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Four Ways to Get Your Family to Eat Clean

How to convert Drive Thru Junkies to Clean Eaters

It was like a movie….The most amazing thing happened the other night at dinner my kids fought over the last brussel sprout did you read that correctly my kids fought over the last brussels sprout. I never thought that the battle over clean eating would be won. Two years ago that would have never been the case. After a long road, my girls try new things every other week willingly. They look forward to baking new goodies to try and have mostly adopted a healthy lifestyle. Don’t get me wrong they’ll still welcome without hesitation a Happy Meal but from a recovering drive thru junkie family. Always driving around. Going places and never enjoying what was in front of them.

How to change your family to a clean diet

About two and a half years ago I decided to try to change our processed food lifestyle into a “clean eats” lifestyle. I probably got it from a blog post or Social Media. At first, I tried to try it on my own, but then I was invited to a meeting. I was introduced to information about GMOs, wheat, corn and soy mayhem. I left the meeting wanting to feed my family better and putting my foot down. We didn’t go cold turkey, but there was a drastic change in our shopping and meals. I stopped using helper sides: mac and cheese, rice sides, pasta sides; Anything that came preseasoned; canned goods, baking mixes. All donated or thrown away. That left me with food that you had to prepare every meal from scratch.

Homemade meals every night without my “just add water” side was an overwhelming task. I tried a few different methods of meal prep too and then I found a system that works for me. The more I became fluent in processed free, clean eats that took less than 30 minutes it became easier.

cleaneats

We are not 100% Clean Eaters and that’s okay

Now I tell people we are about 85% clean that leaves 10% “real ingredient” processed and 5% junk. What I would define as real ingredient junk, are foods that are processed in a kitchen other than my own but has real ingredients. I buy pasta, rice, quinoa, oats, dried fruit, nuts, etc. I also buy chips, crackers and frozen pizza for my kids and husband. We’ve come a long way from our old diet and are still progressing forward.

The 5% junk those are McDonald’s Happy Meals, donuts from D&D ,birthday cake, icecream, and a Philly Pretzel is my middle diva’s weakness. We live by an 80/20 rule trying to honor our temple but living in grace. I know that eventually, we will be fully clean. My girls can’t even eat school lunch anymore because it makes their stomach hurt. Treats and desserts last longer in my house now too. When I do bake, I try to use natural sugar such as date paste and raw honey. I will also use pure cane sugar, but either way treats last longer.

So, as I watch them fight over a Brussels sprout (I’ll have to make more next time). I am so grateful that I learned how to honor my temple better and my family initially rebellious and unwilling came around and preferred a clean lifestyle too.

cleaneats

Four ways to get your family on board with a clean lifestyle

1. Pick 5 have them pick five processed foods they can’t live without (french fries and frozen pizza is ours) Although, once in a while I get away with homemade french fries.
2. Family favorites try to make family favorites healthy and from scratch. Your rendition probably tastes a lot better than Stouffers.
3.Meal Prep & Plan You don’t have to precook all your meals. I don’t! I make a list for the week compare it to our schedules. I like to preseason and label the meats and freeze. That way it’s defrosted, bake, grill, whatever and mostly prepped. Vegetables clean and bag in advance. I don’t cut mine, but they are washed, dried and stored, or you can make everything in advance, freeze and have ready to throw in the oven. Whatever is going to prevent you from stopping at the drive-thru on the way home or grabbing a precooked processed meal.
4.Slow down so you can speed up. Going cold turkey will cause your family to revolt and not adopt. Ease them into it and give them grace. They didn’t decide to change their lifestyle mama ( or daddy) did so they may be slow to adopt. They will fight you, stay strong and just try to make fresh alternatives. The younger they are, the easier it is, but eventually, everyone will feel want to continue to feel better and hopefully they’ll be fighting over Brussels sprouts too.

