All posts by Megan

May you be happy. My you be healthy. May you be free from suffering. (Me too!)

Words For Friends – Mother

where there is love

Now That I’m A Mother

Until I became a mother,
I did not understand,
The profound sense of love
In a mother’s heart and hands.

As I whisper, “Mommy loves you”,
I rock my precious child to sleep.
Small perfection in my arms,
Sweet breaths, slow and deep.

I now see me as a baby,
You’re rocking me to sleep.
You whisper, “Mommy loves you”,
My heart is yours to keep.

At last I recognize your love,
As a mother now I see.
As I hold and love my child,
You feel that love for me.

I will always be your baby,
Despite the years that pass.
You have given me my life,
And a mother’s heart to last.

The greatest gift I can offer,
More than words could ever say,
Is to give my child the love,
You gave me every day.

~Teri Harrison

grandma quote

This post featured on the following blog carnivals: Small Footprint Friday, Thank Goodness It’s Monday, Sunday School, Family Table Tuesday, Fat Tuesday, Party Wave Wednesday, Tasty Traditions, Thank Your Body Thursday

Weigh In Wednesday #19

weigh in wednesdayEvery Wednesday when I step on the scale I have to weigh myself anywhere from 5-8 times. I do this because often my scale will give me wildly varying numbers within a four pound range. It’s like spinning that giant wheel at the end of the Price Is Right.

In an effort to be scientifically accurate (haha) I wait until I get the same number three times. Eventually my scale settles on a number and that’s what I go with. Today, however, my scale was absolutely certain about my weight and didn’t differ it’s opinion one little bit. No reason to share this, just a silly bit of info.

#19 5/8/13 Last Week This Week Difference Overall Loss
Weight (lbs) 239 238 -1 23 lbs
Left Leg (in) 30 30 0 -2.5
Hip (in) 49.5 49.5 0 -4.5
Waist (in) 41 41 0 -10
Chest (in) 44 44 0 -3.5
Left Arm (in) 15.5 15.5 0 -1.5
Neck (in) 15 15 0 -1
Total inches Lost 23″

Real Food Grocery Haul – Week 1

grocery haul1

Back in the times of milk and honey, a few short months ago, I did all my grocery shopping at one place – our local co-op. It felt good to support a local business and I knew where everything was. It was also very convenient to do my shopping at one store. Turns out we were paying for that convenience – a lot!

We’re going to be sending P to a great preschool in the near future, and that also costs – a lot! We want to pay down our college bills which are – a lot! We would like to save up for a better house in a nicer location, which will inevitably cost – a lot!

Looking at our budget for the last 12 months, our food costs (groceries, coffee and eating out) ranked in 1st place for most money spent. We were spending ~$1200 per month for groceries. Thats a @#$% lot!

Yes, I’m commited to eating real food and as organically as possible and I belive in paying the farmer before paying to doctor, if you know what I mean. But seriously?! Too much for us to continue that way with the goals we have in mind.

So here’s what I’m doing to lower that bill

…but still eat real food and continue to feel good about the food I feed my family.

  • Let go of convenience and shop at 3 different locations for optimum choice and savings: Farmer’s Market, Winco and Whole Foods (they simply have a better selection than the co-op). I’ll reserve the co-op for hard to find spices in bulk.
  • Limit our organic produce to the dirty dozen and take care to wash the other produce thouroughly before comsumption.
  • Grow food in the garden – this has yet to be determined as a viable value. We’ll check back in the fall.
  • Start buying produce in bulk when it’s in season and canning what we use a lot of (read tomatoes).
  • Post weekly grocery haul and totals on this blog.

It’s about to get real folks!

I’m going to let you in on how much I spend for exactly what I get each week at the grocery store/market. This will hopefully give you a good idea about what a real food diet costs and help me figure out where I can save more $$$.

Here are my food priorities

  • Continue to get high quality pastured meat, fats, eggs and dairy (it’s worth the cost)
  • Shop the dirty dozen for organic and get commercial produce for everything else
  • Utilize the bulk section of each store
  • Limit coffee consumption to one serving per day, my usual is two.
  • Continue to work towards eating out less and eating in more.

This weeks haul looks like this

Farmer’s Market = $68
Winco = $49.26
Whole Foods = $88.01
Milk = $9

TOTAL FOR THE WEEK = $213.12

P1020772
Just for reference, this is what our refrigerator looks like at the end of the week right before I go shopping. My pantry looks fuller, but is really just disorganized.
P1020767
Farmer’s Market Haul = $68 I would love to say I buy all my produce locally, but the fact is it’s just too expensive. I do buy most of my meats, eggs and bread (home baking bread just took too much time) and a few summer veggies that are grown locally in a hot house and are therefore less expensive.
P1020768
Winco Haul = $49.26 Not included are the toothpaste, floss and Q-tips.
P1020769
Whole Foods Haul = $88.01 I think I’m going to start fermenting my own kefir.
P1020770
Everything = $212.13 except the milk not pictured, purchased after the fact. This will last us though the week and a couple items: nuts, dressing, some meat, cereal will carry over.

