Be the CHANGE

I am a true believer in the fact that if you want change for the next generation you must BE THE CHANGE. You can't just sit around and complain. You must DO. You must ACT. You must step out of your comfort zone. After a week or so into school my son was bringing home crap candy filled with dyes, sugar, and God knows what else as a reward for good behavior (and they were coming often) that other parents donated.

I could have just said no, "you aren't getting to eat that" and give him cleaner options, BUT that isn't fair to him or to all the other kids if I am truly going to pay it forward, teach what I preach. Instead I told him he can have this first sucker (and boy was it nasty looking to me) this one time and I will contact your teacher to get a plan in place moving forward. He was fine with that.

His teacher is new this year to the school and she was very welcoming to my concerns and ideas. Praise the Lord!

I purchased some organic candy and cheap toys to add to the box that my son and friends could pick from. I also suggested some other ideas I was willing to help with and she was already thinking on the same track. One in which was a dance party for kids that received enough "stars" to attend at the end of the month. And so the collection of stars began.

I am more than excited to announce we are having our first Dance Party next week. We will have party lights, we will have glow sticks, we will have super rad dancing, and we will have a healthy snack too! This not only will be great exercise for the kiddos (and me), but this will empower them (and hopefully by hearing about this it will impact those that didn't get to go this month) to be better, to do better, to want better for themselves. And yes, even in 2nd grade!

We also have a new principal this year which I really like. She is full of zest and enthusiasm. I am excited to hear that after the teacher contacted her about what will be happening (we were kinda nervous) she asked to come and be involved. Please say a prayer that this can be a change for our elementary school system. The kids are very excited for this event and who am I kidding, I am SUPER excited too!

Also, I met a new mom friend this week that works for Eat Smart, Move More of York County (and is running for school board this year) and she wants to attend too.

I feel truly blessed to be alive and well and making a positive impact on the children in my county.

Eating Out

Aussie Cheese Fries

Back in college I worked at Outback. I used to be obsessed with the Aussie Cheese Fries. I would always feel physically ill about 30 minutes after eating them. So much so I haven't visited an Outback in about 10 years. I gave that place up way beforing cleaning up my diet. I can't find anywhere the ingredients of what's in the fries, but it can't be good!

Outback is so NOT a healthy choice when eating out. I'm not saying you can't go there and get a healthy meal, but you will have to ask for a lot of things to be removed and ask a lot of questions. Many people aren't willing to do that. And, let's face it..you won't be eating Aussie Cheese Fries, Bloomin' Onion or 3 loaves of bread....that is unless you plan to split it 8 ways.

Outback has even reduced the fat since they first came out. Can you imagine it being even worse???

One of the best things you can do for your health is to give up eating out at chain restaurants (that goes for Fast Food too!) on a regular basis. It's a sure fire way for you to gain weight and feel the bloat. If you have any diseases, the sodium is off the charges and it's causing loads and loads of inflammation. None of us want or need added inflammation-it's painful!

A few others I won't bother going to and wasting money on are: Applebee's, Chli's, and Ruby Tuesday's. Many of these chain restaurants just reheat frozen food. If you want that, just go to the grocery store and make it yourself and save money AND read the ingredients. Most have their food in the grocery store because it's that easy to produce for the masses!

When I eat out I usually order what I want and don't stress over getting something "light". That's because I don't eat out that often normally. With that being said, after moving South I tried many local places and ate way more than I normally would out. Hello fried foods! Of course, my body can't lie about that ! I am more bloated, I am probably heavier, and I know my waist is bigger. But, I am not fretting! I know it will all go back to where it was 6-12 months ago because I stay the course. This is a LIFESTYLE for me. I only eat healthy whole foods at home. Listen to your body! It doesn't lie. If you are in pain, make changes. If you are feeling bloated, make changes. If you are feeling fatique, make changes. If you need to lose weight, make changes.

You are in control of YOUR life. Only you can decide where to drive your car to dine. Plan ahead. Make your own cheese fries at home with potoates, high quality cheese and local bacon. You can then control the salt and fat! I find it interesting Sodium isn't listed on Outback's chart. I bet it's off the charts! You should also eat foods rich in natural fiber, almost zero in the fries (yes, I know it's junk food but just noting it)

I don't count calories (I have in the past and it never worked long term). I will never count calories again. Period.

Well, let's just say it and get it overwith....Outback Aussie Cheesefries has 121.85 grams of FAT! Holy SMOKES! That is beyond terrible for you. And nearly 55g of Saturated Fat.

Can you really eat them now after knowing that? If the answer is yes, it's time to dig deep as to why you are willing to eat them. Figure out why you choose to overeat on a regular basis and damage you body. You are worth more than that. If this is your "hobby" (eating out), find a new one. Walk with a friend. Volunteer your time somewhere to stay active.

From www.heart.org:

What's my daily limit for foods with saturated fats?

The American Heart Association recommends aiming for a dietary pattern that achieves 5% to 6% of calories from saturated fat. That means, for example, if you need about 2,000 calories a day, no more than 120 of them should come from saturated fats. That’s about 13 grams of saturated fats a day.

TIP: Find LOCALLY owned and operated restaurants. They stand behind their food and it's usually their passion to present a beautiful delicious plate to you. Many source local ingredients as well. Ask questions, I can't stress this enough. Ask what is made from scratch at the restaurant. Most times they will be delighted to brag about what is made fresh daily. Order those items over others. It's your money. It's your body. ASK!