Mother's Day Dinner

    First of all, I just realized I didn't blog on Thursday, which I totally meant to since it marked one week since we started this. We all weighed in first thing in the morning. I lost about 1.5 pounds. Cory lost 4 pounds! And each of the boys lost a pound. Now, we are obviously not going for weight loss in the boys, which is one of the reasons they are weighing in too, to make sure they are gaining weight. Because they lost weight, that tells me that they need more healthy fats, like nuts and smoothies with an avocado hidden inside. But overall, it was a good first week. No one is sick of it yet. Honestly, we've been eating pretty darn good!

    I had a wonderful Mother's Day today! I feel so loved and blessed to have these very special guys in my life! Chase made me a very cute card, both of the boys got me, as Ryland says, "a very beautiful necklace". And I have a mystery present on the way, since it apparently got delayed in the mail. Supposedly it's something I need, so I'm going crazy trying to figure out what it might be.

    This afternoon, I had us all look through some of the paleo recipe websites, (you can find the links on the right hand side of my blog) and we picked something for dinner and dessert, went grocery shopping, and came home to cook. Cory pretty much took over most of the cooking, and everything turned out delicious! And now I'm relaxing with a cup of coffee, writing this blog, and listening to the three of them playing a game together. God has blessed me so much!

Why, yes, he does look thinner, doesn't he? =) My handsome guy! Love him so much!

Aren't they cute in their aprons?! (Ignore the messy counter-tops...it's an unfortunate side effect of men cooking in the kitchen.)

 We had Green Chile Chorizo Cauliflower Casserole for dinner from PaleOMG. It was pretty good! Both boys made "Mmmmm" noises the whole time they ate, and both got heaping seconds. We are definitely adding it to the recipe box. We made a couple changes. I forgot to get chiles, and we couldn't find organic chorizo at our local Earth Fare, so Cory took half homemade sausage, and half grass-fed beef, and added some chili powder, cumin, and garlic salt. And that way it wasn't too spicy.

Then, for dessert, we had Berry Cream Bars, also from PaleOMG. Let me just tell you, this crust was AMAZING! I could eat a bowlful of it! I never thought we could eat like this, but you just have to use healthier ingredients, and naturally sweet ingredients. I definitely recommend these. The berries are tart, the cream is sweet, and the crust is kind of like a graham cracker crust with a hint of coconut. Yum!!!

  

Cravings and Spaghetti Squash

     Tomorrow it will be one week since we've started eating healthy. Let me just say, my body is craving sugar right now! Like, I'm sitting on the couch watching tv, trying to distract myself, and all I keep thinking about is chocolate ice cream, and doughnuts, and well, anything sweet. I've had to talk myself out of a major cheat a couple of times now. I know once it gets out of my system, that my body won't crave it anymore, but man, these cravings are rough. And I'm really proud of Cory. He was with his friend today, and they stopped at Dunkin' Doughnuts, and he got a black coffee, no doughnut. Although, he was kind of scowling at me when he told me that story.

    We went to the farmer's market today, and a got us spaghetti squash for dinner. It was amazing! I just cooked my normal sauce, and used the squash as noodles. If you can use fresh herbs, it makes such a huge difference in cooking! I have successfully kept an herb garden for about 3 years now. It's so easy, I just planted them, and pick some leaves when I need them. The basil I've had to replace every year, and this is my first year with oregano, but everything else has come back and grown into huge plants! Here's my best attempt at sharing my recipe, because I don't measure. 

Spaghetti Squash Spaghetti

1 large spaghetti squash

1 lb grass-fed ground beef

1/2 yellow onion, diced

2 large garlic cloves, chopped

3 cans organic tomato sauce

1 tsp garlic powder

1 tsp sea salt

a handful fresh chopped herbs (basil, oregano, rosemary, sage) or about 1 tsp dried each

Turn oven on 375 degrees, and pierce squash all over. Cover a pan with foil, put the squash on the pan and bake for about 1-1.5 hours. When it's done, cut it in half, scoop out the seeds and slimy stringy part. Then take a fork and shred the meat off, so that it resembles spaghetti. scrap all the way down to the peeling.