Are you trying to eliminate processed food from your diet? Did you

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Dessert Mealtime Monday Recipes

Eat Your Rind

 

Watermelon Rind

Happy Independence Day!  Are you planning on attending a Barbecue today? Will there probably be Watermelon served? Have you been told that if you eat the Watermelon Rind, it will make you sick? Well, I am a living testament that is a myth. People toss the watermelon when it gets to the crunchy white part of the watermelon, but this is probably the most nutritious part of the fruit. The entire watermelon from flesh to seed is edible and delicious. I prefer the rind over the pink flesh, but I am not your typical person.

Seeded Wateremelon

Watermelon Rind has so many great nutrients in it, a very mild flavor and an excellent way to save on waste. If those reasons don’t persuade you there are also these four:

  1. Chlorophyll
    Helps with blood building contains more of the amino acid; Citrulline than the pink flesh.
  2. Additional Vitamins
    Contains Vitamin C, Fiber, Potassium and small amount of Vitamin B6
  3. Low Calorie
    It contains fewer calories. Therefore, it will add bulk and variety without adding to your caloric intake.
  4. Taste
    Taste like a cucumber; everything from skin to seeds of a watermelon is edible.

Watermelon is a staple at our house whether cooking out or just another day is Watermelon. I typically keep the rinds and freeze them to juice. So, I will cut the skins off before serving and place them in a storage container to freeze. I try to stock up during the summer in Watermelon Rinds because they are readily available and useful for you all year long. They have very bland flavor and if eaten raw a big crunch.

There are so many ways that you can eat Watermelon Rind; pickled, preserved, chutney, raw, in a salad, stir-fry, juice or a smoothie. The easiest way that I have found to get my kids to eat it is to make it a refreshing smoothie or popsicle. It’s a great way to get those wonderful nutrients in and save the waste.

watermelon rind popsicles

I’ve tried it both ways with the skin and without the skin. If you have a good blender, like a Vitamix or Ninja would include the skin because it is edible and will break it down so that it doesn’t affect the texture. If you do not, I would recommend including the skin because it can be a weird texture kind of like pulp in Orange Juice. Also, as far as taste goes it will not overpower the Popsicle so don’t be scared!

[amd-yrecipe-recipe:26]

Meal Time Monday

 

 

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Mango Thai Chicken Salad with Spicy Peanut Sauce

mango thai chicken salad

 

I used to be a plain salad, same salad kind of girl. I would get your standard mixed green or Ceasar Salad.  Then I began eating more protein and produce and before I found all that variety had to offer I got stuck in the same salad rut.  Funny enough my husband who is a same meal kind of guy. Like when I met him he would only eat “American” food defined by him as Hamburgers, Spaghetti (Technically not American) and Fried Chicken.  Anyways, he introduced me to adding fruit into my salad. He used to put strawberries, grapes, blackberries, apples and I thought “Eew, how gross” well you know the adage-Don’t knock it till you try it. Well I was pleasantly surprised. Now I am livening my salads up with different types of nuts, cheese, fruits, and dressings. I especially love homemade dressings I feel they have more flavor and can be fun and inspiring to make.  So, usually I make my own dressings.

Peanut Dressing

This weekend I was inspired by a salad I had picked up from Wawa. (Wawa is a NJ/East Coast convenient store chain that offers some made to order meals and express salads, etc.) We were busy, busy and the snacks I had brought were gone. We were still running errands and was starving.  I had my husband stop at Wawa and chose a not-great-for-you but better-than-a-fast-food-meal, salad.  It was pretty good but I knew I could do better and I did.  Got home, did some digging on Pinterest and found a good base for my Spicy Peanut Dressing. As with most recipes I find I reinvented it and made a much healthier option.  I wanted a dressing that was Sugar Free (of course) and I used Coconut Oil because it’s a healthier fat then most of the other dressing recipes I found.  I also kind of made up the salad as I went along because honestly anyone can throw a salad together. Grilled some chicken with my amazing 5-Spice Season and Ta-Da! This was one of those meals you kind of hum as you took each bite. Yes, that good! I hope you enjoy it as much as I did since I am a little bias.

