Does THIS appeal to you more???
Or does this???
Most of you will recognize the french fries in the top photo, but you may not recognize the second photo… it is spaghetti squash – 41 calories for a one cup serving and can be eaten with spaghetti sauce, melted cheese, or a number of other toppings. I LOVE french fries, but, surprisingly, I am also learning to love things such as spaghetti squash. It take time, but it does make such a difference.
I find I feel SO much better when I choose the healthier foods over the junk foods. That said, it can be grueling to muster up the willpower to resist the junk food, particularly during pms, or high stress times. Yet, I do find that when I am able to guide myself towards the healthier options it is easier for me to wade through the various stressors that I encounter along life’s path. There will ALWAYS be a stressor of some sort, there will ALWAYS be an excuse or reason to choose the junk food (or “comfort” food). Often these reasons are also the critical reasons for us to choose the healthier path. If we are sad or stressed or sick, all the more reason to gravitate towards options that will refuel us.
Today, 207 days ’til 40, I continue to challenge myself to choose healthier eating options. There will be days when I am more successful than others – as long as I have more successes than failures I am on the right path. I hope you are too!
~400daystil40
Fortuitous Forty!!! 
Victoria Oldham
July 29, 2012 at 00:07
I needed to read this today. Thank you. 🙂
400daystil40
July 29, 2012 at 11:47
You are welcome! I probably need to read this often! 🙂
walkwiththerabbi
July 29, 2012 at 00:17
An effective message – as always. Actually, spaghetti squash prepared well – IS DELICIOUS! I really enjoy your writing very much and believe that my readers would too. What do you say to putting a link to each others blog on our blog-sites? Properlyset up, it should drive more traffic to both our sites. Let me know.
400daystil40
July 29, 2012 at 11:48
Yes, I agree, it is delicious!!!!!! Thank you for the link suggestion, I have had a few and need to eventually think about adding a special page for links to all my blogging world friends. 🙂
iamnaia
July 29, 2012 at 00:18
I don’t like to “promote” myself on other blogs. You’ll find I have done it … exactly once … with you. If you look at the following link, I am starting to post some healthier snacks/foods than the things you find in your grocery store. Just a thought for you.
I am diabetic and so is my ex-husband. Our two boys are future diabetics. Only my choices when they are 5 and 4 can teach them the better choices when they are bigger, thus staving off their turn at being “diabetic.” The recipes I am working on posting, right now, offer some healthier choices made at home. I am not done. I’ll be adding more that I have collected.
Thank you and I do enjoy reading about your journey,
Naia.
http://iamnaia.net/recipes/
400daystil40
July 29, 2012 at 11:44
Thank you so much for sharing the great recipes!!!!! I hope people follow the link! 🙂
lengesinski
July 29, 2012 at 00:33
Short Term Burst of Energy and Satisfaction Vs Longer Burn and Quality of Foods. Long a Fan of both Spaghetti and Acorn Squash….
400daystil40
July 29, 2012 at 11:44
Yes, I say that to people a lot! I also like acorn squash! I am trying to make it more now that it is all coming into season. Great, healthy options!
buckwheatsrisk
July 29, 2012 at 01:02
i could be doing a lot better! way to go!
400daystil40
July 29, 2012 at 11:43
I think we can all be doing better…. always a challenge.
buckwheatsrisk
July 29, 2012 at 18:14
it sure is!
tonyakerrigan
July 29, 2012 at 01:07
I love squash and so do my kids. We’ve started eating plantains. They taste sort of like squash and are much easier to cut.
400daystil40
July 29, 2012 at 11:43
Hmm, great idea, I need to try plantains!
Sandra Madeira
July 29, 2012 at 01:42
Great post – I’m with you on that one. I try to choose healthy options most days, but I find it hard to resist chocolate or icecream! I’m getting better at it though.
Sandra
400daystil40
July 29, 2012 at 11:42
Ahh, how I miss ice cream! When I gave up sugar 8 months ago ice cream was the hardest thing to give up. I do eat sugar free ice cream once every month or so, but it is not the same! I miss Ben and Jerry’s Chubby Hubby!!!
craftythriftydecoratingwifemom
July 29, 2012 at 04:57
I L.O.V.E. Spaghetti Squash!! I’ll take it over French Fries just about anytime. I went to Ruby Tuesdays and ordered Spaghetti Squash Marinara as my entree. MMMMMMM
Janet
400daystil40
July 29, 2012 at 11:42
I love it too, but must admit that I love fries more… that said, I do really enjoy spaghetti squash and hope to cook it a lot while it is in season – thankfully, my girls like it too.
getbusyyall
July 29, 2012 at 05:10
Used to eat spaghetti squash all the time as a kid. Keep up the good work with the healthier options!
