Retraining My Palate

25 posted on August 25, 2008
POSTED IN: Authenticity

Lisa and I just completed our first week of a fairly significant diet change. This past week we’ve been on a Daniel diet or Daniel Fast. For 21 days we’re eliminating all meat, dairy, sugars and processed foods from our diet and only eating fruits, whole grains and vegetables. It’s basically a vegan diet with a few added exclusions.

Eating this way has been quite challenging for us. It’s amazing how much we allow our appetite to control us and dictate what, where and when we should eat. Learning to control our appetite and making our bodies do without things it’s used to (like coffee or sugars) can be very challenging. The whole principle of fasting is making yourself do without something you want or enjoy (which can also include more than just food).

Some of the benefits of this diet change include:

  • It has forced us to be creative about our meal choices. I’ve eaten dishes and food combinations that I would most likely pass on if given the choice.
  • Good fruits and and vegetables have become a much larger and important part of our meals.
  • We’ve been shopping for more locally grown produce at local Farmers Markets and at Whole Foods.
  • I enjoy little treats so much more (like last night’s stove-popped popcorn)

I’ve been able to make and get enjoyment from some great dishes, like the salad in the picture above. That salad included farm fresh greens, tomatoes, cucumbers, raisins and peaches with a vinegar, herbs and olive oil dressing. Not sure how that sounds to you but for me yesterday, it was amazing!

Don’t get me wrong. This diet is HARD work! There have been many times I think I would have paid $50 for a good burger. And oh, how I miss my coffee in the mornings! But I’m learning to curb my appetite and adapt to a new lifestyle. I’m realizing my body likes to give the orders and doesn’t like being denied what it wants.

If you’re interested in learning more about a Daniel Fast check out this link for some more information and great recipes. Also check out what Elevation has going on for their church-wide Daniel Fast they’re currently on.

What would be the hardest food for you to go without?

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This entry was posted on Monday, August 25th, 2008 at 8:28 am and is filed under Authenticity. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

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  1. Visit My Website

    August 25, 2008

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    1 Jeff M. Miller said:

    We recently switched to a Meditterasian diet in our home, which means giving up all processed foods and anything with poly or saturated fats. It also meant switching to a diet very low on meats, especially beef.

    I’m actually enjoying it quite a bit, and it really hasn’t been that big of an adjustment.

    I also gave up carbonated drinks completely. I still do coffee and tea, and I doubt I could ever give them up. I have a history of migraines, and the caffeine literally keeps them away most of the time. So, I guess that would be my hardest to give up, because I’d have such headaches as you wouldn’t believe.



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    August 25, 2008

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    2 Steve Murphy said:

    Mexican food of any kind… which I am learning to live without no that I live in the south… *sadness*

    Steve Murphys last blog post..Production Value



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    August 25, 2008

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    3 nicole said:

    chocolate…
    i know that is sad…but i love dark chocolate
    and cheese dip..
    the worst food ever!!!!! so not good for any part of me (heart/hips) but it is the :go to: emotional girl food!

    nicoles last blog post..in a funk



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    August 25, 2008

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    4 Brandee said:

    What?? No Coffee? Oh my…



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    August 25, 2008

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    5 Jason said:

    Anything that at one point had a pulse, that would be the most difficult to give up. Is the reason you are on this diet more for weight loss or is it different reasons (heart, health, etc..)?

    Jasons last blog post..Men’s Magazine



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    August 25, 2008

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    6 Brad Ruggles said:

    @Jeff – The Mediterranean diet sounds interesting. I enjoy most Mediterranean foods so I imagine that would be pretty good. Giving up coffee has been pretty tough.

    @Steve – I’m not as much into Mexican food as I used to be but this week, I would DEFINITELY take a nice big burrito!

    @Nicole – Gotta love the chocolate. :-)

    @Brandee – I know. *sigh*

    @Jason – What I wouldn’t give for a good burger right now. We’re doing it first to seek God’s direction on some things and second, for the health benefits.



