My Whole30: Days 11 through 20

These days were rough on me. All ten of them. The food was amazing, but I just felt... slow. Like I was walking through cottage cheese. And irritable. I'm sure it didn't help that I had a special ladies only visitor for a portion of these ten days. The timeline said days 11-14 would be hard. All ten of these days were hard on me, which just emphasized the fact that this process is unique and different for everyone. And with that, here is the food from the very middle of my Whole30. 

Day 11: By this point I was finally getting the hang of the food. I was also SUPER bloated. Which was hard to take considering I was working so hard on all this food and washing so many dishes. But I kept on..

Breakfast Day 11: Mixed greens topped with leftover sweet potato
cauliflower mash, and a fried egg.

Lunch Day 11: Apple, yellow bell pepper, & Tuna Salad.

Dinner Day 11: Leftover Chili with avocado and a baby kale salad

 Day 12: The Friday before Memorial Day weekend. This was the first day I had a burst of amazing energy. After breakfast I weeded and mulched the entire back yard. I wasn't even hungry, but when I noticed it was 2pm I forced myself to eat lunch. Then went back out and finished. I felt really great this day.

Breakfast Day 12: fresh baby kale topped with leftover lettuce wrap
filling, scrambled eggs and avocado.

Lunch Day 12: Leftover sweet potato/cauli mash, baby kale salad,
last bit of leftover tuna salad, and celery stuffed with almond butter
and topped with chunks of dates.

Dinner Day 12: Baby spinach and kale tossed with evoo and aged balsamic,
chicken and mushroom sausage on top of chunky tomato sauce.

 Later this night I did some memorial weekend prep. We left town for two nights and so I packed some stuff for meals and for extras.

Included above - Greek salad ingredients, slaw ingredients, thai
zoodles ingredients, and even more tuna salad.

Day 13: was a travel day for us. We woke up, ate breakfast, packed up the kids and the car and headed out. It was a busy day, but a fun one. It was also a really tough day as far as resisting temptations. I ate A LOT of dates and almond butter this day. Without regrets.

Breakfast Day 13: pretty self explanatory.

Lunch Day 13: I had a big greek salad and a hard boiled egg. I was hungry
and didn't take a pic.

Dinner Day 13: Leftover Greek Salad, my whole30 slaw, and corkscrew
bbq brisket and ribs. I am fairly certain these were not compliant. So there's
my confession. There was something in the rub that gave me a headache.

But look at this brisket... I had no choice.

 Day 14: Busy day with the kids in and out of the pool. Still not as convenient being away from home, but I managed just fine. 

Breakfast Day 14: papaya with lime and tuna salad topped with
grapes on a bed of spinach.

Lunch Day 14: Cantaloupe, San Daniele Proscuitto & sauteed spinach

Dinner Day 14: Strip steak, roasted green beans, roasted broccoli &
leftover slaw.

Day 15: Memorial day was a little fast and furious. Quick morning and then loaded up the kids to head back home for lunch with my in laws. I was still feeling the cravings and feeling bloated.. and feeling over it.

Breakfast Day 15: fried eggs over easy, leftover roasted broccoli and
green beans, and a bowl of papaya.

Lunch Day 15: Was not photo worthy. It was leftover slaw, fruit salad and two
hard boiled eggs.

Dinner Day 15: Grilled chicken breast smothered in Whole30 Tomato
Sauce, steamed broccoli with lemon & even more leftover slaw.

 Day 16: This day was a mess. The night of Memorial Day we got 11 inches of rain overnight. We live half a mile from a bayou that came way out of it's banks. We were up all night with the kids (who don't like thunder) and then couldn't go to work the following day because the roads were still flooded. I do remember having lots of energy on this day. And not really being too concerned with feeling sorry for myself because I couldn't have bread.

Breakfast Day 16: Tuna salad with grapes & fresh baby kale and
spinach salad.

Lunch Day 16: Chili with avocado and an apple.

Dinner Day 16: This was one of my absolute favorite dinners so far.
The shrimp is from the Whole30 cookbook. It is tossed in pesto at the
end and is fantastic. With roasted mushrooms and sweet peppers.

 Day 17: Back to work. I was busy and irritable and still bloated. I was actually getting a little fed up with the program on this day. I almost got out the scale, but didn't. I really had to power through. 

Breakfast Day 17: Fried eggs over sauteed spinach. A banana.

Lunch Day 17: At work. We grilled extra chicken Monday and mixed
it up with chicken salad. Exciting, I know. On top of butter lettuce with
avocado and green pepper.

Dinner Day 17: Trying to meet weird cravings. Leftover Chili,
prosciutto and melon.

 Day 18: I was feeling more optimistic. I decided to try and drink 100oz of water a day. It was a game changer. Definitely got me over some kind of invisible hump.

