Are You Making the Right Choices? Part 2

So you read part 1 and are now inspired, right? But where in the world do you begin? Since I have already traveled down this road, I can tell you what NOT to do! Do NOT cut everything out all at once from your family's diet - resentment in the food arena is not the way to bring peace to the family!

Naturally, the first step is to educate yourself with as much information as your brain can handle. If you had to choose just one book to read, it would be Maximum Energy by Ted Broer. Written in layman's terms, it is an easy read with a list at the back of the book of the top 10 foods never to eat.

Now, begin to make a list of the foods that you don't ever want to see on your grocery list again. Pray together with your spouse and decide which ones to start with. If your buying/eating habits are in the gutter like ours was, then just tackle a couple at a time. Every few weeks, begin deleting another food item until you have met your goal of 'foods never to buy.'For example, stop buying all juices and pop the first week and drink only water and homemade tea sweetened with honey. Then re-train yourself to only buy fresh or frozen vegetables but not canned. Into the third or fourth week, try some baked chips/crackers and Kashi granola/breakfast bars for your snacks. Switch to unsweetened applesauce or with very little effort, make your own! Little by little switch over to whole grain pasta and whole wheat flour. Make some muffins or whole wheat blueberry pancakes (pictured) for breakfast or buy whole wheat bagels instead of boxed cereal. If that is too drastic, switch to Kashi cereals - my kids love Mighty Bites and Honey Sunshine. They have a wonderful website (www.kashi.com) that is laced with free samples and coupons that occupy my mailbox often!

After my first blog on this topic, I had some readers ask me about my grocery list and what foods line our shelves. I thought I would just give some bullets as to what we eat and don't eat with a little explanation:

1. We eat chicken, turkey, beef and venison. We do not eat pork of any kind. I happen to believe that it is the worst kind of meat available as well as the most fattening. Not only do I have a personal conviction against all pork, my husband and I used to have abdominal issues every time we would ingest sausage, bacon, ham and such. We eat a lot of venison since my husband and son are hunters. If I am needing a meal with ground meat, I will use 1/2 ground venison and 1/2 ground beef. I usually buy 1/4 of a steer of hormone/steroid-free Black Angus beef from different cattle ranchers 1-2 times a year. With an upright freezer in the garage, I have plenty of room for frozen foods.

2. When it comes to vegetables, fresh is best, then frozen and canned as a last resort. I always have canned vegetables in my pantry but only use as a last resort. I am now part of a bi-weekly vegetable/fruit produce co-op, so I hardly buy any veggies from the store. The co-op is vegetable heavy, so I still have to shop for extra fruit. Whenever I find fruit on sale, I usually buy a huge amount. After cleaning them, I cut them into small pieces and freeze them in quart size baggies. That way we can still enjoy the fruit year round. Frozen strawberries, grapes and bananas are great for smoothies! All my kids LOVE grapes, so I usually have 5-10 pounds of frozen grapes in the freezer at all times! You can catch grapes for .89/pound in the summer quite often - that's the time to grab several pounds to store for the winter!

3. We drink water for every meal though I will occasionally buy pop as a treat for my husband and 17 year old. I often make home made raspberry tea and sweetened it slightly with honey. It's delicious and helps to curb the sweet tooth that might be lingering!

4. Snacks are Goldfish, baked chips, Kashi crackers, Kashi breakfast bars, home made granola bars, fruit, raisins, unsweetened applesauce, smoothies made with fresh/frozen fruit and Brown Cow yogurt from the health food store. I usually sneak in some fresh carrot juice when the kids aren't looking! Sometimes I will buy Kashi or Back to Nature cookies since they are sweetened only with honey or brown rice syrup and evaporated cane juice. They are actually quite tasty! Of course, I have a mean recipe for Apple Oatmeal cookies made with honey, but in a pinch, these store bought cookies do the trick!

5. I have a bread machine, so I make most of our bread and rolls. If I do buy bread (like hamburger buns), I buy Nature's Own which has no artificial preservatives, colors or flavors and no trans fats or cholesterol.

