When I have down days, I automatically seek comfort in food. This isn’t a bad thing, necessarily, but it’s important to reach for the right kind of food. Lately, I’ve been eating dairy again, which I don’t judge myself for, because judging myself is something I’m pretty good at without worrying about the food I eat.
The importance of loving myself and self care through food is quickly becoming a topic I struggle with and I end up making some rather unpleasant discoveries about myself.
It makes me ask questions like why do I seek comfort in food? Especially dairy, because as I’ve gotten older, dairy has increasingly bad after-effects on my system. Yet, I can spend an entire day eating one pizza, and then the next day feel like a garbage can, but then eat macaroni and cheese.
The truth is, it’s easy comfort. It’s conveniently comforting. I find myself reaching for the foods I like without thinking of the consequences because it’s easy to ignore those things when I’m trying to find comfort.
So, what is the solution? I know what I’m going through is not new. It’s not a new thing for a lot of people. So, how do I solve my problem? The solution is to find comfort in something other than food. Easier said than done. As the days become more stressful, and the hours at work ramp up to overtime, convenience food is always going to be a thing.
The solution then needs to be a healthier comfort food, right? Yeah, but I don’t like hummus that much to be eating it after work on days that I had a struggle. I want something fast and easy.
I did sign up for Thrive Market and they have a lovely smattering of vegan friendly snack and convenience foods, but that again presents a problem for me, because while it’s dairy free, vegan, whatever, it’s still a snack food. The solution is to make food the last resort for comfort when I’m having a bad day.
I love to read, and I write fiction, too. My options for creativity are somewhat limited where I live, but that doesn’t mean I give up completely on what I love to do. The key is to believe the level of satisfaction will be the same as a bowl of macaroni and cheese. Or a slice of pizza. Reaching into that well of colorful visions of the future, what I could be, using that to distance myself from what bothers me will be the eventual goal to achieve.
Food can still be a happy thing. It should absolutely be a way to show I care about someone, or a way to help me feel happy. But it should not be my only source of happiness. With that, let me give you a gentle recipe, something small to provide a little bit of joy when you have breakfast, or when you need a quick, easy snack before heading out to live your best life.
Granola is not a glamorous food. It’s probably not even that comforting. But what it does offer is texture and crunch on top of smoothies, and it can be nutritious depending on how it’s made. It’s simple and easy.
Blueberry Granola
Recipe yield: about 4 cups
Preparation time: 15 minutes
Cook time: 30 minutes
Total time: 45 minutes, plus cooling
Ingredients:
3 cups rolled oats
2 cups nuts and seeds of choice
(I used raw, chopped almonds and pumpkin seeds)
3/4 cup dried blueberries
1/2 cup maple syrup or agave (I used a combination of both)
1/4 cup coconut oil, melted
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
Method:
- Combine dry ingredients, minus blueberries, in a large bowl till evenly distributed.
- In another bowl, whisk together wet ingredients, making sure the oil is combined with the syrups well.
- Stir wet into dry until all of the oats are coated.
- Line a tray with either parchment, foil, or a silicon baking mat, and bake in a 300 degree oven for fifteen minutes, stir, and then bake for fifteen more minutes.
- Remove from the oven and place tray on a wire cooling rack. This will help air circulate under the tray and help it cool. Stir every now and then, as the granola will harden as it cools.
- Add blueberries and toss to distribute once granola is completely cool.
- Store in an airtight container for up to two weeks.
Use on top of yogurt, smoothie bowls, or eat as plain cereal.
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