Two Months Done!

Barely...

Yikes, this is a tough, tough week. I am feeling really overwhelmed in my life (nothing major, just a lot of little things piling up) and I'm turning to food. I've got to get on some sort of a food schedule, and I've got to put the clamps down when it comes to snacking on my kids' food.

But, I have made it two months with only bingeing on fruit. So I have to give myself credit for that. And I did get a blog or two written with a little content in it. So hooray for that!

My goals for this month:

1) Try and get a little exercise in the routine.
2) Figure out some coping mechanisms for my stress that aren't food reliant.
3) Write 3-4 blogs about some nutrition content.
4) Incorporate some more green drinks and tea into my diet.

This month is a turning point. I'm going to be optimistic and say this is the month that I make some real headway when it comes to my emotional eating. We'll see how it goes..

Falling off the wagon...

Not yet, but I can feel it. Time to regroup! I really have to figure out a different stress buster than food. I knew this would be difficult but I'm not giving up. Life throws challenges at you for a reason and I'm going to figure out what lesson I need to learn or experience I need to have to gain some fresh perspective on myself.

Luckily for me, I still have my in-laws here through the week so regrouping will be a little easier. I'm going to make a grocery list and make sure I have a lot of options to snack on and get back on track. I'm also going to try my best to get quality rest the next couple of nights and take some time to look into short work-outs and stretches.

I don't know about you, but when I'm feeling overwhelmed and anxious I literally feel like I'm on edge. My body is shaky, my head is cloudy and the energy inside of me feels like it's going to explode. Back when I ran, this was the perfect time to head outside and run out the energy. I do well when I can physically exhaust myself. Problem is, I can't really run anymore because of my knee, and I also can't hit the pavement when I have two kids in the house to watch. So instead, I binge on food. And I realize both activities (running and eating), are really just ways for me to distract myself from dealing with the real issues. It's me seeking comfort and love. It's me not being able to wrap my brain around what's stressing me out and getting freaked out that I can't solve my problems with the flip of a switch.

I've been snacking a bit on food and eating more fruit than I should. I'm going to close the refrigerator door and instead lay on my couch and take some long deep breaths. Try to get a little perspective on what is at the root of my stress and go from there. I'm so happy that I am recognizing this and not throwing all this hard work out the window.

And the plan is to get back on track with nutritional information and recipes as well. But today this blog is my venting tool and I'm proud that I remembered to use it to ground me!

Reason #4 Why I'm Doing This: Weight Loss

When I tell people I don't eat sugar, they automatically think it's because I want to lose weight. I'm often met with comments like, "But you're not fat." or "Oh I exercise more so I can indulge in sweet stuff." As I've said time and time again, the reason I am doing this is because of how sugar makes me feel on the inside - anxious, exhausted, out of control. And the other reason is because when I have sugar I am more likely to binge eat and food takes control of me. So I don't want to live this way so I don't eat sugar.

But...I'd be lying if I said I didn't enjoy the inevitable consequence of eating this way. I do lose weight. And I keep the weight off rather easily. Actually, the gluten is what bloats me so the second I take that out I notice a difference within days. Also, I eat a lot less when I don't have sugar because my blood sugar levels stay balanced and I tend not to overeat.

However...lately I've been struggling. It's been almost two months and this is when the tides turned the last time I did this. I start to think I can do little cheats here and there so I do this for a month or so and then I start really cheating (like eating non-natural sugars...legit desserts here and there...some gluten) and then BAM, back to binge eating and the cycle continues.

I am there now. The biggest problem I have is my kids. I do make them things with natural sweeteners. I make home made pancakes sweetened with honey. I do cook my son pasta on occasion. I have a lot of fruit for them. It's extremely difficult not to take nibbles from their dishes, or clean their plate off when they are done. And inevitably, whenever I start to feel better I convince myself that I can handle "a little bit" of sugar and completely discount all that I have learned about myself. That I am a sugar addict. That I can't handle just a little bit. And that there's no room to wiggle if I want to continue this lifestyle.

I'm also just overeating. I'm feeling really anxious these days and am having a tough time feeling grounded. My kids are super demanding right now and the Hubs is traveling a ton. I don't feel settled in my skin and I'm eating. Lots of meat, lots of nut butters, tons of carrots and other sweet vegetables. I've actually put on a couple of pounds since January.

The big thing I have is that I don't sit down for meals, other than breakfast. I tend to just eat food throughout the day. I am a schedule person and my kids don't allow me to have a schedule so I graze. And grazing is bad for me. I also eat a lot while I cook. The meatballs come out of the oven, and I eat two of them as they are piping hot staring at me. I roast some sweet potato wedges for my kids, I eat about three of them as soon as they are ready, eat a few more while I am feeding them, and then pile a bunch on a plate to be my lunch. I feel all over the place with my eating and something has to change.

I am happy that I am recognizing this before it gets too out of control. Although working through this stage of the journey is something I have yet to figure out so I'm not sure what to do. I know its emotion-based. I know it's being bored of what I've been eating. And I know I am mourning sugar big time now. That actually just came to me as I typed. I am mourning sugar. I really do miss it. And I convince myself I can have a little visit from it on occasion at this point. Think I have to roll this around in my head for a bit.

Confession

I cheated last night.

No! Say it isn't so!! You didn't even make it two months!

But, it was for a good cause:

Booze.

I am not a drinker. I used to drink in college and for a few years after college. And I did the whole drink-too-much multiple times a week thing. I had weekends after graduation where I basically drowned myself in alcohol with my college buddies and watched as it took longer and longer to recover as the years went by. Then around 27 or 28 I stopped drinking to the point of acting stupid. I was pregnant with my son when I was 29 and ever since I've gone from being a casual drinker to not really drinking at all. A big part of this is my healthy eating lifestyle, but also I just don't feel the need.

However, it's been nearly 18 months since I've had a real drink and it's been even longer since the Hubs and I have gone out to a bar, ordered some cocktails and relaxed and had fun together. My in-laws are in town so we had our babysitters all lined up and hit the town. I was all set to order straight vodka, rum or try whiskey for the first time (these hard liquors don't have sugar and although alcohol has the same effect on my body as sugar it wouldn't be necessarily "cheating") but I decided that instead of choking down something I was going to enjoy myself. I ordered a martini with vanilla vodka (most likely infused with sugar), rum, and a slash of pineapple (fruit, but concentrated high glycemic sugar). And it was absolutely delicious. I tried two more drinks (yes, three drinks total!! But honestly, we were out for a bit, I had a huge meal and you know those girly drinks are always watered down so I promise I wasn't dancing on tables or passed out on the bathroom floor) and had the best evening I've had in well over a year.

