We are almost half way through the month of September. It could be argued that September should take the place of January as the first month of the year. In many different places, June July and August are months that many things stop. Not just school, but clubs and organizations take the summer months off. In fact the only business that seems to step up to the plate during the summer is your local Cineplex as Hollywood releases all new blockbuster films help you take up your new found time and your cash.
But September changes all of that. The kids go back to school and the our schedules become more complicated and, for most people a lot more full, with things to do and places to be. September also opens the gate for the beginning of the eating season.
Between the beginning of the September and the first of January, we will be tempted with some of the best foods of the year. There are reasons for this. Local harvests of many fruits and vegetables come to their full fruition during this time. Apples right off the tree from local orchards, pumpkins and other fall fruits come to their ripeness. As do many nuts that we only see, fresh, during a very short period. Many traditional recipes that lay dormant throughout the year get taken out and prepared.
After all of the harvest goodies disappear we will then be tempted with the holiday foods that become abundant everywhere we look. It is in these early days that we need to exercise and obtain the skill of self-control before we get into the harder season of the holidays.
I think it is portion control is probably the best way to deal with this time of year. Don’t deny yourself the “pleasures of the table.” Just be very careful of how much of those pleasures you take in. If someone offers you a slice of pie ask for a small slice, about half what your host would give to everyone else. Eat slowly. When we consume great food quickly it is natural to feel like we want more. The reason for this is our stomach hasn’t had the time to tell our brains, that it is satisfied. The slower you eat, the more you will savor the food and the more time your brain and your stomach will have to be in sync.
For those of you who may love pumpkin pie here is a recipe for a great substitute. The Pumpkin Smoothie. I came up with the recipe on my own and have no official measurements. Everything is strictly to your taste. In a blender add enough of each for one serving. Unsweetened pumpkin, and unsweetened applesauce, a small amount of honey, cinnamon, nutmeg and some pumpkin pie spice, ice and skim milk, blend until smooth. Adjust the pumpkin as you go in order to have a thicker or thinner smoothie. I have found this to be delicious and satisfying. And pumpkin itself is very good for you.