As my month-long soda-free challenge comes down to the final week, the time has come to unleash our next adventure on the homestead.
Beginning on Friday April 1, 2011 we will be faced with the task of preparing and eating no less than five new recipes each week. That’s a total of no less than 20 recipes for the entire month. For the recipe to qualify as new for the purposes of this challenge, we can’t have ever made it prior to April. Any recipe counts, including entrees, side dishes, seasonings, salads, and thankfully, desserts. The only other rule for the challenge is that we have to follow the recipe exactly as it is written, except in the case that a recipe calls for ginger or aspartame (as I am highly allergic to both). No deviations are allowed for a recipe included in the challenge tally otherwise.
Food is an important part of our lives and as I said in a previous post, I hope that people will become more cognizant of what they are using to fuel their bodies. If more people chose to eat less chemical-laden high fructose corn syrup infused crap we would be a much healthier society. Counting calories would be far less important if the calories we were eating were coming from high quality, nutrient dense sources.
That’s not to say that every recipe we try is going to be the most healthy option available. Life is about making informed choices and exercising moderation. One of the most appealing aspects of the April Food Challenge for me is that it will take me beyond my comfort zone and encourage me to try new things. I am very much a creature of habit when it comes to what I eat, often ordering the same dish at a particular restaurant each time I visit. This month will be a great way to explore new ideas, new flavors, new textures and to learn things about ourselves along the journey.
Do you have a recipe you’d like to suggest for the April Food Challenge? Let us know in the comments below!
