Pants

[Editor's Note: There is a question for my readers that begs answering towards the end. I promise.]

I know, I know, you’re probably getting tired of me whining about how my pants no longer fit. Well, me too. And, thankfully, I finally have enough motivation to attempt some changes to correct that little problem. I’m not sure what brought that about. Perhaps it’s that I’m getting used to all the other major lifestyle changes I’ve made in the last 12 months (you know, getting married, moving, having a car, waking up hours earlier than I used to, different dinner plans, no longer living in a neighborhood where I can walk to actually get places, etc) and can fathom the idea of making some more. Maybe it’s just that I’m sick and tired of having a limited wardrobe. Maybe it’s that I’m a little unattracted by my reflection in the mirror. Maybe it’s the 2 1/2 “health books” I’ve read lately (and the 3 others that are sitting on my desk, checked out from the library, waiting to be read) that have told me that I’m doing it all wrong and am going to die. Whatever.

My current plan involves 30 minutes of walking a day. If I don’t see any progress (or see very minor progress) within a given period of time, I have an additional part of the plan to try. (For those of you who think I’m being overly dramatic, for your information since getting married I gained 11 pounds, which is nearly 10% of my body weight, and went from a 26 1/2 inch waist to a 28 inch waist, which is about 2 pant sizes.)

In a much less formal way, I’m also trying to eat more like I used to (you know, when I bought groceries only for myself and planned meals according to my whims only). There are some foods that I almost never eat any more because certain people don’t like them, and at least a few of them have some health benefits (like salmon and avocados). [Editor's Note: it should be noted that also eats a lot less of some food items he really likes, such as sandwiches and Manwich and spicy spaghetti.]

So yesterday I spent my found $20 ( and I went for a walk Sunday night and I found a $20 on the sidewalk with no one nearby to claim it) at the Farmer’s Market, and then went to the grocery store after work for some foods only I would like. I had artisan bread with Brie for dinner. I intended to also eat the sardines that I bought, but lost track of time. I also had the bread with Brie for breakfast today, and it has kept me full much longer than I thought it would. For lunch I have some light yogurt and snap peas from the market.

At any rate, what I was getting around to, was a question for my readers. After reading “The 11 Best Foods You Aren’t Eating” and “101 Fast Recipes for Inspired Picnics” (both from NYTimes), I was yet again reminded that there are certain foods I’d prefer to never eat, but that perhaps it’s because I’ve never been fed them in any sort of appetizing way. Some foods on my “no” list that I haven’t tried in quite some time are:

• eggplant
• zucchini
• parsnips
• lima beans….

There are also some foods on my “no” list that are just non-negotiable and it will take near-starvation for me to eat them, including most notably:

• tomatoes
• onions
• peaches
• pesto
• oranges
• olives (both colors)
• liver and onions
• perhaps grapes.

There are some foods that I think are on my “no” list but I don’t think I’ve actually tried before, including (inspired by the aforementioned articles):

• beets
• Swiss chard
• blueberries
• collards
• anchovies
• tongue (can you even buy this anymore? would I have to ask a butcher for it? why would I?)

For reference, I have tried and enjoyed a lot of “weird” foods, including:

• tofu
• lentils
• lots of different cheeses
• most grains
• nearly all the “meat substitutes”
• most types of ethnic foods including all of the Asian ones, Greek, Indian (both Native American and from the country), and Ethiopian (I live in the Midwest, and some people here would consider anything other than American, Mexican, or Italian to be exotic)
• asparagus
• artichokes
• most seafood and fishes (not a big fan of scallops or lobster, but everything else is yummy),

There are also some cooking methods I haven’t used before, like blanching, poaching (except eggs), and ganache (this word, almost always referencing chocolate, confuses and excites me).

So, given all that (and the fact that probably no one has made it this far down into this post), do you have any suggestions for me? Ways to cook any of the above-mentioned foods in ways that are actually good? I know, it’s a lot to ask. And on a holiday weekend (or nearly a holiday weekend) too.