Tag: aging boomer

Daily Food Diary – Day 191 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

It is 191 Days since I started maintaining and posting my Daily Food Diary! 💓

When I started this diary on January 1st,  my only goal was to identify trouble areas in my diet and make positive adjustments along the way.    Six months in, my diet is still a work in progress.   But, I am finding incredible value in this experience.   🙌

Six years ago, I began blogging here on WordPress/JetPack.  I was gearing up for retirement and thought putting my thoughts in writing would help me find my way from full time employment to making the most of my new reality.   This has also  been an experience  that has paid off in ways I could never have imagined. 

Writing has been a part of my life as long as I can remember – the better part of seventy years.    There is something about putting it in writing that brings things into perspective and makes them real.  Writing is my solid, creative expression of what I think, what I believe, what I feel.

Speaking of creative expression, Dan finished our pond yesterday and even found some blue food dye for the water this year. 👍 💞

Our little pond needed a complete remake this year, but it is up and running. 🤗

Daily Food Diary – Day 191

Breakfast:

(1) c coffee (2)

(1) c Morning Crisp Honey Nut (460)

(1/4) c 2 % milk (28)

Snack:

(1) apple (95)

(60) oz water

Supper:

Chicken Caesar Salad –

(2) c romaine lettuce (12)

(1/4) c red onion (15)

(3) oz chicken breast (140)

(1/2) c dried fried onions (133)

(2) tbsp bacon bits (60)

(1/4) c shredded Parmesan cheese (67)

(3) tbsp Caesar salad dressing (240)

Total net calories: 1078

Net calorie goal: 1229 – 1078 = 151 under

That’s it for today.  Take care and have a great day! 💞🤗

Daily Food Diary – Day 187 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

This is Day 187 of my Daily Food Diary. 🧑‍🍳 Each month of my diary,  I set out to highlight one nutritional  aspect of my diet.  This month, my focus is on collagen.

Since collagen is so important to having and maintaining a strong and healthy body, I have been sourcing out and highlighting foods that contain or assist in the production of collagen for the past five days.

Today, I decided to touch on foods that destroy or slow down the production of collagen.

Foods to avoid for collagen health include: processed sugar, refined carbohydrates (especially white bread), and  fried foods.  It is also beneficial  to avoid alcohol consumption and smoking.

Personally, I believe in balance and sustainable changes when it comes to eating, and life in general.  I am trying to be mindful of what I consume and I am gradually making ‘better’ food choices.   For better or worse, my Daily Food Diary is always a reflection of my reality. 🙄

Despite the high humidity this morning, Dan and I took Molly for her morning walk .  Walking is good for our collagen and hers. Just like people, dogs need collagen for their joints, skin, hair/fur, digestive health, and for their overall well-being.  Also, just like people, dogs lose and produce less collagen as they age.  Molly just turned three years old, but it is never too soon to ensure her health.

When we got back home, Dan took a few more photos of Molly and I.   As usual, she was less than co-operative. And yes, she was drinking out of the bird bath. 🤦

Daily Food Diary – Day 187

Breakfast:

(1) c coffee (2)

(2) potato patties (240)

(2 1/2) eggs (200)

(2) tsp butter (34)

(2) slices bacon (170)

(1/2) tomato (11)

Snacks:

(1) peach (51)

(1) pear (103)

(60) oz water

Supper:

(2) cabbage rolls (300)

(3/4) c ice cream (208)

(2) tbsp dark chocolate sauce (105)

Total net calories: 1424

Net calorie goal: 1229 – 1424 = 195 over 👎

* Highlighted items contain significant collagen or significant contribute to the production of collagen

That’s it for today. Take care and have a great day! 💞🌞

Daily Food Diary – Day 160 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

It is 160 Days since I started posting my Daily Food Diary. 😬

Yesterday was not a banner day in the the kitchen!

I was over on calories *, processed sugar, sodium, and saturated fats.  I fell short on fruits and vegetables.  😞

There was a BUT on the calories.  I was over because I didn’t do my aerobic workout in the  morning.  BUT, I was active all day – I  was just doing things that I don’t count the calories used for.

I brushed Molly, we took her for a bath, and I walked her home from the pet store (to help finish drying her). 

I finished the laundry, baked Lemon Squares for Danny and cut up all three squares I made and packaged them up.  I watered the garden and the flowers in the front yard.  I packed. I did the dishes from breakfast, lunch, and baking and  cleaned the sink, counter tops, and stove top.  I tidied up the house, had a bath and did my hair.