Now today will be tough. I can already tell I'm craving some sweets but that's another reason why I decided to splurge last night. The Hubs is home to steer me clear of any bad foods, and with company in the house helping me with the kids my stress levels are low and I won't binge during nap time since there will be people to talk to. But I do have to be super careful and not have any fruit today, drink tons of water, and I'm trying to eat tons of vegetables and other "grounding" type foods.

I don't plan on making this a habit, but I'd love if I can have a life style where I can cut loose every once in awhile with a drink or two. If I manage it correctly, I think I may be able to do this. So even though I cheated, I'm putting a tally in the victory column!

Exercise

Yesterday, I finally threw in the towel and bought some new jeans. Ones that fit me at the size I am now. I had really wanted to wait until I was back to my size before I got pregnant with the Peanut but that isn't going to happen for a few more months. And my maternity jeans and comfy jeans all have holes in them or paint stains on them so it was time to bite the bullet.

I actually am almost at the weight that I like. It's the belly. The "two kids" belly. The "haven't done a sit-up in over 3 years and two 8 pound babies have stretched me out in a 2-year time period" belly. It doesn't matter what I eat (or don't eat), the belly isn't going anywhere unless I start doing some exercises. And I'm really struggling on that front.

Exercise is so important, as we all know. I actually don't think it's as important for weight loss as our food choices are, but it's crucial for muscle development, flexibility, and is an excellent stress reducer. All of these are just as important as our body weight and I am not doing too hot in any of them.

Exercise will help me so much with my sugar cravings. I've got to start incorporating it into my weekly regime. So the goal for the rest of February is to try and find some feasible work-out plans -- quick, efficient, ones that target my abs -- and start a routine come March.

My in-laws come into town today for a week long visit. So that means I'll either be churning out numerous blog posts while they are playing with the kids, or I won't get a lot written because I'll be too busy doing the other 58 chores that I put off until I have full time baby-sitters with me! Either way, I'm going to have a nice, relaxing week visiting with family and I am super excited!

International Cuisine #2

Ok, so this is sort of a cheat because it's another Mexican-themed dish. It could also go under "prep-ahead" because it's super simple and you can freeze it either before or after you cook it.

Baked Chicken Fajitas - super, super easy recipe that anyone would enjoy. You can put the mix in a tortilla, serve it over rice, or add it to a salad. Make sure to have avocado and cheese on hand for those that like them, and the Hubs likes to put salsa on his. Definitely goes on my top 20 list, and it's a go-to meal for company as well.

This recipe comes from a blog called Six Sisters Stuff. I think this blog is so cool, because it's written by six sisters who are spread out all over the country and they use this blog to keep close. They share recipes, craft ideas, and business tips. Living so far from our families and most of my close friends makes me appreciate the hard work that goes into staying connected with people. In 2012 I was pretty MIA due to everything we had going on at home with our daughter arriving, but I am trying a lot harder this year to keep in touch. It's definitely a fair amount of time and planning, but totally worth it!

My "They"

You ever find yourself in one of these conversations?

"I'm trying to decide when to turn our son's carseat around to facing front."
"They say you should wait until 1. Although they also say age 2."

"Wonder if the Eagles will be any good this year..."
"They say they are the new "Dream Team." (couldn't resist that one)

"I forgot to send a Thank You note to my aunt."
"You're fine. They say you have a year to get that done."

I find myself referencing "they" quite a bit. And more often than not, I'm not exactly sure who "they" are!

Probably leading experts, people I've heard on the news, or articles I've read. But I don't always know specifically who I am citing or who my friends are referring to when we are discussing issues on health, safety, etiquette, whatever.

So before I start unloading too much information into this blog, I thought I'd take a little time to tell you who my "THEY" are.

First off, I can't say for certain what I believe is absolutely correct. I'm sure if you google anything I type you'll find conflicting information about almost all of it. You may read some of this and question it or think I'm looney tunes. What I do know, is that I've read a lot, had some personal experiences, and these are the people and mindsets that sit well with me. For me, what I've learned from these people about health, food and overall well-being makes sense. Yes, they are mostly holistic approaches and for the most part, they do not agree with the Standard American Diet (SAD) or what the FDA or pharmaceutical companies have to offer.

I don't dislike doctors, and I absolutely think there is a place for modern western medicine. If I get hit by a car, please take me to a hospital and do whatever you need to do. Don't take me to the health food store and give me some kale to eat or rub chia seeds on my wounds. If I ever get extremely sick I do take prescription drugs. But I think our country (and those doctors) have some things to learn when it comes to preventative medicine and what we should be consuming to create a strong healthy immune system. I do believe that food is medicine, and that a lot of us have strayed away from that mindset.

I also fully admit that I don't always remember exactly why I eat certain things and don't eat others. I've been researching this topic for a few years now and the information does blend together, or I simply forget the specifics. I know that I don't eat hydrogenated oils, but if you asked me to explain in detail why I don't, well I may not be able to give you a detailed fact-based answer on the spot. So this blog is going to make me refresh my memory and get some information documented for future use.

Here are my "they":

Michael Pollan - This is the guy who got the ball rolling for me. In January of 2009 he was on Oprah and my mind....was....blown. He got me thinking about where my food comes from and the overall impact on my long-term health. I immediately went to Amazon and bought the books he was plugging: In Defense of Food: An Eater's Manifesto and Food Rules: An Eater's Manual. He is not a doctor or a nutritionist. He's a journalist who looked into our country's food system and has brought an awareness to the public about the agricultural business and the evolution of our food production. I love these two books because they spell out everything in a very simple, logical way that anyone can understand. You don't need a degree in biology or business to understand what he is trying to convey. His manifesto is simple: Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants. Unfortunately this is not as simple as it should be and he really does need an entire book to explain it.


Marion Nestle - My favorite lecture from my IIN (Institute of Integrative Nutrition) program was one given by Marion Nestle. She is Paulette Goddard professor in the Department of Nutrition, Food Studies and Public Health, as well as a Professor of Sociology at New York University. She earned her Ph.D. in molecular biology and an M.P.H. in public health nutrition. Her class centered around food politics and it was incredibly eye-opening. I actually hope to write a whole post about that class one day because I think it'll really make you question everything you see on TV and in the supermarket. She talks about the deals big name companies cut with the FDA in order to put health claims on boxes or state "facts" on TV commercials. She also talks a bit about the media and how it targets children, which in my opinion, is unethical. She's written a few books on food politics and I'm waiting to get my hands on one from the library. But I do own a book she wrote on food and how to make your way through a supermarket. It's called What To Eat and my boy Michael Pollan says it is "Absolutely indispensable." I tend to agree. I still haven't made my way cover to cover, but I've definitely gone through a bunch of the chapters and think it's a valuable resource. (As far as I know, she has no relation to that other "Nestle"...)