For the sauce, brown the meat, and add onions and garlic. Add the tomato sauce, herbs and spices, and simmer on med-low for an hour or so while the squash cooks. I always do a taste test and adjust the seasonings to our tastes.

Other than the slight "crunch" of the vegetable, I can't tell the difference once it's smothered in sauce. Cory says he can, but his taste buds are super sensitive. But he still likes it! We had a medium sized squash, and it was really just enough for our family of four, so if you're feeding a larger crowd, take that into account.

Chili Recipe

     First of all, I just want to say that I've found a suitable substitute for coffee creamer. That was one of the things I was dreading giving up my coffee, because I just can't drink it black. But today, I got a can of organic coconut milk, added a couple spoonfuls (it's kind of thick and fluffy, like whipped cream) and it was actually pretty good. So don't panic everyone, it's going to be alright!
    And just so you guys don't think I'm completely heartless, we've decided that we can have an occasional treat every once in a while, as long as the treat is somewhat beneficial. We personally love dark chocolate. And I'm not talking about the whole bar, but just one little square. I told the kids to nibble it like a mouse, so that it lasts. And they did just that.

Beautiful smiles!

I can't figure out how to turn this picture sideways... This chocolate is 72% and 85% dark chocolate.

For dinner, in honor of Cinco de Mayo, we had chili for dinner. Now, beans are not the best health food, despite popular belief. They have a lot of carbs in them, and they also have lectins in them. However, I think in moderation, they are okay to eat. And chili happens to be one of our favorites. Here's my recipe:

Chili

1 LB grass-fed ground beef

1 small yellow onion, diced

1 small bell pepper, diced

56 ounces diced tomatoes 

30 ounces beans

2 Tablespoons organic chili powder

1 teaspoon sea salt

1 teaspoon garlic powder

Brown meat in a pot, and add onions and peppers. Add chili, salt, and garlic powder. Add tomatoes and cook for 5 minutes. Add the beans, and simmer on med-low for 1 hour.

    It's so good. I actually got this simple recipe from my Aunt Margie, I just added the garlic because we love garlic, and it takes it over the top. 

And then tonight we had baked tilapia, asparagus, and sauteed zucchini and shallots. I know a lot of people say that you shouldn't eat tilapia because it's hard to find wild caught. Well, maybe, but I love tilapia. I got a couple filets at Earth Fare, and while they are farm raised, I trust their standards, and the guy assured me that the farms where they get their fish are very clean. I would not buy farmed tilapia from China, though.

For the tilapia, I seasoned both sides with sea salt, pepper, chili powder, paprika, and just a splash of lemon juice and olive oil. I baked them on 350, and I don't remember exactly how long I cooked them for. 

Creamy Broccoli Soup

So I wanted to talk a little bit about making a couple of small changes. In my last post, I had a recipe and it called for sea salt. Now, until recently, I just bought the regular iodized salt. That salt has been stripped of all the vitamins and minerals, and it's basically just sodium, which most people get too much of in all the processed, packaged food. What you need to get is sea salt. There are a few different varieties, pink Himalayan, Grey Celtic salt, but this salt will give you minerals that your body needs.

Another thing that is really good for you is apple cider vinegar. But not the pasteurized kind. The best kind is Bragg's  organic raw, unfiltered apple cider vinegar. It has protein enzymes and liquid aminos. There are lots of health benefits to it. You can use it in recipes, use it on salads, or take shots of it. When I was sick this past fall, and had a terrible cough, Cory found a remedy online of a glass of water with a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar in it, and it made me stop coughing so I could go to sleep. But I wouldn't recommend drinking that for it's delicious flavor...

People these days are obsessed with low-fat foods. Hey, I can eat all the cookies I want, because they're fat-free! I'm sorry sister, but you're fat-free cookies ain't keeping you from getting fat. I think people are terrified of fats. But there are good fats, and there are bad fats. We all know trans-fats, polyunsaturated fats, and monounsaturated fats are bad.  But there are very good fats out there that are essential, like saturated animal fats and unrefined coconut oil. So don't be afraid of fats, just make sure you're eating the right ones. So with all that being said, here is an amazing recipe using good fats.

