the working mother

Well, like I said, we are a healthier household these days. Although we have pretty much always been generally healthy, there were many places we could improve, so that is what we’re working on now. Some of our new habits would not suit all (like our green monsters), but they are really working for us.

For the most part, this all really started a few months ago, as my husband, Kevin, noticed he wasnt feeling as good as he used to. He was always tired, yet had trouble sleeping well, he was slowly gaining weight, and generally wasnt too happy. On the recommendation of some friends, he went to see a DO, who focuses on more of a holistic approach – he looks for the root of the problem, rather than treating the symptoms. Kevin went to that first appointment and had an EKG at the office, and came home with a stack of papers listing tests and such he needed to get done, a prescription, and a list of supplements, as well as the recommendation to eat less carbs and more veggies. Well this doc visit was what was needed to spark him to want to make a change. His cholesterol and blood pressure werent what they should be for a person his age, so he realized that changes were in order.

From that night on, we have been eating soooooo much better (a change I have been wanting to make for a little while).

So now, our grocery shopping has changed and our food preparation has changed. We weekly visit the farmers market for all of our produce and meats. Seriously we stock up on the fruits and veggies and I am lovin it! On a weekly trip, this is what fruits and veggies we buy:

• tomatoes
• baby spinach
• carrots
• romaine lettuce
• zucchini
• mushrooms
• kale
• yukon potatoes
• red, green, and yellow peppers
• green beans
• asparagus
• broccoli
• red & white onion
• bananas
• pineapple
• kiwi
• nectarines
• grapes
• apples
• blueberries
• cherries

Now, this list changes week to week depending on what is looking good and what we are in the mood for, but this is a basic list.

Daily, we have been drinking our green monsters (basically, a fruit smoothie, with spinach [or kale] & flax seed added in), and been eating less breads and more veggies. Kevin has been eating sooo many more salads and keeps a food log. (i just love reading his log. it is cute. haha. i love how he marks down what he eats.) And although this low carb thing isnt directed to me, I am slowly falling in line.

Today, for lunch I made myself a scrambled egg whole-wheat tortilla burrito, with grilled red pepper, red onion, and zucchini. And I had a small side of pineapple. Sooo good!

Details to come in a later post, but Kevin & I are eating MUCH better lately. Tons more fresh fruits & veggies. Tonight Kevin made buffalo (the meat not the sauce) sliders with sautéed mushrooms, lettuce and tomato, with a yummy yogurt-based sauce and on squares of multi-grain bread. And he made asparagus “fries” as a side.

It was all super good!!