6. I buy most of my dairy products from Braums, which is supposed to be hormone/steroid-free. Milk is an item that is a treat in our house. Not only is it the number one food to cause allergic reactions, but the amount of phlegm it produces in your body is amazing. It also contains sugar and is pasteurized, which lands it on the bad list. Other than everyone loving the taste, the nutritional value is at zero. So my kids are limited to milk only twice a month. If someone is sick or allergies are at an all-time high, then milk is the number one enemy.


7. Artificial sweeteners should never be on your grocery list if you want to remain disease-free. Splenda is the worst of them all. Just google "bad side affects of Splenda" and you'll find out how many different diseases and ailments it will bring to your body. Truvia, claiming to be made from the Stevia plant also has sugar alcohol in it - stay away from all of these. I use local honey and pure Stevia, which can only be purchased from a health food store. It is 700 times stronger than sugar so you use very little of it. If something calls for 1/4 cup of sugar, you use 1/4 teaspoon of Stevia. "The Stevia Story" will give you an incredible history on this plant. The downfall is that it doesn't have a rising agent in it and with no volume, you can't use it for things like a cake. I only bake for the holidays and when we have company over, so this isn't a big issue for me. If I can't use Stevia or honey, I use real sugar and just exercise extra the next day! Otherwise, I use honey for just about everything. I make a mean apple pie made with 1/4 cup of honey. I have made this often for company and they are always shocked when I tell them it was made with honey instead of almost 2 cups of white sugar!

The number one word I would like to stress here is moderation. Yes, we splurge and yes we eat sweets. But it's in moderation - not every day and not even every week. It brought joy to my ears just a few weeks ago when my 17 year old said, "No thanks, that's enough for me - this is way too sweet!" It's all a matter of training!

I hope this helps to bring some reality to the blog. I'll share some meal ideas on another entry. Remember, you need to do what is right for your family with the support of your spouse. God created us in His image and then asked us to take care of his 'temple'. Our goal in eating healthy is so that we can spend our time on earth happy, vibrant and full of energy. Lying in a hospital bed while on 13 different prescription meds is not my idea of 'living!'

Enjoy eating and enjoy your health!

Are You Making the Right Choices?

About six years ago a major transformation took place in our household. A paradigm shift, if you will. The life that we had grown accustomed to was about to receive a harsh 'File 13' exit. Though I don't recommend doing to your family what I did to my family in such a drastic all-or-nothing way, the end results were beneficial as we are still experiencing success to this day. What in the world am I talking about???

Our eating habits....

Even though I grew up cooking everything from scratch for my family at age 13, once I got married, had a baby and started working 50 hours a week, Betty Crocker cooking was out of the question. What amazes AND angers me is that the downward spiral to killing your body with processed trash is really quite easy! I believe this is why our country is in the condition that we are; the most unhealthy country in the world. I read an article not too long ago that pinpointed America's demise: the introduction of the addictive MSG in the late 1940's. It is in just about everything you buy, including a can of Cream of Mushroom soup.

I am ashamed to admit that I bought into this lazy, ignorant thinking that frozen food and fast foods were not only quick and easy but actually tasted good. How in the world could it be so bad for you - they made it in a kitchen, too, right? By the time my second child came along, my family was lucky if I cooked twice a month. We lived on McDonald's, pizza rolls, frozen burritos, Chef Boyardee, mac and cheese, hot dogs and Stouffers Frozen entrees! We only drank pop and Kool-Aid and breakfast was always Honeycomb, Frosted Flakes and Pop Tarts!

It wasn't until we moved to Oklahoma and I became a stay-at-home mom that things began to change. Now I had the time to cook but had very little knowledge (17 years of doing the wrong thing will do that you do!) I even tried to make my own baby food one time. I cautiously put those fresh, clean carrots in the blender with a touch of water to give my baby all natural, chemical-free food. I was quite bewildered when I had chunky, crunchy carrot mush instead of smooth, carrot puree. My best friend, Denice, had the nerve to ask me if I cooked the carrots first - and, yes, she was laughing at me! We still laugh about it today and that was 13 years ago! (can you believe I just told the world this, Denice??)