Breakfast Day18: scrambled eggs topped with leftover pesto, tomato
and aged balsamic, watermelon and cantaloupe.

Lunch Day 18: Zoodles topped with chicken sausage and
tomato sauce. This was amaze.

Dinner Day 18: Salmon sweet potato cakes with a mayo based
sauce (with dill, lemon juice, capers, pesto and fresh pepper) and
green onion. roasted green beans and baby bellos. This was AMAZING.

 Day 19: 100oz of water a day was making me a happier person with lots of energy. And so was the Whole30. On this day I noticed my clothes were fitting better. Great fuel for the weekend ahead.

Breakfast Day 19: Chicken and sweet potato hash from the Whole30
cookbook. A great egg alternative for breakfast.

Lunch Day 19: I threw together a spinach salad and topped it with
whatever  I could find. That included sweet potatoes, cherry tomatoes
and a hard boiled egg.

Dinner Day 19: Grilled NY Strip, roasted sweet potatoes and more
spinach salad with a dressing that was made even more awesome with
toasted prosciutto and sauteed green onion.

 Day 20: I threw myself a pity party on Day 20. We had to cancel plans to leave town due to storms and an ear infection. And I also threw a pity party for all of the dishes. I felt like the dishes were never ending. And I wanted them to end. But it was Saturday, I was feeling leaner, and I made my breakfast all in the same pan. Sometimes it's the little things.

Breakfast Day20: fried eggs over sauteed spinach, bacon & blueberries

Lunch Day 20: Chicken salad, apple slices & dates with almond butter.

Dinner Day 20: Grilled fajita steak, homemade guacamole, mashed
sweet potato & roasted sweet peppers.

 These were rough days for me. I was overall pretty over the whole thing and had to talk myself in to "trusting the process". It was a huge game changer for me mood and energy wise when I started drinking more water and added in more starchy vegetables. It's like a little mystery body formula I had to figure out.

It is currently day 30 for me, so I'm hoping to post meals from days 21-30 tomorrow. Then a recap. Haven't decided if I'll actually display before and after pics. Because I love the internet and things... but seeing my midsection on it is a bit much. Maybe. Who knows.

Greetings from a converted Whole30 cult member! 

B

My Whole30: The First Ten Days

 The ten day meal round up with small accompanying day descriptions. For anyone who was curious about what the first ten days of the Whole30 were like for me. 

The program focuses on getting back to three meals a day. Most of these days I had an apple or banana in the afternoon. If I had a bad craving that I couldn't get past or wanted a good treat, I would fill a couple of dates with almond butter. 

Day One: I grocery shopped all over town the week leading up the my start date and spent 2 hours prepping food the night before. I finally learned how to make my own mayo. This was a pretty good day. I was feeling confident and the food was filling and wonderful.

Breakfast Day 1:
Spinach & tomato frittata, avocado, & fruit.

Day 1 Lunch:
Tuna salad, spinach tossed in extra virgin olive oil, grapes & blueberries.

Day 1 Dinner (Not Pictured):
I was so hungry at the end of this day that I didn't remember to stop and
take a pic. Spaghetti squash topped with ground beef, Italian seasonings, and
red sauce.

Day Two: was a work day. A little more hectic in the mornings to find time to sit down, but we managed. When I woke up on day two I had sinus drainage and a cough. I was pretty sure I was getting a cold & felt achy all day.

Day 2 Breakfast:
Leftover spaghetti squash and ground meat topped with a fried egg and tomato sauce.

Day 2 Lunch (at work):
Tuna Salad stuffed bell pepper with more greens, raw carrots
and roasted red pepper sauce for dressing/dipping.

Day 2 Dinner:
Grilled chicken breast (seasoned with onion powder, garlic powder,
fresh pepper and salt) with red pepper mayo, grilled sweet potato
rounds and Green Cabbage Slaw.

 Day Three: My throat drainage got better. I thought maybe I was just having some allergic reaction to something outside. Still felt off, but ok. Still very satisfied form all of the meals, but getting sick of being in the kitchen so much.

Day 3 Breakfast:
Sauteed spinach, sliced avocado, sliced tomato, & two fried eggs.

Day 3 Lunch (at work):
Mexican Tuna (basically tuna and avocado) in Romaine Leaves with
leftover cabbage slaw, carrot sticks & a not pictured apple.

Dinner Day 3:
Beef Brisket with gravy, roasted sweet potatoes & baby kale and
spinach tossed in extra virgin olive oil and aged balsamic vinegar.

Day Four: This is the day that I realized my "cold & allergies" were actually physical symptoms of my body adjusting to all of the things I had taken out of my diet. Overall the day was good, and I was feeling REALLY tired by the end of it. The brisket from the night before was amazing and I think it set me up for good days. 

