New Lifestyle Resolution -- Part One -- The Decision

I've made a promise to myself a couple times in the last 10 months to change my ways. To become a healthy, active mommy and yes, I've also broken that promise a couple times this year.

It was approximately mid December when I decided to make a lifestyle resolution. Every time I made a New Years Resolution I failed, so this time as the New Year approached I decided why wait? Why let myself gorge myself on holiday cheer (chocolate, turkey, egg nog, etc) because starting January 1st I'd be different, I'd change. I made the decision on a random day, and thus far have stuck to it.

Something a fellow mommy-blogger said really hit home with me. She asked herself why she was so willing to feed her baby only healthy, balanced meals but not put that kind of effort in for herself? Since Monster has been able to eat solids I've been obsessive about what he eats and when. As you all know, Monster doesn't need any help from a high fat, high carb, high sugar diet to be a big boy.

Since the day I made the conscious decision to turn my life around I've been setting weekly and monthly goals. For the remainder of December my main goals were:

1. Don't go crazy with holiday treats, at least maintain current weight.
2. Focus on 5 small meals a day in order to keep your metabolism going throughout the day.
3. After lunch switch from coffee to water.
4. Drink at least the daily requirement of water a day.

(To be continued...)

Adventures in Healthy Eating - Part two!

I'm hard pressed to find a way to cook my veggies that Hubbs will actually enjoy eating them.

Don't get me wrong, he eats his veggies, he just does not like eating them as much as say... Steak! It's my quest in this life to make healthy eating as enjoyable as I can for us and our growing family. It's important to me to instill those choices in my children so they live a long and healthy life!

A couple days ago I decided to make a "stir fry" with some left over veggies in my fridge to go with our no so healthy roast beef. I tossed broccoli, cauliflower and corn into a pan (with just enough oil in the bottom to cover the pan... Approximately a teaspoon) along with 3 chopped up garlic cloves!

Obviously if you don't like garlic, you're not going to like this idea but it's perfect for us because Hubbs and I are slightly obsessive when it comes to garlic. Stir up the veggies every few minutes until they're soft. If you find they're cooking too fast on the outside, just pour some water in the pan (half a cup) and let it help steam them a bit.

I added salt and pepper to taste and voilà! A super enjoyable side dish! I welcome you to try it, and explore your spice rack while doing so!







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Adventures in Eating Well - Part One

Because of my gallbladder issues, my weight issues and the health risks that go hand in hand with being over weight I am constantly on the look out for better eating options.

Today I am making good ol' fashioned spaghetti sauce and pasta. My favorite thing about spaghetti sauce is that it is essentially a veggie dumping ground. I can add almost any vegetable into the sauce and it makes little difference to the taste. Perfect for hiding extras!

Tonights sauce has chopped spinach, grated cauliflower and celery as it's extras. That is over and above the regulars like tomato, onion, green pepper and mushrooms. Whole wheat pasta smothered in said sauce.... MmmMmm, is it just me or did it just get hungrier in here?

Dishes like this, chilli, homemade soups and stews are perfect for picky eaters and toddlers. As long as you cut everything small enough and don't let it slip about what's really in there. ;)





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A Possible Homeopathic Solution - The Gallbladder

I can always count on my beautiful, very "green" sister-in-law to show my another alternative to any health situation.

She might as well be a naturopath, because she is as insightful as one. She often refers to her "naturopathic bible" The Prescription for Nutritional Healing. Once she heard that I was having issues with my Gallbladder, being the amazing sister-in-law that she is, ran to her "bible" and immediately sought out nutritional solutions for my issues. Here is what she found:

If your gallbladder is inflamed it suggests avoiding solid foods for a few days. It says to consume only distilled or spring water, pear juice, beet juice, and apple juice. My gallbladder pain might be bad, but I don't know if I can honestly live off of a sugary-liquid diet for at least three days. I think I will come back to this suggestion as a last resort.

The Prescription for Nutritional Healing also suggests that one who is prone to Gallbladder disorders maintain a healthy diet by:

-Eating a diet consisting of 75% raw foods
-Include applesauce, eggs, yogurt, cottage cheese, broiled fish, fresh apples and beets.
-To cleanse the system drink as much pure, unsweetened apple juice as possible for 5 days.
-Avoid sugar, animal fat and meat, fried foods, spicy foods, margarine, pop, coffee, chocolate and refined carbohydrates.