Creamy Broccoli Soup

3 tbs fat (butter, olive oil, lard or bacon fat)

1 small onion, diced

I garlic clove chopped

1 qt chicken broth 

1 large head broccoli

Salt and pepper

3 carrots, chopped

1 cup canned coconut milk, goats milk or heavy whipping cream.

Cut florets off broccoli. Heat fat in pot until melts on med-low. Add in onion, stir until clear. Add garlic clove Cook for 1 minute. Immediately add chicken broth, carrots and turn up to med-high. Bring to a boil. Next add broccoli and cook till tender.  Pour into blender, and puree.  Pour back into pot and add milk. 

When we started thinking about this diet change, I was worried about what to eat on days that we didn't feel well. I'm sorry, but if I'm having a tummy issue, I don't feel like crunching on raw veggies. I want something warm and comforting. God always has His perfect timing, even on the little things. This recipe came from my dear friend, Grace. My last post was about a couple other recipes she had given me, roasted chicken, and chicken broth.

     So I made that yesterday, the broth and all. This morning, poor Chase woke up with a stomach bug. Yuck. I'm really hoping that this diet helps with his tummy, and immune system too! If there's a bug going around, he will get it. When he started complaining that he was hungry, I kept thinking, "What in the world am I going to feed this child?" Everything I suggested, he wrinkled his nose and turned down. Then I thought of this soup, and he said sure. It was really quick and easy, and it was amazingly delicious! I was eating a bowl when Ryland came in. He looked at it and said, "Ughh, what IS that?" I fixed him a small bowl, and he said he loved it. A couple minutes later, I hear a large clang, run into the kitchen to find Ryland climbing on the counter trying to get seconds. Good stuff! Grace suggested getting some fresh sourdough bread and making croutons with it. I wish we could do that, and maybe some cheese. But maybe you guys want to try that.

So once again, Grace, thank you for your thoughtfulness! I'm trying to talk her into creating her own blog, because she has so many useful and wonderful things to share. Who's with me on that?!

What's for dinner?

     So I know, I didn't blog on our start date. I honestly intended to, but this week has been super busy for me. Thursday was our official start date that we had picked (May 1st). I'll be honest with you guys, we probably should have started on Monday. While we've eaten what we're supposed to, we have a lot going on this weekend, cookouts, and dinner outings, it's inevitable, we're going to be cheating a little this weekend. BUT we promise be super strict with no exceptions starting on Monday. You guys are in charge of holding us accountable.


     Another thing that I've wanted to do all week, but haven't been able to because of all the rain, was finish planting the garden. It's surprisingly hard to find organic seedlings around here. I had to drive about 30 minutes away to find them. So Friday night, we all pitched in and got the job done.

And here's Ryland just being silly. 

It doesn't look like much, but I'm really hoping that it will be enough to provide us with lots of fresh, organic veggies. We have a small planter garden on the deck too. I just didn't have enough space to plant everything I wanted to. The kids were really excited about helping out, and even Cory didn't complain. =)

Now, what have we been eating? Well, the first night, I didn't get home until late, so I grabbed something quick and easy from Earth Fare. We had spinach, garlic, and chicken sausages, sauteed zucchini and onions, peas, and pineapple. Kind of a strange meal I guess, but it was pretty good. I try not to use too many packaged things, but it is convenient occasionally.

The second night, we had this:

Chicken and Vegetable Stirfry  

1-2 pounds of chicken, cut into chunks

1 Tablespoon olive oil

2 shallots

Handful of fresh oregano

Handful of fresh basil

Handful of fresh sage

Handful of freshrossemary

Sea Salt, to taste

1 bag of stirfry veggies, or 2 cups of diced veggies of your choice.

Cut up chicken into chunks, and put it in a skillet with the oil, Cook until the chicken is just about done. Then add your shallots, herbs, sea salt and vegges. Cook until the veggies are tender

It was so good! I forgot to take a picture, so this is a half-eaten bowl of the veggies, but you get the idea.