400daystil40
July 29, 2012 at 11:41
It is so fun to eat!
viveka
July 29, 2012 at 07:40
I love fries too – and it doesn’t have to be junk food – they can be oven baked and becomes automatically healthy food. Have eat far too many fries now under my trip to US & Canada, but why not – we only live once. I think that even junk food is good for us – if we eat it … once in a while and when we crave for it.
400daystil40
July 29, 2012 at 11:41
I definitely do think once in a while is okay – and I LOVE French fries…… I just have to work a bit on moderation!
viveka
July 29, 2012 at 12:16
I personal don’t have a clue what moderation is when it’s about fries * laughing.
400daystil40
July 29, 2012 at 23:02
I don’t think they are supposed to be moderated!!! 🙂
viveka
July 30, 2012 at 10:40
I think you’re so right.
The Quiet Borderline (back in hospital)
July 29, 2012 at 09:14
I’m doing pretty bad on the food side of things. The hospital is the place to be for daily junk food. Nothing healthy asides from unripened fruit every other day.
400daystil40
July 29, 2012 at 11:40
Oh that is so sad, you would think they would have healthy options for you.
The Quiet Borderline (back in hospital)
July 29, 2012 at 17:23
Yeah I know.
simon7banksS
July 29, 2012 at 12:05
We call them chips, of course, except that the narrow, woody toothpicks sold by McDonald’s take the name “French fries”.
Well, answering the question, the lower picture looks more attractive, particularly because of the colour, so I react positively towards it, but I have no idea what it would taste like and would not have recognised it unaided as food. Consequently, if I were hungry, the picture of the chips might bring out some saliva but the other stuff wouldn’t.
400daystil40
July 29, 2012 at 12:07
lol! I can relate! The spaghetti squash actually tastes very good, but my natural instincts lead me to the fries (chips!) 🙂
No Blog Intended
July 29, 2012 at 12:10
I have a very deep, profound love for French fries (I’m Belgian, that might explain things). I can’t help it. The love is too deep. But luckily I’ve got a great mother who prepares the most delicious dishes that are very healthy, and sometimes they’re even meatless! Yay!
But overall, I consider myself tot young to care about junk/ healthy food… 🙂
400daystil40
July 29, 2012 at 23:03
Ah, to be young enough to get away with eating junk food!!! 🙂 I also have a very deep love for fries… I do not expect that love to fade. 🙂
Another Thousand Words
July 29, 2012 at 21:29
Wise choice, 400! Though I am not a fan of spaghetti squash, I love all other squashes for their colors and different tastes. Haven’t had Mickey D’s fries in almost two years, so I’ve lost that craving…better to have a baked red potato with plain Greek yogurt…much more satisfying!
It will be interesting to read your posts after you turn 40, too!
400daystil40
July 29, 2012 at 23:06
Thank you so much! I need to experiment with the other kids of squash…. I was thinking of looking up muffin recipes that incorporate squash – yum!
before9after5
July 29, 2012 at 21:33
Viva la resistance to fries (or all things bad for you)! 😀
400daystil40
July 29, 2012 at 23:07
sigh, easier said than done in this body….. the resistance is in desperate need of reinforcements!!! 🙂
SCD Griddle
July 29, 2012 at 21:49
Good luck with choosing healthier food options. I began by journey about 6 months ago. It has been tough, but really rewarding and I feel SO MUCH BETTER!
Incidentally, I also have a little more than 400 days till 40, but 40 is looming large. Good luck figuring things out!
~Theresa SCD Griddle
400daystil40
July 29, 2012 at 23:08
Thank you so much, and I hope that your journey to 40 is a good one (I am now closer, at 207 days!) I also began to eat healthy about 6 months ago and I also feel so much better…. something I have to remind myself on those days when it is hard to resist the temptation to binge like crazy (thankfully, those days are limited!) 🙂
Whitney Rains
July 30, 2012 at 00:49
I have to say I recognized the spaghetti squash. Ek. I can’t stand it! I’ve found that going low carb (and I mean very low carb) I have way less cravings for junk food. My cravings are also less intense than they were before I changed my diet.
If you want to keep some of your comfort foods try baking with almond flour or coconut flour. It is seriously amazing and can curve cravings, plus you get better nutritional benefit from it!
400daystil40
July 30, 2012 at 15:04
Great advice – I will have to go buy some almond and coconut flour! 🙂 I also have less junk food craving, but once a month they can still roll right over me!
