Based on fruits & veg, the staples of our lifestyle. |
I say the diet, or lifestyle really, is a goal. Are we always successful? No, and there are some things I will buy canned, although I try to buy the food that is packaged in tetra packs, recyclable BPA-free plastic, cardboard/paper, or canned in glass. Pasta sauce, crackers, breads, and cereals tend to be the most frequently purchased pre-made things. I also occasionally do beans. I can make beans, but it's such a long process that you need to be home for that sometimes I just need easy.
We start by buying our fruits and veggies organically through our co-op, Annie's Organic Buying Club. I then make my list of staples like organic milk, eggs, cheese, chicken, organic peanut butter & jelly, and 2 kinds of fish (usually salmon & tilapia). If our veggie box doesn't come with apples, carrots, cucumbers, grapes & bananas, then I'll add those to our list to because they are easy on-the-go snacks. We also have replaced canola or vegetable oil {which are often made with soybeans which is the worst offender for GMO aside from anything with corn} with olive oil, real butter, or organic, cold-pressed extra virgin coconut oil.
Freezer meals prepped and ready to be frozen! |
Back to OAMC, I have found through trial and error that their site is the best all-inclusive site for tips and recipes. {Annie's Organic Buying Club also has a pretty good pinterest site for recipes using their foods, but I haven't had great success with the recipes.} Plus the OAMC moms respond quickly if you have questions or suggestions. I haven't been as thrilled with their vegetarian recipes, but I have less experience with those recipes. And, I can make any of the whole foods recipes vegetarian by subbing quinoa for rice and cutting the meat or subbing beans for the meat. Any recipe that calls for beef is replaced with chicken or fish or one of the vegetarian options.
Again, note the word GOAL. Do we always succeed? No. But I feel as long as I'm actively trying to feed them right, the sum is equal to the parts. 6 bad meals this month + 24 whole foods meals = success in my book.
#2's lunch: Salmon, quinoa, avocado, and roasted broccoli. Almost all are leftovers from the night before. |
I've had several people ask how we get our kids to eat so well. My response? It's two-fold. First, we are not a restaurant so I don't offer to make a pb&j when #1 refuses to eat like 3 year olds do. Second, we are all eating the same foods, so we are modeling what we expect. My kids eat salad. My kids eat salmon. My kids eat real food. They are required to take 2 bites. If they get hungry later and they didn't finish dinner, guess what is offered? Dinner.
Don't get me wrong, I don't think I'm a better mom than anyone out there. I do this because I'm freaked out about our food supply and how I can best feed my children for their short & long term health.
We do love our cookies though! Recently, instead of buying shelf-stable ones stocked with preservatives and GMOs and other chemically-laden items, we have been making our cookies. Yes, they are sweet, but I know WHAT they are made with and that there are no preservatives in them. I also make a mean homemade granola.
So, is this work? Absolutely. Unfortunately, our American lifestyle is about ease & convenience, not health. I sometimes hit up 4 places in a week/weekend between our veggie co-op, Target, Publix, and Whole Foods (the store). I spend one day a month cooking ALL.DAY.LONG. I do a ton of research into things as well, but sites like OAMC & EWG.org make the research process shorter.
But it's worth it to be able to feed my family.
What do you working mamas do to feed your families? How about you SAHMs? Recipes? Links?
P.S. A very special shout-out to my SIL who inspired me to write these two posts. I do a lot of Foodbooking and have had several questions about our eating habits and my cooking process. I hope these posts address the why and how. Nothing excites me more to see people making positive life change!
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