Tips from the Holcombs!

Week two of rice and beans at the Holcomb house! We were fortunate enough to test out this diet in December, so we have had a head start on ways to make it simpler to sustain. Here are some of our top tips to share with you:

1. Breakfast- eat it! I usually get really hungry around 10:30 am when I am waiting for my lunch of rice and beans, but breakfast helps soothe the rumbling in my stomach. We prefer a bowl of rice with cinnamon, sugar and raisins heated up with milk. Delicious, and not a bad smell to start the day. If you need a little more protein to get you through to lunch, try making Ful, a middle eastern bean dish served at breakfast.
   Ful Instructions: Take three cups of cooked kidney beans and blend them thoroughly in your food processor. Add 3 tablespoons of sesame oil and 2 teaspoons of cumin. Mix in completely. After blended, add chopped pieces of onion and tomato. Add salt to taste. Eat hot or cold. Yum.
   
   
2. Rinse your beans. Really, this will make a huge difference in your ability to digest them and avoid, well, gas. Rinse them thoroughly after being soaked, and throw out the soaking water. After cooking them, rinse them again and throw out the cooking water before adding vegetables, etc. With this strategy, we have eliminated the problem.
   
   
3. Make enough for tomorrow. Our rhythm of rice and beans is to make a large meal at dinner with enough for leftovers to have rice left for breakfast and servings to take to work for lunch the next day. Enjoy your leftovers, and cook another large dinner that night. You end up cooking once per day, but it feels like you have more variety without a lot of extra time.
   
   
4. Share with friends. Meals are meant to be shared, and simple meals are even better in good company. Invite people over. It is great to share suggestions with fellow participants and encourage each other along the way. We have found that those who are not participating in the event still enjoy experiencing the meal with us, and it makes for great table conversation.