Begin agin.

Drinking in the day. 

I have had so many "begin agains".  Like Michael Finnigan of the children's song, I strive and fail to  make consistent healthy lifestyle choices and so I must, more often than I intent to admit here, begin again, and again, and again.
Today is one of those days.  I am working with an amazing young nutritional counselor who has made me a convert to the benefit of smoothies.  I am not a smoothie fan - or so I thought.  Dairy based smoothies give me a belly ache. But...... The smoothies she recommends are whole food, fruit and vegetable smoothies.  Pear and kale, Avacado and blueberry, Apple, spinach and bananna, the choices are endless as are the "watery" base.  I am a coconut milk fan at the moment, though she encourages me to mix it up a bit. Not coconut water mind you - yuk to that - but coconut milk poured in until I have just the right icy consistency.  Then a taste test and last a spoonful of Spirulina for plant protein.  That is the spoiler for many.  The dark green slimy color it adds.  As a nurse, I see that color often and it is not appealing, so the taste test must come before adding it in. Then it is close your eyes and let the taste buds do their thing.

So, today, I force myself to whip up a smoothie to drink in this day  - this millionth beginning of something wonderful, and then I remember.  I LOVE these smoothies.  I love jump starting my engine with the whir of the blender making my icy breakfast drink.  I love the first, frosty taste test, the plop of the last bit of fiber falling into my to-go cup filled with ice cubes.  I love knowing I won't really be hungry if I carry this around with me until I go nuts for nuts - my mid morning snack. 

This is a sweltering day in upstate New York, my body is not used to or ready for this degree of heat and humidity, but alas, how much happier it is not to be carrying around a belly full of breakfast bagels. 
Yup, I will drink in this day, smoothie in hand, while I water the garden and tend the wee one and sort and pitch and pay bills, and chill with my Nook in the noonday heat.

Michael Finnegan - I'm with you - let's begin agin!!