This post featured on the following blog carnivals: Party Wave Wednesday, Real Food Wednesday, Tasty Traditions, Thank Your Body Thursday, Small Footprint Friday, Thank Goodness It’s Monday, Sunday School, Family Table Tuesday, Fat Tuesday

Real Food Tomato Soup

tomato soup

My husband has a special place in his heart for tomato soup and grilled cheese. I think a lot of people probably agree with him. In his happy memories he always ate tomato soup from the red and white can with a name that rhymes with rambles.

For years I was happy to indulge him in his love for canned tomato soup. Then came information on BPA and how highly acidic tomatos can leach it out of cans, which in turn can cause a host of problems for mammals. For the full run down you should read the Mark’s Daily Apple article on canned food where he even goes as far as recommending no canned foods whatsoever.

I searched high and low for acceptable alternatives to the “rambles” tomato soup. We probably tried 10 different soups including my own homemade versions. Non of them stood up to the tangy tomato-y taste that my husband was so fond of. Plus, jarred tomatos are freakin’ expensive! At my local store canned tomatos cost less than $2. Spaghetti sauce in a jar costs about $3.75 and a jar of peeled and unseasoned tomatos a whopping $9! To be fair I tried a less expensive brand from Italy, but the tomato flavor was off. I guess we’re a household of tomato snobs and it’s time to start canning our own.

Then I took a gander in my old school Better Homes and Gardens cookbook, circa 1984. I should have known that if I made some tweaks here and there that I wouldn’t be led astray. I substituted the 14 ounces of canned tomatos for a combination of fresh tomatos and (the much less expensive) strained tomato juice in a jar. The surprise ingredient is some pre-made spaghetti sauce instead of the plain tomato sauce, which can also be found cheaply. I subbed chicken stock for water, butter for margarine, and changed the amount of herbs and…voila! The most flavorful and tasty tomato soup I’ve ever made. Even Luke agrees.

Ingredients

You’ll need a blender, either upright or immersion.

1 onion, chopped
1-2 garlic cloves, minced
2 tablespoons butter
2 tomatoes, peeled and chopped
1 cup strained tomato juice
1.5 cups chicken broth
1 cup spaghetti sauce, try to find one without extra additives and oils
1/2 teaspoon dried basil OR 1 tablespoon fresh
1/4 teaspoon dried thyme OR 1 teaspoon fresh
salt and pepper to taste

Make It

1. In a large saucepan cook onion in butter until tender (not brown).

2. Add fresh tomatos, strained tomatos, broth, spaghetti sauce, basil, thyme, salt/pepper.

3. Bring to boil, reduce heat, cover and simmer for 30 minutes.

4. Use your blender of choice to smooth it out.

Serve with sourdough grilled cheese and enjoy!

tomato soup CollageThis post featured on the following blog carnivals: Family Table Tuesday, Fat Tuesday, Party Wave Wednesday, Real Food Wednesday, Tasty Traditions, Thank Your Body Thursday, Thank Goodness It’s Monday, Sunday School, Fight Back Friday

 

Weekly Link Love

link loveDIY

Do you clean your toothbrush regularly?

In all my wheat recipes I mention the use of sprouted or soaked flour. With a few tools (which I don’t yet own myself) we could all be sprouting our own flour.

“…it would be nice to not feel like Ma Ingalls every time she prepared a meal.  I’m one step closer to a bonnet and a covered wagon every day, I think. I’ve got your pioneer woman right here, yo!” Real Food and the Busy Cook

Eggs are awesome! I’ve been trying to find a way to hard boil my eggs that doesn’t end in a chalky and less than appetizing yolk. Turns out hard boiled is too boiled for my taste, but this recipe for medium (she calls ’em soft) boiled eggs has worked perfect for me all week long.

Know Your Ingredients

Real Food talking points for your kids. I promise, these ongoing conversations are a whole lot easier when done from the beginning and will be a lot easier than some other conversations we’re all bound to have.

What are emulsifiers and why are they in my food?

I’ve found the perfect xeric plant! It grows in the sunniest or shadiest location, requires no water, propagates itself effortlessly, provides entertainment for kids and wishes AND you can eat it. What is this gem of plant (which I have plenty growing in my backyard right now, and organically no less)… DANDELIONS! Seriously though, I’m not even kidding about the eating it part, or the wishing.