Breakfast Day 4:
Fried eggs with leftover brisket gravy, sauteed spinach & fruit.

Lunch Day 4 (not pictured):
Big Spinach and vegetable salad with leftover beef brisket & gravy.

Dinner Day 4:
Roasted salmon topped with fresh dill, salt & pepper. Roasted broccoli,
sweet potatoes & golden beets.

 Day Five: I started to get a little bitchy. They say it happens. It did. It started on Day 5.

Breakfast Day 5:
Fried egg over sauteed spinach, butternut squash soup, berries & Elsa shoes.

Lunch Day 5:
HUGE greek salad with romaine lettuce, red onions, kalamata olives,
tomatoes, green peppers, cucumber, & garlic. Dressed with red wine vinegar,
olive oil, and lemon juice.

Dinner Day 5:
The juiciest bone in pork chops with spiced applesauce on a bed
of arugula.

 Day Six: Also know as day two of the "Kill All The Things" phase. I was getting mad at inanimate objects. And my family. Lots of negativity on this day. It was the weekend and I really wanted some wine. There was lots of good food, but it was a tough first weekend.

Breakfast Day 6:
Scrambled eggs with leftover pork, leftover applesauce & side of greens.
And more brisket gravy.

Lunch Day 6:
At Whole Foods. Bowl of kale, hard boiled egg, and all the veggies you see
drizzled in olive oil.

Dinner Day 6:
Baked sweet potato stuffed with pulled pork carnitas and
served with avocado mayo.

 Day Seven: So tired this day. But nicer to be around. On this day I felt slimmer. My midsection was noticeably less bloated and my face felt slimmer. That basically made me have the best day ever. Superficial, but honest.

Breakfast Day 7:
Sweet potato hash, sugar free bacon, fried eggs & berries.

Lunch Day 7:
Tuna salad on a bed of spinach, bell pepper and carrot sticks, & an apple.

Dinner Day 7:
Kielbasa, spinach, onion, tomato frittata, cauliflower & sweet potato mash,
and fruit salad.

Day Eight: Back to another week, easier to not be jealous of the people drinking nice wine around me. Normal busy Monday with the kids. Had plenty of energy in the morning and I felt good.

Breakfast Day 8:
Leftover fruit salad, leftover butternut squash soup, & a fried egg
with sauteed spinach.

Lunch Day 8:
Tuna salad with apples, walnuts, celery, hard boiled egg, compliant pickles,
homemade mayo, lemon juice & compliant dijon mustard. Served on a bed
of arugula and drizzled with aged balsamic vinegar.

Dinner Day 8:
Chicken and vegetable stir fry topped with cilantro & dressed with
sesame oil & coconut aminos.

 Day Nine: No longer feeling slim. Feeling bloated and that is frustrating considering how much time I am spending in the kitchen cooking all of this damn (but delicious) food. But they say lots of people feel this way around days 8 & 9, so I'm rolling with it.

Breakfast Day 9:
Fried egg over sauteed spinach, cantaloupe, & strawberries.

Lunch (at work) Day 9:
Cold Thai salad with Zoodles & a sunflower seed butter sauce, Salmon &
sweet potato cakes (the kids LOVED these) with Dill Aoli dipping sauce.
The apple was eaten later. This was really filling.

Dinner Day 9:
Ground turkey lettuce wraps with cold thai salad.

 Day Ten: The Whole30 facts show that most people who quit the program do it on day ten or eleven. Their words are perfect for my sentiment: The newness has worn off, you've been through some unpleasant side effects, but you still haven't seen big results. That was EXACTLY where I was on this day (and today, day 11) but knowing these days were coming helped me. I haven't come this far to give it up.

Breakfast Day 10:
Leftover stir fry topped with a fried egg.

Lunch (at work) Day 10:
Leftover ground turkey lettuce wraps & a bell pepper.

Dinner Day 10:
One pot classic chili topped with avocado & served with a baby kale salad.

In real life I am finishing Day 11. I noticed a change in my energy today and over the last ten days we have tons of positive things happening with the kids. They are really good at trying new things and both of them have loved a lot of the food we have been making and eating. We don't have as many quick snacks around (chips, popcorn, etc) so when they want a snack they are asking for fruit or vegetables. It's really cool and one thing I'm super proud of about this. Of course, when we were at Whole Foods today I totally got ambushed by the cookie station. If there is ever a day when my children turn down a cookie, they are sick. I don't even need to go to the doctor. It's just a fact.

Happy to be 1/3 of the way in. Having to plan every single meal is a pain but it also has amazing advantages. I am not wasting food and my grocery store trips are much more focused and quick. It's better for my budget, even though all this food can get expensive. 

Still working on enough energy at the end of the day, so with that, I'm off to bed. 

