Call it a resolutions if you want to....

.....I am calling this a change.

A week or so ago I was wasting time on the computer searching for new menu ideas. I did a google search and found this article about processed foods.

After reading all about processed foods (like hotdogs, canned food, packaged dinners and so on) I was a bit in shock. I had no clue just how bad processed foods can be for us. I did a little more research and that is when I decided that I am going to try and cut out as much processed and/or prepackaged foods as I possibly can. I realize I can't cut it all out but on the things I must buy processed (sausage, cheese etc...)I hope to buy those things organic or else use them less.

I found this great blog called 100 Days of Real Food and another one called Out Of  The Box Food. I have made the refried beans and wheat tortillas (from 100 days of real food) already and let me tell you THEY WERE AMAZING and not to mention cheaper!! I already had all the ingredients on hand to make the tortillas so that makes them free right ?!?!?
Well not technically but you get what I am saying!
These two sites have done all the work for me basically. They provide meal plans, pantry staples, lunchbox ideas and hundreds of recipes for just about anything you need.

I am going at this in baby steps for a few reasons.... 1) if  I try and change it all at one time I know I will be less likely to stick with it  2) let's face it, we all know trying to eat healthier can be pricey but I am finding that the processed foods can be pricey too for very little nutrition and 3) I don't want to overwhelm the rest of the people in this house. Changes can be bad if you go overboard with them so we are taking baby steps.

Tim loves the fact that I am making so much stuff rather than buying it prepackaged. My motto this year is this:

"Why buy it if you can make it?"

Of course Pintrest has been my friend for a while now but it is really coming in handy while I am searching for ways to make things myself. On my list of things to make so far are.....
~goldfish crackers
~fruit roll ups
~homemade non processed lunchables using these cool lunchboxes ( my kids  beg for me to buy lunchables so I hope this will be a healthier option for them)
~poptarts
~yogurt (healthier greek yogurt with fresh fruit and not the really sugary kid kind)
~ granola bars

I have already made tortillas, refried beans, biscuits, bread, cream of anything soup, cookies, pancakes, and the list goes on. Most of which were made using whole wheat flour instead of white all purpose flour.


My plan is to switch to using agave nectar and organic raw sugar whenever I can and cut back on the amount of processed white granulated sugar we eat. I also want to incorporate flaxseed meal in our recipes where I can. That will give us lots more Omega 3's and dietary fiber.

I have a few fun menu ideas that I plan on trying and as I make new things I will most likely post about it here or on my recipe blog.  

My hope is not that we will lose weight or anything like that but instead I hope that we feel better, save money and better our long term health.  After all I am not getting any younger and 2012 is the year I turn 30....YIKES!!! 
Wish us luck!