Be Well

Do you suffer from migranes? I do. Specifically stress induced ones. Find your natural migrane relief here.

Do you schedule “business time” with your partner? Or maybe you just wanna laugh a little.

Here’s a lovely little list of must read books for before, during and after pregnancy.

Be The Change

So you just watched An Inconvenient Truth or Food Inc. or any other socially aware and slightly depressing documentary. The problems presented can seem so big that overwhelm and guilt sets in. How can one person (you) possibly make a difference?

Mother’s Day Is Next Sunday

Why yes, I’ll take all 5 of these great ideas for Mother’s Day, thankyouverymuch!

Get Dirty

Gardening with your kids is one of the coolest and most well spent time, I think. Here are 5 tips for involving the wee ones in the garden.

It’s seed season and you’re gonna want to know the difference between the hybrids, GMOs and heirloom seeds before you put them in your garden.

Because It Feels Good

Drag your mouse over the dot.

Babies, memes, go.

Words For Friends – Wonder

wonder

I Wonder

I wonder why the grass is green,
And why the wind is never seen?

Who taught the birds to build a nest,
And told the tress to take a rest?

O, when the moon is not quite round,
Where can the missing bit be found?

Who lights the stars, when they blow out,
And makes the lightning flash about?

Who paints the rainbow in the sky,
And hangs the fluffy clouds so high?

Why is it now, do you suppose,
That Dad won’t tell me, if he knows?

~Jeannie Kirby

porter bridge

 

This post featured on the following blog carnivals: Small Footprint Family, Sunday School, Thank Goodness It’s Monday, Family Table Tuesday, Fat Tuesday, Party Wave Wednesday, Real Food Wednesday, Tasty Traditions, Thank Your Body Thursday

Weigh In Wednesday #18

weigh in wednesdayBefore I get into the numbers, let me share with you how the latter half of last week went. As you remember I had backslid 4 pounds. Well, it didn’t stop there. By Friday I had consumed more ice cream, sourdough toast, baked goods, a milk shake, cinnamon bears (definitely not real food) and cookies. I didn’t give a damn. I stepped on the scale Saturday morning and it registered a whopping 248. Double take, what?! Yeah, that’s 10 pounds in 10 days. 10 DAYS!

Obviously my body didn’t convert all that into fat, but I was well on my way to destroying months of hard work, as you well know. You’ll be happy to know that I turned it around, and practically on a dime. Sigh of relief! So what changed?

I knew I had to get back on track ASAP. I went to the farmer’s market and avoided the (bountiful) doughnuts and took solace in the fact that I’m trying to get my grocery bill down. I focused on sticking to my list and finding good deals. I was tempted through the day, but knew if I could make it to dinner with my friends there was the possibility of s’mores.

Yeah, you read that right. More sweets as a reward for being good. I said it. Clearly, my issues with food go deep, and old habits (mindsets) die hard. Or maybe they don’t die at all and I’ll be up against these issues for the rest of my days? I hope not.

Any-who, we made it to Chelsea’s for dinner and all my besties were there. They also brought their kids and it was a downright shindig. I loved it. I think I missed my people and desperately needed to get back in touch with them. Let me explain.

Not only does this group of friends go way WAY back in time, but we eat together a lot. This has included bouts of ice cream and baked goods and the occasional binge too. These bad habits, however, were a long time ago. In the last few years we’ve supported each other’s goals to eat right and live healthy. We share a love of Real Food, cooking, and can always count on the foods that we bring to be edible to just about everyone. In other words, I can eat guilt free with these people.

Not only do we create and share meals together, but I’m not the only one finding my way to health through reduced carbs and elimination of refined and processed foods. I am regularly inspired by my friends who are also losing weight and finding joy in their own bodies. This last Saturday, eating with these folks, felt like I was being brought back into the fold. It was just what I needed to get back on track.

This all sounds a little dramatic, and maybe it is, but I am so grateful to my friends. Never once have they judged me and they have always been supportive. They were the only people who’s jaws didn’t drop when I told them of my goal to lose 100 pounds and how I planned on doing it. They totally got it from the start. And the best part is that their support comes from just being themselves. That’s why we’re so close and that’s how they keep me real.

The result…I’m back! Getting into my groove was 100% easier than starting from scratch, because I have the tools and ingredients to make all the right choices. Phew, that was a close one!

For the record, I did not have s’mores. Porter’s bedtime rolled around and while I seriously considered pushing that limit for the sake of a treat, I (struggled) used it as an opportunity to leave the party. It was really hard. I really wanted to stay and enjoy some more sugar and good company. Sometimes removing myself from a situation is the best possible way to deal.