Getting to the Whole30

The first time heard about the Whole30 was when a friend of mine was taking it on. This was sometime in early 2014. I went to google, my prime source for information, and essentially focused on all of the do not eat items. 

No sugar? At that point I hadn't gone more than 3 days without some kind of sugar in something. Probably 0 days if you get into all of that hidden sugar that I didn't want to think about at the time. 

No dairy? Maybe these Whole30 people don't understand the close, personal relationship I have with cheese. Melted, soft, hard, grated, crumbled... cheese and I are soul mates. 

No legumes?  Even in the winter? When it's so great to make a warm pot of beans or peas? That's insane.

No grains? Of any kind.. at all. This is mostly fine, but I do love rice... and cookies. And popcorn. and corn tortillas. and oatmeal. AND sandwich bread. Well, maybe it wasn't mostly fine. 

No alcohol? But wine is made from grapes and grapes are fruit.... and I love wine. and a martini on Friday. And a margarita by the pool. I digress.

I decided that doing the Whole30 was for super clean eating people, or people who hate wine, or crossfit junkies and I was none of those.

That May I decided to give up refined sugar for the month. And the results were so good for my life. That 30 days really changed the way that I eat to this day. I wasn't a slave to sugar anymore and that was an amazing thing. But as recently as this February I was talking to my friend who gave up sugar and dairy while trying to get pregnant (and she now is, by the way!) and I could not picture myself not eating cheese and butter, or voluntarily saying I was going to not have a glass of wine here and there. 

The thing is, I kept coming back to the Whole30, and there were a few things that pushed me into picking a start date. 

1. I knew I could give up sugar for 30 days. It wasn't as much of a challenge or an achievement anymore. I was looking for something challenging to take on.

2. I had friends who wanted to do it with me. Granted, our start dates didn't end up working out, but it always helps to have a friend to go through things with.

3. When I was reading the Whole30 info, there's lots of tough love. I kind of like that. I don't need any room for excuses, and I kept coming around to this section: 

     "This is not hard. Don't you dare tell us this is hard. Beating cancer is hard. Birthing a baby is hard. Losing a parent is hard. Drinking your coffee black. Is. Not. Hard. You've done harder things than this, and you have no excuse not to complete the program as written. It's only 30 days and it's for the most important cause on earth -- the only physical body you will ever have in this lifetime."

4. It's not a diet. This is where you want me to say "it's a lifestyle" but it's not a lifestyle either. Its a tool. When I started thinking of it that way, it really made me excited to get started. Some foods give me headaches. Some foods make me have an awful night's sleep. Some foods turn my stomach upside down up to 24 hours later. But which foods? I'm eating everything. I love it all. This program resets your system and gets you back to neutral so you can build the foods that you enjoy back into your life while you learn how they affect you. You introduce them back in slowly and individually so you can find the foods that might change your mood or your health. Then you get to build your ideal, personalized diet. Or lifestyle, or whatever you want to call it when you are done. 

5. Last, an old high school friend is running 365 consecutive marathons to raise awareness and money for those battling addiction. 365 MARATHONS. In a row. 26.2 miles A. DAY. While working. And he has a family. And that is awesome. If you want more info: Click Here. So every day I wake up and can't have cheese, or sugar, or wine... at least I don't have to go out and run a marathon that day. Because.. y'all. THAT is hard.

So here I am. I made my plan end of April and ordered the new Whole30 Guide and read. You can really get all the information you need from their website, I just wanted recipes (this has about 200) and I like having a book when I feel like I am studying up on something. The book also has a great 7 day meal plan that will get you used to your new life in the kitchen. Because you will be cooking everything that you eat. It also helped me understand portion sizes (they are satisfying) and the breakout of a meal. The website does have tons of tools though, printouts and testimonials. And if you want to do some digging, go for #whole30results on instagram. The book that explains the science behind it all is It Starts With Food. I have not read that one, but I hear I should. I have learned how much food affects your mind and body, so I didn't need extra convincing.

I have been documenting every meal, some snacks, and my meal plans. There's usually 1-2 food pics a day on Instagram but the rest will go up in a few blog posts. Tomorrow I'll feature the first ten days worth of food as well as the first ten days worth of personal experience. I'm really enjoying the challenge of this journey so far. And I'm learning every day that I can do things I never saw myself doing. Making homemade mayo, homemade almond butter, homemade almond milk, doing fourteen thousand dishes... things like that. 

The kids are eating what I am eating (and I'll have more about their reactions to the food) but I am really the only one in the house doing the whole program. I say this as my husband is off tasting wine at a work event. #jealousy. He ate the last of the crunchy almond butter, which is a dangerous offense in my Whole30 house. Sleep with one eye open, my love.

Here's to more dreams about swimming in a sea of chocolate chip cookies!

