Some thoughts

This is for anyone out there if you read my blog. Maybe if you leave a comment and let me know if anything is inspiring you to EAT REAL FOOD, you might get something on your doorstep..

I've been talking to a handful of people about eating whole foods - REAL FOOD, as in not processed, as in what we eat I have to prepare and make. Do you want the truth? It's a pain in the butt a lot of times. I know it will get easier. I'm still learning for sure. Other times it's super easy. Especially this time of year when there's so many fruits and veggies in season. BUT.. to me there's not a question in my mind whether it's worth it. Why? Because I don't want to be, and I don't want my children to be, part of the world that has so much knowledge and resources, yet is so unhealthy. Looking into their eyes tells me it's the most important thing to nourish our bodies with the right stuff with REAL FOOD.

You may be the very busy mother who is working full time - Or the empty nesters who don't feel like cooking and eating out is so much more convenient - or you may live alone and don't feel like cooking for one person - you may have more on your plate to handle than dinner - you may be me.. someone who is home all day and has the time to prepare fresh meals for every meal and actually enjoys it.

So here's my thought for you tonight.. make a tiny change to EAT REAL FOOD. Something you feel like you can do. Can you on Saturday morning have your kids help you make 3 batches of blender pancakes and freeze them so you don't have to buy eggos or sugar cereal for the next week? Can you switch from hormone loaded eggs for .79 per dozen to farm fresh eggs from a neighbor for $1.25 a dozen? Can you make sure you buy 100% juice instead of 5% juice/soda for you and your kids? Can you think of preparing dinner for those bodies that you love in a positive way instead of a death sentence?

YOU CAN! I know you can because I see it. I talk to you who want to do it, know it is the right thing to do and just don't know where to start. It's overwhelming, but not if you make a small step.

Here is what happened at our house:

Oct 2008, got rid of white flour for good. Substituted it with whole wheat flour in baked goods/pancakes/bread.

November 2008, significantly decreased processed sugar. Replaced with raw honey. Made my kids drink a glass of water before they could have breakfast. And lunch. And dinner. How are we going to get rid of chocolate milk?

December 2008, still working on the no processed sugar thing. Still trying new things.. honey, pure maple syrup, all fruit jam. Switched from white rice to brown rice. From now on, only natural peanut butter without rapeseed oil.

January 2009, switched from white noodles to whole wheat noodles, still working on the sugar thing.. Started incorporating a lot more vegetables and fruits. From now on, no fruit snacks at our house.. apples, bananas, oranges, celery sticks, carrot sticks.

February 2009, no more dairy. Replaced it with rice milk, or no milk.. Started reading ingredient labels more closely. Took a stand and refused to buy anything with MSG, high fructose corn syrup, TBHQ.

March 2009, Still working on all these things previously mentioned.

April 2009, incorporated green smoothies (*might have been my favorite step!). Became daily green smoothie drinkers. And love it. Became a vegetarian.

May 2009, started eating a salad every day. Not just me.. my kids too. Made them eat a salad before dinner every night. Yes.. still Atwood's dressing. Tried a lot of new grains: millet, buckwheat, kamut, quinoa.

June 2009, finally found a homemade salad dressing that they like. No more chemicals or MSG in our salad dressing!

July 2009, started using coconut oil/olive oil/butter exclusively. Firmly said no to canola oil, shortening, and vegetable oil.

August 2009, decided to chill out a little and let my kids eat "normal foods" at parties and other people's houses. Feel good about that.

September 2009, help more people make little changes to EAT REAL FOOD.

The whole purpose of this post was to give you encouragement, especially if you feel overwhelmed, and to show you it isn't going to happen overnight. It happens by little changes.. Be the change you want to see! Good luck!