However, the major change came when I realized my youngest son had an issue. Every morning he would wake up and 'demand' cheese and always craved bread, peanut butter and candy! Denice called me one morning to tell me about this Christian doctor on TV that was talking about Candida (internal fungus) and how amazing his talk show was. His name is Doug Kaufmann and he is responsible for our paradigm shift!

My son had an overgrowth of Candida (self diagnosis) which is why he craved those foods. I had a new mission. We had to detox our bodies and get us all on the right road to healthy eating. The next few months were overwhelming to say the least. I had never heard of the things Doug spoke about. I had to become involved and informed. I read both of his books, The Germ That Causes Cancer and The Fungus Link - incredible reads. I researched the internet, watched his daily show and then started learning about other health advocates like Ted Broer (love his book Maximum Energy) and Don Colbert (What Would Jesus Eat cookbook is awesome). I was on information overload, but the data that I had collected was too solid and powerful not to act upon. That first trip to the grocery store where I actually read the labels was daunting as it took me 3-1/2 hours to complete my trip! We were going to eat healthier. I wanted my fridge overflowing with fresh foods not my pantry walls busting with processed food.

That was six years ago. Was the change worth it? Did I see any benefits in my family's health? Are we still eating that way? Glad you asked...yes, yes and yes!

The change was hard, my family rebelled, we all went through withdrawals and many of our friends laughed at our drastic, unorthodoxed changes. Going against the grain is so 'outside-of-the-box' but then again, that seems to be what my family is about! After four long years of learning, retraining, making changes and constantly saying no, I have relaxed a bit and do occasionally splurge (especially around birthdays). However, we still eat very healthy compared to our pre-Kaufmann days!

The biggest benefit? My kids health. This is where I won my husband over. Before the radical change, I was at the pediatrician weekly - eye infection, ear infection, asthma, allergies, eczema, bronchitis, etc. Our medical account was definitely in the red! It didn't take long until I started noticing that our weekly trips were bi-weekly, then monthly then I stopped thinking about them. The cravings and demands for certain foods left, everyone had more energy and I quite buying Tylenol, Benadryl and Sudafed. I called the doctor last year just to see how long it had been since were were there -- two years!! My kids are just rarely ever sick. I attribute 90% of this to the change in our eating habits. I will talk about some other changes we made and the foods that we eat in another blog.

I encourage you to plan your meals wisely and pay attention to the ingredients in the foods you buy. Eating healthy is not hard - it's just a different mind set. Read the books I have suggested and see what changes you can make in your family's dinner table gatherings.

I would love to hear from my readers - what healthy changes have you made? Do you have a healthy recipe you want to share? What foods have you learned to stay away from in order to protect your family's health?

My Spring Break Loot!

WOW! What a day this has been! This will be just a short blog with some pics to show you how I scored today. Although I am tired, it was well worth my time!

Not only are there some really good deals to be had this week, but many stores are clearancing items that will likely be free when paired with a coupon.
All of the Clariol hair color here was 100% free at Family Dollar. It is on sale for $2.50 each; use your $5 off two boxes and pay tax only! Since I had multiple coupons, I have lots of hair color! The other items in this picture are from Homeland. Just use your eagle eye and you'll see some items still on the shelves with clearance stickers. Once they double your coupon, wa-la...it's free! Sometimes Homeland will put their discontinued items in a cart at the back of the store or a small table. Lately, however, they have kept them on the shelves, which makes it a little more difficult to spot. I usually score in the Health and Beauty section almost every time I am there.

My biggest score today was at Target. This is not a store that I normally frequent...only when the sale ads demand my attention! The only thing I paid for in this picture were the strawberries (which are HUGE!) and two boxes of cereal. I used two $1.50 off coupons plus Targets coupon for 'buy two boxes of Kashi cereal, get one box free.' The Gillette was all free with a $2 off one item - these are priced at $1.79 each. The Tide was a steal at .97 each. They paid me a .03 overage on each one since my coupon was for $1.00! The Airwicks were on sale for $6 each. I used my $5 off coupon stacked with Targets $1 coupon to make them free. (I did leave one on the shelf for you!) Colgate is on sale this week for $1, so I used all my $1 coupons to grab as many as I could. My total savings was $164.31!! Of course, I would never have bought these items if they were not free. Now I have an awesome stockpile and room for donations!

