Hi Moms! A couple days ago I posted about my overweight 8-year-old. We found a fabulous woman who is a nutritionist and a dietitian who specializes in both family nutrition and bariatric surgery (I have lap-band), so its a match made in heaven. I am emailing back & forth with her to find a good appt. time now. My entire family is dedicating to a healthier way of living. But, we're very busy! This cannot be an excuse, though. I know that there are ways to eat healthy even with a schedule as busy as ours is. I work full time 8-5, my husband works full time 2nd shift from 3pm to 2am, I manage a girl scout troop, and my daughters both have multiple extra-curriculars. Share some ideas, tips & tricks with me to set up an environment that's more conducive to health so we aren't tempted to stop at drive-thrus or reach for convenience foods!
Crock pot dinners - we do this at least twice a week.
I keep a lunch box in my car with a cool pack, fresh veggies, waters, and pretzels.
Ignore the drive thrus - a sandwich at home is MUCH better.
I agree with advice you received below. Weekend cooking to prep for the week. You have to make it a priority: as you stated you are all committed to eating better. Make sure you carry snacks with you, so when you are tempted (and you will be) you have other options on you.
Large pot of soup: can be taken as lunches/used as a light dinner
Large pot of spaghetti sauce- I make mine with meatballs and sausage. This can then be used thru the week: spaghetti, meatball subs, sausage sandwiches, and then can make lasagna by the end of the week. I make a large pan or two of this: can freeze one, and we use the other one for dinners thru the next week.
Meatloaf: Make a few at a time and can be used as lunch sandwiches.
Ham: dinners, ham salad for lunch and when you get to the bone: ham and split pea soup, or navy bean soup
Spend most of your food budget on fresh fruit/produce area- then go around the perimeter of the store: this is where the least amount of processed and preserved foods are. I don't do much shopping in the aisles: wintertime: I do buy canned veggies which I get at an outlet store by the case- making sure no salt or preservatives are added.
It is tough with time constraints, but if you are dedicated and it seems you understand the importance, you just have to make the time and stay dedicated to it. Eventually it will become part of your life!
Also- you are making a huge change all at once. Don't be upset by small fall backs. Remember each healthy lifestyle change you make, however small all makes a difference in the long run.
Wishing you the best and feel free to correspond with any questions or updates! There are other families who are working right along side of you putting their families health first!
Great job Mom!
Do some weekend cooking and put stuff in serving size containers. I used to make spinach lasagna and slice it up and put it in square Rubbermaid storage boxes then freeze it. It is was going to be eaten in a day or two then I put it in the fridge.
Make a big pot of chicken and noodles, then put servings in the fridge. There are so many things that we just don't have time for on an average week night that if they are already cooked and all you have to do is pop it in the microwave...well, that makes it very easy to not graze and seek out unhealthier foods.
Pick some foods you guys love then cook several meals of it on a weekend. I make a gallon of spaghetti sauce at a time then put it in quart size freezer bags. All I have to do is start the pasta boiling the pop the bag in some hot water for a moment to thaw it out enough to be able to slide the frozen chunk into a microwave bowl. A few minutes later, homemade spaghetti sauce on fresh pasta.
Also we keep canned stuff on hand for those late nights too. I think eating some mini ravioli's or spaghetti O's is not a bad thing. All kinds of stuff the kids like and will not complain about eating.
carve out an hour once a week to steam, freeze and/or puree a lot of fresh fruits and veggies so you always have great healthy stuff on hand to grab, add to soups or stews, or make smoothies.
:) khairete
S.
Your prep work will be key to success here. When you go to the market and are shopping make certain you include healthy snacks of fruit, veggies, berries, nuts, yogurt etc.
I have all kinds of healty stuff I prepare and mix together. I'm like the mix master of snack foods. In the summer I love black berries with raspberries or grapes and blue berries. It's winter to it's all about the apple slices with cashew butter. We love things like pumpkin seeds, walnuts, pecans, cashews, peanuts, and dried fruit.
Essentially and ideally you should plan out and separate all your portions of snack foods once the groceries come home. This way it is just a grab and go. I also enjoy fresh popped popcorn fresh off the fire with nothing. It just tastes better that way to me. My Aunt has an air popper which I love the way it pops the pop corn.
Dang I'm hungry again and have lost my train of thought. I hope you get the gist of what I was trying to say.
I have a large tupperware container in the fridge of salad mix. I chop the lettuce, cabbage and carrots and just keep it in there. I also use it to throw on tacos or tostadas on the fast nights we need something quick and easy. I also will put 6# of bonesless, skinless chicken breasts in the crock and cook on low all day with some poultry seasoning sprinkled on top. Then I chop it up and put it in serving size baggies and freeze it. Then I can quickly take it out and use for pastas, tacos, salads, add some bbq sauce and put on rolls for a quick meal. Same thing for 6# of hamburger or ground turkey. Brown it all at once with some onions then put it in serving sizes and freeze and do the same as the chicken. I also try to keep a bowl filled with bananas, oranges, apples and pears on the counter so if they kids are hungry, they can grab those. You have to plan ahead for the week, that is the key so you don't leave it up to chance on what you are going to do. Good luck!!!