And last night, I have my very good friend, Grace, to thank for this recipe. She's been eating healthy and organic for about a year, and called me the other day and took the time to talk about things she has learned, recipes, and that type of thing. I'm going to be using a lot of her tips, but don't worry, I'll share them with you! So tonight, we had a roast chicken. Looks amazing, huh?

Roasted Chicken

The recipe she gave me calls for butter, but since we are cutting out dairy for now, I used olive oil.

Rinse the chicken really well. Make a rub using 1/2 stick melted butter (or 1/4 cup olive oil) Add 1 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp pepper, 1/2 tsp garlic powder, and 1/2 tsp onion powder. Rub on the chicken. Take 1 tsp salt, sprinkle into cavity. You can stuff your chicken with onions and vegetables for flavor and moisture. Cook 400 degrees for 1.5 hours for 4 lb chicken until 180 degrees.

After your chicken cooks, and you take all the meat off off it, use the scraps to make a very healthy chicken stock. Put it in the freezer, and use it to make homemade soups, or other recipes. And here's the recipe for that:

Chicken Broth

Chicken leftovers

3 quarts water

2 Tablespoons sea salt

4 chopped carrots

4 chopped celery stalks

1 small onion, chopped

4 small or 2 large garlic cloves, chopped

2 Tablespoons Bragg's raw unfiltered organic apple cider vinegar

fresh parsley

Throw all the skin, bones, and broth into soup pot. Add all the rest of the ingredients. Turn on high until it comes to a boil. Then cover, turn to low, and leave it for 24 hours. Then strain it, (throw all the veggies and bones away) and put it into freezer bags. 

You can put it in different quantities for different recipes. For example, put 1 cup into a bag, then 2 cups into a bag, just be sure to label the amount. This makes an extremely healthy broth, full of nutrients, and none of the preservatives and other junk.

Dangerous Grains

    I've learned a lot about grains lately that I just wanted to share. I've already told you that I have a gluten allergy. About 10% of the population has celiac disease, where the protein found in wheat, rye, and barley damage the intestinal tract. But it is possible that up to 50% of the population could have a sensitivity to it. So many people are sick, and gluten intolerance can cause so many different side affects that people wouldn't recognize, and some might be mild enough that you don't notice it. 

     Think about how many grains you eat (or foods containing grains): breads, pasta, cereals, crackers, cake, cookies, soups, etc. Most of our carb intake comes from grains. People think by eating a whole grain sandwich, they are eating healthy. And by the way, if you're debating eating a whole wheat sandwich or a candy bar for lunch, two slices of whole wheat bread have a higher glucose index than the candy bar! Yes, you read that right, now let it sink in. Whatever nutrients you are getting from whole grains, you can get in equal or greater amounts in other food. Most grains are GMOs, and your body does not even recognize them as food anymore. The same is true with soy and corn. Corporations are all about the dollar, and to increase their profits, they create food SUBSTITUTES to increase shelf life, that are cheap to produce, and very addictive.

