Anyone close to me knows that I’m passionate about food and work hard to
try and maintain a healthful diet and life. And with all the mis-information out there it can be difficult.
try and maintain a healthful diet and life. And with all the mis-information out there it can be difficult.
Below are some things I'm doing to make changes for the better. I'm also often asked how I get my 7 year old daughter to eat healthy food. The answer is, it's tricky, requires consistency and is really a lifestyle choice. I've been "training" her (& myself) since she was very young and still can get
some resistance. I realize that I can't control every single thing she eats and I have learned
to let go, a little, when we are not home. But at home, there are some things that just won't make it to my kitchen - here's a condensed list: I do not purchase foods that contain msg (very tricky one), soybean oil (or soy anything), canola or cotton seed oil, foods with dyes. Breads, crackers and pastas that have been enriched, I actually try not to eat any of those anyway if I can avoid it. I stay away from all GMO foods, soy, canola oil, corn, alfalfa sprouts and yellow or little neck squash. You can avoid gmo by buying organic, as organic by "law" can not contain gmo's. You can also avoid them by limiting the processed foods you buy. I don't buy or eat anything containing these gmo foods. You can go to responsibletechnology.com to learn more. Even when something is organic I still check for these things and won't buy them, but that is a personal choice. We also don't use tooth paste with floride in it.
The trick is, if it’s not in the house it can’t be a choice! Going food shopping alone and being able to take your time and read ingredients without a little one begging for the cereal or cookies that are brightly colored and eye level to them helps with this. Marketing is a bitch. The companies know exactly who they're marketing to and where to put things in the stores.
Here's what's important to me
* I go food shopping 2 or 3 times a week. I buy foods with as little ingredients as
possible, and 90% of my food is organic and or local. I shop for most of my veggies and herbs at the farmers markets. It's so important to support them!
* I cook dinner 6 nights a week!
* I cook with olive oil (not extra virgin), coconut oil (which has amazing
health benefits) & butter (real butter). NO CANOLA OIL
* All dairy and meat is grass fed and or at least organic. I actually haven't had chicken in a while because I have not found a place in the city that sells it grass fed/free range. Love eggs ( the whole egg ) get them free range room the farmers market. And all my seafood is wild caught never farmed.
some resistance. I realize that I can't control every single thing she eats and I have learned
to let go, a little, when we are not home. But at home, there are some things that just won't make it to my kitchen - here's a condensed list: I do not purchase foods that contain msg (very tricky one), soybean oil (or soy anything), canola or cotton seed oil, foods with dyes. Breads, crackers and pastas that have been enriched, I actually try not to eat any of those anyway if I can avoid it. I stay away from all GMO foods, soy, canola oil, corn, alfalfa sprouts and yellow or little neck squash. You can avoid gmo by buying organic, as organic by "law" can not contain gmo's. You can also avoid them by limiting the processed foods you buy. I don't buy or eat anything containing these gmo foods. You can go to responsibletechnology.com to learn more. Even when something is organic I still check for these things and won't buy them, but that is a personal choice. We also don't use tooth paste with floride in it.
The trick is, if it’s not in the house it can’t be a choice! Going food shopping alone and being able to take your time and read ingredients without a little one begging for the cereal or cookies that are brightly colored and eye level to them helps with this. Marketing is a bitch. The companies know exactly who they're marketing to and where to put things in the stores.
Here's what's important to me
* I go food shopping 2 or 3 times a week. I buy foods with as little ingredients as
possible, and 90% of my food is organic and or local. I shop for most of my veggies and herbs at the farmers markets. It's so important to support them!
* I cook dinner 6 nights a week!
* I cook with olive oil (not extra virgin), coconut oil (which has amazing
health benefits) & butter (real butter). NO CANOLA OIL
* All dairy and meat is grass fed and or at least organic. I actually haven't had chicken in a while because I have not found a place in the city that sells it grass fed/free range. Love eggs ( the whole egg ) get them free range room the farmers market. And all my seafood is wild caught never farmed.
* We have lots of omega 3. I sprinkle ground flax seeds in most dishes and we eat salmon
(not farm raised) and sardines weekly. I also supplement my daughter giving her krill oil
& making sure her vitamins include D.
(not farm raised) and sardines weekly. I also supplement my daughter giving her krill oil
& making sure her vitamins include D.
These are some of the methods of health I chose based on my own research.
I urge anyone who wants to get "healthy" or change their lifestyle to do their own. I
figured with obesity, heart disease, diabetes, autism, digestive issues, depression and many other ailments
(a lot which are faced by many children today) at such high rates, I had to do something
different. Food doesn't just fuel the body; it feeds the brain as well. I could not rely on a
system that doesn't seem to be working to guide my family to physical & mental health.
So that's my deal, this is what i'm doing for now.
I'm here and willing to share why I buy what I buy, what/how I cook with it and other things I do to try and be healthy. I am also open to questions and/or different information anyone is willing to share.
