really?: a realization

Ok, Bastyr cafeteria. It is SO ON! I moved half of my stuff and none of my food into my new apartment and you weren't there for me this morning when I was ACTUALLY CRAVING OATMEAL and had no option for food but you. So I had almonds for breakfast. I love almonds. But if I am going to have almonds for breakfast I need something else too. Like yogurt or a scone. OR OATMEAL. But today, of all days, you were closed. Until 11am. Really?

Which brings me to an interesting point in my "I'll let my stomach make all my food decisions" experiment. My stomach does not have a brain. It craves one thing and one thing only. But what happens when life intervenes? When the school I go to is building new dorms and shuts the water off for four unexpected hours on the one day I am actually craving something the cafeteria always has? Or when it's finals week and I don't have time to cook? Or I am moving and I only have 5 giant stock pots and plastic glasses to cook and eat with? Or when I'm just too tired to make what I am craving? What happens when my brain doesn't give my stomach what it wants?

I'll tell you what happens. I default. I default to comfort foods that I am not craving. Occasionally I default in ways that I am OK with: yogurt and granola, muesli, or nuts; raisin bran with almond milk, peanut butter and toast, the easy, relatively healthy classics. But more often than not I default to frozen pizza, bread and cheese, goldfish crackers, or macaroni. And while I am OK with any of these choices once in a while, when my brain is forcing them on my stomach they don't work. They don't sit well, they make me tired, I feel crappy and greasy and gross.

So, in a stark contrast to my original plan, today I have decided to give my brain control. Not for every food choice I will make. But for what it is good at: planning. So, later today, I am giving my brain a free trip to the grocery store. What will come of it? I guess we'll just have to wait and see... (but I'm guessing there will be a list)