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    August 25, 2008

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    7 evan courtney said:

    I’m a soda addict

    evan courtneys last blog post..I turned 30



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    August 25, 2008

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    8 Nick said:

    Its always good to hear people’s stories who are more disciplined than I am.

    I could not go without Chicken.

    I did change my eating habits a lot since this past Thanksgiving and it has been good, but I would not go without meat. Its ungodly :)

    Nicks last blog post..Vetted



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    August 25, 2008

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    9 Crystal Renaud said:

    is your doing this diet for the obedience of fasting or something else? what about your kids?



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    August 25, 2008

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    10 Mamirosa & Co. said:

    I’m Mexican so I would definitely have to say “anything spicy”. I love to have salsa with my beans, rice and meat! So yeah… that’d be the hardest part for me. Oh and the tortillas… that’s hard to give up when it’s been part of your meal your whole life.

    I have to start eating healthy too though. I have Policystic Kidney Disease which has led me to develop High Blood Pressure. It’s just so difficult to make a change for life!

    Good job on sticking to your diet! I’ll have to check out the link.

    Mamirosa & Co.s last blog post..{ Blast to the Past! }



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    August 25, 2008

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    11 Shane P. said:

    You are tha man. I would lose like…40+ pounds if i did that. I pray that God will rock your world thorough this! Good times- Shane

    Shane P.s last blog post..Influences



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    August 25, 2008

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    12 tam said:

    that salad looks incredible brad!!

    my family would straight up walk out on me if i out us on this diet.

    hmmmm…wait a minute….

    tams last blog post..an avatar explanation



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    August 25, 2008

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    13 tam said:

    “put” not “out”

    oh….and i couldnt go without my decaf mocha with a 1/4 scoop of sugar free vanilla.

    and OREOS

    tams last blog post..an avatar explanation



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    August 25, 2008

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    14 alece said:

    so what happens on day 22?

    aleces last blog post..i have pms



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    August 25, 2008

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    15 Reba said:

    wow…ummm… turkey bacon.

    I am working on changing my diet and whole grain oatmeal and a slice of turkey bacon are my staple foods along with spinach in everything.

    Rebas last blog post..Wild Goose Chase – Mark Batterson



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    August 26, 2008

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    16 Rachel said:

    This fast is HARD. I know, I’ve done it. The whole no meat thing is tough for me because honestly, I just had a hard time finding foods to fill me up without being able to have meat in them. Think about it, almost every meal we love eating has meat in it…..the sugar thing was hard to. I LOVE me some chocolate after almost every meal.

    Rachels last blog post..More Than Worth It



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    August 26, 2008

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    17 Kassie said:

    I have to put another vote in for chocolate. We’ve done so much to cut things out of our diet this year….one square of Dove milk chocolate is a “splurge” I’m willing to live with! :)

    Ditto on the vote for chicken. We do a LOT of chicken dishes!!



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    August 26, 2008

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    18 Joseph said:

    Chips and Salsa at my favorite Mexican place.

    Second to that would be coffee from Starbucks.

    I admire what you are doing. I am working hard at losing some extra pounds and eating better and it is tough to make good decisions consistently.



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    August 26, 2008

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    19 Derek Martin said:

    I definitely understand how hard this is. I usually do a Daniel fast for 21 days at the top of every year along with the rest of my church. It’s seriously hard taking yourself away from things you love. I’m a carbo-junkie and to not be able to have “sweet bread” kills me! Anyway, I think that fasting really puts things in perspective. It’s a shame that in a lot of churches people only think it’s for Catholics.

    Derek Martins last blog post..Limbo Limbo Limbo



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    August 30, 2008

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    20 » The Long Road To Getting Back In Shape – BradRuggles.com said:

    [...] the consistency of getting out there day after day and improving my diet has slowly yielded results. I’ve been biking 16+ miles a day during the week and longer on [...]



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