If you have read all of my posts (way back in the beginning), you probably know that I have been trying to change our eating habits and lifestyle to become more healthy. I got the Yoga Booty Ballet DVDs and did those for a bit (I still intend to use them but it interferes with my running program so it will have to wait until after the race in November). Along with that, I was trying to cut back on sugar and introduce more vegetables into our diet. By diet, I mean what we eat, not a period of time when I starve myself. After a long bout with post partum depression, I decided to try an alternate means to combat it than taking pills. I went to a Naturopathic doctor. The main thing that I was told would help was my diet. I could control depression with what I ate. I was introduced to eating foods based on blood type. The biggest thing I got from the blood type way of eating was that you avoid ALL processed foods. It also suggests that certain foods should be avoided, but it doesn't cut out yummy foods.
In moving to our new area, I met someone who is, in many ways, a lot like me. She introduced me to the Weston A. Price foundation and the book Nurturing Traditions by Sally Fallon. I have looked into it a bit on my own, not having read the book. Based on what I know from previous dieting, nutrition research, and the eating for your blood type experience, I think the best thing for myself and my family is to eat healthy foods we prepare in our home from whole foods.
I will have to really focus on learning new recipes. I am no longer going to be buying boxed cereal (or bagged for that matter) for my kids. Who wouldn't want pancakes, muffins, waffles, or eggs and homemade toast for breakfast every morning? Maybe one day my kids will even come to love oatmeal! No more cheap sandwich bread from the store for their lunches. Instead, they can have filling, wholesome sandwiches made with real meat (not salty, processed lunch meats) or homemade peanut butter (because I know that is all Ashley will eat) on homemade whole grain bread.
I am making a sourdough starter and am going to learn to make all sorts of things with it. Did you know you can make sourdough waffles, pancakes, muffins, english muffins, and even cake? Crazy! Once my starter is ready, I am going to do it- it takes 2 weeks to get it going but will last for generations (that would be my kids and their kids, and their kids...) if you feed it properly.
Of course, Jeff is such a trooper. He told me he will eat anything I make! I promise I won't make lima beans, though. I know how much he does not like them.
I think all of this means that I will probably be spending a lot of time in the kitchen. It probably also means I will be spending a lot of time on the computer finding recipes! Add that to keeping up with one very active baby and I think I will be pretty busy. I will share recipes as I make them, as well as how we are enjoying (or not enjoying) this new adventure in becoming a healthy and happy family!
