Food, glorious food!

I have to say that I am a little proud of my restraint since I arrived here. Normally my ritual in America is to consume as much food as possible, whether it be good or bad for me. My rationale is that I'm on holidays, have access to food that is otherwise not available to me and that I'm only here for a limited time.

This time around it's different, so I need to think differently as well.

I think the only candy I've bought from the store so far has been a couple of small chocolate bars with Christmas flavours and some halloween candy (because it won't be around much longer in the stores). I've eaten some of it and I'm keeping some for later.

I will admit that ice-cream is a weakness of mine, but I am pacing myself with that as well. While I'm here I have decided to create and participate in the Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream Challenge. It's something I've made up myself, but I want to try and eat every flavour that is available in stores. I went to their website and made a spreadsheet of every flavour that is listed there. Over the course of the next year I am going to try and sample every single one of them. I'm also going to put together a table of my thoughts on the taste and whether I would try it again. It's just something I came up with when I was thinking about living here.

The only soda I've had has been a can of Dr Pepper on the plane from New York to Boston and little bits here and there when I've been out at a bar or restaurant. Mostly I'm trying to drink water, both still and sparkling. They have a lot of variety here with flavoured sparkling water but I think I still prefer the plain one best.

Meal-wise I have tried to start cooking food from day one. I've made pasta, slow-cooked pork and shredded chicken so far. Portland (Maine) is so amazing as far as restaurant eating goes, so I definitely want to experience some of that. But in a way to watch what I eat and save some money, I still want to eat at home most of the time.

Once I am settled into my apartment full-time I am going to do a juice detox/fast for 7 days as well. I'm excited about that - hopefully it will help flush out any crap from my system and help to lose a little weight. Once the juice detox is done I will also be looking to start going to the gym, but that's a whole other post for another time.

All in all, I am trying to eat as well as I can and my goal is to come back to Australia weighing less than I did when I got here. I know that is going to be a challenge but 'game on' ...