Writer Fuel - Blog

With the holidays right around the corner and school finally coming to an end (which also means finals are here), life is getting pretty busy around here and that means certain things will fall by the wayside.  For me, this most often means eating.

Over the years I've found a few really good snacks, drinks, and meals to compliment my writing and help boost my creativity.

drink up!

my history

Everyone needs something to keep their fingers and their tummies warm while spending long hours at the keyboard, Zhenas Gypsy Rose tea is my go-to cure.  The rich black flavor is paired with the delightful scent of roses and it even says it boost creativity on the beautiful tin it comes in! 

If you're looking for something more in the alcoholic area to help speed your fingers and tickle your mind, Ecco Domani is a crisp white wine that help relax my muscles and speed my mind.

snack time!

What goes better with tea than biscotti and as busy as I get, I can't justify spending the time to make it from scratch all that often. Nonni's Biscotti come in a variety of flavors and my local market often has a buy two get one free sale, so I grab a few different flavors and can treat based on my mood.

On a less sweet, and arguably healthier note, pistachios are a great source of protein.  If you're a gardener, salted pistachio shells can be used at the base of plants to keep away slugs and add an interesting visual texture to your garden.

Another quick go to snack are Chobani Flips.  Greek yogurt with natural ingredient and a healthy topping on the side. My personal favorite is the Almond Coco Loco, coconut yogurt with toasted and lightly sugared almonds and dark chocolate pieces.

dinner bell!

I am a cheese lover, and nothing makes me happier than a warm grilled cheese, well, that and an Alton Brown recipe. You can also watch this recipe via YouTube.

So yeah, did I mention I like cheese.  Here's another take on cheese bread, this one has artichokes though... and everyone knows artichokes make everything better.

Another quick and easy meal is a buffet of Greek olives, tomatoes with basil and pepper, a variety of cheeses, and a fresh loaf of bread with balsamic and olive oil for dipping. The meal is light and fresh and full of a wide range of nutrition aspects to get your brain moving.

Over the past few years I have been struggling with eating. For me it's not a problem of eating too much or the wrong food, but not eating enough. I'm not actively choosing to not eat, but rather stress turns off the trigger in my brain that say, "you're hungry." So as 7pm rolls around each day, I realize I have not eaten even a single bite of food and my self preservation, rational side of thinking kicks in. I know I need to eat and so I do... even though I'm still not hungry.

Once I do eat, without fail, I regret it. My body, not ready for the food, rebels. 

If nothing else, over the past two years I have learned that my body is extremely routine based, and when I throw it off that routine it doesn't hesitate to protest.

Stick to the healthy foods and re-train your body to keep the good routines that it craves.