I had a short visit with granddaughter Genie and I brushed Molly AGAIN.

Clean,  fluffy, and totally exhausted!

Today we hit the road to go up to son Dan’s to watch the boys for a few days.    It  should be a few active days and a few healthy days in the kitchen!  👍

Daily Food Diary – Day 160

Breakfast:

(1) c coffee (2)

(3) crumpets (240)

(2) tsp butter (69)

(3) tsp jam (50)

Lunch:

(1/2) c macaroni salad (258) (1/2 SVG)

(1) radish (1) (1/4 SVG)

(1/5) c red onion (1/4 SVG)

(3) slices Piller’s shaved ham (50)

Supper:

(1) Hungry Man Chicken Cutlet Dinner (520) (1 SVG)

(1) Gluten free DK chocolate and peanut butter dessert bar (110)

(1) Lemon Dessert bar (193)

Total net calories: 1472

Net calorie goal: 1238 – 1472 = 234 over 👎

Fruits & Vegetables: 2 servings

Fruits & vegetables goal: 7 servings 👎

That’s it for today.  Take care and have a great day! ❤️😊

Daily Food Diary – Day 159 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

It is 159 Days since I began posting my Daily Food Diary.  

It is also my sister Denise’s birthday! 🎂  I do not remember sharing a home with Denise.  I was two years old when she married and moved on to start her own family.  Her firstborn is my niece Teenie (Jeanne Christine) who became and remains  a ‘little sister’ to me. I don’t see either of them as much as I would like,  but they are always  in my thoughts.   💞

Back to my Daily Food Diary….  Every month, I choose one aspect of my diet to focus on.  This month, it is fruits and vegetables.  My goal is to meet the recommendation of the Canada Food Guide and consume 7 servings of fruits and vegetables per day.

Of all of the monthly challenges  that I have attempted since starting my Daily Food Diary, I thought this would be the easiest. I love vegetables.  I am not so fond of fruit, but since fruit used in baking counts, I was pretty sure this was doable.

I have met or surpassed my goal most days so far.  But, I am having issues!  

I have been eating more fruit than usual and aside from the expected digestive issues, I am struggling with lung issues.   Sugar, whether natural or processed, affects the abundance of mucus that my chronic lung issues produce.   With mucus the consistency of wood glue, smoke drifting through from northern forest fires, and our uncooperative weather…. I am struggling.   Also, with my sensitivity to yeast, any amount of sugar is too much – again regardless if that sugar is natural or processed.

The vegetables that I have been eating should not be causing me any grief to speak of.   However, many of the vegetables that I have been eating cause gas and bloating.  It isn’t anything extreme, but with my unresolved epigastric hernia (as I wait for surgery), it is a painful PROBLEM.  

So no,  this month is not going as well as I thought it would.  This week I will be pulling back, but fruits and vegetables will definitely be my focus.  I am going to spend some serious time researching lower sugar fruits and less gassy vegetables.  Next week, I will be back on track!

Today, Molly is our big project.  We have to get her brushed out this morning and take her for another bath.  

Daily Food Diary

Breakfast:

(1) c coffee (2)

(1) tsp butter (34)

(1) tsp olive oil (40)

(1) tbsp milk (8)

(2) eggs (160)

(3) slices bacon (130)

(1/2) tomato (11)  (1 SVG)

Snacks:

(8) oz Clamato Juice (60) (1 SVG)

(25) light salt ripple chips (270)

Supper:

(1) Lean gr. Beef Burger (243)

(1/4) c red onion (15) (1/4 SVG)

(1) tbsp horseradish (7) (1/4 SVG)

(5) lg asparagus spears (16) (1/2 SVG)

(1) tsp butter (34)

(2) Dill pickles (10) (2 SVG)

(1) c brown beans  (246) (2 SVG)

(1) serving Apple crisp (133) (1)

(1) oz raspberry desert bar (133)

Total net calories: 1886

Net calorie goal: 1238 – 1886 = 648 Over 👎

*** In my defense, I do not work out on Sundays, it was too windy to walk, and I had to test one of the deserts I made for son Dan & family. 🙄

Fruits & vegetables: 8 servings

Fruits & vegetables goal: 7 servings

That’s it for today.  Take care and have a great day! 💞☺️