Do you like fruit in your salad? What’s your favorite salad topping?

[amd-yrecipe-recipe:20]

Meal Time Monday

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Fitness and Health Mealtime Monday

How my family went clean

 

clean-eat

It was like I was in a Movie….

The most amazing thing happened the other night at dinner my kids fought over the last brussel sprout did you read that correctly my kids fought over the last brussels sprout. Two years ago that would have never been the case. After a long road, my girls try new things every other week willingly. They look forward to baking new goodies to try and have mostly adopted a healthy lifestyle. Don’t get me wrong they’ll still welcome without hesitation a Happy Meal but from a recovering drive thru junkie family. Always driving around. Going places and never enjoying what was in front of them.

Got to make some changes….

About two and a half years ago I decided to try to change our processed food lifestyle into a “clean eats” lifestyle. I probably got it from a blog post or Social Media. At first, I tried to try it on my own, but then I was invited to a meeting. I was introduced to information about GMOs, wheat, corn and soy mayhem. I left the meeting wanting to feed my family better and putting my foot down. We didn’t go cold turkey, but there was a drastic change in our shopping and meals. I stopped using helper sides: mac and cheese, rice sides, pasta sides; Anything that came preseasoned; canned goods, baking mixes. All donated or thrown away. That left me with food that you had to prepare every meal from scratch.

Homemade meals every night without my “just add water” side was an overwhelming task. I tried a few different methods of meal prep too and then I found a system that works for me. The more I became fluent in processed free, clean eats that took less than 30 minutes it became easier.

cleaneats

Not keeping it 100%

Now I tell people we are about 85% clean that leaves 10% “real ingredient” processed and 5% junk. What I would define as real ingredient junk, are foods that are processed in a kitchen other than my own but has real ingredients. I buy pasta, rice, quinoa, oats, dried fruit, nuts, etc. I also buy chips, crackers and frozen pizza for my kids and husband. We’ve come a long way from our old diet and are still progressing forward.

The 5% junk those are McDonald’s Happy Meals, donuts from D&D ,birthday cake, icecream, and a Philly Pretzel is my middle diva’s weakness. We live by an 80/20 rule trying to honor our temple but living in grace. I know that eventually, we will be fully clean. My girls can’t even eat school lunch anymore because it makes their stomach hurt. Treats and desserts last longer in my house now too. When I do bake, I try to use natural sugar such as date paste and raw honey. I will also use pure cane sugar, but either way treats last longer.

So, as I watch them fight over a Brussels sprout (I’ll have to make more next time). I am so grateful that I learned how to honor my temple better and my family initially rebellious and unwilling came around and preferred a clean lifestyle too.

cleaneats

Four ways to get your family on board with a clean lifestyle
1. Pick 5 have them pick five processed foods they can’t live without (french fries and frozen pizza is ours) Although, once in a while I get away with homemade french fries.
2. Family favorites try to make family favorites healthy and from scratch. Your rendition probably tastes a lot better than Stouffers.
3.Meal Prep & Plan You don’t have to precook all your meals. I don’t! I make a list for the week compare it to our schedules. I like to preseason and label the meats and freeze. That way it’s defrosted, bake, grill, whatever and mostly prepped. Vegetables cleans and bag in advance. I don’t cut mine, but they are washed, dried and stored, or you can make everything in advance, freeze and have ready to thrown in the oven. Whatever is going to prevent you from stopping at the drive-thru on the way home or grabbing a precooked processed meal.
4.Slow down so you can speed up. Going cold turkey will cause your family to revolt and not adopt. Ease them into it and give them grace. They didn’t decide to change their lifestyle mama ( or daddy) did so they may be slow to adopt. They will fight you, stay strong and just try to make fresh alternatives. The younger they are, the easier it is, but eventually everyone will feel want to continue to feel better and hopefully they’ll be fighting over Brussels sprouts too.