John Robbins - I read the book The Food Revolution: How Your Diet Can Help Save Your Life and Our World and this was my first real introduction to the vegetarian lifestyle. Moreover, a glimpse into just how much meat our country eats and what this can do to our short and long-term health. And lastly, how the meat industry impacts our environment. Although my courses at IIN offered a look at numerous dietary theories, I will say the majority of them leaned towards a vegetarian diet. At the time, I really considered going vegetarian and I started looking into it (through this book and other sources). I have yet to adopt a meatless diet, but I think once I sift through everything I've learned I am going to gradually wean myself from meat on a daily basis, and use it more as a side on my plate for added flavor to my meal. As I stated earlier, there is more to the meat issue than just the nutritional component. There is the treatment of animals and the impact our current practices have on the planet. (Ironically, John Robbins is part of the Robbins family (of Baskin Robbins). He writes a little in his book about how that all went down, every family has drama!)


Sally Fallon and Weston Price - Now these guys are definitely the most "out there" of anyone I have read about. And by out there, I mean compared to what our society considers normal food and eating habits. I don't think she and John Robbins would have a lot in common. I think Sally Fallon would bathe in bacon grease if she could. She has a wonderful cookbook that not only has recipes, but cooking methods and a lot of information about the nutritional value behind the foods that she eats. It's called Nourishing Traditions and is basically the cookbook Bible for anyone who is a believer of Weston Price. Weston Price was actually a dentist. Now before you go all, "Why would I listen to a dentist about food?" I want to point out that many doctors (not nutritionists) out there have taken all of a three hour course on nutrition. Anyway, in the 1930s, this dentist went around the world to study the foods and health of populations who were untouched by civilization. He then compared their health to people of the same race who had left the villages or tribes for civilization. The people in civilization began eating foods impacted by the industrial revolution (refined grains, pasteurized milk, canned foods and sugar). The results have led to a movement of people who are eating a more traditional diet, one based on local foods and ancient cooking methods. I'll write a lot more about Weston Price and the diet (including the oh so controversial raw milk) in a later post.


Dr. Andrew Weil and Dr. Joseph Mercola - Chances are you have heard of these two men. They are probably the biggest names out there when it comes to alternative, holistic lifestyle. They are also probably two of the richest. Especially Mercola. I think a lot of people have issues with him because they feel he's no better than big pharma in trying to get your money to buy all of his products. While I don't discount people's inklings, I do agree with a lot of his ideas. And his site is also full of interesting articles and videos that cover a large scope of topics. Dr. Weil isn't as bad with the product pushing, but you still come away from his site feeling like you have to take 200 pills a day to survive. I find both of these sites very overwhelming but I do like to check in on a monthly basis to see what they are saying.

So there "they" are: the backbone of my whole foods diet. I read and listen to an assortment of people, but when I really thought about the ideas and opinions that have been the most compelling and influential, these guys and gals came to mind.

Damn You Blueberries!!!

It's posts like these that make me feel like a freak. Who curses out blueberries?!? I mean, honestly, I have issues. But addictions isn't pretty, nor logical, and man I am having some problems with this pint of blueberries staring at me. I've already downed about a cup of them and want to eat the whole thing but I'm not going to. I can tell I'm just covering my emotions up with something sweet.

I had started eating fruit a few days ago. I made sure I was always eating it with something else. A half apple with peanut butter, blueberries in my oatmeal. So fruit is allowed and I'm doing alright with it. But I am stressed this week and today has sort of sucked and I turned to blueberries for comfort.

My son and daughter both have colds which is affecting my daughter's sleep and my son's mood. And every time they get sick (which has been a LOT this year) I feel a pang of guilt. I know getting sick is part of life, but it just makes me feel so bad for them. And then I feel like this big healthy hypocrite who busts her hump to try my absolute best to get him to eat at least some veggies and real food, and I have turned my life upside down to ensure I nurse the peanut so that she gets a healthy immune system...and yet they still get sick. And then I go through all the guilt of whether or not to give antibiotics or even over the counter meds. And THEN I feel guilty because I am just too stressed and overwhelmed with life to begin with that when you add a crabby toddler and tired baby into the mix I turn on Mickey Mouse Clubhouse allllllll morning long while the sun is shining and other kids are out there using their brains and breathing in the air and mine are just zoning out at the screen. Ugh!!!!

I'm not beating myself up, just venting. I know this is life and I'm doing my best to deal with it. But lately I'm in a funk and it's tougher and tougher to get myself out of it. I feel like a prisoner in this house with these kids sometimes. I rarely see the Hubs and when I do it's just to take care of the kids or zone out on TV before we crawl into bed by 10:00. I haven't done anything fun for myself in what seems like years (not true, but allow me some exaggeration while I moan and groan) and I spend 95% of my time with people who crap in their pants.

So yeah, I turned to some blueberries for comfort today. It could have been worse. I could have eaten the entire waffle my son rejected earlier today that is sweetened with honey. I could have eaten spoonfuls of jelly (yup, I've done that. I know! Issues, issues, issues). Or I could have loaded up the kids and gone and bought some chocolate. I've never done that with the kids but I used to do that when it was just me and my sugar addiction.

Only blueberries and I turned to the blog to vent. I'll chalk this up to a victory.

Reason #3 Why I Am Doing This: My Overall Health

I eat well for my health. Now, this isn't why I'm not having a bite of sugar or a taste of something with gluten in it this year. You can be healthy and still indulge in the occasional dessert or snack. I've documented multiple times why I can't have a bite, but clearly my body doesn't need sugar or gluten to be healthy, so helping my long-term health is just another perk.

One thing that sugar really impacts is inflammation. And in listening to a lot of my courses, it seems that inflammation is revered by many as the main cause in a lot of life-threatening illnesses. As I understand it, any disease can be traced back to the inflammation of cells. We're talking from the common cold to cancer. And sugar feeds inflammation so cutting it out can only help me in the long run. 

Gluten is not easily digested by anyone, not just those with celiac disease. A lot of health experts feel that the center of all of our health is the gut. If we don't have a healthy digestive system, then we're going to run into trouble later. And it's just not colon cancer. It's of vital importance to your immune system and your brain function. And when there are problems, it can cause autoimmune disorders, inflammation (there's that inflammation again), and an overgrowth of yeast or parasites, just to name a few. So by eliminating something that I know my body has a tough time digesting, well that can only be good for me in the long run as well.

There are a lot of other things I need to be doing for my long-tern health: exercise and releasing stress come to mind. While I do not do a great job with those things, at least I know my diet is working for me.

Tough weekend and a tough week ahead. Both kids have colds and I am still pretty tired from the sleepless nights last week. I definitely turned to food last night as I heard my daughter crying (she has a stuffy nose and just couldn't get comfortable, poor thing). Right now I'm accepting that I am using food as a coping mechanism. A little too much going on to deal with that at the moment, so I'll be happy that at least I'm not turning to sugar.