-Becky

It is not hard. Don’t you dare tell us this is hard. Beating cancer is hard. Birthing a baby is hard. Losing a parent is hard. Drinking your coffee black. Is. Not. Hard. You’ve done harder things than this, and you have no excuse not to complete the program as written. It’s only thirty days, and it’s for the most important health cause on earth – the only physical body you will ever have in this lifetime. - See more at: http://whole30.com/step-two/#sthash.WA9StYSs.dpuf

It is not hard. Don’t you dare tell us this is hard. Beating cancer is hard. Birthing a baby is hard. Losing a parent is hard. Drinking your coffee black. Is. Not. Hard. You’ve done harder things than this, and you have no excuse not to complete the program as written. It’s only thirty days, and it’s for the most important health cause on earth – the only physical body you will ever have in this lifetime. - See more at: http://whole30.com/step-two/#sthash.WA9StYSs.dpuf

It is not hard. Don’t you dare tell us this is hard. Beating cancer is hard. Birthing a baby is hard. Losing a parent is hard. Drinking your coffee black. Is. Not. Hard. You’ve done harder things than this, and you have no excuse not to complete the program as written. It’s only thirty days, and it’s for the most important health cause on earth – the only physical body you will ever have in this lifetime. - See more at: http://whole30.com/step-two/#sthash.WA9StYSs.dpuf

It is not hard. Don’t you dare tell us this is hard. Beating cancer is hard. Birthing a baby is hard. Losing a parent is hard. Drinking your coffee black. Is. Not. Hard. You’ve done harder things than this, and you have no excuse not to complete the program as written. It’s only thirty days, and it’s for the most important health cause on earth – the only physical body you will ever have in this lifetime. - See more at: http://whole30.com/step-two/#sthash.WA9StYSs.dpuf

It is not hard. Don’t you dare tell us this is hard. Beating cancer is hard. Birthing a baby is hard. Losing a parent is hard. Drinking your coffee black. Is. Not. Hard. You’ve done harder things than this, and you have no excuse not to complete the program as written. It’s only thirty days, and it’s for the most important health cause on earth – the only physical body you will ever have in this lifetime. - See more at: http://whole30.com/step-two/#sthash.WA9StYSs.dpuf

Yesterday it was Halloween and now it's time to VegOut!

But honestly, what just happened? Have we had Thanksgiving? And Christmas? What about New Year's Eve? I'm a little in shock that it's going to be March this weekend.

While I was whirlwinding (not a word) myself through the last few months, I let some things slip in my diet. I let some of my old refined sugar habits slip back in, and I feel it. I mean, there is no going back to where I was before, but it's enough to make me feel the difference physically and mentally. So instead of waiting for #notsosweetmay we are going to VegOut this March and NO REFINED SUGAR. For anyone who wasn't around last year, HERE was our kick start to VegOut and there are some follow up posts through March 2014.

So a little recap... VegOut is a "food adventure" created by Recipe for Success Foundation and encourages participants to eat 30 different vegetables in the month of March. I just got done registering for 2015 and checking out the updated VegOut website and there are SO many tools on there. Tons of recipes and my FAVORITE new feature... You can track your veggies online!! So easy.

Here is why I love this challenge:

1. It's turns your meal conversations into family events that can involve even the youngest members.

2. You will try something new (or something old cooked a new way) and you might love it!

3. Give your kids some power in this challenge and they will LOVE it. This year, our daughter is excited to pick out a new vegetable for the family every week. She can decide how we eat it. 

One meal, three vegetables. This challenge is a cinch!

And I could keep on talking about this. This is such a simple concept, but you don't realize how beneficial it is for your family (or your classroom-hello teachers?!) until you get into it. The point isn't to get your family to turn vegetables into their favorite foods, it is to give your kids the power to try new things. And it's ok if they don't like it, you can try something new another day or another meal. It just really sets up this healthy meal environment that makes planning and eating meals with kids fun. 

Here's your call to action... You don't have to give up refined sugar, but you should definitely register for the VegOut Challenge. It's all online so you can do it from anywhere. All you have to do is eat 30 different vegetables in the month of March. Maybe you could finish the challenge in a week, or maybe you want to make it last. Whatever you do, just log on to the site and log your veggies until you hit your goal. Make a fun plan for your family and get your friends involved. You can register the entire month of March, so you have time. The more we all talk about the food we eat, the better it is for everyone! 

You can keep up with our VegOut challenge AND our refined sugar free March by following Raising Texas on Instagram. I'll try to pop in to the blog a few times in March to check in on our food adventure, but micro blogging is the only definite guarantee in this season of my life. I would LOVE to see what everyone else is eating, so use the hashtags #vegoutrfs and #vegout2015 on facebook, twitter, and instagram. 

Looking forward to seeing what everyone is cooking and eating next month! 

