Ed Levine's Serious Diet, Week 47: Praise the Thursday Pears!
"What might have saved me is the box of Harry & David pears."
The holidays are tough enough for any serious eater on a diet, but this year I am particularly challenged by the fact that Thanksgiving (per usual), Christmas Day, and New Year's Day (not usual), all fall on Thursday, right before my weekly date with Thinner, my scale.
It's enough to make any dieting serious eater feel persecuted. The combination of Thursdays and the array of foods sent to my wife this year from her gracious and grateful clients are not making me feel very sanguine about my moment of reckoning on the scale. In fact, there were moments this week that I almost just gave in and said the hell with it.
Vicky was sent the following this week:
- A tin of homemade brownies
- Some fruitcake that might just succeed in clearing its bad name
- Some excellent peanuts from A Southern Season
- Lake Champlain Chocolates
In addition, we were both sent some excellent A Southern Season pistachio nuts by my cousins Bob and Meryl.
What might have saved me (we will soon find out) is the box of Harry & David pears. Normally I am skeptical of Harry & David products, but these pears, Royal Riviera Pears, are incredibly juicy and sweet. These pears even have a trademarked tagline: "So big and juicy, you eat them with a spoon." I've been eating two a day in an effort to fill me up with healthy , good-for-the-diet food before we hit the holiday party circuit.
Thursday, or yesterday, on Christmas Day, I actually ate three of these wondrous pears before we left the house to go to the Bijur Christmas Day feast, which turned out to be a good thing because my brother-in-law's wife put out a serious spread featuring a pork roast, roast pears and apples, brussels sprouts, Swiss chard, and salt-roasted fingerling potatoes. I think I ate moderately, but we are about to see.
The Weigh-In
233. Down another pound in a holiday week. That doesn't suck, does it? Praise the pears! And next year I've already looked it up. Christmas Day in 2009 is on a Friday. Hallelujah.Add a comment:
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5 Comments:
Great job with the pears! Having a snack before hitting the holiday meal circuit is definitely the best way to make sure you don't overeat :) You're making great progress with your diet, Ed, keep up the good work!
Vincci at 11:30AM on 12/26/08
that's great, ed! you're ahead of all of us out here who've over-indulged ... once you go down that path, it's hard to get back on the straight and narrow.
i've got all of these great leftovers in the fridge.... so i'll have to pace myself....
pears are truly one of my favorite fruits .... you should try the texas ruby red grapefruits also. they're one of those things that take the edge off when you're craving a big piece of chocolate cake..... totally satisfying.....
pooch at 11:47AM on 12/26/08
I absolutely love Harry & David fruit. I send H&D gifts regularly and also order for myself when I want a real treat. The cherries are incredible.
PattiShock at 11:35PM on 12/26/08
We started getting the Royal Riveria pears in '06 (I will never forget the year because that's the year my sister's shrimp bisque landed me in the ER with an allergic reaction) and they have become a holiday tradition now. My sisters and I send them to our aunts and uncles, who are all notorious for their high fruit standards.
wookie at 7:25PM on 12/27/08
My family have been giving each other the Harry & David pears for at least 30 years now, if not longer. They are indeed delicious once they ripen (try them with a sprinkling of cheese on top!), and the boxes make excellent storage for christmas ornaments. We must have 20 H&D boxes up in our attic full of christmas history.
em at 2:42PM on 12/30/08