Better Days

Today has been a much better day. Clyde has been tired, but well. Yesterday was so stressful and today was very low-key. Thank you -- I needed that!

I am so glad that I stuck with my health goals through all of that stress yesterday. I felt really good about myself and my decisions all day today. It made it that much easier to make good decisions about what I put in my mouth and how long I work out at the gym today. Each day builds on the day before it, and everyday it gets a little bit easier.

The kids and I made a trip to the grocery store for snack food. They picked out a bunch of bananas, a carton of apples, a box of oranges, and Healthy Choice fudge bars (I can live with that)! It was also a milestone reached and conquered in our house when Phillip ate an entire bowl of green salad at dinner this evening. I really do think he enjoys eating healthy. It makes me happy that they are making good choices. Phillip has changed his eating habits in so many good and positive ways! Emma will still choose anything fattening and sweet over something healthy EVERY time if you give her choice, but she knows how to make good choices and if I walk into a grocery store and let her choose a snack with mom-enforced boundaries she does not complain about it at all. Jake is and has always been my healthy eater. He was a vegetarian long before I was. I am just so proud of all of them.

Hands on research and experimentation

The new book I ordered off of amazon got here today and I have been devouring it!  I feel the need to learn more and more about what goes into my body and the bodies of my family.  The more I read the more I cannot believe how ignorant I have been.  One of the quotes in it is from Oscar Wilde, "The pure and simple truth is rarely pure and never simple."  Can I get an Amen?

The book I is by Victoria Boutenko, 12 Steps to Raw Foods.  I have just finished Part I and I already highly recommend it.  I am learning so much.  While my family is benefiting from my eating raw foods, I still cook for them and they are still eating animal products.  They get much more raw foods than they previously did and eat much less cooked food and animal products, but I am wondering if it is enough.  Just this week Phillip has had borderline pneumonia and Emma has complained of headaches and her ear hurting.  Funny thing is that this afternoon when she complained about another headache I made her a huge green smoothie (which she loved), and within a half hour her headache was gone.  Coincidence, possibly, but I don't think so.

How do I get kids to drink greens?  Easy.  They taste good!  I promise.  Just try it.  Here is the recipe for the one I made today:

two large handfuls of spinach

1 cup papaya

2 ripe bananas

2 kiwis

1 cup of water (good water)

2 cups of ice (made from good water)

1 -2 tablespoons of agave nectar

Blend all ingredients in the Vita mix.

My kids gave me a face when they saw the color, but once I convinced them to taste it, they loved it!  I hope you do, too!