Weight watching

Our friend Yasmin Dinar has been staying with us for a few days. Yasmin lives in Denver and has some work in the Bay Area right now so we're lucky to have her with us. Like many attractive 30-somethings, Yasmin likes to look good and takes excellent care of herself. We were surprised to hear that she has been going to Weight Watchers, and that she has lost 10 pounds. Who knew she had 10 extra pounds to lose? Yasmin always looks fabulous.

I've never been interested in weight loss diets, although at 5'4" compared with Yasmin's 5'10", there have been times when I could've taken off a pound or two. I just love to cook and to eat, and have always preferred to exercise more, or to just accept myself as I am. Good or not so good. Diets aren't for me.

When Yasmin arrived carrying two bags of vegetables and fruits from Trader Joe's, I was glad anyway. I love vegetables and fruits. Of course, she bought so many that we could hardly fit them in the fridge.

I wanted to be supportive, and to keep the fridge functional as well, so I decided to cook three or four vegetables for every dinner, plus a small portion of meat or fish. For breakfast we feast on fruit and oatmeal. It's been great.

You know, it's fun to search out all kinds of new and different vegetable recipes. I've made zucchini with red bell pepper and tomato, served with sauteed portobello mushrooms. Normally, zucchini doesn't appeal to me, but Yasmin bought a box of it, so oh well. The next night we had steamed julienned zucchini and carrots. It was really good. Tonight we're going to have cauliflower with egg and parsley, a recipe I dug out of an old Pierre Franey cookbook, plus more of the stuffed cabbage rolls we made last night. I do love cauliflower, so it will be wonderful. This is the most un-diet diet ever - it's delicious!


I might lose a pound or two, unintentionally, from having Yasmin here. And maybe we'll just keep this veggie-mania going after she leaves on Friday. Thanks, Yasmin!