Soup Recipe #1

Chili. I think this is the best go-to meal that can satisfy any diner. Sometimes I feel like when I make a broth-based soup the Hubs doesn't think it fills him up enough. Chili can be done in the slow-cooker or quickly on the stove. And it freezes well and is delicious as left-overs. I've been trying a lot of different recipes lately to try and find my favorite chili that will make my top 20 list and finally found one:

Paleo Veggie Beef Chili found at Multiply Delicious. I added more chicken stock to this to make it a little less dense. Some of these chilies I've made have been so thick that I've opted for using them as a pasta sauce instead of just straight up chili. This calls for a half cup of stock, I probably used a cup, if not a little more.

The Multiple Delicious blog is one of the many new Paleo-based blogs. The Paleo diet, which is also known as the "caveman" diet, is the newest craze to hit the alternative-food as medicine-holistic universe. Basically, it's meat, vegetables and fruit. No grains or legumes whatsoever. While I totally agree with no gluten in a healthy diet, I'm still on the fence with no grains. I have a lot of books on hold at the library about the Paleo diet so I have to do my research. The online program I completed was mostly comprised of information last updated in 2008-09. Since then, Paleo has really taken off so I'm not as well versed in this.

But, I think having some grain-free meals is probably a good idea. They really are difficult to digest (if not prepared properly) and most commercial products you buy in the store are not soaked or sprouted. When I do eat grains, I take time to soak them (more on this later) and I do my best to avoid wheat and any pre-packaged grain product.

Household Update

Well I had originally wanted Fridays post to be informational. I wanted to write about hydrogenated oils, ways to get greens in your diet, or the benefits of organ meats (yup, I just wrote that). BUT, I haven't had much time or energy to go through my research and construct a post because as I have told you, Little Peanut ain't sleeping for crap :)

So instead, I'll just give a little update on the food situation here -

Music Man: My almost 3 year old (wow, time is flying!) has been under strict food options for about two weeks. In the past 24 hours he's had an egg omlette with sauteed mushrooms, spinach and goat cheese, vegetable medley of carrots, green beans and peas, over-roasted salmon with an asparagus risotto, and has washed them all down with a kale smoothie.

Um, NO.

That would be my son from another dimension. The same dimension where he wakes up from naps with a smile on his face, happily holds my hand the parking lot, and gives all of his toys to his sister. All while sipping on a kale smoothie.

The truth: it's going alright. He's eating enough not to starve and has been trying a few new things. He's eaten some meatballs, beans, sweet potato, carrots, sausage, and some snacks I've been making out of the most nutritious stuff I can get away with. Dried fruit and nuts, cheese and wheat wraps. It's not my ideal but it's a whole heck of a lot better than what he was eating before. He's still doing pretty well with his oatmeal, millet and grain-free pancakes and he's added blueberries to the short list of foods he eats. Nothing green has made it down his throat, but I have it on the plate and he knows what it is so that is a start.

Little Peanut: Inhales all table food like it's her job. But the nursing has been difficult. I think she's trying to tell me that she's done and I'm just not ready to transition her yet. So I'm going to fight the good fight for another month or two and then let her do what she wishes.

The Hubs: Still eating everything I give him. Still supporting me in what I'm doing. Of course this may change if he ever finds out that I snuck some liver into his dinner this week (he never reads this so don't tell him!) but he continues to be an easy man to cook for.

Me: I'm doing alright although I feel like I'm sliding a bit. I haven't been eating as many green vegetables as I would like and I've been eating way too much meat. I also haven't figured out how to stop snacking throughout the day or after the kids go to bed. No sugar or gluten, but still eating too much food. Maybe once I get this girl sleeping again I can get a little more focused on myself.

And that is all my brain has left in me today. I think I'm letting the peanut fend for herself tonight. My milk is back, she's been eating a good amount of food for about two days so I think if she wakes up it's only out of habit. Here's hoping next week brings more rest!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Well, I've made it to the middle of the second month. I have been really happy with the results of my sugar and gluten-free diet. Here we are on Valentine's day, a day where eating a piece of chocolate is seen as a MUST, and just now sitting down to write I realized that I normally would be eating some chocolates and I honestly have no desire to. I also got very little sleep last night (Little Peanut is kicking my butt...up again last night - twice - and I couldn't fall asleep after the second time so I'm going on about four hours of sleep) but I'm able to make it through at least the first half of the day without collapsing. As I was laying awake last night I thought for sure that I wouldn't be able to cook dinner during her morning nap. But I did it with no problems. I am tired, and not thinking too clearly, but I'm able to move through the day and check off items on my to-do list. I know this would not have been the case two months ago.

The Hubs and I have never really done much for Valentine's Day, but the past two years we've essentially let it pass unnoticed. We decided that these two years (2012 & 2013) were just going to be too crazy and that we weren't putting any pressure on each other to do anything for holidays or birthdays. And that really is more for him than me, but I'm actually happy to take something off my to-do list this year! But the deal is that we get back into doing little things for each other next year, can't fall into too much complacency!

Enjoy your day with your loved ones, and I think all of my loving friends and family for their continued support of my journey and this blog! I've really been enjoying doing this and there is definitely a lot more to come.

Stir-Fry Recipe #2

A stir-fry recipe is a great way to pull together a quick meal. For some reason I used to think a stir-fry was a lot of work and I would shy away from it. Then when I started to follow the Wellness Mama's template for her weekly meal plan and saw that once a week she did a stir-fry, well I figured I'd give it a shot. And now I realize the error of the my ways, they are easy and delicious!!

This recipe for Peanutty Stirfry comes from Sweet Peas and Pumpkins. It technically could fall into the "international" category for the week as well due to it's Asian flavors. I skipped the sugar and didn't feel like I was missing anything! I used bok choy and broccoli as my vegetables. It was actually my first time cooking with bok choy and I loved it! For some strange reason bok choy had intimidated me and I thought it was difficult to cook with. Um, no! And an added bonus, bok choy is a decent source of calcium and folate.

A lot of people think that cooking your own food is complicated and they sometimes get intimidated or nervous about trying to do it themselves. In writing this post, I can see that I also fall victim to some misconceptions about cooking. Somehow in the past few decades the kitchen has become this foreign entity and working with real food has been built up to be as complicated as rocket science. I hope as more people try to take control of their own health, those misconceptions can be erased and we'll start being a society that spends a little more time in the kitchen.

The Meat Dilemma

When people ask me what I eat the conversations take very different directions. Depending on who is asking or where they are on the nutrition spectrum, I sometimes just tell them that I try my best to eat real food, nothing processed. If the conversation continues, I realize that we sometimes have conflicting ideas as to what makes something "food." And I'm sure if I had talked to myself about five years ago I also would have had different answers.

