bringing it into focus.

When we started talking about making some lifestyle changes in the kitchen, we had a lot of thoughts, ideas, feelings, concerns...doubts.  I don't know that we really had an intention in mind.  I know we both felt taking compassion for animals into consideration was a driving force, but not THE driving force.  Our health and fitness was also a driving force, but I believe it was my girls and their futures and their future families that took me from idle to first gear.  When I started to consider all of the issues I've had with my body and my weight and my bad habits...there is nothing I would love more than to instill in my girls a solid grasp on how to eat to live rather than live to eat.  There is a difference.  So, we decided we weren't going to label it, or commit to a title...we were just going to free fall for a bit and see what direction it took us.  I've done hours and hours of research and reading.  I've watched documentaries.  I've sifted through recipes and tried a few...and experimented with a few of my own.  We've had a few disasters (mac & chz in particular) and a few triumphs...and the girls have not only caught on to the trend...but they are actively participating and willingly trying some very foreign foods...bravo ladies!

As I have experimented...I have been disciplined at times, and then not so disciplined and I can very distinctly feel a difference between how I feel when I am eating clean and not so much.  As I have sifted through our cupboards, I have realized just how much of our food is convenient processed food.  There is an app (fooducate) that Skye & I have had so much fun with.  Highly recommend. We went through box after box in our kitchen, scanning the barcodes of our foods and in return were given a grade with an explanation.  Skye was absolutely fascinated.  This shift in our home has inspired so many conversations that have been so wonderful to have with the girls.  If it's not about nutrition, it's about animals - how they are treated or how food is made or how the mass production of food can have an affect on our planet.  But mainly it's about learning and letting it shape and mold us as a family and as individuals.  I don't expect the girls, by any means, to commit to live any certain way for the rest of their lives...but my goal, is to teach them as much as I possibly can in these few years they are home with us...and they will hopefully learn to make educated decisions for their own futures.

And so the journey continues.  Thus far, I've kind of been all over the map, taking it all in, but now I am craving structure.  I think the hardest part is feeling like I'm winging it every day.  Tomorrow kicks off two challenges that I thought might give a little inspiration & focus.  The first is a 30 day green smoothie challenge.  I already drink a smoothie every day, but it's pretty much the same plain jane routine...berries, a banana, a handful of spinach, a scoop of my pea protein and some almond milk.  I need to mix it up a bit and bring some flava.  I think this might help.  The second challenge is a 21-Day Vegan Kickstart.  This is a win-win.  I get recipes delivered to my mailbox with an itemized grocery list.  Does it REALLY get any better than THAT???  I'm sure we won't love all the recipes...I probably won't even cook them all...but I'm thinking we shall find some gems in there somewhere.  

I'm excited to see what July brings!

where's the easy button?

Quite a process this is.  There are so many blogs with so much advice and recipes, and more advice...slightly overwhelming!

So this week I've tried many different types of non-dairy cheeses...my favorite (by far) is the Go Veggies non-dairy (rice) mozzarella shreds.  Our family has embraced Almond Milk.  I started with Vanilla Almond Milk for the girls, but they don't seem to balk too much about the plain unsweetened.  I am still buying them whole grain bread, but would like to eliminate whole wheat/grain from their diet.  This means I will have to either find an alternative that they will actually eat.  Or make our own bread. And crackers? Whoa.  Am I really willing to commit on that level?  That is yet to be seen. The official decision has been made, that we don't necessarily want to be Vegan.  So we bought laying hens.  10 chicks to be exact.  As well as two meat birds, but I'm thinking we won't be too keen on the process.  Unfortunately, we made the mistake of naming these adorable bright yellow chicks...sunshine & buttercup.  In about seven weeks I'll be making some yummy sunshine stew?  Pass.  We have located our local meat source, so when we are looking for a tasty meal to quench that meat craving...we know exactly where that meat is coming from and how it has been raised.  Shout out to Weston's Meat & Poultry!

I think we are in love!

And we have planted the garden. Satisfaction.

I think what I am finding the most difficult, with our busy schedule, (besides now caring for chicks & the garden) is finding the recipes, the time to shop fresh and the time to actually execute the new lifestyle.  The kids want their tried-and-true easy snacks (and secretly...so do I) So, I have to find a way to create easy breezy snacks...that they love enough to be their go-to foods.  So what's the big deal!?!

Well...first of all, I am desperately hungry for my own go-to snacks.  I do find that I am more satisfied with my whole eating...but I still have those late afternoon cravings for something...just something.  Something a little sweet, and a little crunchy...that will give me that boost.

And when I'm out & about...and I need to eat - WHAT do I eat???  I'm sorry, but an apple just doesn't cut it.  I'm beginning to think that I'm a really bad herbivore.  On top of that...with all of the time I'm dumping into our new lifestyle...I'm skipping my workouts, granted, I'm just now on the other side of a hamstring injury.  But now it seems the motivation has caught the 'lazy summer days' virus.

Thank GOODNESS school is out in two days...we can go off the grid for a few months and just explore this new path.  I'm ready to start hitting the farmers markets with my girls.

sitting it out.

Well, nothing brings momentum to a screeching halt like an injury.  I've heard of a hamstring pull, but I had NO idea it was this painful.  I'm not even sure how I've managed it, but I have pulled my hamstrings on both legs.  Just call me 'hobble'.  I've never felt such extreme discomfort with every step, maybe while I was pregnant...but I was growing a human, so it was kind of worth the discomfort.  This is for the birds.  My left hamstring feels the muscle is constantly constricting and it is on FIRE.  Not happy.

So on this lovely Tuesday afternoon, I am sitting home, trying to stay off my legs.  I have caught up on some shows and have been able to research some fabulous recipes.  Could be worse I suppose...could be giving birth. 

http://www.sportsinjuryclinic.net/sport-injuries/thigh-pain/hamstring-strain

http://www.sportsinjuryclinic.net/sport-injuries/thigh-pain/hamstring-strain/hamstring-strain-stretching-exercises

http://www.sportsinjuryclinic.net/sport-injuries/thigh-pain/hamstring-strain/strengthening-exercises-hamstrings

gettin our grub on. sort of.

So change is hard.  We are such creatures of habit, it is hard to break patterns & adopt new ones. When eating revolves around pretty much everything...breakfast, lunch, dinner, food on the go, snacks, barbecues with friends...DESSERTS.  If this is for good, forever, never going back...then I am reinventing our whole meal plan - forever! I am constantly thinking "what am I going to eat???" and..."can I get the kids to eat it...?"  Jeremy is pretty easy, he'll eat whatever I make.  He's also a little more relaxed with his parameters he's staying within....works for me.

I have been scouring website after website trying to find recipes that will be crowd pleasers.  I thought the logical way to start would be taking recipes we love and altering them to fit into our new & improved lifestyle.  But that backfired because we expect our food to taste like we are use to it tasting and the alterations are rejected.  And so, I've decided...let our favorites be our favorites.  How much of a treat will it be for the girls to have good'ole shepherds pie at Memere's house.  Memere will be a HERO just by making an old fan favorite!!! It's a win-win!

Let the experimentation begin!!!  I made a stir fry last week, and I must say it was so awful - I wouldn't even eat it.  How do you mess up a stir fry?...seriously. TRUTH - the girls have had a lot of cereal this week.  However, I have found an unexpected bonus...when you try countless foods that taste awful, it's so exciting to find something that tastes good that it tastes AMAZING and becomes an immediate favorite.  WIN!

Learning curve is a little sharp.

Just pulled my first vegan-gluten free banana bread out of the oven...house smells awesome.  Good sign.