Cheese and Me
Most people when they get stressed like to either drink or eat chocolate. Me? I eat cheese. I guess it started a couple of years ago and was influenced by a friend I used to go out to eat with. I’ve never really been a stress eater, probably because I used to smoke cigarettes twelve years ago and used that as my crutch. I learned about my cheese addiction one day when I was really stressed out about work, which has been a fairly common and reoccurring thing. There is an excellent Mexican Restaurant a few blocks away from our house who of course bring you a bowl of chips the minute you sit down. You know the ones; those where you can’t eat just one and before you know it the whole basket is gone along with your appetite.
Well when she brought the chips I decided I wanted some queso. Bad move I know because not only did I dip all those chips into that creamy goodness I wound up pouring more of that yellow, hot cheese over my already cheesy enchiladas. Oh and don’t forget the cheese puff that came with the tacos before the meal came out. Considering that I’m TRYING, stress the word trying, to eat right and ruining all of this tortuous time spent with a trainer at the gym, I’m faced with a dilemma. I obviously can’t step foot into a Mexican Restaurant when I’m stressed out. And really what can you eat that’s not going to blow your diet there?
Not too long ago I read about a woman who had to completely quit eating pasta because she just couldn’t handle eating just a little of it. What? Going cold turkey?? I almost had a heart attack at the thought! I don’t think I could handle never eating cheese again. I shiver thinking about it.
Determined to keep cheese in my diet, I turned to the help of the My Fitness Pal application for my Iphone and its online free tool. I mean what can you eat at a Mexican Restaurant that doesn’t blow your diet? But I discovered I can eat the grilled fish tacos at Chuey’s and fajitas without the flour tacos, or I could choose corn tortillas instead. It’s not cheese but I can eat there. But beware of the charro beans! A bowl contains a whopping 200 to 300 calories. You’d be better off with the refried beans believe it or not.
As for the cheese, I will still eat it but instead of going to the restaurant when I’m stressed, I’m going to head to the gym. Obviously I can’t be trusted with it and they say it’s always best to avoid a situation than to place yourself right in front of steaming bowl of golden, chunky with peppers, and creamy love in bowl. Well that’s what they say anyway. Whether I can handle it? That’s another story.