My definition of food is anything that is not in a box or does not need a label to describe what it is. For the most part, all of my food will spoil in about one to two weeks (sometimes shorter). Other than whole grains that I buy from the bulk bins of my local health food supermarket, I need to refrigerate or freeze most of my food. Some things are in glass jars or cans, but not much. That's not to say I haven't eaten a rice cracker here or there, but I don't call that real food and try not to let it surpass much more than 5-10% of what I eat in a week.

Once I figured out what was real food and what was not I started to look even closer at my diet. And about this time I started my online program with the Institute for Integrative Nutrition and began listening to experts on over 100 dietary theories.

One huge subject that I have been tackling for about a year is meat. Personally, I think it's the most complex issue when it comes to food choices due to the fact that you need to consider not only health matters, but also issues of morality and ethics. And the production of meat also takes a huge toll on our environment, so there's another log on the fire.

I'm currently reading The Way We Eat: Why Our Food Choices Matter by Peter Singer and Jim Mason. Peter Singer is seen as one of the most influential philosophers of our time and I can see why. After just a few pages I am in the process of making some big changes in what is purchased with our family's money. I plan to share some of what I read in the coming weeks and add it to the discussion on the role meat will play in our future meals.

First change, and this is a no brainer for me: I do not and will NEVER eat veal. And this is one thing that I urge anyone reading this to consider. If you are going to eat veal, please read below. If you can still order it after knowing this, then by all means do so, food is a personal choice. But in my mind, no one needs veal to survive and it's inhumane:

The calf is taken from its mother immediately after birth, made anemic, denied roughage or any food that will promote muscle. They are never allowed to walk (to keep them tender) and are kept in stalls so narrow that they cannot turn around.

That's a simple choice for me. I've actually never had veal because I always knew they were babies and my maternal instincts didn't feel right about it. But I feel so strongly about this that I'm actually going to start sharing this with anyone who I think orders veal at a restaurant. This news actually became public in the 1970s and since then veal consumption went down 75%. I hope that in my lifetime the consumption of veal just goes away for good. I have begged the Hubs to not order veal EVER at a restaurant. He promises he won't, but can't promise that if a client or customer offers him some that he will be "rude" (his words, not mine) and reject it. Baby steps for everyone I guess. But I'm happy he will at least not proactively order it.

I've never been much of an activist and I have always believed in the sort of "circle of life" mentality when it comes to eating meat. But there's a line in the book that really struck me and it's changed how I am looking at this. Peter Cheeke, a professor of animal science wrote:

"For modern animal agriculture, the less the consumer knows about what's happening before the meat his the plate, the better... One of the best things modern animal agriculture has going for it is that most people in the developed countries are several generations removed from the farm and haven't a clue how animals are raised and processed."

When I started talking to The Hubs a bit about this, he quickly interrupted me and told me that he didn't want to know anything because he wanted to continue to eat meat. And I totally get this, I used to be like this. Personally, I don't think I could handle watching any animal get killed, even if it was raised in the most humane and sustainable conditions. BUT, I just can't turn a blind eye anymore to the way modern, commercial agriculture raises and processes its meat. And there are humane and sustainable options out there.

I look forward to sharing the rest of this book. I promise not to get too graphic. I hope that in reading this blog you'll discover a few things:

1) Americans eat way too much meat.
2) We do not need copious amounts of meat to be healthy.
3) Commercial meat is not a very healthy choice.
4) There are humane and sustainable farms out there that care for their animals and process them in a much more ethical way.
5) Many foods have protein and your diet can be rich and flavorful without all of that meat.

Another Rough Week

Gonna be another doozy with my Little Peanut. This nursing thing is not easy, at least not for me. I have been so dedicated to getting her through this first year with breastmilk being the bulk of her diet and I think I've hit every snag along the way. I'm dealing with low milk supply yet again and my sleep is going to suffer this week. I have to go back to my regiment of supplements and pumping and these next three or four days are not going to be pretty. But, I'm confident I'll get my supply back up (I've done it before!) and hopefully I'll get through the next couple of months relatively smoothly. Maybe I'll even start getting decent sleep again - I can dream, right?!?

I am hoping that I can get through this without looking for some food to help me cope. I can already tell I've been eating a lot more these past couple of days. When all is not going smoothly with your baby you can't help but feel a little stressed. And as I've written before, when you're not sleeping well you're gonna be stressed. I plan to start drinking a lot of water again to help get my milk supply up, and maybe adding some tea as well. Hopefully having all those glasses and mugs in my hands will keep me occupied enough not to binge!

I may not get to all I had wanted to blog this week and that's ok. It's sometimes difficult not to get frustrated when I hit these bumps in the road time and time again. Seems that every time I start to branch out and have a little bit of a life for myself one of these kids grabs a hold of me and drags me back into full-blown mommy mode. I know that's part of the job description, but it still puts me on an emotional roller coaster. One day at a time though. I'm confident that by this time next week my milk will be better and she'll be eating so much better and hopefully sleeping through again!

Reason #2: Fatigue!

I have to chuckle to myself as I start this post that is supposed to be all about how much energy I now have since living sugar-free. The truth is I am so friggin tired!! BUT it's not because of the food - Little Peanut has been waking between 5 and 5:30 every morning for a week and it is kicking my behind. There is no amount of healthy eating that can give you enough pep to outlast a baby's first year!

However, I can honestly say I notice a huge difference in my overall energy. I'm tired, but I'm not passing out during nap time like I normally would be. And the week before (when she was sleeping well past 6:30 like a good girl!) I was actually putting full days in without feeling tired.

I attribute the lack of fatigue to cutting out the gluten just as much as I do the sugar. Gluten makes me tired. I eat it and bam, tired within an hour. When I think back to my early 20s, I was abnormally tired all of the time. I would pass out in cars (passenger seat!), need to lie down immediately after work, and when I would try to do some physical activity (tennis or a hike) my legs would feel like dead weight. Seriously, like 100 pounds each. This was so much more than just being out of shape. But like most people I didn't attribute it to anything like diet, I actually just sort of accepted it. Now, it seems ridiculous that I wouldn't have thought to question why a young, healthy woman had such energy problems...but I think that's the way a lot of us live, right? I'm thankful that I woke up and started to take some control of my health.

My kids inspire me every day to be a better person and to take care of myself. And I want to be able to play with them and not have to take breaks because I'm tired (not all the time at least! 4:45 wake up call today...didn't have too much zip to my step...she really is lucky she's so cute and lovable).

I'm going to try to put a little fruit into my meals again this week. But this time I'm going to really limit the amount and make sure I pair it with some fat and protein to help slow the release of sugar into my system. Here's hoping I can handle it.

Prep-Ahead Meal #2

This meal fits into three of the templates I set forth for meal planning: you make it in the slow-cooker, you can freeze it for later, and it has an "international" component to it. But of course, it has a Mexican flavor and I don't really consider that too far of a global stretch these days.

