check out this great site!

I am new into the world of blogging, but I have come across a great site. It is full of great articles and advice. Not to mention the great giveaways. Check it out http://momswearyourtees.blogspot.com/

Got lunch?

Back to school, back to work = lots of lunches. My house has been on the brown bag plan this weekend (minus the brown bag)  for practices and outings; NO FAST FOOD MEALS WERE PURCHASED, a huge accomplishment for us.

I've been making pretty healthy choices with/for the baby since K-5. She gained 8 pounds during the first 3 weeks of K when eating daily in the cafeteria!! What was more shocking is that her school is considered "a healthy alternative;" no vending machines, no sodas, no sweets, no cakes at birthdays, etc. Since then she and I have packed her a pretty healthy meal, but my work meals were awful! I got some good feedback last week and decided the most simple thing to do for my lunch was plan a little. Day one: success.

My lunch isn't the only thing changing. The biggest change in the baby's meal plan: no more baggies and aluminum foil. Seeing some great suggestions on other blogs has encouraged me to use reusable packaging items. The past week wasn't 100% waste free, but at least 50% less than all of her lunches last year. And no containers left at school thus far. I am looking for a quick answer: I read everywhere about the dangers of plastic water bottles, but I can't find much research on if there are any dangers in plastic food containers. Does anyone have a good resource?

i made up with my body today

I caught a glimpse of my naked self this morning. Not something I usually see with glasses or contacts. It was pale and large, a few stretch marks, an occasional scar. Looking at it, I realized how much I hated it, abused it like some awful mother in made-for-TV movies: equal parts ignored and exacerbated its problems. I REALLY, REALLY looked at it; the scar where it had survived a 13 pound tumor, the solid bones (none ever broken), the hips that bore a perfect baby girl. No real trauma, disease, or injury. For over thirty years, it has never failed me, not even a little. What brings on the venom? Why do I hate it so much? Simple truth because it's fat; it's not a body that can eat pizza and chips and still look great. But it's still a body, mine and it lets me walk, rest, love, and play. So I told myself I was sorry and meant it. And in turn, forgave myself and my body, and meant it a little more.

high (calorie) noon

So one of the biggest challenges I think I'm going to face is LUNCH. Our crew at work has a bad daily habit of going out: Mexican, Japanese, diners, fast food. I admit I have NO WILL POWER; I cave everyday when they mention going. Today was a Mexican feast; I tried to modify: fewer chips and salsa, chicken nachos instead of steak, and left half on the plate. I know I won't be as successful if I eat out everyday. I'm going to start brown bagging it tomorrow. Anyone got suggestions?

Perhaps the first day of school is not the best time to introduce vegetarian sausage....

So it was the morning of the first day of school, there on the table prepared for me and the baby (she's 7 and 5 feet tall, but you know how mothers are) was an almost-crunchy breakfast: shredded wheat cereal, sliced banana, soy milk, and vegetarian sausage. The baby who will eat anything vegetable, or otherwise, proclaimed, "It tastes like outside." And she was right, but we both followed the two-bite rule for new foods that we don't warm up to and will try it again in a day or two.

on the first day

I had good intentions, formed last night after overindulging on Pizza Hut's $10 deals. This morning I was going to rise earlier, do some stretching, enjoy some fruit and wheat cereal, and spend 5 minutes enjoying silence. Insert bad sitcom montage of the worst morning ever. But I didn't cave and head to McD's for breakfast. I went to the store, bought some fresh fruit, didn't buy chips, had a sandwich half of my usual size at a friend's going-away lunch, and ate a salad (spinach, carrots, cucumbers, celery, a slice of colby-jack) for supper. My only true evils today: two bowls of cheap sugar cereal and a sweet tea from Sonic. All in all-I'll take it.

In the beginning

I decided today to take the first steps...admitting the addiction to food, the unhealthy habits, the difficulty in tying my shoes. In my head, I am one of those nutty-crunchy mothers-the type who cooks whole food that is organic and delicious. There, in my head, I shop with a purpose (but on a budget): HEALTH.

The real me had a steak and bacon sandwich with extra garlic mayo for lunch. It will be interesting to see where this goes.