Fats, Good Fats

Walnuts and sunflower seeds honey bar... What a treat! 

I don't have an intention to preach here what is good and what is bad for you. We are all adults and free to make our own choices. What I want to do is I want to share with you, my friends, what I love to eat and how it helps me to loose weight. And I want everyone to be comfortable here...
Today we are talking fats. Oils, batter, nuts, avocado (although botanically it's  a berry, a big one), and seeds.
My favorite oils are olive, walnut, hemp and sunflower. And I use it just a little, a drizzle, a spray puff (I use spritzer), a teaspoon when cooking. I am not talking about moderation here. Rather enjoyable minimization, and for that I use a high quality oils like Greek, Tuscan, French. Instead of frying I bake my food with either wine, lemon juice, or vegetable stock. Eggplants, cut in half, and baked with a white wine have a delicious taste, creamy texture, and a thin golden brown crust on the cut.

Lunch: open sandwich with mushroom caviar, tomatoes, sprouts and parsley. Unsweetened green tea with lemon and mint.

Butter. I've tried the healthy stuff out there, but butter is still the best choice for me. The real butter, made with milk from pasture raised cows. A few times a month we would start our Saturday morning with a freshly brewed coffee and a toast with a butter: spread a small piece on a warm toast and the aroma of the meadow pleasantly hits your senses. It's a treat...
Nuts. Of that we eat a lot, walnuts being our absolute favorite. An apple and a few walnuts make a perfect never boring snack. I eat about 10-15 walnut halves per day, sometimes 20, sometimes none. I've read somewhere that walnuts are good for my brain as well, so there is a double benefit! :)
I do love avocado from time to time. I use it more for my kale dressing, and about once a week for a sandwich.

Dinner: angel hair Jerusalem artichoke pasta with sprouts, roasted red pepper, and drizzle of Greek olive oil.

And last but not list is my all time favorite: sunflower seeds. I was addicted to sunflower seeds, I couldn't stop eating it when I had them at home. I couldn't control myself when I had sunflower butter: one jar was often gone the same day I made it (yes, I prefer homemade sunflower butter).
Let me tell you a secret: if I am left on an exile island with a bag of sunflower seeds I would consider it a luxury vacations! Yep, that's how much I love sunflower seeds!
Although 100 gr (3.4oz) of sunflower seeds have 10 g of dietary fiber (not bad, ha?!) and 22 g of protein along with other vitamins and nutrients, it is also a high in calories, 570 kcal per same 100 grams, which is a lot! 
Sadly, my relationships with sunflower seeds had to change, dramatically and significantly. And, oh boy, did I have a withdrawal?! Ask my family... :)
I was nuts about those seeds! It took me a good five to six months to finally find a piece with the sunflower seeds, or rather with not having the sunflower seeds. I do buy the sunflower seeds from time to time, but the big craving is gone, so now I can manage having it at home. It's a big victory, if you ask me!

I made this super delicious candy as a treat. I shared it with some friends too.

How do you handle your cravings? 

Do you have your own story to share?

Until next time,
Cowboy Country Vegetarian

Disclaimer: Please, consult a medical professional prior to changing your diet or starting an exercise program.