Running!

I am very excited to let you all know that I have started running again!! I used to run twice a day 3 years ago, logging normally 10 or more miles a day.  I went through a separation and decided to move to OHIO! Then I stopped running and I don't mean just gradually, I mean totally stopped. 

I started running again at least every other day 2 weeks ago and I can't believe how much I have missed it and how happier I am now that I have started running again. I am currently running about 2 miles at a much slower pace that I was three years ago, I can't believe how much harder it is to run now than it was before.  I realize I had to work up to running that much before but I didn't realize how out of shape I let my body get! I am going to be running the Happy Trails 5K June 14th, then the Color Run in July and Race for the Cure in September.  I am hoping to find another 5K to run in August too :) Let me know if you want to join me!

Great Skin!

One unexpected benefit of eating "clean" has been my skin.  I have always had nice soft skin on my face but normally it was also marred by breakouts, esp during my period! But since I have changed my eating habits I rarely breakout.  It is amazing the difference eating better has had on my skin and nails.  If nothing else this change would convince me to keep eating better.  I am including a picture of me without makeup (GASP!!) and my clear skin.  It was taken with my cell phone so it isn't the best quality. (Larisa I am smiling just for you :-) ).

Slowly killing our kids

I haven't been updating the blog, so busy and sigh... sick! I love my little germ factories though :) But I am off this week and one of my goals is to update my blog everyday.  Today I watched this TED video. http://www.ted.com/talks/jamie_oliver.html

It just really reenforces the fact that we really need to rethink how we are feeding our kids and what we are teaching them about food.  To be 12 years old and weigh 350 lbs??? To not know how to COOK?? I am even more grateful to my mother for insisting that we learn to cook and to have to cook at least one meal a week for our family. I know I haven't been the healthiest individual but I am sure trying to change that and to raise my child to love fresh food.  I truly believe that if you give kids healthy food they WILL eat it.  I took fruit trays with greek yogurt for the kids Easter parties at school last week.  The teacher told me that the fruit tray was the only thing that got eaten completely out of all the treats they had and they were fighting over it.  FRUIT! not the cookies or cakes or candy but the FRUIT! Things like cookies and candy and cake and pizza, fast food used to be treats and now they are an everyday thing.  We really need to go back to eating healthy with those treats treated as treats or we will be responsible for killing our kids and grandkids.  And currently Angel eats lunch at school.  It is easy for me and I kinda assumed that it being school meant that they would be feeding her good food but as I do more and more research on it, they are in fact not feeding the kids healthy food. Of course I don't know about her school itself, maybe they are feeding them good food, but I think I would rather be safe than sorry and I will be packing her lunches from now on, so then I at least know what is going into her body.

I know, I know its been FOREVER!!!

I know its been awhile since I posted an update on my blog.  Between the sickes in my house and the holidays it HAS BEEN CRAZY!! I am going to just post a quick update and then this weekend I promise to post a recipe and a longer update.  Been eating clean about 80% of time, like to bump it up to 90% of the time, working on that :) One of my favorite changes due to the change in diet has been my skin and hair! Wow my skin has been really clear and pretty and I have been getting some any compliments on how healthy my hair looks :) Gotta to go for now, post again this weekend :)

What is Clean Eating and a yummy pancakes! :)

I've had lots of people ask me what actually "Clean Eating" is? It is trying to eat food as close as to how they are found in nature as possible.  Our "technology" advanced society processes a lot of food for us. They are many people who feel these artificial ingredients and chemicals in our food are unhealthy for us and has caused the increase in many allergies and health problems in our society today.  I have a little munchkin who is allergic to everything under the sun (not really but sure seems like it poor baby) so I have to constantly read labels anyways.  But we have had a lot of health issues in our family and I am hoping that eating more healthy, less processed food helps us.  The Gracious Pantry has a good "list" of what is considered "Clean" as well as some tips.http://www.thegraciouspantry.com/what-is-clean-eating/./

I know that I have gone off of it a few times in the last couple of week and honestly I feel like crap soon after eating the "crap".  And an also wonderfully added bonus I have lost 9lbs since I started changing the way we eat.  I have also noticed some positive changes in Angel's behavior since we started, though I know I can't really control what she gets fed at school and daycare, at least while they are home they are eating the right things and hopefully I can instill a good eating habits for them in the future.  And honestly you don't have to give up yummy things like Mac and Cheese or Pizza, who just have to make them in a wholesome and healthy way.   I think the hardest part is you have to MAKE or BAKE or COOK everything since you are avoiding boxed or processed food and I know when I come home from work there are many times I wish I could just grab a "premade" food and warm it up. But I know I am feeling better since we started it and it keeps me going :)

And now for the yummy pancake recipe: 

• 1 cups whole grain flour or unprocessed/bleached flour
• 1/4 cup oat flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 egg
• 1 cup milk, plus more if necessary
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon raw sugar
• 1/2 cup blueberries

Directions

1. Mix together flour and baking powder, set aside. Beat together the egg, milk, salt and artificial sweetener in a bowl. Stir in flour until just moistened, add blueberries, and stir to incorporate.
2. Preheat a heavy-bottomed skillet over medium heat, and spray with cooking spray. Pour approximately 1/4 cup of the batter into the pan for each pancake. Cook until bubbly, about 1 1/2 minutes. Turn, and continue cooking until golden brown.

 Blueberry Syrup

1 bag frozen blueberries
1 tablespoon honey

On med high cook blueberries and honey until thicken and bubbly.  Allow to sit to cool off some then serve over pancakes.

1 week!

It has been one week since we started eating "clean" and I have to admit it hasn't been as hard as I thought it was going to be. Also purging all the "nasty" stuff out of our systems has really helped me resist the "Bad for you stuff".  I have felt so much better and more enegentic and I have noticed some postitive behavioral changes in Angelique.

It has been a crazy busy week and we have another one ahead for us.  I am only going to make a few things for the Thanksgiving potlock this year instead of the tons of things I make every year.  I need to destress a bit and commit a bit less.

After next week I am going to try and post a "Clean" recipe once a week.  I made some super delicious pancakes with fruit compote that the kids ate up like crazy and they where also super healthy! YAY!!! I think I will post that one first :) Have a Happy Thanksgiving :)   

2nd day!

I can't believe how much more energy I have already.  I woke up this morning EARLY! Normally I sleep in as long as possible on the weekend and take a nap.  I woke at 7:30 am and I actually felt ready to get out of bed.  I also didn't feel tired or like I needed a nap at all this weekend.  This is really exciting for me, I have been feeling tired all of  the time lately and I hated that feeling.  That is part of what led me to the clean eating in the first place. 

This morning I made oat-ricotta pancakes, with ricotta cream and strawberry syrup. It was pretty tasty, obviously not as yummy as "regular" pancakes, but much more filling and better for us. I think it will take awhile to get our taste buds to get used to the whole grain everything and lack of sugar (I used honey for sweetener).  For lunch I made "healthy" mac and cheese.  It was really good, though it had mashed potatoes to thicken the sauce, I think next time I will use less potatoes.  Tonight for dinner I am making stuffed peppers, which we all love and I am drooling just thinking about eating :) I am really excited to see how the rest of the week goes!