It sounds like a healthy diet, one that most people should follow anyways. I'm just not sure if I will be great at avoiding chicken, and steak. My health is a good enough reason to avoid fast food restaurants though!

Wish me well on this new road of my life! Cheers to a new me and body coming with this new lifestyle!


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New Breakfast and/or Snack!

This mommy is striving to eat more healthy, be more active and ultimately get into better shape for myself, my Hubbs and my Monster.

Today I "invented" a new breakfast or afternoon snack designed to keep you feeling full and energized for the day (Forgive me because I'm sure I'm not the first to combine these foods).

In a bowl I combined 1/2 cup Fat Free Vanilla Yogurt, 1/3 cup Fiber 1 Honey Cluster Cereal, 4 tbsp Hemp Hearts and 4 sliced Strawberries. I didn't stir it all together because I like to design eat bite and yes, I am aware of how strange that sounds.

See Photo:





And close up (Note: My strawberries were thawed from frozen, hence the unappealing look)






The strawberries and vanilla yogurt are just enough sweet that I might be able to talk myself out of a chocolate bar. The fiber cereal is to hold you over until your next meal or snack and the biggest benefits of hemp hearts is its ability to help fight fatigue.

It was my first time trying hemp hearts and I'm pleased to report that they aren't as seedy or grainy feeling as I thought they'd be in the yogurt.

Of course I'm sure granola would be great in exchange for the cereal and the strawberries would be interchangeable with different fruits.

I dare ya to try it! :)


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Postpartum Weight loss - Introduction to Kashi

Once you start following weight loss blogs online, you can't help but notice a commonly enjoyed food brand. Kashi.

I had heard about it, but because of my previous lifestyle (cheaper food is better, even if it's slowly destroying your body) and the cost of the brand I've never tried it before.

Disclosure: I've learned that it actually doesn't cost much more to eat healthily as long as you get the most bang for your buck. I only purchase the amount of produce that me/my family can physically eat in one week, or else it will likely go bad in the fridge. That's why I pick up about $40 worth of groceries between paydays. I've also been buying produce that is mostly in season, and shopping around for weekly sales on staple items I normally buy.

My mom introduced me to her favorite Kashi granola bar when we got onto the topic of finding healthy, lower calorie snacks that "resemble" chocolate bars for your sweet tooth fix. It's called Dark Chocolate Coconut and she swears it's so good she looks forward to her 3pm snack every day, and this little granola bar will hold her until supper.

I didn't actually get the opportunity to try her favorite flavor because she had just purchased the Pumpkin Pecan, and the Raspberry Chocolate flavors, so we cut one of each in half and shared them to taste test. They were both great! In my opinion, the Pumpkin Pecan is more of a granola bar snack (as in, it wouldn't satisfy my need for a chocolate bar), but the Raspberry Chocolate flavor really hit the spot!

From what I've tasted of Kashi, I give the brand two thumbs up. I may have to spend some more time on their website learning about the products but, looks like I might get some cereal whilst grocery shopping tomorrow!

Healthy Eating is Learned

I would be lying (and not very well) if I tried to say I don't like sweets or fried food. Honestly, as I type Hubbs is popping a Delissio pizza in the oven for lunch. MmMm..

Part of the whole "new leaf" thing I talked about in my Commandments blog was inspired by my Monster. How can I possibly expect him to eat (more importantly, like to eat) fruits, veggies, whole grains, and lean meats if we don't lead by example and eat them too. For the most part, Hubbs and I make sure we have our daily requirements, but it's usually not without a fight from one or both of us.

I often hear the argument that it's much faster to pop a pizza in the oven, then it is to chop up some veggies for a salad. I have to disagree with those people, because I was once one of those people and I know the truth! To bake a Delissio Pizza you have to preheat the oven, lets be generous and say that only takes about 5 minutes, then you have to bake the pizza for at least 25 minutes before you can actually eat it. In the 30 minutes you wasted waiting to eat your frozen pizza you could have chopped up your veggies AND eaten your salad. Barring any disfigurements in your fingers or hands that make it difficult for you to hold and use a knife.

Laziness. Our society has become so obsessed with speed, and getting things done as quickly as humanly possible that they have convinced themselves, and made excuses for themselves that "fast food" is the only way you can survive. I use the term "fast food" loosely. I'm not only talking about a drive thru window, I'm also talking about anything pre-pakaged and full of preservatives.

That is the way of thinking I'm planning on trying to prevent in my Monster.

(..to be continued)