appeared in my mind: Bartley's Burgers. The smell that wafts down Mass Ave and lures pedestrians in off the street reached me, two towns away. In my mind I knew this was the reward I deserved so very much.
So we went. We ordered! I am an American! I deserve this. I sank my teeth into that burger and pulled away and unsatisfying bite of mostly bun. I tried again, teeth grazing the beef. I pushed away thoughts of feedlots, stun guns, and methane. The burger was...ok. I couldn't enjoy it. The fries were ok too. The satisfaction just wasn't there. The taste didn't draw me in and drive me to consume every last bite like I remembered.
But then, there was the milkshake, of which I drank down to the bottom of the glass with glee. After months of limited dairy and sugar, it was pure heaven. Delicious. And worth every sip. Until 20 minutes later when I was staggering around Harvard Square, my blood sugar exhausted. But in that moment...the milkshake definitely, definitely won.
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I hadn't eaten cheese in close to a month when I treated myself this weekend and had a piece of fresh mozzarella at a dinner party Saturday night...normally, it would be heaven on Earth. Any kind of cheese. But after killing my cheese craving, it just tasted...okay. Strange.
It's amazing how you go without, and you get used to it. I used to drink soda a lot when I was in my early 20's. Regular soda. Talk about sugar! ACK! I switched to diet, thinking "no way, I can't drink that stuff, tastes to funny". But, I did and I got used to it. Then I switched to green tea. I don't like regular soda now. I will drink a diet soda now and then, but if I have 12 oz a week, that's a lot. I stick with tea and water. You get used to it.
Question for you.. do you not eat potatoes? After reading this yesterday I hit google for nightshades and alkaloid, but I didn't come up with anything really "bad". I have never been a potato person. I had an "issue" with mashed potatoes when I was like 2, it's all psychological, but I will NOT eat mashed, baked, boiled, hash browned, etc potatoes. However, I am growing to liking roasted red potatoes. So, I'm curious as to if you think they aren't good. They are a vegetable (um..of sorts, are they? LOL).
Hmmm, you know I don't have any hard evidence about potatoes. But the macrobiotic diet (which I do not follow but have taken lessons from) discourages all nightshade vegetables. I figure, I've never heard anyone recommend for better health to specifically "Eat more eggplant! Eat more potatoes!" so maybe there's something to it. I generally try to not eat them...but of course I do here and there. I particularly LOVE eggplant!
i nearly cried when i read this.
if your burger meat had been locally processed and the animal had lived a good life on a clean farm, eating what it was meant to - free grazing and well, happy and content as he could be... that might have helped.
i eat meat. but i eat that kind of meat.
I know of approximately zero restaurants serving grass-fed local beef. I'm sure they exist..somewhere. However, when I (rarely) cook beef, I buy from the best. (Lionette's Market for any Bostonians reading)
I went to a restaurant in Boston that serves grass-fed beef (from a localish farm even). But I don't know where! It was somewhere near where I was staying which means near the Prudential Center. :)
Do you not find that dairy exacerbates your sinus issues? If I'm even the slightest bit sniffly, dairy does me in.
Well I gave up dairy a year ago with the intention of finding out if it would help my sinuses actually. It may have in smaller ways, but it didn't keep me from getting a sinus infection this spring. That made me pretty angry. Maybe it will take longer than a year to see a difference.
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