Are you trying to eliminate processed food from your diet? Did you already? How?

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Shrimp Alfredo Spaghetti Squash

20151101_162040

Spaghetti Squash to the rescue with this really easy Shrimp Alfredo Spaghetti Squash recipe. It’s been one of those days, the day was going great and then something unexpected happen. Your plans for the day go out the window and next thing you know it’s dinner time. If you’re a clean eater like I am that sometimes can be a little hard. I like to keep a few freezer meals on hand for occasions like this but sometimes that is not the option.  I had the pleasure of taste testing some of the products that WildTree provided. So, of course on a hectic day I thought, let’s give this a try.

The results were an amazingly yummy meal thrown together quickly that was tasty and guilt free because Wild Oats preps sauces and dips are natural, organic and gluten-free. One of the things that I do miss is having already prepared seasoning, spices, sauces and dips so when a friend of mine offered for me to try out her WildTree products. I was all for it. I created a really yummy Shrimp Alfredo Spaghetti Squash recipe that was really feeling and my family love.

Spaghetti SquashSpaghetti SquashSpaghetti SquashSpaghetti Squash

Spaghetti Squash Facts

Spaghetti squash “meat” looks like spaghetti strands when cooked, so it is known as “vegetable spaghetti”, “noodle squash”, and “squaghetti”.

When you are looking for it in the store, Spaghetti squash is a long, oblong vegetable that measures between 8 and 14 inches in length, weighs 2 to 3 pounds. It is a variety of the winter squash family and has a mild taste similar to pasta but different texture. This squash variety is often used as a healthful substitute for pasta due to its low carbohydrate levels.3

Spaghetti squash is from China.4 In 1921, it was introduced to Japan by a Chinese agricultural research firm and was brought to the United States fifteen years later. It was commonly planted during World War II but only gained popularity in the late 20th century.

You can add Spaghetti squash to a variety of dishes, like soups,stews, or eaten raw. Serve it as “spaghetti,” and top it with a wide variety of pasta sauces.

Don’t grab a spaghetti squash that is marred with green marks.  It can be stored at room temperature for several weeks.5

 wpid-20151002_1734111SpaghettiSquash

Health Benefits of Spaghetti Squash

Spaghetti squash is nutritionally superior to regular pasta it is loaded with vitamins and other nutritional content. Spagehtti squash is very versatile and contains about 457% of the recommended daily intake of vitamin A and 52% of vitamin C,7 which can help prevent free radical damage to cells. It also is packed with antioxidants such as beta-carotene, lutein, and zeaxanthin, which are all linked to healthy vision and optimal eye health. Rich in the B vitamins riboflavin, niacin, and thiamin, which promote optimal cellular function.8 Folate is also found in this bright-colored vegetable. Folate can also help filter out homocysteine from your blood and promote cardiovascular health. A fantastic source of Potassium, a mineral that maintains proper muscle and nerve function, is also present in spaghetti squash, making it helpful for people with high blood pressure. Spaghetti Squash also is a good source of the mineral Manganese, it assists in bone and tissue heath, metabolism, calcium absorption, and nerve function, is another key component.9 Spaghetti squash also contains the essential minerals calcium, iron, phosphorus, and zinc.

If that wasn’t enough reason to consume spaghetti squash is it is a great source of omega-3 and omega-6 fats content. Omega-3 fats are associated with the prevention of inflammation, which may cause heart disease, arthritis, and certain types of cancer. On the other hand, omega-6 fats are linked to proper brain function. It is critical to maintain the ideal 1:1 ratio of these fats. Adding Spaghetti Squash to your diet is a fantastic way to save on calories and get some added essential minerals and vitamins that regular pasta doesn’t have.

[amd-yrecipe-recipe:1]

 

 

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