The Challenge: Balance

How do you find the balance between being a crazy psycho parent who doesn't let their kid eat any sugar, and a parent who lets them eat anything. I am trying hard to find a balance. I know what he eats when I am home, but while I am at work, there is no telling what he is eating. He is with daddy, or Grammy, and their choices might not be what I would like. Do I want to be obnoxious and make him a lunch to eat while I am at work? Do I just throw everything I have been trying out the window?

I need a balance. I need to find a good middle ground.

My husband isn't fully on board with everything I am doing, and wouldn't even be doing it if it weren't for me. He wants soda, Spaghetti O's and Oreo's. I want them to want water, fruit and veggies, and whole grains.

If it's not easy they won't eat it. Hubby won't cook, and Eli isn't picky. Eli is content to eat cereal(leftover from before) all day. Easy, instant, real food. That's what I need.

How do I decide on a good balance between "crazy" and "normal"? I really don't want Eli to be left out of anything, but I really want him to know what choices are healthy and good for him. I want him to make the right decision.

OK, anyway, we are struggling with cooking everyday. I am realizing that making everything from scratch every night isn't really an option with working so much. I am finding that we are eating quick unbalanced meals, because nothing is prepped, and by the time I get home from work, I am way to tired to spend an hour minimum to cook. To solve this problem, I am going to do most of this weeks prep work this weekend, and try to freeze most of the meals so that it will be easier for the week. I am also going to make rice and several different beans for the freezer.

This weeks menu:

• Lentil Chili with Baked Potato
• Quiche
• Butternut Squash Ravioli
• Black Bean Quesadillas
• Pizza
• Roast Chicken
• Chicken Soup
• Stuffed Peppers
• Pork Chops with Dijon Mushrooms

Here's hoping for a successful week!

To The Farmers Market

It's the first time this year, the farmers market just opened last week! I love the idea of getting my stuff from local growers. It's better for you, because it is fresher, and its kind of fun to walk around and see all the produce that everyone has put so much hard work into.

We didn't get much, but what we got was awesome! We got local honey, while expensive, it is way better than store bought. Eggs, sweet potatoes, and butter lettuce were the other things that I felt were cost effective. I also bought 2 tomato plants, and I'm really hoping the survive, it would be really nice to be able to can some tomato sauce this year.

We never made it to Whole Foods, since we spent more than the $75 we have for the week, between the Farmer's Market ($16), Publix ($15), and Target($54). We have lots to eat, so hopefully we make it to next Friday.

The only thing I'm worried about is that we haven't had to purchase meat, since we are using what is in our freezer still. Hopefully I will continue to be able to find some really good sales at Target.

Our first meatless dinner was an epic fail. I have learned that just because it's on Pinterest, doesn't mean it works... We ended up having Ants on a Log(celery, peanut butter, and raisins) and roasted broccoli. Eli did eat some of the macaroni and cheese I tried to make, but neither one of us were thrilled with it. Roasted Broccoli is the MOST AMAZING thing ever!!! I hate broccoli, but not this. Eli and I ate the entire head of broccoli!!!

Roasted Broccoli

1 head Broccoli
Olive Oil
Salt

Chop and wash broccoli into bite size pieces. Make sure its dry, and drizzle with olive oil, and toss to coat. Sprinkle with salt(I used kosher) Roast at 400* for 20-30 minutes or until tender.  EAT!!! ENJOY! MAKE IT AGAIN!

Next time I will take a picture, but I was too busy eating it to stop and take a picture. Oh well, next time I will pause...

A New Way of Life

My husband has been calling me a hippy. With my hippy medicine, which led to my crazy cleaning products (or lack of products, as the case may be) and then finally the final step is our food.

The way we eat is our way of life. So this past 6 weeks we have been slowly making our way to "clean eating." Also called "Real Food," this is a complete change from the couponing crazy person I used to be. I am learning that it is OK to spend money on food, slowly. The cost of fruit and vegetables is much higher than the bag of chips, or box of cookies. The grass fed organic meat is 2-3 times what my cheap sale meat was. 

Since the cost of meat is one of the biggest differences to our budget, we will also be cutting out a majority of the meat that we are used to consuming. We are now what is called a "Flexitarian," we are semi-vegetarian. We have a plant based diet with an occasional inclusion of meat.

I did the great fridge clean out today, getting ready for the fun of the farmer's market, and a Whole Foods shopping trip today. My poor fridge looks really sad right now... We have a few blocks of cheese, (which are left from before the craziness became excessive :) My husband has the last of his sugar sweetened tea, and the minimal condiments that are still OK. Cage free eggs, even though they were purchased at the enemy. I am actually hoping to pick some up at the farmers market.

I am really looking for a good dairy source. I want whole, local, organic, grass fed cows milk. I am hoping to find that too. I am not sure if that is a reasonable option in this area of the world.

We are still on a budget, that hasn't changed, but what we eat certainly has. 

I will be posting snippets of how it is going, what we are buying on our budget, what I am cooking, and how we are feeling. The goals for us are: weight loss for me, and a drastic change in my 5-year-old's behavior. 

Welcome to Real Food on my blog!!!