What are we eating?

The last couple of months I’ve taken a more active role in my physical health. I’m more conscience of what I eat, I’m working out and getting my daily nutrition drinks, which both balance and refuel me. I’ve lost almost 20 pounds since February and with my mental health challenges, it’s encouraging to see hard work pay off. I’m beginning to understand more and more how what we put in our bodies also affects our moods.

I’m just going to say it — I love to eat! On all sides of my family, we are food centric. What’s for breakfast? What’s for lunch? What’s for dinner? What are we serving at a party? What are we taking to a party? Where are we going out to eat? Appetizers? Entree? Dessert? Sound familiar? Lol. As you can imagine, growing up that way makes it hard to have a healthy relationship with food. Forget healthy meals or portion control. Forget being conscience of what I’m fueling my body with. Ultimately, it’s up to me to make the right food choices and honoring my commitment to good health.

Mending my relationship with food hasn’t been easy, but I’m making progress. Making small changes goes a long way. For example, not buying junk food for the house. This way I don’t eat it and our kids aren’t eating a bunch of sugar either. Cooking a whole lot more than we order in or dine out. I love to cook and making time to prepare my family a healthy meal with lean cuts, fresh vegetables and low carbs helps keep me (and them) on track. Less pizza, more broccoli. Less dessert, more carrots. The changes are subtle enough that we don’t feel deprived. Both of my kids love to eat and have big appetites. They’re healthy and active, love vegetables and fruits, so it’s working for us.

Yes, we still have pizza and ice cream, but far fewer times throughout the month. Yes, holidays can and will derail us, however, I’ve found that sharing my healthy lifestyle with my nuclear family also helps them, help us. For example, Easter baskets — this year, far less candy and it was replaced with activity books & fun items. The kids didn’t even miss it. Baby steps.

One step at a time. One goal at a time. This healthy lifestyle change is more about longevity. It’s about breaking generational cycles of diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity and illness. We owe it to ourselves to be better. We owe it to our children to teach them a better way. Together, we can and will be better.