    My son, Chase, and I have hypoglycemia. Basically, that means that our blood sugar is pretty low, and we have to eat to keep it up or we feel faint, sick, etc. One of the things my Aunt taught me was that eating sugar (or carbs, which turn into sugar) for low blood sugar was a terrible thing to do. When you eat sugar, your blood sugar level spikes, causing your body to release insulin (which is very toxic to your body) to bring it down, and once it drops back down, you are having a "low" again. So you blood sugar keeps jumping up and down. The best thing to do is eat a small amount of natural sugar, such as a piece of apple, and protein, like a small piece of meat or nuts. That will keep your levels steady, which is what you want. And I have tested this and can tell you, it works!
    So, you want to know why grains are really so bad for your body? I've tried to simplify this explanation for you. I know it's kind of long, but it is beneficial for everyone! We all know that type 2 diabetes has become an epidemic. And it's pretty much because of the grains that we eat. Let me walk you through what happens.
    Carbs that you eat are eventually converted to a type of sugar called glucose. Glucose is a fuel, and your body stores it in your muscle cells to burn during a rigorous workout. The problem is, when you are eating too much of it, and not working out, those cells become full, and the glucose can't get into the cells anymore. Glucose is toxic in excess, and so your body dumps insulin into your bloodstream to get rid of the glucose. Insulin is even more toxic to your body. And since it has nowhere to go, it stores the sugar as fat. Your glucose levels stay higher longer because it has nowhere to go, and it's like sludge, wreaking havoc on your body, clogging arteries, causing systemic inflammation, among other things.
    Because of all the excess glucose and insulin, and it not being able to get into your muscle cells, the cells start to become resistant, and you keep storing more as fat. Insulin inhibits your fat burning enzymes, making it harder to burn stored fat. You continue to get fatter until even the fat cells start to become resistant. Your pancreas realizes that the insulin isn't working, so it continuously dumps more insulin, thinking more is better. More insulin causes plaque buildup and increases cancerous cells. (Which is why heart disease in so rampant in diabetics, and cancer is so common.)
     The muscle cells start preventing amino acids from entering too, which builds and maintains your muscles. Your body gets confused, thinking there's not enough stored sugar in your cells, so it starts burning up your muscles to turn it into yet more sugar. So you continue to gain fat and loose muscle. You have no energy, you crave carbs, and don't want to exercise. Eventually, the pancreas becomes too exhausted, and you develop type 2 diabetes, so you have to start injecting very high levels of insulin because your cells are so resistant. And the cycle repeats itself.
     So along with avoiding grains, (unless you are a high-endurance athlete about to go work out) it is really important to exercise too. And believe me, I am preaching to myself here. One of the things about this diet I'm hoping for is increased energy so I actually feel like and look forward to exercise. Exercise has a major impact of improving insulin sensitivity. Now, while genetics do play a part in developing diabetes, what we do to our bodies plays the biggest role. We need to educate ourselves about what we put into our bodies, because, like I said, think about what percentage of the food industry is grains. Do you think they care about our health? Are they going to tell you the truth?

So What Can You Eat?

      Let me start off this post with a little story, so that you can get to know me a little better. This week, I'm helping out at my son's school with testing week. The teacher I'm helping, and I won't say names, but she is the sweetest thing! Anyways, during snack, she comes up to me and says she is excited about my blog, and asks a couple questions about it, to which I excitedly go on and on and on about. I notice she's not eating a snack. Then, this morning, her dear friend told me that she had a pop tart, but was too embarrassed to eat it in front of me.
     If she had only seen me the night before. And let me just say, I do not recommend making the switch to healthy right after Easter or Halloween. For the past two weeks, we've been shoveling Easter candy down our throats to use it up before the deadline. And then the other night, I just so happened to stumble across several boxes of instant pudding in our cabinet that I forgot about. That's right people, the pudding did not make the inventory list. Well, I mean, you can't WASTE pudding. So I fixed two boxes. And then I remembered that there's a tub of cool whip in the fridge, and well, we only have a couple days left, so I put like three heaping spoon fulls of cream on each, and my husband and I proceeded to eat an entire box of pudding, and half a tub of cool whip each. So go on, girlfriend, eat your pop tart. I promise I won't judge you. And no, I can not, in good conscience, recommend this method for getting rid of your junk food.

     So, real quick, I just wanted to let you know what we will and will not be eating. And if you are planning on doing this along with me, you can make your own choices about what you cut out. I'm going to start by cutting it all out, and then possibly in a month or two, try adding a tiny bit of dairy, for instance, back in to see if and how it affects us. But for now, we are going to be eating all organic, and absolutely no GMOs. Our diet will consist of fruits and vegetables, eggs, poultry, fish, pork and grass-fed beef. We will not be eating sugar, dairy, grains, or soy. Now do you understand just how much my husband loves me?
     When I tell people what we're going to be doing, their jaw usually drops, and they immediately picture us eating boiled cabbage and chicken for the rest of our lives. But, I assure you, there are still plenty of amazing recipes out there, and I'm going to be posting what we have for dinner, with pictures, a recipe, and of course, a review. Trust me, if I'm going to keep Cory on board with this, I'm going to have to get creative.