Becky

I'll be back a few times in March to check in on our food adventure, bu

Tips on Coping with Picky & Opinionated Eaters

First, I have rarely had the problem of dealing with a TRULY difficult, picky eater. Early on with my kids I adopted certain philosophies to keep me sane, and whether they worked or I am just lucky... I haven't figured out yet. What I know about opinionated eaters is vast, as I have a three year old living in my house right now. 

 I work very hard to purchase the best foods and prepare beautiful meals for my family. When they eat and enjoy something I have made for them it feels good. Here is what has been happening in our house lately: At the store two days ago I found organic blueberries and raspberries. Not very abundant this time of year and my food opinionated daughter's favorites. It sounds lame, but I was excited because I thought she would be SO excited the next morning at breakfast. The next day she gets sprouted grain cinnamon raisin bread with organic butter, the organic berries washed and dried, and a sliced banana. She sits down at the table and sees this beautiful plate of food and says "I don't want this." And for a second I forget that she is three and I get more than a little offended. I think I said something like "This is breakfast. The only breakfast. Now eat it." Different power struggles and additional words ensued and this minor morning affront to my feelings affected the entire day. 

The breakfast in question was not documented, but on any given day this could be completely rejected as well

 I don't know if it bothered me more that I wanted her to be surprised and excited that I had found something she loved... and she clearly was not. Or if I REALLY want to get the point across to her that we should not waste any food, but especially good, wholesome, EXPENSIVE food that we make a priority in our family budget. Then here comes that reminder again... she is three. I am a grown adult. 

What worked with both kids from the first sign of frustration with food was following a lot of the Food Rules from "French Kids Eat Everything." I never finished the actual book, and I didn't have to. The fact is not all french kids eat everything. (And for a nice counterpoint to the francophile parenting movement, please see this hilarious personal essay from Vogue.)

The food rules from French Kids Eat Everything make sense though. Not because they make your kids mini gourmands who instantly appreciate all of the wholesome and beautiful ingredients of the world, while shunning burgers and pizza.... It's because they keep parents sane and create predictable situations. Any time you can apply rules to a part of your life with kids (and stick to them) it lets everyone know what to expect. And when everyone knows the rules it makes life easier. 

You don't have to follow the rules word for word.. Make them work for YOU! Here is the lowdown on the official "French Food Rules" and how we actually apply them to our family life. 

Rule #1: Parents: YOU are in charge of Food Education.

We apply this by making the grocery store/farmer's market a place where we talk about ingredients. With the above mentioned 3 year old we talk about which vegetables and fruits she wants to eat, and she helps with as much cooking as is manageable. 

Rule #2: Avoid emotional eating. Translation: Do not use food as a reward.

This is a hard one. I absolutely dropped this rule while potty training. At the end of a successful grocery store trip I used to swing by the mini cookie cube at Whole Foods or HEB (they both have them now) and let L pick a cookie. This was back in the ideal days of one child shopping. When I saw this rule we switched out the cookie for a Balloon or a piece of fruit from the kids club (whole foods & still a food reward, I know) or a trip to see HEBuddy. It only took a few trips with consistent "no cookie" to get her off of that habit. I work on this rule a lot.

Rule #3: Parents plan and schedule meals. Kids eat what adults eat. No Short Order Cooking.

When I embraced this rule I got a good amount of kitchen sanity back. As the parent fill your child's plate with only items you would be happy if they ate. For example, my kids will always eat sweet potato and avocado, so for most lunch or dinner meals, this is on the plate. Then your child decides what they will eat. And if they don't want what's on the plate then they have to wait until the next scheduled meal time. I will say with the opinionated eater, I often let her know that she has to try one of everything offered before she steps away from the table. More on that in Rule # 6

Rule #4: Eat family meals together with no distractions.

This is a hard one for us given the kids ages and our schedules. The way we make it work for us is that the kids always eat together at the kitchen table for every meal at home and snacks. If I am here I try to sit down with them and eat as well. With a one and three year old, that is just sometimes not feasible. My kids go to bed early and my husband works late. But during any and all home meal times there is no tv. It's about the meal. 

Rule #5: Eat your veggies.

If you have ever done the VegOut Challenge with Recipe for Success then you know how many vegetables there are. We try to make this one fun and try new things or old things in new ways. If you make it a game kids get more interested. That doesn't guarantee they will like it, but it's a start.

Rule #6: You DON'T have to like it, but you DO have to taste it.

I can't tell you how many times I have set down a plate to hear "I don't like (enter something she liked yesterday here)." And like a broken record I say "you might not feel like eating it today, but I still need you to try at least one bite." And sometimes the stubborn little sweetheart will take that one bite and leave the rest. Other times she realizes after tasting it that she does actually like it and eats the rest. This is a fantastic rule. Maybe my favorite. You are giving your kids the power to say they don't like or want something, but you are also giving them the opportunity to change their mind. 

