Penchant de Fromage

There was one thing, and one thing only on her mind when she woke up this Tuesday morning: Cheese.

Now, what is it about cheese that drives Karina so nuts? Let us count the ways….

credit to: deviantart.com

1. It is versatile: There is nothing Karina loves more than a good curried grilled cheese sandwich or a slice of Pizza Hut’s veggie lover’s pie. And when the mood strikes, nothing hits her spot better than a piece of toast heaped with a mound of Welsh Rarebit. Mmm….

2. Texture: Soft. Crumbly. Firm. Velvety. Smooth and silky. Rough. Just simple thoughts of a cheese’s touch are enough to tantalize Karina’s palate. Say the word “crumbly” and her mind will go astray to thoughts of crumbled Feta over butter crackers or some fresh Manchego atop a warm arepa.

3. Taste: The softness of a ripe french brie, the potent taste of a mature gouda, and the robust flavor of an aged cheddar… enough said.

4. Health: As a girl in dire need of nourishment, Karina is appreciative of the nutrients cheese brings her. Cheese is loaded with Vitamins A, B-12, and D, and excellent amounts of protein, phosphorus, and calcium. Cheese is most definitely a friend with benefits!

credit to: deviantart.com

When her sunrise cheese appreciation period ended, Karina slipped her nippy feet into her grandmother’s old stained slippers. Something about hand-me-downs always warmed her heart. Perhaps it was the idea infused of “if you have something great then share it?”

Karina knew that her nutritionist most likely sat at her desk thinking “she’s gonna be late again” and made it her morning’s mission to get out of the house on time.

She began to move toward the stairs when suddenly, a frenzied Mother dashed into the hall with a crazed expression on her face.

“MY CHOLESTEROL WENT THROUGH THE @##>?~%&ing ROOF!”

Mother got off the phone with Dr. S and one of her nervous breakdowns ensued.

“I’ll make you a nice bowl of chocolate oatmeal if you calm down,” Karina cooed.

Worked like a charm.

—————————–

1/2 c. Kashi Heart to Heart cereal and 1 crumbled golden corn VitaTop mixed into a 1/2 c. of LLF’s drinkable pina colada yogurt, pumpkin seeds & soy nuts, and chopped figs. On the side she enjoyed a Morningstar maple breakfast patty with milk and coffee.

The bowl of cereal was so tropical, so unique, so… exotic! Karina felt so excited to share this creation with her bloggers as she felt it could inspire several variations and newfangled breakfast treats.

Karina polished off her bowl, grabbed her purse, and scuttled out the door.

As her mother drove, Karina’s stomach fluttered with anxiety.

Did I gain? Did I lose? How much do I weigh now? What if I lost!? But what if I.. gained?

She tried to block ED out of her mind and sat peacefully for the rest (most?) of the trip.

—————————–

A pound. Karina gained a pound. A whole one pound. Not the usual 1/2 pound, 1/4 pound, 3/4 pound, but a pound.

She felt nauseous. On the bright side, the nutritionist said her meal plan looked fantastic.

ED felt perturbed.

“OH MY GOD, YOU FAILURE!” ED cried. “A whole pound!? You were better off gaining a fraction of a pound a week! Don’t you see that now your body will change sooner? You better hope that wasn’t real weight and that it was simply that 16 oz. coffee you just finished sipping on, you piglet. Now no one will think you’re special.”

People do not think Karina is special because she is thin… People think Karina is special because she is quirky and fun, not because she looks sicker and sicker as more of her clothes come off. And people think Karina is special because she can cook and draw, not because she stays at a low BMI. People don’t even care about that stuff. No one chooses their friends based on body weight. No one sane or worthwhile at least.

By the time Karina got home, her stomach became a garrulous scoundrel whom cried for attention. It howled and shouted unintelligible requests at her regarding cheese enchiladas and other gabbledygooks.

Well, be they gabbledygooks or not, her spoiled stomach got just what it asked for:an Amy’s Cheese Enchilada whole meal with a side of winter squash (not pictured) and a 1/2 c. of cottage cheese with blackberries.

Karina closed her eyes and savored every last bit of cheesy righteousness as if it were her last. Because it probably was her last.

Due to Mother’s scandalously high cholesterol, a few things had to be changed in the Pinzon household such as less frozen foods in the house. And less saturated fats (except for Karina, who needs her cheese!).

—————————–

Hours passed, the sun dimmed, and Karina now faced a new dilemma.

Last night at ballet, she couldn’t do it. She had to raise her hand an hour into class and sit out because she felt like she would pass out.

Her legs felt light and her brain felt fuzzy. She shouldn’t have gone to ballet. She’d had three dizzy spells that day and should have known better. Well, she did but did not want to face it.

Karina Pinzon, the Karina Pinzon, was sick. Her throat hurt, she felt weak, and all around dreadful. Could it be that she was… human? One of those living, breathing things that roam the Earth?

It appears as though she was.

Unfortunately, this troubled little human knows not how to rest. The word “rest” was purged from her vocabulary at the start of ED’s appearance when sitting on the couch to watch TV became an unlawful activity. The only activity that ED smiled upon was exercise.

Karina’s relationship with ballet is a curious one, to say the least. Karina has an artistic and amorous relationship with ballet. To her, ballet is one of the finest forms of art ever created. It is the epitome of grace and beauty put together.

ED, however, has an obsessive relationship with ballet and its’ obsession is not a healthy one. It is an abusive one.

While Karina wanted to go to ballet, ED had to go to ballet.

To miss a day would mean to “fail” ED’s exercise plan, not a day to get her strength back.

“If you don’t work out, your 1 pound of weight is going to be a flabby gut on your once flat belly.” ED taunted.

“Shut up!” Karina cried. “That is not true! NOT TRUE!”

Karina bolted off the couch.

“This week is demonstration week and I don’t want to be remembered by all the parents as ‘the skinny girl who passed out during my daughter’s ballet class.’ Also, if I don’t take care of myself, I’ll end up missing more days of ballet. So, there!” She blew a raspberry at her enemy and sat back down.

—————————–

Karina’s dinner consisted of 1 c. of black beans mixed with melted swiss cheese, pistachios, and hogao (Colombian criollo sauce). On the side she had a 1/2 c. of couscous with soy sauce and carrots.

She felt gorged after this but ignored the stuffed feeling and patted her stomach. That was a good meal – emphasis on good. Why would she complain for feeling a little full? One should feel blessed to feel full in a world where unwillful starvation is an extensive issue.

Moral of the story: Appreciate, be thankful, love (yourself and others), and never take things for granted.