How, What, When of Eating Healthy

I'm not a health nut and I didn't always eat properly.  In fact, growing up I used to put about 10 teaspoons of sugar on my cereal in the morning (I still have a major sweet tooth).  Even when I was single, working and traveling so much, breakfast was a cup of coffee and my go-to dinner was chips and salsa.

Being a mom now to twins forced me to eat healthier.  Not just for myself, but I want to set a good example to them on HOW to eat, WHAT to eat and WHEN to eat.  Now I eat breakfast with my coffee, not just coffee.  I eat more fruits and vegetables so my kids see me eating them.  They'll ask me what I'm eating and I'll say (what ever it happens to be), "carrots!"  Usually their response is, "I don't like carrots!"  But my rule is that you can't say you don't like it unless you've tried it.... more than once!

The HOW on eating.  I know it sounds strange, how to eat.  But it's important and I didn't realize it until after I had kids.  I have noticed that since having kids, I eat leisurely inhale my food.  I guess it's because I'm getting up 5 times a meal for more milk, more ketchup, more this or that, I try to gobble everything down.  My Jack, is a fast eater also.  Ella will still be sitting at the table an hour after we've all finished our plates.  She takes her time and I need to remember to do the same.  We all know, but forget, it takes your stomach longer to feel full than what our eyes see on the plate.  To remember to eat slower , I take a bite and then put my fork, or sandwich, whatever I'm eating down between bites.

The WHEN on eating is of course eating when you feel hungry.  This sounds like a simple concept, but for some people and a lot of kids it's not.   Ella would eat all day if I let her.  I have come to realize that it's because she is bored.  This girl needs to be busy ALL day.  In a matter of 2 hours, we'll make chili together, play dress up, hide and seek, I painted her nails, played with play dough and did a craft project - no joke.  She has so much energy and when it's not focused on something else she feels like she needs to eat when she just had a meal an hour ago.  I'm trying to teach her to eat when she's hungry (a large undertaking with a 4 yr. old).  Same goes for us, right?  Do you find that when you have a busy day you not only don't have time to eat, but you forget to eat?  Or not feel as hungry?  If you feel like you're always hungry, get busy!

WHAT to eat.  I could write about this for a long time.  What to eat is such a personal choice.  Do you have a sweet tooth or are you a savory person?  I've taken foods that I enjoy and tweaked them to make them more healthy.  I eat organic when I can and foods without GMOs (learn about GMOs here and here, make your own conclusions).  What I'm planning to do is share with my readers a weekly recipe that's easy, filling, healthy and most of all yummy (yes, yummy).   So below are some things that I eat regularly and my first recipes. Enjoy!