Rule #7: No Snacking! It's ok to feel hungry in between meals.

We follow this in a way that works for the young age of our kids. It's not something I am proud of, but sometimes a young child who is about to spiral into a tantrum can be distracted with a snack. And I prefer light snacking to tantruming (new word) any day. If someone wants a snack in between meals at home, we stick to the following list: a banana, some avocado, some berries, an apple, applesauce, grapes, or raisins. They are things we always have and you be surprised how many times a "hungry" child who wants a snack suddenly decides they can wait until their next meal. 

Rule #8: Slow food is Happy food.

Take you time with meals. Enjoy the taste of your food and teach your children to do the same. There are times when you will need to rush through breakfast to get to school or work, but try to take the time to sit at the table and enjoy your food. I have to remind myself of this one as well, but it's a great one when put into practice.

Rule #9: Eat mostly real food.

This rule notes that treats on special occasions are ok. The problem I fall into with this one is I can pretty much find a special occasion in every day. So we have started making real food "treats" like the whole wheat cinnamon raisin bread and baked apple chips. We do follow a mostly real food diet and love it. 

Rule #10: Remember: Eating is Joyful.... RELAX!

Right... here are nine rules to remember, now relax. But the truth is, when you start implementing some of the above it makes your kitchen less of a battle zone and more of a family space. The relaxation comes naturally because you have a solution to the picky and opinionated eating problems that arise. It's hard to believe (I sometimes have to remind myself) but your kids will not starve. They also know what they can get away with and with whom.

I follow two additional rules of my own. 

1. From first solids to forever is that there is no such thing as not liking something forever. If your child hates peas today, tomorrow and next week, that doesn't mean he won't like them next month. We give our kids lots of opportunities to dislike foods because we continue to feed them to them in a variety of forms. Maybe you don't like white meat chicken, but if I slice it thin and put a little sour cream on top, you'll devour it.

2. If you are throwing food on the floor you are probably no longer hunger and the meal is now over. With a one year old, this rule is like sanity. In rule form. 

The final lesson of the above is as follows: We are all trying to feed our kids the best of what we can provide. Even if they don't appreciate it, your spouse, their grandparents, and their future selves all do. So figure out what kind of kitchen rules work in your house and turn your battle zone into a place to create, taste & explore. And a place to open a bottle of wine when all of that creative exploring doesn't go as planned.

RT

Halloween Recap, a Second Sugar Break, & Why I Don't Work Out

I used my trick or treaters this year. I started to wonder what a non candy Halloween would look like and the next thing I knew I was on Amazon buying mini gliders, spider rings, glow in the dark bugs, glow stick  bracelets, and mini bubbles. And I was excited like a nerd about it. I had a lot of apprehension about the possibility of an old fashioned egging or making small children cry, so on October 30th I went out and bought a mixed bag of mini M&Ms, Snickers, & Skittles. The candy lived inside of the ghost (a decoration my grandmother made with paper mache, a balloon & a milk jug) and the toys were in an open bowl. 

 At the end of the night the candy was gone, but I will have no problem with the possibility of not buying it next year. EVERYONE was nuts over the glow bracelets. I didn't make them into bracelets, just kept them straight like little sticks. Kids were running around with them & when we handed them out the reactions were fantastic. The runner up non candy giveaway was the mini bubbles. Everything else was kind of meh. The reason the candy was gone is because after they picked a toy I was like "and take some candy, too" because I did not want that stuff lying around the house. More on that in a sec. In the mean time, please enjoy Ariel and the Strong Man: 

So back to getting the candy out of the house. I decided sometime last week that I was ready to clean out the refined sugar again. I haven't gained weight, but as sugar has been around once a week (or sometimes twice if I can find an excuse) I'm ready to get it all the way out again and feel really great for the holidays. It's a good reason to resist all of those side treats that seem to be around EVERY DAY of December, and why wait until January 1st to feel and look great? People take pictures during the holidays, so let's all try and look good for the pictures. I am definitely not as concerned about it this time and am actually looking forward to how great I'm going to feel having it totally gone. It all starts tomorrow & will run through December. I'm giving myself Thanksgiving, ending it on Christmas Eve, and adding two free days to throw around. The rules I stick to are: no obvious refined sugar, but yes to wine. I'll stay away from honey, pure maple syrup, & dried fruit for about ten days and then pull them back in. All other natural sugars are in. 

Another item on my feel better list is working out. I haven't worked out since my first pregnancy. That would be... August 2012. There. I said it. I'm not proud of it, but I've never been one of those people who is really intense about it. And if I'm being really honest, I was doing pretty well with running until April 2012 and that's when I really quit. Here are my best reasons for not working out:

Morning sickness

All day sickness

So pregnant right now

So tired

I just had a baby 

Breastfeeding. It's like working out and so I've already really worked out

I JUST had a baby (nine months ago)

It's the summer in Texas... It's too hot for this.