The name of the recipe is Crockpot Chicken Tacos but you can use this chicken in a lot more than tacos. We've stuffed them into taco shells, burrito wraps, served over rice, and I've thrown it into a salad. Avocado is almost a mandatory pairing. It is seriously the easiest recipe ever. Three ingredients: chicken, salsa, taco seasoning mix. And it makes a lot. Freezes super well.

Keeping It Simple

I was super happy to see this weekend arrive. My Little Peanut has been waking me all week and starting her mornings pretty early so I was feeling rather cranky by Friday afternoon. Luckily, I didn't lose my cool on the kids but I could feel my patience was growing really thin. And when I'm not my best physically, then I start getting really overwhelmed mentally and the week just sort of fizzled out from there. While I am so happy to be back on the healthy eating bandwagon and am excited about blogging and getting information out there, I am definitely feeling the effects of information overload. And recipe overload. And kitchen tips overload. 

So I'm scaling it back a bit. I have decided that I'm taking a break from the blogs, a break from facebook posts, and a break from all the emails I have rolling in. I went to the library yesterday and picked up a couple of books. Time to go old school. I'm going to read my books and jot down things I learn or find interesting in this blog. It's time to start documenting what I've learned because I find that when people ask me questions I have a tough time recalling everything I've read or heard. Focusing on one thing at a time is how I tick, so I've got to respect that about myself and not try to push my limits.

The book I checked out yesterday is The Way We Eat: Why Our Food Choices Matter by Peter Singer. I have a feeling it's going to make me even more disgusted by the meat industry. I've also checked out a cookbook Eat Like a Dinosaur: Recipe & Guidebook for Gluten-Free Kids. I'm becoming less and less impressed with gluten and am starting to think no one should eat it, not just those who are intolerant. I'll be sure to share any recipes I find worthwhile.

Here's hoping I can keep it simple, I think I'll find more success this way.

Ups and Downs of a Day

So today's been a rough day. Actually, this afternoon has just been a rough afternoon. Really intense craving for some sugar. It's been a difficult week with my daughter. Her naps are all over the place, teething up a storm, and I'm having a tough time getting my day in order. I'm also shoulder-deep in all of this nutritional information and starting to feel a little overwhelmed. There is so much information out there. Every time I turn on the computer there's a new article on Facebook, or a new alert sent to my email, or 25 new recipes on Pinterest or 5 new entries on the way too many blogs I follow. Right now I have 12 windows open on my computer with different pages I want to eventually read and think about. Or recipes I want to bookmark and put into my rotation. It's just a lot sometimes.

And then I try to make it simpler, but that's even too much! Do you know how many meal planning tools there are out there? Or ways to stock your pantry? Or "quick, simple" meals to try? I practically need a plan to figure out my plan. I know a lot of this is just how I tick. I've always been one to feel overwhelmed by tasks and to blow them up in my head, which makes them much more complicated. Normally I dive head first into a bowl of sweets when I'm feeling this way. I did just eat a bowl of rice pasta with some butter and herbs, but now I feel a super strong craving and I've decided to just write instead. So chalk one victory up for this blog, cause it's helping me through this moment.

And on that note, Little Peanut is now awake. She should have slept a good 30 minutes more (at least) so I'll spend the rest of the day trying to keep her happy. Babies can really take the wind out of your sail at times.

My Favorite Fat!

Yup, you read that right. The words "favorite" and "fat" are purposely put next to each other! I know that all of us children of the 80s were brought up in a world where fat was the devil and the root of all health problems known to man. Hopefully, you've been aware of the growing literature out there that is debunking all these theories and basically showing how when we started taking the fat out of everyone's diet, we all started getting fat!

If not, you can read it here some day! I want to get all my thoughts out on that topic but I've got to sift through a lot of what I've read to write something nice and succinct. Again, this is a blog in progress and right now I don't have too much time to do my research. Especially when my baby girl is teething and going through a growth spurt and is waking me up at nights and starting my days around 5:30. I really hate teething. I always tells new moms that people warn you about the sleepless nights, they warn you about the crying baby you have to figure out how to soothe, but they don't tell you jack about how much teething is going to impact your life!! And there are sooooooo many teeth. And it sometimes takes weeks for one to make its way out. The worst. But I digress.

My favorite fat in the world is coconut oil. First off, you can cook with it and you can use it on your body. I love products that have dual purpose function! I remember when I was first introduced to coconut oil years ago the big pitch was how it had a high heating point, and thus didn't break down like other oils when you cooked with it. Olive oil has a low heating point and actually can become rancid if cooked under too high a flame. This was a good reason to use it, but then I learned about all the health benefits and I was sold for life.

Here are just some of the ways coconut oil can improve your health:

It's anti fungal: Not only does this mean it can help with topical issues (yeast or any other type of fungal infection) but it actually helps fight against candida in your body. Candida is a fancy word for yeast. Many people have an overgrowth of yeast in their bodies (yours truly included!)  that can be catastrophic to their health (fatigue, choric pain, sinus issues, depression, mood swings, and digestive disorders just to name a few). In studies they actually found that coconut oil can help fight the Candida species.

It's anti-inflammatory: Coconut oil can be used on cuts or even burns. It can also help in lowering a fever.

It's a sunscreen: Coconut oil has actually been proven to block some UV rays. My old chiropractor up in NJ (who first introduced me to coconut oil) said how the people living in the Philippines, and other island countries where coconuts are bountiful, would just spread some coconut on their bodies to protect themselves from the sun. They also ingested so much coconut that their bodies literally built a skin that was less sensitive to the rays and didn't need to put anything on to prevent burns. I've read that some parents who feed their kids a lot of coconut oil notice they really don't need much sunblock to protect them from the sun.

Honestly, the list goes on and on (and on and on and on). Here are two links that will give a lot more information and places you can use coconut oil in your daily life.

13 Evidence-Based Medicinal Properties of Coconut Oil

101 Uses for Coconut Oil


How do I use coconut oil?

Well, first and foremost, I cook with it. I use it for everything. Yes, there is a slight coconut flavor added to the food but overtime that flavor fades and it really isn't too strong. The Hubs cannot tell the difference when I cook with olive oil and coconut oil most times.

I pour it in my kids bathtubs (especially in the winter) to help moisturize their skin.

I used it when my Little Peanut got cradle cap. I massaged it into her scalp, let it drive for 10 minutes, and then used a comb to take it off.

I used it on my nipples when I got thrush during the first few months of nursing my daughter. Sorry if this is TMI, but this is the direction this blog will go sometimes!


Where do you find it?

You can find it at a Whole Foods or whatever health food store is in your area. You can order it online too. I have always just bought whatever brand is on sale that is raw and organic. But I am thinking of joining the Amazon Spend and Save program and using Tropical Traditions - a trusted source amongst health enthusiasts. I can buy it in bulk and save money. The more I am diving into this nutrition pool, the more I think I'll be using coconut oil.