See how easy this is? Matching coupons to the sale ad is what it is all about. Subscribe to the websites I mentioned in my last blog - they do all the legwork for you!

Now it's time to get back to my Spring Break To-Do list and get some more of these projects crossed off! Thanks for reading and enjoy your week :)

My Coupon Disease

I wish I could say it is not true
But at least it does not make me blue
Listen all my friends and foes
I have a disease that takes me to and fro

I cannot stop, I cannot sit
If I don’t get them, I throw a fit!
This is my life; it is what I do
I will continue until my days are through

It takes my energy and my time
But it’s worth it all to save a dime
With scissors and stapler in my hand
I cut for hours and hours while I stand

To the store and in a hurry I go
It does not matter – rain, sleet or snow!
In my cart are things I get for free
You better watch out – I’m on a spree!

Couponing is the name of the game
Wherever I can get them – it’s all the same
Midnight is the time as I cannot sleep
When I think of the many benefits to reap

My disease, you see, is quite a thrill
The best part is you don’t need a pill
I will freely and gladly pass this along
To all who know me – for only a song!

You must know that it will keep you up at night
As well as your husband, tossing by the light
You will dream of the ways to save money
To bring a smile to you and your Honey!

It is incredible all the money I save
Friends and strangers are all amazed!
They want to know how it can be done
And how this can be so much fun!

Then they stare with eyes open wide
As they jump in my car for a ride
Everyone in one accord can now agree
We never want this to end – my disease!


.....Enjoy life and laugh often!

A Proud Mama!

We are constantly working on projects in our home. Since my kids are home schooled, I seek opportunities to expand their horizons and challenge them in areas where they feel they are insecure. Within the last few months, my youngest has been accomplished two major projects. He completed his Chess Badge with our boys church group which included learning the strategy of the game, compiling a hand-written one page report and answering six pages of questions about the history of Chess! Last month he completely designed a huge ship out of Legos and wrote a 200 word essay on how he designed it. The trusty postman securely delivered his entry to the Lego company in hopes of winning the grand prize!

My daughter, who is profoundly deaf, just finished her first oral/visual presentation on the country of Italy for her Friends class at church. She did an incredible job as she presented her poster board and verbal speech to her Sunday School class.

Now comes the reason for this blog...her first written report for an American Girl contest. The entry had to be 1000 words about why nature inspires you accompanied by five photos of nature taken by the girl. Grammar is the one subject that Victoria struggles in - for obvious reasons. As much as I teach, correct, encourage, correct, demand and correct, it just doesn't come easy for her! Of course we all know what a little motivation can do for a person! When she saw what the prizes were, she was all over this little project! For days, she skipped her morning breaks so that she could work on this paper. She wrote while she ate, worked on it in the car and even opted out of a movie to keep her focus on the prize set before her.

It is with great pride that I share with you all my daughter's report along with one of her photos. I can honestly say that I helped her very little with this essay. I was surprised at her choice of words and the desire to want to write about her deafness. God is good and the timing was perfect...celebrate with me a turning point in my daughter's life:

"I Am Inspired by Nature When…"

I see the beautiful things in the world that God created!

I was born with a profound hearing loss. I can’t hear things with my ears like everyone else does. Instead, I pay attention with my eyes and sometimes see things that other people may miss.

I have a little brother who is deaf too. He was born with a moderate hearing loss. My mom is our interpreter. She signs for me and my brother at home, church and anywhere else needed. My brother and I love to sit outside and enjoy God’s view and feel the wind. Birds, horses and dogs are my favorite animals that God created. I like to watch the birds fly around, have dogs play with me and horses neighing like saying “hello” to me!
I like to smell all flowers because it makes me feel good on the inside and brings me peace. My favorite flower is a dark red or pink rose. I also like daisies and moon flowers because they are great to watch move in the wind. God made lots of flowers and I am so thankful for them. I even like to cut the flowers and put them in a small, pretty vase so we can bring nature inside. Spring is my favorite season because the birds are singing again, flowers are blooming and the trees and grass turn green.

I wish that God would heal me. When he does, I will run, praise Him and even cry! For now I will just be myself and thank God for everything He has done for me.