The "Rules"

So, there are "rules" that I need to follow with this new way of eating.  I'm not going to call it a "diet' anymore because, quite frankly, "diet" is a 4 letter word and I want to go to heaven.  ;)  They aren't hard rules.  They are easier to follow than other "diet" rules.  And a week after starting to eat this way, it just comes as second nature because NOTHING else sounds good besides the good for you stuff.  Here they are, brace yourselves.  :)

1. Make the bulk of your food grains, lentils, beans, vegetables, and fruit.
2. Eat only enough to satisfy hunger.
• This was the harder one for me because I had been eating until I was full for, well, ever since I can remember.  It took a little getting used to, but now, I KNOW!  And if I over eat?  PURE MISERY!!
3. Eat breakfast.
•  Duh, right?!
4. Eat at regular intervals. 
5. Make two of three meals vegetarian or if necessary lacto-ovo-vegetarian
• We actually eat meat once or twice a week maybe anymore. It has really helped to stretch our $300 bi-weekly budget so that we can stay on budget.
6. Eat small portions of meat.
•  Think of a portion of meat to be the size of the PALM of your hand, not your whole hand, just the palm.  ;)
7.  Eat foods in their natural state when possible.
8. Allow yourself to eat small, healthy snacks between meals.
•  I actually set a reminder on my phone to help me remember to eat a snack.  Most days I don't need it, but occasionally I do. 
9. Make WATER your beverage of choice.
• It truly helps if you put citrus in your water.  But don't just stop at limes or lemons, try grapefruit or oranges!  OR do a mish-mash of the citrus'.  Personally, I really enjoy putting essential oils in my water.  I'm pretty much addicted to the grapefruit essential oil from doTERRA, which is ironic because that oil can be used to help with addictions.  :)
10. Avoid refined carbohydrates, concentrated sugars, and fat-fried or processed foods.
• This can be hard. Sugar is in EVERYTHING!  (You know that part in Toy Story where Woody's head turns around because "We toys see everything."  Ya, that is what I mean by sugar is in everything.)

 One of the biggest changes that I have made that my children are non-too thrilled about is that I am no longer buying cereal, another major thing that has helped stretch our budget. Instead of sugar soaked and refined carbohydrate packed cereal that costs over $3 a box that both my girls could finish off in 2 days, they now have cooked rolled oats or wheat berries warmed in milk, with cinnamon, a little honey, and fresh fruit.  YUM-OH!!!! When I was little, we would go to Idaho and visit my moms side of the family. (I LOVE IDAHO!) One of my most FAVORITE breakfasts were fresh picked raspberries from my aunts garden, and fresh milk from the dairy (I can still smell it).  As time rolled on and I was eating more refined sugars, raspberries stopped being sweet and instead were tart and bitter.  Since cutting out refined sugar from our food, I am happy to report that raspberries are, once again, sweet and juicy and OH SO GOOD!!  I never knew how sweet a banana could be until I started to rely on the natural sugars that fruits have.  This is an amazing discovery!!!

The greatest thing is, I don't feel like I am "missing out" on the foods that I love! I still eat pizza.  I still eat hamburgers.  I still eat chips and salsa. We LOVE pasta!  And BREAD!!!  YUMMY BREAD!!! It's just ALL healthy, whole grain, natural goodness. It CAN be done people!