First Bump in the Road

Well I started to introduce fruit into my diet this month. Nothing crazy. Half an apple here, a handful of blueberries there, finishing off a kiwi that my kids didn't eat. I got a little nervous the first time I put apple in my oatmeal because I felt a little shaky a few hours later. It's tough to describe, but I start to feel really jittery and almost tingly through my body. Before I went strictly sugar-free, I only used to feel this after some chocolate late at night and I'd wake up pretty rattled at 2 or 3 AM.

Then a day or so later I noticed that I had some blueberries and wanted to dive into the container and eat every last one of them. It was a really strong craving. 

I've also been waking a bit at night and having a tough time falling asleep.

All of these incidents I was taking in stride and trying not to fixate on. I also reminded myself that my Little Peanut has been waking up really early to nurse (gotta love those growth spurts!) and that maybe this had me out of whack.

Then today, as I was out at the playground and then back at my house getting the kids ready for naps I felt the all too familiar sensation of my blood sugar plummeting. I got really dozy and felt like I had no energy and wanted to collapse. It's a different feeling than just being tired from lack of sleep or the daily grind, it's a feeling that my body chemistry isn't right. Basically, it sucks.

I'm trying not to get too disgruntled. I'm going to go off fruit again for a bit, not sure for how long. Then I'll try adding it in even slower. Maybe have a really small serving only once every couple of days. I have to remember that when I was off fruit those first 31 days I wasn't really missing it. My cravings really were dying out and it wasn't like I was dying to have that apple on the first day. I introduced it because fruit is good for you (although some of the reading out there suggests fructose can be quite damaging) and it does open up my options a bit. Maybe I'll just try to put something that has a pretty low glycemic index (pear, berries) in a mostly veggie smoothie once a week or so. 

Eh, we'll see how it goes. But for now, ciao fruit.

Slow-Cooker Recipe #1

I made this last night and it was delicious. The Hubs has always been super supportive of my new way of eating, but I know he sometimes misses the days when we used to order out from a sub shop every week. So when I saw this recipe for Sausage and Peppers I had to try it for him. And it was delicious! He got it on a nice, thick Bratwurst roll from Trader Joe's and I melted some cheddar on top for him. I ate mine without all that gluten and dairy. I paired it with a sweet potato and some broccoli. It would taste great with rice, the tomato sauce it cooks in is a tasty little gravy. My Little Peanut loved it, she especially loved slurping up the peppers and onions. As for the Music Man...the food strike continues!


This came from a blog called Pass the Sushi. Cool name. I'm not sure how sugar-free her options are but I think she's a graphic designer and her talent shows in her food photography. I totally admit to trying this out solely because of the picture she put up. My mouth was watering just looking at it!

Project: Toddler Food Camp

We're on day 5 of Toddler Food Camp. My Music Man is only being offered real food options (or things that are as close as I can get!). No teething biscuits, no fruit/veggie packets (we've been living on the Pur Oraganic pouches. I have no problems with them, but it's not helping him get over his texture problem), or other type of snacky food inside of the house. I'm still putting some of these things in his school lunch, because my first challenge is to teach him that in this house he sits at the table with no TV on and eats a real meal. If he doesn't like it, then that's his choice. I am trying to give him a ton of options, and hopefully I'll figure out some food he likes in the coming weeks so I can always put at least one thing on the plate that I know he can eat.

We're doing this because the food issue has just gotten out of control. I started giving my Music Man table food around 5 1/2 months. I made all of his purees and for the first 7-8 months of eating he gobbled pretty much anything I put on a spoon for him. Meat, fruit, veggies, whole grains...everything a whole foods mama would want their baby eating. I made kale purees, chicken and peas, lentils and tomatoes, pears and apples, anything and everything I could think of. And he inhaled it all!

Then it was time for him to feed himself. And to start offering table food he could pick up and eat (no more purees). And it's been down hill ever since...

I fought the good fight the first year. Did everything I could to sneak veggies into pancakes, paired foods and textures the best I could, cooked him about 20 different things a week at all his meals. Then I got pregnant, and he got more defiant (he was closing in on that magical second birthday when your angelic little baby turns into an independent toddler with some rage issues...at least mine did!) and I couldn't fight the fight as well. Then my Little Peanut arrived and forget it. I was just happy if he ate anything. Now I never truly caved and started giving him junk food or anything. But it was a lot more processed stuff and very carbohydrate-centered. And as this fall and winter have progressed we found ourselves with a boy who would basically eat oatmeal, PB and J, hot dogs, and rice. That was it. Oh, maybe an occasional apple slice and nut butter.

Meal time became such an ordeal and was causing me so much stress that I decided to pull the plug and play a little hard ball. I was also wracked with guilt because he got sick a LOT this fall and winter. I know, I know, he started preschool and it's normal for kids to get inundated with germs their first go around. But I also know he has no nutritional base to help his immune system work. I didn't breastfeed him for very long (he was on purely formula by 4 months and that still makes me sad) and although I give him raw milk, which I think is the best milk for nutritional value, I feel like I am failing him by not giving him the best foods available.

Now food camp is in full swing. It's actually going better than I expected, but it's taking a lot of time, planning and cooking. This is also why I had to wait this long, I knew I couldn't do this while still caring for a newborn waking up three times a night. But as of today he has eaten some chicken, sweet potato, mini-pizzas with sausage on homemade "dough", burrito type sandwich with rice, refried beans and cheese, some avocado and blueberries. He's also tried a strawberry smoothie with homemade almond milk and a quinoa/oatmeal porridge. It hasn't been all fun and games. He has full blown boycotted two dinners, a lunch and has had two pretty pathetic breakfasts. But it's more progress than I thought.

Reason #1 I Am Doing This: Anxiety

I am an anxious person by nature. Or nurture. Whatever your theory is, I've got anxiety. I've experienced the butterflies in my stomach, nausea, and shaking hands over all of life's stressors (big, small, nonsensical) for as long as I can remember.

When I was a little kid I remember being so nervous for tests at school. Really nervous. I was anxious about calling my friends up on the phone, to the point of a panic attack happening inside of my body. I had a lot of fears about lots of things - some normal for kids my age, some a little more out of the ordinary.

As I got older the nerves and worrying got even worse. I was wound up so tight in high school. My entire being would feel like it was shaking and panicking if I thought I was going to be late for anything. Even for the movies! My stress for tests and sports games increased. At the time, I really didn't think anything of this, but in my 20s I started to analyze what my childhood was like and I realized how much of it was spent feeling nervous and anxious. And I was still feeling that way, through college and most of my 20s. When my life felt really out of control I would get huge headaches and feel a tension coursing through my entire body. I'd be ready to blow up at a moment's notice if something didn't go my way. I know we all have stress, and maybe some of you think this is totally normal. But I will say that most of what stressed me out really wouldn't have been a big deal to other people. My life has always been fairly cushy, I've been very fortunate to not face too many hardships.

