It’s a funny thing about food and life

in that our eating patterns and our emotional state are utterly connected at all times. The good, bad, happy, or sad…you get the picture. It all seems to be tied directly to our food choices.

“Ugh, rush hour traffic. I need Taco Bell” 

OR 

“Happy Birthday, cake.”  But in a sultry tone, maybe even a wink, because that’s how I envision talking to cake. 

The fact still remains that even though wolfing down T-Bell will leave you feeling a different kind of emotion about an hour after consumption, that impulse still has you “running for the boarder”.  

Or in my case, stalking lonely pieces of cake. 

A solution, you ask? I’m not 100% sure. There are about eight million fitness and health articles out there that can give you tips to deal with emotional eating but I’ve found that those tactics only work when we want them to. When we are motivated to have “A” more than “B”.

On a good day, I’d rather have “A” which for me is a lot less bloating, weight gain, and general feelings of yucky-ness. Then there are days when “B” sounds like the only thing that will do at the moment. Even after two glasses of water, five minutes of meditation, and a long walk.

Yeah…I still want the chips (or cake or random junk food item).

SO whether I have a huge appetite or none whatsoever, I’m in tune with it. I will not deny myself when I feel the need for something sweet to take the edge off or a crispy chip for crunching. But I do attempt balance. Eating a lite snack verses eating all of the snacks. Not consuming the whole bag of chips, but a portion of a instead. Possibly even a health conscious alternative. 

Oh, and speaking of delicious, salty snacking made healthy…

You can snack on these babies after a long day at the office. In pajamas. In front of the television…with no guilt!

Now pay attention because if you blink you will miss this entire recipe. 

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Microwave Parmesan Crisps

Ingredients: 

1/4 cup Shredded Parmesan Cheese

Cooking Spray

Spray ceramic plate with cooking spray. Glass plates will work too, but I would watch it closely as not to burn. 

Place Parmesan in small mounds on the plate. Insert plate into Microwave. Turn it on for approximately 1 minute. 5o seconds might do the trick depending on your plate and microwave.

Peal off and cool for about two seconds. Eat. 

VARIATION:

Make one giant crisp by just forming one pile of cheese in the center of the plate, then flattening it evenly before cooking.

Add a pinch of Italian Seasoning to the cheese before portioning it onto the plate.

Eat them as chips, with marinara to dip, or make two small ones for a crispy “bun” instead of bread.

Now go grab a plate and munch your heart out. 

♥ Liz