Wake Up, You Sleepy Heads – Cooking With Anna

Can you believe the first quarter of 2019 is over? Where has the time gone? I feel like it was Christmas only a few days ago. The long winter is finally coming to a close, and everything in the South is back to life after its long winter slumber.

For years, my health was in hibernation. Just like an animal in the wild that sleeps away the months of winter, I had “slept” away years of my life hiding behind an unhealthy body. For all of you that have been reading my column this year, you know that I have slowly been awakening from my slumber. I’m feeling much more alive and awake these last few weeks.

Since March was a five-week month, you missed my 2-month weighin at the doctor’s office. This month, I was a little leery not knowing what to expect. To my surprise, I had lost 17 pounds. That brings my grand total to 40 pounds! That amazes me. Through small changes, I’ve made a HUGE difference in my life and the life of my family. No more sitting on the sidelines watching everyone else live life. I can now play with my nieces and nephews, I can walk through a store with my husband, and I can be more active at my job. I didn’t realize how much “life” I was actually missing.

When you are in a hibernation, the world doesn’t stop. I can easily see how someone could become a recluse. I desperately wanted to take part in the world, but I was so physically sick, my body wouldn’t let me. To some people, 40 pounds might not seem like much, but to me and my family it has meant the world.

Thank you for holding my hand through this journey to health. In a strange way, you are holding accountable. I don’t want to let down all of you reading my column. We have started this together, and feel like I owe it to you to see the journey through.

Coming out of hibernation, you need a good hearty meal and who doesn’t like pizza? Pizza is delicious, I mean, let’s just admit that as fact. However, pizza is not good for you. No matter how you try and justify having that one piece, it is still not very good for you. Great tasting, but not very nutritional.

Why not try something that taste like pizza, but is so much healthier than pizza. Using eggplant for the base of your pizza cuts down on calories. Eating this yummy eggplant pizza won’t leave you feeling heavy and having to make sure you wear your stretchy pants. I hope this recipe is a hit with your family as much as it is with mine.

“Besides this you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed.” Romans 13:11