I’m confident that today (only 4 days later) if I was confronted with s’mores I could happily decline them. How do I know? Because I’ve been fantasizing about a milkshake all morning. I even passed the (drive thru) shop that makes them and I chose not to stop. Part of my decision to pass was because I get to report to you about my small victories. Thank goodness for those and thank goodness for all of you too!

#18 5/1/13 Last Week This Week Difference Overall Loss
Weight (lbs) 242.5 (248) 239 -3.5 22 lbs
Left Leg (in) 30.5 30 -0.5 -2.5
Hip (in) 50 49.5 -0.5 -4.5
Waist (in) 42.5 41 -1.5 -10
Chest (in) 44.5 44 -0.5 -3.5
Left Arm (in) 15.5 15.5 0 -1.5
Neck (in) 15 15 0 -1
Total inches Lost 23″

The Family Meal, Worth It?

family mealHave you read my post about how to ease your way into eating Real Foods? You should. If you’ve read it already than you know my #3 way of getting into real food is to make your own food at home, thereby having total control over the ingredients in your meals. Now that you’ve made all this amazing food, hopefully you’ve saved a few minutes to sit with your family and enjoy it.

Norman-Rockwell-ThanksgivingWhen I try and remember growing up what my family did for breakfast, I can only remember my own breakfasts, and occasionally my brother chowing down on a bowl of Rice Crispies. My mom made us breakfast, but I can’t say that I ever remember her eating, and I’m pretty sure my dad didn’t eat breakfast for many years. Lunch was usually at school, except for my senior year when my mom and I had amazing lunches of pizza or bagels at the beach. Dinner, however, was usually spent at the dinner table with the whole family.

simpson thanksgiving-meal-greeting-card

 

My dad usually cooked the meal, my brother and I set the table and cleared, and my parents cleaned the kitchen at the end of the day. I’m certain the memories that my brother and I have about these dinners differ, a lot. Dinner was a time for me to talk, and talk, and talk, and talk. My brother was quieter, but I know he got a couple words in. I loved sitting with my family at dinner, even then. As it turns out, not only was it a good stage for me with a captive audience, but there were other benefits.

Eating around the family table takes place in only 50% of homes.

dinner set table 1Considering the powerful and positive outcomes for families, especially adolescents,  we’d be smart to carve out more time for eating together. Children in families who eat together experience:

  • Better grades
  • Healthier eating habits, including more appreciation of vegetables
  • Lower levels of obesity
  • An expanded food palate
  • Less depression and fewer eating disorders
  • Increased feelings that their parents are proud of them
  • Increased ability to resist the use of cigarettes, alcohol and drugs
  • Lower stress levels

If you have the time, try and get your kids involved in the planning and preparation of a meal. It may make things more difficult, but kids who are involved in their own meals are more likely to eat the food. It’s also important that we teach our kids to listen to their bodies when eating.

 

Start 'em young!
Start ’em young!

Studies show that making your kid eat everything on their plate actually contributes to overeating and obesity. Take this time to teach them about portions. We can always go back for seconds and if we waste less food than there will be leftovers for tomorrow, therefore saving time and $$$.

A few things to consider when planning your family dinner:

dinner porter cooksIn order to achieve positive results you have to put down phones, tablets and other devices, and turn the TV off. Interaction with each other is the important part of eating together.

Now, not every family has someone who gets to stay home and prepare all the meals. This can make it that much harder to get a healthy meal on the table for everyone to share. The importance of meal planning is imperative.

  • Search the web for ideas on how to make a bunch of food at once and freeze it for week nights
  • Eat leftovers
  • Take turns in the kitchen
  • Maybe you have to let an after-school activity go
  • When you do eat out, get it to go and eat at home
  • Start with a couple nights a week and work up to 4-7

Will it take extra work?

Added bonus, if your child eats a the family table regularly, then eating out becomes a breeze.
Added bonus, if your child eats at the family table regularly, then eating out becomes a breeze.

Yes. Sometimes it’ll be a total pain in the butt and seem like more work than it’s worth. Some days you will order a pizza. These are the moments when you have to really consider the priorities you’ve set for your family. Your persistence WILL pay off. I promise (if you leave the serious discussions, devices, and expectations aside) you’ll create a stronger and healthier family.

Sources 1,2,3,4,5

dinner friends
Dinner with friends – everyone gets to feel the love at this family table!

 

This post featured on: Party Wave Wednesday, Sunday School, Fat Tuesday, Cultured Palate, Real Food Wednesday, Small Footprint Friday, Thank Goodness It’s Monday, Family Table Tuesday, Thank Your Body Thursday, Fight Back Friday