Challenge Day 28

I end this blog assignment with some last thoughts on eating healthy.  First, I have enjoyed and hope to continue learning new and better ways to eat foods that are rich in vitamins and minerals and flavor.  Second, as I learn to make better choices about food, I recognize that I pass those good choices on to my children.  The ultimate goal is to have a fuller life by maintaining good health.  I realize that there are some things that are out of my control.  For example, Grave's Disease is not caused by anything I have done or not done, it just is.  However, it is my responsibility to treat this body with as much care and respect as possible.  A lesson that has taken too long to learn.  Each day choosing good foods is a challenge for me.  I still from time-to-time crave fried foods and chocolate.  I am allowing myself small bits of chocolate because it is soothing to my soul.  We shall see what this all turns in to as I continue to take the right steps to a healthier future. 

Challenge Day 26

It is so funny to me how I always start exercising very strong but somehow end up forgetting that I need to exercise.  I guess between running up and down the stairs and driving children all over Mobile, Alabama for their activities, finding the time to take a walk is very difficult to do.  Of course, I could wake up earlier each day. Nah!  I love that this family has become much more conscious of what is going into our bodies and I love that my husband and I have made a committment to be healthier than our parents.  I think that as you get older you realize that if we can just do a little better than those before us, then we have accomplished some good things. 

While food has been the focus of this blog, I must say that keeping it in journal format has opened my eyes to some wonderful and not so wonderful truths.  First, I enjoy trying new foods.  I love taking a recipe and trying to make it work for my family.  Second, I love that fried foods are no longer something I really crave.  I went through McDonalds this morning and bought my daughte a small fry and was not the least bit interested in joining her in that snack.  The not so wonderful truths are that it is going to take much more than eliminating fried foods and sweets from my diet if I really want to look like I did in high school.  Which really, it is not as much about the looks as it is about how I feel physically.  This body just doesn't do what it used to or recover as quickly.  Right now at this time in my life, I'm in school full time.  School takes up much of my time and brain power.  So next year, when school is finished, I can focus more on the physical fitness aspect of being healthy.  For now, I think I will stick to the subtle changes that seem to making a minor difference. 

Challenge Day 24

So tonight I made some chicken corn chowder.  It was really yummy.  I'm not sure it was very healthy although I have stuck to my rules of no fried foods.  The chowder tasted like a glorified creamy potato soup and I loved it.  It was warm and sweet with a touch of bacon.  I will definitely be doing it again.  Monday I began wallking for exercise.  I am so sore.  My left hip is killing me, but I guess that means it is working.  I hope to continue the walking and even bump up the speed and distance before long. 

Challenge Day 22

I must say that while I thought blogging about my eating habits would help hold me accountable, it really hasn't.  I am happy to say that I have remained mostly faithful to the "rules" I began with.  No more cooking fried foods and less sugar.  This family still has a long way to go to healthy living.  Thankfully, my girls are very active.  They love to swim and participate in different sports.  All three are talented and typically find themselves involved in multiple activities.  With that said, I realize that fighting obesity and diabetes is a tough fight but with the support of good friends and family, this is one I intend to win. 

Challenge Day 20

Bad habits really are hard to break.  Our house is for sale and today we had to show the house so instead of staying home and working on school and eating what was planned, I loaded up the girls and headed to the mall.  So wrong on so many levels.  First, I spent way too much money on things that were "needed". Then, we had to eat a bite since the showing was at noon and of course the only place to eat at the mall is Chic-fil-a.  I asked for a grilled chicken wrap but they do not carry those at this particular location so I settled for a chicken sandwich and diet coke.  Not too bad I guess, but then as we were shopping I really needed a white chocolate mocha from Starbucks.  While the new way of eating was thrown out the window, I must say that a shopping day with the girls was great therapy and satisfied a much needed break from school work.

Challenge Day 17

So far, I have been able to completely eliminate fried foods.  I haven't missed them at all if truth be told.  I am working very hard to rid this house of all sweets that contain great amounts of processed sugar.  We have switched to splenda as much as possible and the girls have not noticed too much.  Last week, I bought some water flavoring.  We have used the strawberry/watermelon and the girls are drinking lots more water.  I highly recomend the peach for tea. You just add a drop to a glass of unsweet tea and it taste like Olive Garden's peach tea.  I love it and there are no calories in the flavoring.  You can buy the flavors at Winn Dixie above the kool-aid.

Challenge day 13

While I am trying very hard to stay away from fatty foods and sweets, I have not lost a single pound.  I'm feeling a bit frustrated.  I think it could be because I find myself eating way more at one sitting.  So, my goal this week will be to eliminate all sodas and begin some lite exercise.  Most likely walking more than my quarter of a mile each day.  I have discovered two new healthy recipes that I like.  Tonight, I made spaghetti with turkey instead of beef.  It was a great alternative that I am going to continue.  The girls did not even notice.  Last night I tried an asian tilapia with gingered vegetables.  I enjoyed it more than the rest of the family.  Here is the recipe for those that are interested. 

1 Tbsp.  brown sugar
1 tsp. garlic powder
1/2 tsp. chinese five-spice powder
1/2 tsp. pepper
4 boneless skinless chicken breast halves ( I used tilapia fillets instead for some variety in our diet.  stick with the chicken)
2 cups fresh sugar snap peas, trimmed
1 medium carrot, julienned
2 tbsp. orange juice
2 tbsp. reduced-sodium soy sauce
2 tsp. minced fresh gingerroot.

Combine the first five ingredients and rub over the chicken.  Refrigerate for 30 minutes.  Grill the chicken, covered, over medium heat turning after 7 minutes until juices run clear.  In a large nonstick skillet coated with cooking spray combine the remaining ingredients.  Cook and stir over medium high for 5-8 minutes or until vegetables are tender.  Serve with chicken.

Taken from Healthy Cooking magazine, May 24, 2010 issue, page 18-19.