Four years ago, I went to the doctor at 400+ pounds and was diagnosed with high blood pressure, low HDL cholesterol, and high blood sugar. I began by meeting with a dietitian, and immediately I struggled. For someone who had lived for years on boxed mac & cheese and Pizza Hut, healthy recipes were Greek to me. What the hell is a lemon "zest?" How does one "pulse" a sauce (especially if one does no
t own a food processor or blender)? And what in the mother of hell is "quinoa"—it sounds like an extra from freaking Avatar! I set out to prove that a really unhealthy person could become healthy, even with no cooking knowhow, kitchen gadgetry, or money. I went it alone for the first few years; now I follow the Weight Watchers 360 program (PointsPlus (or PP) values versus calories and fat). My recipes have become more creative, my knowledge has increased (I now own a tool for zesting my lemons, and I adore quinoa), and my weight has decreased. But at my core, I'm still just a girl who can't cook.
