Friday, June 4, 2010

A Conscious Effort

So far, I've been pretty good with my new year's goal of breakfasting together. When it doesn't happen, we miss it. I take this as a good sign. Friday's, however, tend to be more casual as Pops is out of the house early and we are afforded a late start.

The kids ate their mush with applesauce and I put together my own little meal. Leftover crustless quiche (mix eggs, little water, a bit of cheese, and any desired veggies and bake at 375 degrees 'til done!), yogurt with blueberries and black coffee. (Plus a new book I was happy to find at the thrift store. Nevermind the good reviews, the cover is gorgeous!)

I've been trying to be more conscious about my sugar intake and my snacking by writing down everything I eat. So revealing! While I force my kids into healthy eating habits and we all eat well at shared meals ... I don't always follow the same rules when on my own. I want to start modeling better habits for my kids as well as establishing them for myself. Writing down every morsel has been forcing me into self-accountability and definitely motivates me to eat well so I'm not embarrassed by my tally at the end of the day!

I'm also finding that preparing my meals and snacks in a simple, but attractive way works for me. I'm more likely to be satisfied, eat sitting down, and enjoy the experience. Presentation makes a world of difference, doesn't it?

I think eating can be a real struggle for those of us stay-at-home gals. We're often at home all day, food accessible, and sometimes ... it's the most exciting thing we can think of in the moment. We all know it's not a good idea to use food for entertainment or comfort, but sometimes a giant bowl of ice cream at 1:30 in the afternoon sounds really, really fantastic. Sometimes is really, really fantastic. Can you relate?

Well, I think I've finally tired of my silly mentality. Food is good! I love it! I'm just going to eat better stuff. A pint of blueberries costs way too much ... but using fruit as a treat instead of ice cream? Completely worth the extra couple bucks. And while I'll never completely swear off sugary delights (who would want to?), I'm going to be more selective and aware. For me, this isn't about weight, it's about health and moderation. It's about setting life patterns for myself. It's time to change my whole perspective.

Are you motivated too? Do you have any methods that work for you? Please do share. You girls really know how to encourage and inspire.