Okay, so I should know better.  By the time I was done my mind was no longer in overwhelm, I was able to focus, and I sat down and finished the work I had been circling around in about ½ hour.  And…..I did a good job to boot.

You’re next question is what wonder food did I eat that inspired me to let go of all of my stress and whip out my work quickly and concisely?  The answer is about to amaze you.  I ate NOTHING.  What I did was plan and cook.  I left work and needed to pick up some fresh salad greens at the market.  I was feeling a little sorry for myself because I was tired, cranky and I knew it was going to get very cold and rainy here for the next 48 - 72 hours.  I hate cold.  I live where it is rarely cold, except for this year.  They were predicting snow in the San Fernando Valley and that happens once every 30 years or so.  OK, I know it will not stick, and it’s nothing like you folks on the east coast have dealt with this year, but please, snow in Southern California.  What’s up with that?  Global warming or another Ice Age?  As I wandered the aisles of the market, knowing that picking up lettuce and spinach were not going to do it for me, I decided that what would make me feel good is some comfort food.  Mac and cheese doesn’t exist for me any more so I thought about a big, simmering pot of chili and then I started flying around the market.  Before you know it I had an onion, celery, garlic, cilantro, a fresh turkey breast, white beans, red beans and black beans, 2 green zucchini, 2 yellow crookneck squash, and some carrots in my cart.  I had canned tomatoes in my cupboard.  I got home, unpacked, chopped the onion, celery and garlic and threw the skinned turkey breast on top of it, set the crock pot on high and started on the rest.  Carrots and summer squash in chili you say?  You bet, I cut them into fingernail size pieces, they retain their shape and crunch and add fiber to the chili without adding a lot of calories.  There is something therapeutic in cutting and chopping, and chopping and cutting….  and planning for healthy meals.  I of course add red peppers, cumin, oregano, some chili powder, and anything else I feel like throwing in for seasoning.  A cup of my turkey chili has about 250 calories and about 25 grams of protein.  It will vary by scoop since you never know exactly how much turkey is in each scoop so I usually estimate it and go with that.  I put an ounce of shredded lite cheese on top and add a few more calories and some more protein and I’m good to go.

Within less than an hour my house smelled wonderful, felt warm just from the smell of comfort food cooking and I was able to sit down and finish the work that had been plaguing me with stress all day.  My thoughts suddenly fell right into place, I was breathing deeply and able to focus.  All I can say is Thank Heaven For Comfort Food!