We’re currently on vacay in California – there are tons of events planned for us in the next couple of weeks, including my cousin and friend’s weddings (on different days – whew!), baby showers, and pre-wedding festivities.  I’m so happy to be around friends and family for an extended period of time and probably won’t be cooking much because our moms/aunts/family are in a cooking frenzy and I’m just sitting back enjoying the food I grew up eating.  So instead I’ll be updating you all on what the good eats have been, and resuming cooking when we go back to Hawaii.

On the agenda for today: a “Ladies of Leisure Day,” as my friend Phi dubbed it.  We took out our friend Karen, the blushing bride-to-be, to a relaxing spa day at Glen Ivy and then headed off to Orange Circle to lunch at Paris In A Cup, an adorable tea salon with a little boutique and market in front with French-imported goodies (my mantra today: to practice self-restraint from buying pretty things and keep room in luggage for Trader Joe’s goodies).

Many of you have probably heard about the French paradox: eat croissants and brioche, drink red wine, and don’t get fat.  In fact, you’ve probably read the book “French Women Don’t Get Fat: The Secret of Eating for Pleasure” by Mireille Guiliano, where she emphasizes eating for pure enjoyment while still leading a healthy lifestyle with a “non-diet” approach.  That French Paradox was on my mind as we were at Paris In A Cup, reminiscent of meals eaten in Europe when I visited my brother there a few years ago.

I firmly believe in eating for nourishment and enjoyment, and when you eat smaller portions, it just makes you savor every bite and taste your food, rather than wolfing down a burger and fries at your local fast food joint.  I also believe in eating real food, and laying low on heavily processed foods.  And although what we ordered today would not normally be considered “diet fare,” they were smaller in portions and a few bites would satisfy.

Phi and I both ordered the “Maurice,” which included Cream of Potato Soup in Croc, Paris Chicken Salad on Croissant, freshly steeped tea (Earl Grey for me for a change, since I usually drink green or oolong tea), and a dessert plate containing a French macaroon, cinnamon palmier, and lemon madeleine.  Hello, all my fave French cookies on one plate!  I never order cream-of-anything soup, but this soup was divine and after a few spoonfuls left me fully satisfied, in addition to half of my chicken salad croissant (which, thankfully, felt light and low on the mayo, and high on the chopped veggies and dried fruit inside).

Karen had the “Madame du Barry,” which came with an assortment of small scones, small tea sandwiches (including a mini version of my chicken salad croissant – so cute!), petite salad composee, and petit fours.  We ended up spending a lot of time catching up, going through a few teapots of the soothing tea, and nibbling bits and pieces of our food.  It was all decadent but I didn’t feel overly full.  We still couldn’t finish all our small portions so packed up a lot of the petit fours and cookies to enjoy at a later time.

What I try to tell people who want to lose weight is to not to think of certain foods as “forbidden,” as it creates anxiety and potential for sabotage when you get off a diet because you lost a few pounds, and then overeat on the foods you restricted before (then gain the weight, plus some, back).

Keep in mind your portions – I know it’s easy to say, but when you serve or make food and pre-portion it out, that may help guide you towards knowing when your body is full.  Even if just for 20 minutes during lunch time, eat slowly, savor every bite, and enjoy the moment that is just for you.  If you’re at work, shut off your computer monitor, stop checking your Blackberry, and turn off the TV if you’re at home.  You are nourishing your body, your mind, and taking a little “me time” by shutting out distractions that may influence your eating mindlessly.

I am a strong proponent of eating dinner with the TV OFF, as my family did while I was growing up.  My husband and I still spend every dinner like this daily, and hope to share many more family meals with family rather than looking at a TV.  After all, a meal is so much more enjoyable when you’re feeling connected with loved ones and talking about your day.

So yes, just a few of my ramblings (or maybe more) of eating with pleasure while not going overboard.  Anyways, it’s getting late.  Bonne nuit, my friends, I truly encourage all of you to have a “Ladies (or Men) of Leisure Day” soon!  You all deserve it!