With all the fresh fruit and vegetables required for cycle one, I find myself a frequent visitor at my local grocery store. Now I've been around the diet block a time or two (or fifty two) in my life and I'm not a slow learner by any means. I know I have heard this but it never seemed to hit home like it did yesterday. I am doing 99% of my shopping these days on the PERIMETER of the store! Everything I need is around the edges, I enter and there is the produce section, continue around to the fish and fresh meats at the back then along to the dairy to get my yogurt and voila, I'm almost done! Even the healthier carbs that I have been making for my hubby & sons, fresh potatoes, whole wheat bread & buns, whole wheat pasta (which by the way is very inexpensive if you buy it from the bulk bins and store in your own containers), and basmati rice (also available from the bulk bins) - all of these are around the perimeter of the store as well!
So, I ask myself, what dangers lurk within the aisles that made me so fat? Could those things be hurting my family too?
I went on a trip down "memory aisle" to really look at what I used to buy. I always considered myself a great cook, but now that I am being brutally honest and examining how I cooked and what I ate, I must face the reality that I was not as much cooking as opening packages. Just-add-water/milk pasta and sauce dishes, dehydrated scalloped potatoes, rice and sauce packages, sugary cereals and snacks.... the list goes on. As I really started to read the ingredients I was horrified, the amount of added salt, sugar and fat in the prepared foods I was buying made me feel ashamed of myself. I knew this stuff was bad for us before but I used to tell myself this was just easier, we had busy lives with work, kids sports and all our activities, who had the time to cook from scratch? Besides, I used to say to myself (thinking I was being health conscious) I never add salt to my cooking. Ha, of course I didn't - it was already there by the bucket load.
Well I now I know I have the time, our schedules are the same as ever and I have been cooking from scratch. The time it takes to cook whole wheat pasta and make a healthy sauce, even a cheese sauce with low fat milk and low fat cheese, it is the same as when I used to open the package! Rice is rice, it takes 20 minutes whether or not it comes with a high sodium sauce. Cooking it in low fat chicken broth with a pinch of dill is healthy and delicious, my kids loved it. My husband's high blood pressure has improved so much already that the doctor said he does not have to take his medication anymore. To be honest, my boys have not even noticed some of the changes like the switch to whole wheat pasta. They are too busy shoveling it down! They are growing boys after all.
Preparing good food has always been one of the ways I have given love to my family. That has not changed. Thinking about all of this made me realize that all of the special meals, their favorite recipes, the ones they remember and talk about, were the dishes I did make from scratch not from a package with ingredients I can't even pronounce.
I am determined now not just to give them the healthiest, tastiest food possible but also a chance to take these habits with them into adulthood.
I bought two notebooks today and started recording each boy's favorite family recipes in them, the healthy, homemade ones, along with a little story or comment about when we all shared that meal. When the time comes and they tell me they want to learn how to cook a few things, I will give these to them with a request that as they grow into adults and perhaps marry later in life, they add to the book with their own families and pass it down to their children.
That would be a wonderful legacy. A- Ha! Thank you Dr. Moreno.
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A wonderful legacy indeed! God bless you and your family.
Hi Writerchick1, I read your story and your AHA MOMENT IN THE STORE sounds familiar, but I didn't think about shopping the perimeter 'til I was reading yours. I always told my husband to shop the outer isles of the store. I first heard about that on Doctor Oz! I watch all the Doctor shows. It helps very much. Now that I'm on this diet I am shopping the outer limits, and it doesn't take all day anymore. I don't have to think about what I want for dinner, I already know before I get there. I really like your idea about making cook books for your kids, that is a great idea! My kids are 23 & 25 and I wish I could've thought of doing that! I guess I was too busy eating all the bad stuff. It's never to late to learn different eating habits. Now it is time for me!!! Thank you for sharing your story. We all are in the same place and it feels so good knowing there are so many people you can talk to AT LAST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Good for you! I am also really enjoying eating this way! I come from a commercial fishing family and I am shocked at how little seafood we have been eating! I find everyone in my house is curious about what I am doing and eating, so they are also eating better. Wow......the ripple effect could be absolutly amazing from this! Both of my fathers parents were diabetic and my father is also insulin dependent, he has also had triple bi-pass surgery so I am hoping that when he comes home this spring (he snow birds in the States) I will have this 'diet' turned into a lifestyle and who knows how healthy we all may get! What a beautiful legacy you will leave your sons! Good for you!
Very well said! That inspired me, Thank you!
This diet is plain a** stupid,sorry for being blunt,but if your going to do it make sure it stays long term bc,this is just a jump start and nothing is FOREVER ok,.I am sick and tired of ppl trying to be skinny when that is called anaroxia,living on 5oo calories a day is no life,I had huge eating issues bc,of this image crap.
First of all eat healthy and not yo yo dieting or cut of a leg that is easier than having to suffer insanity of not eating.Go do your diet just wait and see that skinny has a price.I don't want to rain on your parade but,having lived with this illiness has given me insight unto helping others,you may think your don't have a disorder but,it sure does start like OLD I WANT TO LOSE FEW lbs than turns into a obessession and than your like kate moss.
I am a size 2 and I am trying to get into a size healthy again,I don't feel normal and mostly sick too.believe me it gets into a sickness.I am no expert but,I can tell is is HELL AND I LIVED IT EVERY DAY.
every calorie,every breathe and everyday is hell.I lived off months at time on carrots and celery and cabbage soup and water..sometimes less than 500 calories and almost in ER few times due to rapid heart issues.
I hope it goes well for you and that you don't get to obessesd about being skinny.Is not worth it.I was at my fat stage at 209 and now 104.Not healthy for my height 5'2.
take care.
OMG, I did the exact same thing. Only ventured down the middle aisles to get some spices and frozen berries.
I also find myself going to the store more often, mostly for veggies because my family loves them.
OMG, I did the exact same thing. Only ventured down the middle aisles to get some spices and frozen berries.
I also find myself going to the store more often, mostly for veggies because my family loves them.
What a terrific story. It sounds like MINE. I Love my family with food, but who knew I could love them even better. No complaints either. My husband simply loves the chicken breast with salsa. I found out this week he loves cauliflower and I never knew (ten years!). What a turnaround and you are right... cooking healthy does not take long. I made talapia with veggies and a salad the other night in less than 20 min. I love the notebook Idea... I may have to adopt that. I ventured over to the organic section "just to see." I found soy peanut butter!!! I love peanut butter with apples, or by itself. Just when you think you have it all figured out, a better way comes along. Keep an open mind and enjoy. Way to go and keep us posted :)
Wow that was so I awesome to read. I am trying to cook from scratch and the kids are loving tje smell of actual cooking. They are not at 100% of eating but have been trying it. Thank you for the words and good luck to you.
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