Sunday, April 14, 2013

Now is the Time!!!!

I am so excited that spring is finally here in Chattanooga, TN!!!!  It was a long winter!  I almost made it through without illness until the middle of March.  It had been 9 years since I had been really sick, besides a little cold or something, and I attribute that to exercise and eating healthy.  Sometimes the winter can get us down because we are stuck inside more and not out being active.  Unhealthy eating can start to creep back in and take over as habits.  But, now is the time to get back on track.  Especially, since the kids will be out of school soon and you will have a little extra time to devote to getting those good habits back in place.  So, how do you do this?

1.  Start by cleaning out the pantry.  If it makes you feel better, do it right before it's time to do the grocery shopping for the week.  When I started my family on a chemical free way of eating I had just grocery shopped a couple of days before and threw away much of what I had just bought!!  Read all of the labels and get rid of anything with artificial preservatives, coloring, flavors, hfcs, etc. 

2.  Clean out your refrigerator.  Items such as: salad dressings (tons of chemicals), condiments (hfcs in some ketchups, dyes in pickles and relish, etc.), dairy products made from milk that has hormones and antibiotics, deli meats with nitrites and nitrates (cancer causing chemicals used for curing deli meats, sausage, bacon, etc.), and the list goes on!  Thankfully, the availability of items without all of these dangerous chemicals are becoming more and more readily available.  Look for food coops in your area such as Azure Standard or others that offer the ability to buy healthy foods with a group of people to make delivery cheaper.

3. Make meal plans and grocery lists for the week.  If you aren't caught off guard at meal time trying to figure out something to eat you are more likely to eat healthy.  Build your meals around lean meats that don't have hormones and antibiotics in them, fresh fruits and vegetables and healthy grains.

4.  Spend a little time on the internet researching some new recipes.  If you were to come to my home for dinner you would think we eat just like anyone else.  We have pasta, tacos, and pizza some nights.  But, I make chemical free, healthy versions of all of these and you can't tell a difference, except for the fact that it tastes fresher!!!  Eating healthy doesn't have to look like all you eat is sprouts.  We have healthy balanced meals.

5.  Get your family involved!!  Share the information from my past posts on this blog to let your family know the dangers of the chemicals in the foods they are eating.  I have teenage boys who eat a ton and they love the healthy food we eat because they have realized they feel so much better when they eat healthy.

6.  Use this time to get back into a fitness routine.  Get the whole family active.  I don't necessarily push sports on my kids, unless it's one they choose to do, but I do push working out.  Because, in the end, I want them to have a lifestyle where it's just the norm to exercise at least 3-4 days a week.  Sometimes, sports players, when they are done playing and retire, they end up in a sedentary lifestyle.  I want to instill into my kids the habit of exercising their whole life.  Start by riding bikes, taking hikes on trails, or shooting hoops in the driveway.  Make it fun!  But, get from in front of the television or computer!!!

These are just a few things you can do to get back into your healthy lifestyle.  Sometimes we hit a slump, but you have to get back to it.  I couldn't exercise for a couple of weeks due to my illness and that about killed me!!!  I love the way working out makes me feel and I want to be able to do for decades to come!  As always, if I can help in any way or answer any questions, please let me know!!!