Whitney Rains
July 30, 2012 at 19:07
I’m the same way! Those are usually the days I will indulge, but the next day I’m back to healthy.
400daystil40
July 30, 2012 at 23:24
Me too – usually! 🙂
changeforbetterme
July 30, 2012 at 00:53
I don’t have much choice but to eat healthier as I’m diabetic and I have a wheat intolerance. But I am finding so many things that can replace the fast food that I used to love! I am for healthier lifestyles! In mind and body!
400daystil40
July 30, 2012 at 15:05
I also have a wheat intolerance, which has ended up being a good thing for me because I do eat healthier when I am forced to avoid wheat (usually!) I also cannot have sugar, so it sounds like we are in a similar boat. I find that my taste buds have changed and now fruit and vegetables that used to taste sour taste sweet to me, it is strange!
Katherine Kelley
July 30, 2012 at 03:22
I had to give up gluten and that meant giving up fries as most places fry them in the same oil as things that have been breaded. Frankly, I’m too lazy to do the frying and cleaning up myself so I live without. I love spaghetti squash. Haven’t met a squash I don’t like really. Actually, there aren’t too many foods that I’ve met that I don’t like. Perhaps that is my problem… 🙂 Thankfully, I can cook fairly well and ditched processed food a while back, so at least most of my choices are healthy.
400daystil40
July 30, 2012 at 15:10
Wow, that is interesting with gluten and fries – I also cannot eat gluten, but I have been able to eat fries without any issues (is that lucky or not, I am not really sure?????) My challenge is to be more like you and ditch as many processed foods as possible…. I work long days and get really lazy, at times. I am much better than I used to be, but there is still much room for improvement!
Spider42
July 30, 2012 at 10:14
Never heard nor tried spaghetti squash but will definitely be looking it up now! 🙂
All true about needing to stick to something more nutritional and healthy especially at times of stress when you need your abilities and faculties at full and all.
400daystil40
July 30, 2012 at 15:14
I really like spaghetti squash. Many people here eat it like spaghetti – much healthier and just replace the noodles with squash!
Spider42
July 31, 2012 at 09:30
Sounds like.
Looked up a few recipes online, now just need to see if it’s even available around here! 😀
400daystil40
July 31, 2012 at 11:39
You have to let me know if you find it and try it!
Spider42
July 31, 2012 at 12:24
Will do.
sued51
July 30, 2012 at 15:26
Spaghetti squash is great…you can fix it in so many ways!
400daystil40
July 30, 2012 at 23:24
Yes! In fact, I want to go to the market and buy more! I bought two on Friday and they disappeared immediately 🙂
Lisa Pace Wegrzyn
July 31, 2012 at 00:23
I do love my junk food but fortunately I also love a lot of healthier choices to, such as spaghetti squash. My family has grown to really like this as a healthier side dish option.
400daystil40
July 31, 2012 at 11:40
My daughters too! They will even eat it as a main course! 🙂
Lisa Pace Wegrzyn
July 31, 2012 at 15:25
Actually I was more shocked that my husband liked it!
400daystil40
July 31, 2012 at 22:01
🙂
@homelesscrisis
July 31, 2012 at 02:35
OOOps, i thought the second one looked like cheese. LOL. I LOVE Squash but have never liked it with spaghetti sauce, only butter and pepper. Fun Blog!
400daystil40
July 31, 2012 at 11:42
That is so funny! (the cheese) – There are many things that you can put on squash – my girls like it with tons of cheese!
The White Pumpkin
July 31, 2012 at 06:32
SQUAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAASH!!!!… I am a fan of Kabocha pumpkin myself.. delicious and can be used so many ways.. You may think about trying Miracle Noodles too.
400daystil40
July 31, 2012 at 11:40
Great idea – thank you!
The White Pumpkin
August 2, 2012 at 02:37
you could also just buy a T-Fal Actifry
Anita Mac
August 14, 2012 at 08:22
It is a shame, but sometimes the healthy choices are the hardest. I think of all the time I spend on the road for work and the terrible choices I have made. It is so easy, in the moment, to say – oh, it is ok – I don’t eat like this all the time!
400daystil40
August 14, 2012 at 23:13
Very true (sadly)
Royal Scribe of Arythia
August 16, 2012 at 21:46
Hey, thanks for liking one of the posts at Tales of Arythia :http://talesofarythia.wordpress.com/. Really appreciate it. Love the idea of your blog. And the spaghetti squash looks really good. My family would definitely eat that. We grow squash so it is especially useful!
400daystil40
August 17, 2012 at 23:32
You are welcome!