It wasn't until I started seeing a therapist that I really analyzed and looked at these behaviors from an objective point of view. I won't go into all those details on this blog (I'll leave some of my life private!) but I definitely felt an improvement in how I handled situations and dealt with my anxiety.

Then, in 2009 I went off sugar, dairy and gluten for three weeks. As I've mentioned before, my hunger levels improved and my energy went up but the most surprising and encouraging effect was my anxiety levels. They plummeted I found I could go through my day and face all the obstacles that life throws at you (missing a green light, having an argument with someone, not finishing a task) without getting worked up. I also was really optimistic...about everything! My relationships, my past, my future, my goals, challenges, etc. It was as though the sugar was rushing through my body and making me go at warp-speed and clouding my brain. Now I know that it was indeed partly due to the sugar...most of the research I've done states that sugar can cause symptoms like anxiety and depression.

Now that I am a month into this year, once again my anxiety levels are dropping. And for this stage in my life, being a stay-at-home mom with two little kids, my patience levels have tripled. I won't lie and say I haven't ever snapped at my toddler this month, but those incidences have been few and very far between. I've even gone through days where I've been up most of the night and they've woken me up at 5:15 and I'm able to make it through all the twists and turns without feeling the tension in my body or the need to explode. My outlook on everything has improved as well. And I KNOW this is because the sugar is out of my body.

So this really is the number one reason I am doing this. I like who I am when I don't have sugar in my life. I don't particularly like the Brooke that is wound up, snappy, and incapable of dealing with anything that isn't perfect. And I look at my kids and want them to have a mom who is calm and patient (most of the time). I don't want to create an anxious environment in this household for them. And lucky for me, I am married to THE calmest man on the planet. And that is not an exaggeration. Between my therapy, spouse, and diet I am really confident that my 30s and beyond are going to be a bit chiller :)

* I definitely don't want it to seem like sugar was the only reason I am anxious and now that it's gone I'll never be anxious. Anxiety is part of me, always has been and always will be. And I attribute a lot of my improvements to the therapy I did and having a really fantastic husband to support me and model calm behavior for me. BUT, I really do think having sugar in my body makes it more difficult for me to remain calm. And I think without it, I'm less likely to hit the tipping point. We're made up of a body, mind, and soul. And sugar has a huge impact on my body. So taking that part out of the equation makes it easier for me to be the whole self I want to be!

"International" Cuisine #1

I say "international" a little loosely since most of these meals are pretty standard American ingredients paired with different spices. But I don't really travel much, so using spices from around the world is the closet I can get to experiencing something new these days! This was a hit with the Hubs and my Little Peanut. Music Man wasn't feeling it. But we are in the middle of an intense food boot camp with him so time will tell.

This recipe for Pakistani Kima is so easy, and it really is tasty. Took very little prep time and cooked up with little effort. This may even make its way into my rotation for house guests. It's from the blog Whole New Mom, which is another one of my favorites. It's so easy to eat healthier and find super simple recipes with all these fantastic Mom Bloggers. I'm currently working on some of my own recipes (or adaptations from other recipes) and hope to add some of my own creations to the blogosphere one of these days!

Enjoy the Super Bowl tonight! The Hubs and I are spending a quiet evening alone at home and are both looking forward to it. We should get a few hours of football, commercials and Beyonce when the kids go to bed. But no Super Bowl treats in this house! I spent a long time meal planning Friday night and realized that I had forgotten the Super Bowl. So what is on tonight's menu? Roasted salmon, asparagus and zucchini pancakes. Not the typical chicken wings and pizza, huh? But we're used to not following tradition with two in diapers! Maybe next year we'll indulge in a great American gluttonous tradition...

February Goals

As I embark on this second month of sugar-free and gluten-free eating, I'm going to set some goals for myself. One challenge to being a stay-at-home mom is creating some sort of order and purpose to your day to day existence. May sound a little dramatic with words like "purpose" and "existence" but if you've ever done this before, you can relate. It's easy to drown yourself in a world of diapers, nap schedules, temper tantrums, and play dates. Then add to that list the tasks of laundry, cooking, and cleaning and your entire life becomes on blur of mommyhood. I understand that this is normal and the way it's going to be for awhile. I do accept that, but now that my little one is almost 9 months old and sleeping pretty well at night I do find there is some space freeing up in my brain to focus on something other than nursing and getting the stains out of my son's shirts. Not MUCH time, but a little.

So with this time, I can't do much because I can't really physically be anywhere or be a reliable person for anyone other than my kids. But, I do have access to my kitchen, the grocery store, the library and the internet. That's all I need to get cracking on this year of healthy living and self improvement!

I'm breaking my goals into 3 categories:

1) Goals for my sugar-free/gluten-free year
2) Goals for my blog
3) Self improvement goals

GOALS FOR MY SUGAR-FREE/GLUTEN-FREE YEAR

This month I just want to keep trying to get through each day eating sugar and gluten free. It's still early, so this is enough. The only difference this month is that I'm letting myself have some fruit and dairy. I'm going to do fruit first for a week or so, and then add the dairy. That way if a food makes me feel a little strange I can pinpoint who the culprit is. I'm going to continue to try and meal plan every week and work to make sure there is always something readily available for when I get hungry.

GOALS FOR MY BLOG (February)

I'm trying to be more organized with the blog. Having topics for set days, trying to sit down at naptime to start blogs and finish them up when I go to bed. I also want to start putting some actual information in here regarding nutrition. I'd like to get one fact-based post a week. I know they will take more time since I'll have to sift through everything I've learned over the past few years and write a little more efficiently (I have a feeling my rambles could go on for pages and pages). But eventually I want to start a health coaching business and I want a place where I can easily access a lot of the information I learned from my online program and from my own research. And I've got a ton of books on hold at the public library about some of the newer theories and ideas out there about food. It's time to dust off the cobwebs and get this brain thinking critically again!

SELF-IMPROVEMENT GOALS (February)

I'm pretty busy between being a mom, writing this blog, and taking care of the kids and house. There isn't a lot of time for myself. So this month, I'm rolling one of my jobs into my self-improvement goal. Parents have to feed their kids. And my son has proven to be quite challenging this past year. He will be 3 in May and the Hubs and I have decided that we are done being short-ordered chefs and jumping through hoops to feed him. And I am sick of giving him food that I know isn't giving his body the nutrients it needs. This month starts the long and grueling task of getting him to eat real food. We are serving him what we are eating, and if he doesn't have it, then he goes to bed hungry. This is going to be brutal. But we have decided it's a necessary step for a brighter future for all of us. He has barely eaten a thing today and will most likely not eat for a few days. Then I'll have a hungry and cranky toddler on my hands. Should be interesting....