What GBFB Eats – Deborah
Name: Deborah
Role at GBFB: Senior Staff Director
Frequency of Grocery Shopping: Once a week (weekends)
Household Size: 2 adults
Diet/Dietary Restrictions: My husband and I tried the Whole 30 diet last year and felt great after completing it. It requires eliminating added sugar, dairy, grains/gluten, legumes (like beans and peanuts), and alcohol. Some people follow the diet for potential weight loss, but it is also advertised as a good anti-inflammatory diet which makes my joints feel better. With planning and meal prep, I never feel hungry, though sometimes I do feel deprived of some of the food items I enjoy eating. I’m not being as strict as I was last year, so I’ll have the occasional bit of milk in my coffee, glass of wine at dinner, or a snack like hummus. I also restrict my diet to poultry and fish, but do not eat red meat.
How much did you spend on your last grocery store run?
$143
How far away from your home is the nearest grocery store? How do you get to/from the store?
I’m within a 10-minute drive to 4 grocery stores and a winter farmer’s market. I shop at all the stores, selecting the location depending upon what I need/want to buy.
What influences your grocery purchases? (coupons/sales, culture/heritage, things you ate growing up, etc.)
I was born in Mexico to English parents and lived there for a few years. This translates to keeping my house stocked with salsa, tortillas, cajeta (if I can find it), lemon curd, Branston Relish, and scones. In general, I like to shop at stores that regularly stock international food items and have a robust selection of organic produce.
How often do you cook at home versus eat out/take out?
My husband and I eat out about twice a week for dinner and cook at home the other days of the week.
Do you prep your meals for the week in advance? Or, do you cook for each meal?
I don’t usually get home from work until about 7pm and it’s hard to start cooking so late, so my husband and I try to do the bulk of our cooking on Sunday, packing leftovers for lunch during the week.
What are you cooking this week?
A few things I plan to make this week are chicken carnitas, cauliflower mash (made with ghee and coconut cream), chicken primavera with zucchini noodles, butternut squash soup, and seared sea scallops with blueberry sauce.
My Breakfast is usually a hard boiled egg with turkey bacon or a yogurt (if I’m not following the Whole 30 diet).
On the weekends I might snack on things like shrimp cocktail or veggie and herb hummus on endive.
What is your favorite dish to cook?
I love cooking Mexican dishes like chile rellenos, chicken tacos/fajitas and Mexican rice. I also like to make banana bread and special treats around Christmas like truffles, fudge, and peanut butter cookies.
GBFB RD Rachel’s Feedback
Eating food that makes your body feel good is important. It’s a great skill to develop to listen to your body and understand how food makes us feel. For someone like Deborah, Whole30 has seemed to help her deal with joint pain. For me, an eating pattern full of grains and beans (both of which are not Whole30 approved) keeps me feeling my best.
Anytime you may be considering changing your dietary habits make sure to consider why you are changing what you eat and if you’ll be missing out on any food groups. If you are thinking of cutting out any food groups, please consult with your primary care physician or a dietitian to make sure you aren’t missing out on any important nutrients.
