Question....
So what do you recommend to be the starting point for someone who works FT and may not have as much time available to plan, prepare, think about all this? The 1 thing I should do first??? We cook all our meals already, but need healthier choices or ingredients to sneak in.
Answer....
Don't get overwhelmed!!! I can suggest, start with cutting out all Trans Fats, or introduce whole grain products (and those would be great starts) But in all honesty it starts with your thinking and mindset! Before you can physically start changing, you need to get the mental foundation for a lifestyle change in place first.
As a busy full time working mom, you have your own set of daily family challenges. I believe the better mentally geared up you are, then the more likely you will succeed and less of chore or added work load this will be. Like anything if you want something bad enough, you will find a way to make it work!
Be inspired!
I think the most essential first step is to be enthusiastic and inspired about making this lifestyle change. Otherwise it will feel like a chore and not last. Be Inspired for yourself and your family and decide if this is something you want to do and why?
Keep it Real!
One of the most important things you can do is establish the right foundation!
The hardest part of any lifestyle change is doing the groundwork. Starting on a solid foundation is vital to carrying you through. If you get this right then you have won half the battle! However, many people launch into diet changes on impulse, without proper preparation or unrealistic expectations and unfortunately, their motivation and drive will only last so long. You need to just do what you can for you and your family and see it as part of your already established lifestyle....keep it real!
To set up a solid foundation....You need to want to do it!
What is your motivation? Sum it up into a sentence and display it where you can see it, have a visual positive reminder (not a guilt reminder) And be excited about what you are doing for you and your family...Dig deep and be real!
Have goals, Learn about the fake foods you do not wish to expose your family to anymore, become familiar with the "naughties" and decide if its something you want to eliminate. Like anything if you don't have motivation/understanding or really want it, then its harder and less achievable to do.
Change as little as you can!
- Be real with yourself!
Its vital as a busy mom to set yourself up for success from the start, its easy to go in thinking about everything that needs changing, feeling like a failure when you slip up just once...keep it real and attainable for you. Only you know what you are capable of doing, don't overwhelm yourself and create unnecessary stress!
- Take it one step at a time.
Accept that any change you make is good and that at the end of the day/week/month if you have permanently changed one eating habit for healthier eating or have read an article that has given you motivation and insight then you are winning the race for healthier living!
- Incorporate it into what you already do.
If you are someone of schedule and you shop on a certain day for a certain amount of time, keep that up. If you get home after work and cook or if you cook on the weekends and freeze meals for the week, keep that up! Adapt real food into your now lifestyle and change as little of your schedule and routines as possible!
What do I do next?
I am really hoping that through this blog I can offer support to busy moms. By answering questions, sharing my journey, exploring the foods we eat, suggesting product replacement and anything else you can suggest that would make it easier for you to obtain the goal of eating real for real busy families!
The next part to real food success is Planning!!!
I'll post some tips on better planning for a busy mom soon, keep it simple/keep it real!
If you were looking for more of an answer that just suggests what you should and shouldn't eat. I will be putting a list together soon....so watch out for it!
And remember.....
Have fun and make it enjoyable!!!
You are on your way to becoming a real food family!
1 comment:
Thanks Julia! You've hit it right on the head w/me. I tend to need to do it all right now and have it be a success (everything). I needed the reminder that small changes are the starting point. I make them eat ww pasta and organic sauce. The killer will be getting hubby to stop feeding them Lucky Charms, etc. thanks again.
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