Proper Planning Ramblings

I was going to show you all pictures and suggestions for homemade pizza, and accidentally deleted all the pictures. Thus, this post.

I was trying to determine what I wanted to write about this week, and recently I have had so many irons in the fire, that it has been hard to focus on a single idea or concept.

I have been focusing on all the busy work of maintaining a blog. Designing a business card, creating a fan page on Facebook (check it out! The Rogue Chef), photography, and learning more about web design. You have to set aside time each day for all the things you involve yourself in. I was planning for a party, and had pages of notes, and my computer ready and one of the young boys that I watch asked me if it was hard to plan a party. He also wanted to know if I had to practice at it and if I decorated. At that moment I was able to articulate exactly how I plan and prepare. I told and explained to him the concept, Prior Proper Planning Prevents Piss-Poor Performance (I left out the piss part.) I explained that planning takes time and dedication to what you are doing.
-Segway- 
Real Dedication to Anything: If you want something, you have to decide, “Yes, this is what I really want” and instead of telling the whole world what that is, take carefully planned steps to achieve that goal. The more someone tells other people about their want, goal, or commitment, the less likely they are to follow through with it. This is because by telling others, it sooths our own ego’s and give us a feeling of accomplishment without really doing anything because we have just received validation or praise by telling others about setting that goal. If you choose to tell others, make sure that these people can and will be your support system. You want to loose ten pounds? Find a friend to help you reach that goal and encourage you through it. Whatever it is that you really “want” you have to want it for yourself. Not for a lover, parent, best friend, children, but for you. If you want to change something, make sure that you are living by that change. If you want to change someone else…. accept that that will never happen unless they want to change.

How does this all relate to food? If you want to change the way you eat, you have to consciously work hard, experiment, and be prepared for many frustrations. I initially found it so very difficult to maintain the eating lifestyle I wanted to completely adopt. But, thankfully, with time, it really does get easier. I have consciously made the choice to guard what I let enter my body, and have chosen to prepare my food as much as possible. I have taken the responsibility of feeding myself, and those closest to me.

Advice from The Rogue Chef:
-Be conscious-
-Take personal responsibility for your own actions-
-Do not wait for things to “happen”, you have to start making those choices and steps-
- No one else can do it for you-

Now a word of advice from Michael Pollan again from his book,
Food Rules: An Eater’s Manual.

Rule #17 – Eat only foods that have been cooked by humans.

If you’re going to let others cook for you, you’re much better off if they are other humans, rather than corporations. In general, corporations cook with too much salt, fat, and sugar, as well as preservatives, colorings, and other biological novelties. They also aim for immortality in their food products. Note: While it is true that professional chefs are generally humans, they often cook with large amounts of salt, fat, and sugar too, so treat restaurant meals as special occasions.