New Motivation for a Healthy Life

While on a visit to Sophie's Pediatrician I was informed of something great. Sophie can now eat whatever we eat. If it is too big or is something she can't gum then we just put it in the blender. This for me has become a new form of motivation to live a healthy life. If my daughter is eating what I am eating I better make sure that what I am putting into my body is natural and healthy.

Interestingly enough, Sophie's favorite food is surprisingly Mexican food. She loves rice and black bean and especially refiried beans. this has encouraged us to make more rice bowls, healthy casseroles and burritos, all of which we are incorporating more and more veggies into our recipes. I am not saying you need to plan your meals around you baby but take their health into consideration. If you wouldn't put it into their body why would you put it into yours? The mentality of breast feeding mothers have of putting good things into their bodies so baby gets good things shouldn't end just because they no longer breast feed or never could (This was the situation in my case, I was unable to breast feed beyond 2 1/2 months). Our children learn from us so lets teach them that their body is something to be cherished, because in this life we only get one. We should take care of our bodies and only put things in it that build it up. We need to cherish these bodies that carry our children in the womb and in our arms.
That being said, I am no saint nor am I perfect in denying my daughter of treats.

This cookie was a welcome home gift from Sophie's grandpa. And NO, she DID NOT eat that whole cookie.

This is how my daughter eats usually: baby formula with iron, and lots of organic fruits and veggies.

We all want what is best for our children and want them to live great healthy lives. To me this can include treats from grandparents and cakes on their birthdays, Teach your children a healthy lifestyle but also teach them to live and make good choices on their own. If you deny them treats they will never learn to make the healthy choices.

Making Healthy Choices in Not So Healthy Circumstance

While on vacation with my family I was presented with a challenge. My parents attempt to eat healthy and in general are successful. But, it seams that I inherited the notion that "if you are on vacation that means lets eat out as much as possible"! So, that is what we did. While I didn't follow my meal plan the way I should have I feel that I made a valiant effort considering how often we ate out. I also think that Lipozmes ( coupon code: Kelsie20) and Active helped my body break down some of the "not so good" foods I was eating.
   

The Following are a few tips that I followed in an attempt to maintain my healthy lifestyle.
1.) Choose a protein
   I tried to make my initial choice for my meal based on a protein based meal.
2.) Stay away from carbs
   My family loves Italian food. My sister got a dish that seemed amazing. It was light with tomatoes and basil and chicken, however I knew I needed to try and stay away from the pasta. So, I chose a dish that i think was equally as delicious or perhaps even more. I got a stuffed pepper. It was amazing. This began a trend for me. Stuffed peppers are quite common on menus whether they are bell peppers or something spicier like a poblano pepper. Often times these peppers included rice but this is a better choice than pasta.
3.) Say no to appetizers
   It isn't rude. I promise. My family ordered flat bed pizzas for an appetizer. It is easy to refuse. Simply blame it on ordering a large meal. Let them know you are saving room for your meal. This is a good choice anyways since most servings at restaurants are far beyond the needs of one person.
4.) You do not need dessert
   Just say no to the waiter when they return to ask about dessert. I let the waiter take ALL the menus once we are done ordering our meal. This way I am not perusing the menu for dessert while I am hungrily waiting for my meal. I also have my card ready or method of payment ready when the waiter comes with the check. This gives me no time to second guess my "no dessert" decision.
5.) Drink lots of water!
   Most restaurants have amazing drink menus. I love a flavored lemonade but I know it isn't worth it. Look at it this way, is it worth the cost to not only your body but your wallet? Water will save you money on your meal and water will help fill  you up before your meal helping you to avoid over indulging.

You can enjoy a night out at your favorite restaurant. Just remember to make good ch-+*`ices and keep your goal in mind. A healthy life is within your reach don't let a bowl of fettuccine keep you from it .:)

Correct Portion Sizes for YOU!

This has always been a question that I have never found a clear answer, until now. What is the correct portion size for me? Because as much as I would like to eat as many mashed potatoes as my husband, I know I probably shouldn't :) Memorize this below picture and you are set! I was surprised realizing how much of everything we really should be eating each meal. Looking back over the past diets I have done and from hearing what the world has to say, it seems like the only way to lose weight is to eat less. This is not necessarily always the case. You will find very early on when changing to a healthier diet plan that you actually have to eat ALOT to get up to the amount of calories and energy that your body needs daily.
Remember you should be eating every 2-3 hours!! This is crucial to your metabolism.
Eating this much can be daunting believe me, it sometimes feels like quite the chore. But I have found that if you PLAN and have prepared snacks ready to go it is a lot easier. Stay tune for meal plans and snack plans...I will be posting them soon to help you guys out :) But for now just memorize this lovely picture. If you have any questions about this diagram or have any suggestions of how you stay on track with portion sizes share in the comments!