Think Outside the Box

I was fortunate to grow up in a house where my mom made pretty much every meal from scratch.  We had salad every night with dinner, vegetables and fruit were canned while in season, everything was fresh ingredients for our meals of the day. 

Can you just imagine my mother cringing as we got older, earning our own money, and we began to buy processed foods? Think peanut butter kandy cakes and yes, Spaghetti O’s – but I digress!  When I got married, everything that was in my cart at the store was quick and simple.  Our evenings didn’t start until 9pm, when we would meet our friends for appetizers (mostly all fried) and drinks.  We would go to bed with heavy foods in our belly’s and our bodies began to rebel.  My husband and I watched our weight increase, our routine bloodwork change, we led very sedentary lives, and were unkind to our bodies overall. 

To this point we equated comfort food and convenience as the norm in our lives.  However, once we started to realize just how unhealthy our choices were, we started to rethink our choices.   This is a process that is still evolving today!  We are human just as you are and have moments where old habits creep in and forget self-care.  

So where do you start?  How do you begin to make small attainable changes?  An easy first step is to increase the amount of meals you eat at home.  Most American families eat less than 70% of their meals in the home.  That leaves a large portion of what we consume to be filled with fat, salt, and sugar.  People who cook at home typically eat healthier and consume less calories than those who do not cook at home. Preparing foods in your own home gives you more control over the quality of the ingredients and portion control.

I hear you!!  You, like most of my clients, are saying how can I do that when I am so busy?  That’s the exact reason to begin to cook at home!  Most of us really don’t have time to be sick and add another layer of appointments into our day.  
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​Try to implement a few of the following tips to make home cooking easier:

• There are great meals that can be prepared in 30 minutes or less – in some places it takes more time than that to order and pick up takeout.   Use that time to cook at home. 
• How many hours do we all spend on social media and TV?  There is found time there with a little planning. 
• Once a week set time aside to plan meals while taking into account your busy schedule.  Grocery shop with a list to know you have stock items in your house.  Know what that night’s meal is so you are not left looking at each other at 5pm wondering what is for dinner!
• Share recipes and grocery lists with your friends – they are in the same boat!
• Set aside 30 minutes to cut your veggies and fruit – making them a main stay of meals and snacks.  Everyone will be more inclined to reach for them if they are ready to go for the week.
• Keep the more complicated recipes for when you have more time and the “to-go” meals for the nights you are running until bedtime.
• In the beginning, until you get into a routine – keep it simple!  No points are won for creating an elaborate masterpiece every night.  To be honest, some of our healthiest meals in our house are the most basic recipes.
• Cook what you like to eat – nothing is more frustrating than preparing dinner and everyone turns their noses up at it!

This is an awesome time to start!  It’s grilling season (easy protein) and the best local fruits and veggies are about to be at our fingertips.  It doesn’t get easier than that!

An added bonus to cooking at home is the time you are able to check in with your family – even on the fly if that’s what the day brings.   What a better way to show them you love them, than providing a healthy meal made from the heart. 

Let’s think outside the box (pun intended) and make healthy home cooked meals a priority!  One step at a time...You got this!

Would you like help learning how to implement healthy home cooked meals into your routine?  Curious about how health coaching can help you make your own healthy changes? Let’s talk! Schedule an initial complimentary consultation with me today——or pass this offer on to someone you care about!

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