21 days check in: life needs a touch of ritual
The initial motivation for enjoying cooking is definitely not just for the taste.
Putting effort into cooking and documenting it is somewhat like creating art. From brainstorming, selecting ingredients, planning steps, to the final outcome, a series of tasks can make one fully engaged.
In behavioral psychology, the phenomenon where it takes at least 21 days for a person to form and solidify a new habit or concept is called the 21-day effect. This means that if a person repeats an action or thought for 21 days, it will become a habitual action or thought.
No one can turn every day into poetry, but at least you can hold onto a morning that belongs to yourself...
DAY 1 Mixed Fruit Yogurt
Due to a business trip out of town, with limited conditions, I can only use simple ingredients at hand to make the simplest breakfast.
There is lush mint growing in the yard where I stay. Picking a leaf brings a refreshing start to a summer morning...
DAY 2 Vegetable Salad, Pan-fried Chicken Breast, Boiled Egg, Whole Wheat Bread Sandwich
The vegetables are mixed vegetables available at Metro, perfect for making salads.
The salad dressing is homemade with olive oil, crushed black pepper, and red vinegar, paired with a cup of coffee made with heated milk.
PS: All sandwich bread slices are toasted, and all vegetable salad dressings are made with olive oil, crushed black pepper, and red vinegar.
DAY 3 Vegetable Sandwich, Milk Coffee
Simple, delicious, and quick. While heating the milk, toast the bread slices, spread peanut butter, add two lettuce leaves, and cut. The milk coffee is also ready...
DAY 4 Tuna Vegetable Salad, Sandwich, Milk Coffee
Added oil-soaked tuna to the vegetable salad, and a fried egg to the sandwich...
DAY 5 Tomato Fried Egg Sandwich, Milk Coffee
A sandwich is a subjective meal; add whatever flavors you like...
DAY 6 Pumpkin Porridge, Chive Pockets, and Side Dishes
Sometimes there's a desire to change flavors, or when too lazy to make breakfast, go out and buy something you want to eat...
DAY 7 Vegetable Salad, Bread with Peanut Butter, Coffee Milk
Seasonal vegetables with a boiled egg enrich the taste and add nutrition, simple yet never boring...
DAY 8 Mixed Grain Porridge, Scallion Tofu, and Steamed Dumplings
Made the scallion tofu a day in advance and stored it in the fridge. The steamed dumplings are just for show, to complement the meal...
DAY 9 Vegetable Salad, Bread with Peanut Butter, Coffee Milk
The eternal trio, with a touch of tuna...
DAY 10 Breakfast Shop in a Foreign Land
This day, I will spend the whole day in the mountains. A simple breakfast ensures energy and keeps the stomach safe.
DAY 11 Breakfast Shop in a Foreign Land
Cycling to a foreign land, breakfast is usually porridge, buns, pancakes, side dishes, and a boiled egg to replenish energy for the day's ride...
DAY 12 Okra Wrapped in Bacon, Fried Egg, Bread Sandwich, Drip Coffee
A friend recommended drip coffee, which arrived. The taste of black coffee pairs well with okra bacon. Cutting the bread edges increases its aesthetic appeal. The photo session took a bit long, and the fried egg looked a bit weary.
DAY 13 Jam Sandwich and Fresh Fruit, Dehydrated Vegetables
A layer of peanut butter, a layer of blueberry jam, garnished with banana slices and blueberries, giving it a high-end look. The fresh dragon fruit and crunchy dehydrated vegetables complement each other well, with colors and lighting that match my preferred style...
DAY 14 Vegetable Salad, Coffee Milk
A piece of corn cake enriches the color of the salad and serves as the main dish. Red onion is the lead singer in the salad band...
DAY 15 Vegetable Salad, Fried Egg Sandwich, Drip Black Coffee
Bell peppers are a staple in vegetable salads, and cherry tomatoes are the guest stars. The fried egg in the sandwich is mainly for appearance; it can also be served separately on a plate.
DAY 16 Vegetable Sandwich, Coffee Milk
There are always a few days when you don't feel like doing anything. A simple 5-minute meal, from preparation to eating, and it's done...
DAY 17 Purple Sweet Potato Sandwich, Vegetable Salad, Purple Sweet Potato Mashed Potatoes, Drip Coffee
First time making it, added a potato to the purple sweet potato mash for color variety, keeping some texture when mixing. Next time, I can add more seasoning...
DAY 18 Bitter Melon and Broccoli Salad, Tomato Scrambled Eggs, Purple Sweet Potato
The purple sweet potato was leftover from the previous day, sliced as the main dish. The red, yellow, and green combination is very appetizing...
DAY 19 Fruit Sandwich, Coffee Milk
The bread is still spread with peanut butter, with chopped bananas and cherries on top, sprinkled with nuts and morning sunlight...
DAY 20 Fried Bacon, Okra, Banana Celery Juice, Jam Bread Slices
Three slices of bread, one layer of peanut butter, one layer of blueberry jam. First time making banana celery juice, fresh and sweet. No fancy presentation for the okra and bacon...
DAY 21 Breakfast Shop in a Foreign Land
On a business trip to the south again, the homeland of meat dumplings...
21 days is just three weeks. Being picky about food gradually turns into not settling for less in life, and so on.
If possible, find a place like Walden Pond, cook at sunrise, and drink at sunset...