In the chart that is seen directly on the right, 2 food items listed in the previously mentioned book that I ate that day were recorded in the "Food A," and "Food B," columns, while Tea and Eggs were recorded in the "Food C," and "Food D," columns respectively. (This was done mostly because those were the two most reoccurring items on my original list, which was much less organized.) In addition to this list, some selected foods will be highlighted below.
Highlight - Clams
During the first week or so of December, me and my Father went out towards the coast and went digging for clams. While we only managed to dig up a few, I can still confidently say that the clams were among one of the best meals I've ever had in my life. The clams were sauteed in olive oil, butter, and garlic, and the before and after product of the clams can be seen below.
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| Clams before being sauteed |
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| Clams after being sauteed |
According to Jonny Bowden, the author of my IRP book, "Clams are on of the richest sources of iron on the planet, containing many times the amount found in beef liver. And 3 ounces (85 g) of clams provides a whopping 700 percent of the Daily value for vitamin B12, plus 66 percent of the Daily Value for iron." (Bowden 241). In addition to the large amount of necessary daily iron being consumed, it also contains a large amount of the vitamin B12, a vitamin that helps with nerves and the health of blood cells. Mollusks (the family in which clams fall into,) also tend to be low in fat, and rich in a host of minerals, including things such as zinc and copper. Also, in my personal opinion, the taste, and especially the texture of clams is quite an enjoyable meal. I would recommend complementing the dish with a grain such as rice, and a vegetable that you tend to enjoy (in my case, green beans.) If you have the opportunity to go clamming, I highly recommend you try this food out.
Highlight - Bell Peppers
As you may have seen from my table, I consumed quite a bit of Bell Peppers during the month of December. Although this will be more of a personal thing, I thought to show it off anyways due to the numerous health benefits that it has. Anyways, let's discuss the health benefits of these peppers. The previously mentioned Jonny Bowden states "Nutritionally, peppers are an excellent source of vitamins C and A (beta-carotene) and the mineral potassium. They also contain vitamin K, which is increasing being recognized as a vitally important component of bone health." (Bowden 60). Additionally, he goes on to state "Peppers are low in calories and a well-kept secret as a snack food. They blend in with everything." (Bowden 61). Personally, the crunchiness and savoriness of bell peppers make them a well suited item to snack on. Also, I personally find that bell peppers are made better as a snack when your realize the health benefits of them, containing many vitamins to improve your overall health. And while ranch may not be the healthiest thing around (something commonly used in conjunction with bell peppers,) the enjoyment of bell peppers can be viewed by enjoying them as a complement to other healthy foods without the use of ranch (the author recommends eating them with apples and string cheese.)
Welcome to the end of this blog, and be sure to comment below if any of my recommendations have piqued your interest. Additionally, I can take requests to highlight any of the foods recorded on my table above that you might find interesting, and explain their health benefits, and interesting ways to prepare them. As always, questions are nice too, and be sure to tune in soon where I document whether or not my change in diet has affected my health or not.
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