Saturday, January 10, 2009

Mindful Eating

We're dealing with our share of dietary issues in our house right now.

First and foremost - money is TIGHT. I'm not even sure what we'll be able to spend in any given week. It makes it VERY hard to plan meals week-to-week.

Sage, as most of my followers know, is having some digestive issues. We totally took gluten out of the house and are hoping for improvement. But, then, what if it's dairy? That will be *so* hard on him to give up.

Ziva, nearly 7 months, is just becoming interested in food. It's an effort to navigate through what I am and am not willing to give to her. *Everyone* starts with cereal (I know, not everyone) but with the grain issues Sage seems to be having, I've been avoiding all grains for her.

One kid doesn't like pasta.

One kid doesn't like rice... or meat.

My husband doesn't like anything green and leafy, or onions, garlic, tomatoes, avacadoes, green peppers... the list goes on and on.

So - in my "self inventory" this week, I've come to realize that trying to bend to everyone else's needs and desires has led ME to eat horribly.

I do not take full advantage of meal times to put healthy things into myself and my family (because I get so frustrated trying to be accomodating) and end up just eating "whatever". This really hit home when we took out the gluten. WOW, it really cut out a lot of my convenience "whatever" foods.

I also have become the Human Garbage Disposal. Hannah picks out the chunks of chicken - I eat them. Sage ignores the "macky cheese" on his plate - I eat it. Bobby is a very social eater, so if he has a snack, I snack with him - hungry or not! And it's been much worse since money has been so tight because I feel so BAD about throwing anything away.

It's really horrible. And I'm really shocked at my discovery!

So, my short-term goal, as simple as it is, is to not eat according to my family's whims. Just because my husband doesn't like salad doesn't mean the rest of us (who DO enjoy it) can't have a big old bowl of it for dinner. Just because Hannah's meal of choice is "anything with cheese" doesn't mean that I have to eat that! Just because children X, Y, and Z leave food on their plate, doesn't mean *I* have to eat it!

8 comments:

  1. Eww, old salad?? J/K :o)I totally agree with you here. Just because my dh has horrible eating habits (only eats once a day and it's all greasy :oP) doesn't mean that I have to. So here's to making our own (new) healthy delicious salads this week!

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  2. Try quinoa flakes as a starter cereal for Ziva. It is good for her and low on allergen list! Not really a grain, either.

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  3. I was raised by a "mean momma", and I AM a "mean momma" - no picking chicken out of dishes here! But, good for you on realizing the extra stuff you were eating.

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  4. Ditto here. If you dont like the way I prepared it, give it to someone who does.

    But I know what you mean...they'll drive you absolutely crazy with the pickiness.

    I am SO blessed that Jeff will eat ANYTHING. He loves trying my new recipes even if they FAIL!!!

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  5. I ate SO well in Ireland, because I wasn't following all the gazillion times someone ELSE was eating. Sigh... gotta learn how to control that as well.

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  6. Hey Kim,
    thanks for posting on my blog.. I looked everything up on Google maps and it looks like the BB's at 20 Quigley Rd Newburg, PA store is only an hour away from you.. I didn't realize they had stores in that part of PA, so I learned something new today :)

    I don't know if its as good as the one near us, but I'd be willing to bet it is.. They save us so much cash, seriously.. We are a family of four and b/c of the stuff we can get there, we can usually keep our entire monthly grocery bill around $200 or so..

    Hope that helps you out!

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  7. loving your blog Kimbee! i'm still not really sure what all my problem is, but it was motivating reading about your changes. i chronically deal with everyone else like you were saying and still catch myself trying to make do with parts of "their" meals rather than making myself the salad that i crave!
    chantelle

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  8. Thanks, everyone, for the comments. Just realized I wasn't being notified of new comments on this blog!!

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