About one year ago, I embarked on a significant food shift in my life to increase the amount of unprocessed, real food in my diet. This, in turn, has changed the way I eat, cook, and talk about food with my family. It also brought me to create this blog and share my journey with others, which has been a great joy and much-needed creative outlet. Here are five things I've learned in the last year:
1. This is hard.
When the novelties of learning about processed food wore off, and the fun of taking inventory and making the switch to real food was over, I learned that it's a real commitment to keep this up. Over 12 months, I learned what I needed to implement to keep this commitment as best I could.
Join a community-supported agriculture (CSA) program each season.
Make a general food plan for the week.
Take advantage of online grocery shopping.
Keep fresh fruits and veggies on hand to get kids accustomed to reaching for a plum instead of searching the pantry for something processed.
Make a list of go-to meals and make them often so looking at a recipe isn't always necessary.
2. The kids are ok.
I thought my three kids (8, 6, and 5) would be a puddle without their regular chip fix. With most processed snacks out of the house, snack time looks a lot different. Not only did they adapt quickly, but they have also learned to be more discerning with their food, identifying highly-processed items to determine whether they are good for their bodies.
With the pantry rid of chip options, we've normalized visiting the fruit bowl or the fridge for fresher options.
They still eat snacks and treats, please don't get me wrong. We simply don't have much, if any, in our house. And that makes me feel ok when they indulge while out.
3. I need to prep food.
I did not want to admit this because I never enjoyed meal planning and thought they were synonymous. I've learned that food prep is different than meal planning. Preparing fresh foods like cutting broccoli and cauliflower into florets, or roasting sweet potatoes has been a huge help come meal time. While I don't stick to a weekly meal plan, I have the elements in my fridge ready to make whatever I might be craving that night.
4. It's Easy
Wait, what? You're probably thinking, sis, you just said this was hard. While parts are hard, Throughout this unprocessed eating journey, I learned certain things are actually easier, like:
Grocery shopping takes less time and is cheaper.
A weekly share of fresh, seasonal vegetables from a CSA dictates what I cook that week.
Fresh, neatly packaged fruit is quick to grab on the go or toss in a backpack for a school snack.
5. It's Fun
I've learned that I enjoy being more connected to food and having more control over what our family eats. What's fun for me specifically?
Inviting my kids to join me in the kitchen instead of pushing them away.
Cooking recipes by heart because I've made them so often.
Building a relationship with local growers and food producers.
Feeling great after a hearty and unprocessed dinner.
My kids spitting out store-bought flour tortillas because my homemade ones are better.
An empty fridge at the end of the week because we ate all the food.
Sharing this journey with you!
As we enter the fall season and the year's final stretch, I encourage you to consider how unprocessed eating has (or could!) benefit you and your family. Leave a comment below to share!
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