While reading this question-answering, informative article in the Times Magazine yesterday, I was reminded of how lazy I often am about hunting, gathering, and preparing my own food, and how I often reach for something packaged instead of washing off (with soap and warm water) an apple.

I go through phases where I don't eat enough fresh things and rely too much on processed foods. But when I finally make time, like I did yesterday, to take a trip to my garden of paradise, Whole Foods, I end up lugging home bags full of fresh things and feel healthier for a while.

I love how a blueberry can be naturally beautiful, simple, and delicious. Or how a tomato's fruity, juiciness is captured when it's quartered and sprinkled with a little salt. I've always liked radishes, so I bought some, per Tobi's suggestion. They too are good with a sprinkle of salt (and butter per the French way), but are even better plain. I also bought some roasted baby brussel sprouts. All those mean things everyone said about sprouts when you were a kid, well they're not true--they're delicious! And, I bought a bag of unsalted almonds to take to work and eat with oatmeal in the morning or as a late afternoon, pre-gym snack.

I'm not sure if it was the fresh food in my fridge and belly, the comfy yet kicky heels I wore to work today, the fact that my brown pants feel looser every time I wear them, or that my thighs were pleasantly sore from doing presses at the gym last night, but I felt good, especially for a Monday.