eating for energy
I have a tired boy.
And it's actually not Henry.
(Although by the end of last term he was officially cactus, and I kept him home from school one day in the second last week. Fatigue does apparently come as part of Velo Cardio Facial Syndrome, we're figuring out ways to help minimize it.)
No, my tired older fella. The one who works hard and packs it all into every day.
The one who, even if he's totally exhausted, still plays the "kids run maniacally at the front door when Dad gets home and he'll throw you up in the air" game.
Who, even if pooped, always stacks the dishwasher. Marvellous man.
And of course, I leap to the conclusion the tiredness could be iron deficiency. Heme iron, the red meat kind, because the man has a vegetarian cook in the house and although a steak might just do it, he'd have to cook it himself.
Rough, hey?
So I've been obsessively feeding the family superfoods high in non-heme iron! And protein!
Spinach, cracked wheat and pinenut pie.
Vegie sources of iron don't absorb as easily into the body, you can help this by eating foods rich in vitamin C, like a tomato and citrus salad! With your spinach pie!
A big batch of homemade hummus.
Chickpeas are ace. (And also full of zinc, folate and protein.)
Have I lost you yet?
Mmmmm, check this out:
Yes, that's what Adam said too.
And guess what? I made TONS of it.
Organic soybeans, barley and lentils. Carrots, celery and tomatoes. Slow cooked for forever.
You can do so many things with this zingy protein and iron-filled wonder!
I made shepherd's pie:
And I made little pasties. Should've photographed them, they were cute. Next time.
Also, burritos! With extra tomato! And cheese!
Snacks: cheese and homemade crackers, boiled eggs, dates and raisins, oven-toasted almonds. Iron booster balls. Bananas.
Wholewheat, oat and cranberry cookies:
And lots of iron-rich homemade wholegrain bread:
Ideally spread with peanut butter, unless you're Adam and you believe peanut butter is from the devil.
Did it help?
Maybe a bit. My cold seems to have almost gone! (And Adam has it. Oops.)
I think, perhaps, I'll slow down on the ernest superfoods business and start researching holidays.
Two week oughta do it.
xx
International Woman of Mystery
October 5, 2010 at 10:15 pmOh dear, that pie! I think Julian might even jack up at that one and he eats my tofu cakes and lentil casserole without complaint. And I’m very glad to see that bean c*&p has made an appearance. Nice one.
Definitely going to test out your crackers soon though. They look yummy. But first am experimenting with some lavender, rasperry and white chocolate muffins, for the playgroup girls tomorrow.
Oh, and please tell Ad the guest bed is made up, whenever he’d like to drop by.
Jo
October 5, 2010 at 10:26 pmThat soybean, barley, lentil mix looks like heaven to me Fi! (nerdy vegetarian that I am 🙂 Can I have the recipe? Your meals & snacks sound very well balanced. The holiday sounds like a good idea. Remember that small babies take it out of you, even if they are generally very compliant, like Miss Ivy.
innerpickle
October 5, 2010 at 10:47 pmIn the history of like, ever, no one has been able to diss my bean crap like you can. This is not ‘we’re just out of uni and can barely afford tim tims’ bean crap, this is quality organic wind producing material. I’m wasted on you lot. Wasted, I tell you.
ginkotree
October 6, 2010 at 3:44 amim not even a veggie but you just made my mouth water!! *throws her sausage roll in the air and heads to the blender to make hummus*
xxx
Fran
October 6, 2010 at 3:47 amDo you rent yourself out?
Jen
October 6, 2010 at 6:08 pmOh my gosh, that looks just like my sort of food! I’m very into the “energy dense” at the moment. Totally inspired by your photos! Thanks for sharing them ~ Jen
Sue
October 6, 2010 at 9:26 pmOh, wow, yum, oh yum! Yes, specifics of the recipe for that “zingy” bean stuff, please- that shepherd’s pie photo knocks my socks off! (Or come cook it up for us- should have a guest room in a few months, if all goes well!) Yum.
innerpickle
October 6, 2010 at 9:55 pmFran, for a plane ticket to London, I’m yours (did I get that right? is that where you are?) xx
innerpickle
October 6, 2010 at 9:58 pmha! wonderful!
Tricia
October 8, 2010 at 10:57 amNow i’m hungry!
That all looks so delicious.
terri planty
October 9, 2010 at 5:38 pmYUMMY
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Pen Lennon
January 18, 2011 at 10:52 pmhiya fellow vegetarian! i have stumbled on your blog via knitting via soulemama and want to tell you i am enjoying it. and am feeling inspired to talk more (not posible my friends would say) on my blog, take more pics, and eat more energy dense vegetarian food. thanks for those yummy recipes. and i’ll see you again soon. good luck with the move out of sydney. where are you off to? sorry i should probably just read back thru your posts and find out for myself.
pen x