Then I had a brief period of walk running and THEN:

Oh, I thought that was morning sickness before, THIS is actually morning sickness

Constantly

for 27 weeks

So pregnant again

Just had that baby, again

Breastfeeding, again

I'll start working out when the baby is one

The baby is one, it's July. If I start now I will die

Maybe when he drops his morning nap

I JUST had a baby (15 months ago) 

Do you know how hard it is to push a double jogging stroller? against the wind?

With my two most favorite workout excuses

 And here we are, all caught up to present day. While I do believe that somewhere around 80% of what you look like depends on what you eat, it's GOOD to be as healthy as you can be. I am not unhappy with my size, I'm not looking to lose any weight. In fact if I start working out, some of my non muscle is going to turn into muscle so I will likely gain weight. The thing is, I can't stand it when people complain about something and ignore the fact that they could change it. So if I'm still looking for more energy, more tone, more stamina, and I want my kids to enjoy physical activities, it's time to lead by example. It's not going to be intense, I'm going to have to commit to it, but there it is. I'm going to start working out again. Just need that new pair of running shoes. The world is your gym. Thank God Houston is so beautifully flat!

 

August... I'm coming for you

I kind of accidentally took a summer break from the blog. Oops. But now that I sweat every time someone opens the door, I've sent in L's new school year forms, and I'm getting about 40 "start the school year off right" spam emails a day... It must be August. I also hadn't backed up my iphone since Mother's Day. 956 pictures and videos later, time to get back on track.

Speaking of summer, if you live around Houston or are visiting soon, go to the Museum of Fine Arts and see the Soto Penetrable. It's amazing for all ages and it leaves early in September. That's just one thing I was doing while I was not blogging. 

Sometimes your child asks to take of their shoes in public places and you don't realize until you see pictures that you must have said yes. Entering the penetrable.

  If you're following along on instagram you know that things have not slowed down much. The pace that requires a photo or two per day was right up my alley. Here's a quick catch up:

• I am still only doing refined sugar one day a week. I love it. Best decision I ever made after the month long cut out. The weight has stayed off and I feel SO much better.
  
• I just finished another 30 day green smoothie challenge (one green smoothie a day) and after three months, I am fully converted. Smoothies are just a part of my day now. I don't even have to think about it.
  
• We have a one year old! Officially. After mama and dada, his third word was his sister's name. Landon sounds more like man-men when he says it, but it's a hard name for a baby and I was VERY excited. It's his new favorite word.
   
• The new one year old has spent the entire summer teething. He is the proud owner of 10 teeth. I am the proud owner of large black under eye circles. His top molars are STILL COMING IN. Help me lawd. 

 And... that's about it food and kids wise. 

Now that I'm at a healthy place with my sugar, and my breakfast smoothies are going strong, it's time to work on a few things for August. The first thing is LUNCH. My possible problem meal. When I'm at work I usually have the chance to get away and get something real food & healthy. When I'm home I'll graze on whatever I'm cutting up for the kids (which is good food) but then pull out something with lots of cheese or that I can make quickly and shovel it in while I zone out for a minimum amount of alone time. Turns out I like naps more than my 3 year old. 

MY GOAL: Prepare a lunch for myself that I would be comfortable serving to a guest. Prep it, plate it and (what might be the hardest) sit down at the kitchen table and enjoy it. No phone, no tv, just me and my food. And maybe a magazine... maybe. OH, and a ten minute timer to make sure I am chewing and enjoying. I started this today and it was honestly wonderful. Looking forward to lunch this month.

My second goal for August is kind of simple, but really hard for me to do every day. When I was breast feeding drinking enough water was a no brainer. My anxiety about a drop in supply caused me to constantly be drinking water. Since then I just cannot get enough water a day and I know how much better I will feel if I'm hitting those big water intake numbers. 

MY GOAL: Every day in August I'm aiming for a minimum of 80oz of water a day. There are a few reasons this is going to be tough. One of them is peeking her head around my office door right now. During nap time. The other one is actually sleeping. Not that I'm picking favorites (today). Another reason is bathroom breaks are hard to come by when you are at home with two kids, or having to find a bathroom in public with two kids. More water = more bathroom breaks. My last obstacle is my memory. I always start the day with great water drinking intentions. I try to have a glass of lemon water first thing before my smoothie. And then.... life happens. And at lunch I see a half full glass of lemon water sitting on the counter. 

So here's to August! We've got lots planned. There is a cool front coming!! TO HOUSTON?!?!  In August. I KNOW. We're taking our first family of four flight (more to come on that one) and school is back. Hey there August... I'm coming for you. 

RT