Eat whole wheat.
Don’t eat bread.
Don’t eat fat.
But make sure you get enough heathy fat.
Sugar is bad.
Eat lots of protein.
Too much protein is dangerous.
Atkins, paleo, weight watchers, gluten free…
The list goes on and on… Food advice is a dime a dozen these days, so how do you sort out what’s best amid all the white noise?
Our view on food, as well as the way you view food, sets the tone for your children for most of their lives. It is neither an enemy, nor a comforter. The food we put in our bodies affects the way we feel, it can make or break your day (ask anyone who’s had Taco Bell), and the effect the way we move through life. It’s so imperative we raise our standards for what we fuel our body with, so we can handle those days your toddler is hitting you with a dirty diaper, not that that’s every happened to me. The challenge of a small budget and the desire (or pressure) to eat healthy can be enough to make anyone crazy (Did you see my post last week?). How do we make the world of health food and budgeting co-exist?
Fortunately for my family, I’m not a junk food burning Nazi. And I’m not going to make you throw away your Oreos. But I do want to arm you with enough knowledge so you can make informed decisions about your food! I’m not asking you to starve, or worse, diet! So, you what do I think you should eat?
Food. The end. Real, made from nature food.
1) Look at the ingredients, become a label reader. Do you recognize the words? Would your grandmother? If not, put it down and slowly back away. If you can find the ingredients in a pantry, and it will rot… get it!
2) Limit processed foods, if you can make it yourself, do. As Michael Pollan says, if it came from a plant, eat it. If it was made in a plant, don’t.
3) Get the majority of your food from the edges of the store, that’s where the real food hides.
4) Which reminds me, if it has a commercial, you can bet it’s probably not good for you.
5) Don’t buy that low fat crap. “Low fat” “fat free” are words that are really screaming “I’ve been processed so much I’m not actual food anymore!”
6) Buy local. Check out local farmer’s markets. Let’s join together to support real people who work to make real food, instead of corporate big wigs who are just out to make another dime.
7) Buy organic when you can. It would surprise you what you can afford. At our local Publix Organic Oatmeal is only $0.10 more than non-organic. Come on! You know you want to. It’s worth it, and all the cool kids are doin’ it.
8) Manage your portions. Portion sizes are out of control in this country, and the best way to manage A healthy diet is to eat a recommended portion size! You don’t have to count calories, but it’s the easiest way to loose a couple pounds the right way is eating 1/2 c of pasta instead of 2!
9) Stay away from high-fructose corn syrup. I repeat Stay. Away. It’s nasty. More on that later, stay tuned.
10) Everything moderation, including moderation. Now go eat your oreos.
Go slow with any healthy food changes, especially if you have kids (or husbands) who will revolt. Pick one thing you want to change and go with it.
One more thing. You, mam, are awesome. I see you working hard to feed your family. You’re a beast! A grocery shopping, real food eating, family feeding beast! Keep it up. It’s so worth it. Here’s to not crying about grocery shopping!
image credit banjelope.blogspot.com
sweetteahoney.wordpress.com 