Fit Friday...why am I doing this again?!

As I said on this thing yesterday, life has been kind of crazy. And really, isn't it always crazy for all of us?! Today's Fit Friday is short and sweet, but something that has had a really strong impact on me as a wife and mother....and really as a woman.

Our lives are all so hectic and we as women are responsible for so many things for SO many different people. I would list those responsiblities but then I would just start to feel overwhelmed:) I know so many women (and many times myself!) feel like working out and taking care of ourselves is just one more thing on the to-do list, and sometimes that its something that is going to take away from our families or those we love the most.

About 5 years ago I decided to try out yoga for the first time in a class setting. I am HORRIBLE at it....I mean, really, if you can't even touch your toes your not going to do too well ;) However, I will be forever grateful for the insight the instructor shared at the end of the class. As we were laying on our mats, just having finished the class she said "Thank you for loving the people in your life enough to be here. Because you have started off your day taking care of your needs and filling your cup, you now have enough to take care of them."

It was a total lightbulb moment for me. I love my family SO much, that one way I will show that love to them is by being the best me I can become. It reminds me of how on airplanes if there is a problem they tell you to get your oxygen mask on first so you can help your children and others around you. It is NOT selfish to take care of ourselves! In fact, I believe we do our children a great disservice if we do otherwise. We have to teach by example that simply because of our existence we are of great worth. And like anything of great worth, we DESERVE to be taken care of.

Like everything in life, I believe balance is the key. But I will be forever grateful to that instructor that helped me realize one of the best things I could do for those around me is to take care of me. And all the mornings when I pull myself out of bed at 4:30 to hit up my favorite spin class I think..."why am I doing this again?!" Because I love them (and ME) enough...and there is no stronger reason! :)

Fit Friday...recognizing your achievements!!

Today's Fit Friday is ALL about recognizing our achievements...even if we still have a little ways to go. I think it is SO important to set realistic goals that we can accomplish, and once we have, set a new goal and so on! It feels so empowering to actually accomplish something that we have set out to do, especially if its something hard.

So today I am ....GULP....sharing with you some BEFORE and RIGHT NOW pictures :) Its pretty scary to do, because honestly, I am still not at my final destination. However, I have reached the goal that I set for myself and am pretty darn proud of it :) I am recognizing how far I have come...even if there is still a ways to go. And it feels GOOD!!

Alright...here goes :) This is me almost exactly 3 months ago, 3 weeks after I had my daughter Avrie. Got some work ahead of me :)

And here is a side shot from this morning.

One more from 3 months ago, head on.

And last one from this morning. Please be kind...I had just gotten home from a 5:30 am spin class :)

There you have it! Holy crap....its scary putting those pics out there :)

Now I have decided to forget the scale...it was never about the number anyways. I reached my goal of running 3 miles a while back, now I am up to 3.75 miles and my goal is 5 miles by Halloween.

So today I am saying....recognize the GOOD that you are doing!! Maybe its that you cooked one super healthy meal this week. Maybe you cut out one unhealthy food from your kids diet this week. Maybe you just started walking and made it twice around the block....WHATEVER it is, recognize your achievements and be proud of what you are doing to get more FIT!

Hope your not all scarred too badly from the pics, and that you have a wonderful holiday weekend, thanks so much for stopping by!!

Fit Friday...A lifestyle change

As I have mentioned several times before, I tend to be an all or nothing type person. I feel like that is one reason I have such a hard time eating healthy. I either go crazy and have ONLY natural, organic, lean foods or I go to the opposite end of the spectrum and eat a bunch of processed, sugary crap :) It is so hard for me to find a healthy balance so I thought I would share today some things I am trying to do to not only eat healthy to lose weight, but changes I have made that I am going to try and stick with as I work on mainting as well. And again, its not just about weight! It's about teaching our kids what real food tastes like, that it can be delicious even if it doesn't come in a package....and yes, that occasionally those yummy treats are just fine too!

* For myself and my kids, I had to make a concious realization about the difference between snacks and treats. Treats are fine in moderation, but at our house treats had become snacks. Kids have snacks several times a day, and I was not liking the road we were going down. Now when I tell my kids (and myself) its snack time they know that means something like apple slices with all natural peanut butter, hummus with homemade baked pita chips, mandarin oranges and cottage cheese, or greek yogurt with some homemade granola on top. When I say its time for a treat, they know it may be a cookie, fruit snacks, a scoop of ice cream or something like that.

* This next one is a really popular option these days and I LOVE the way it has changed how my family eats. Many of you have probably heard of Bountiful Baskets or other kinds of produce co-ops....these are fantastic!! I do a neighborhood co-op and every other week we pay our alloted amount, and then get to go pick up a huge box full of fresh fruits and vegetables. I cannot tell you how much more produce we have been eating since we started doing this. If I have paid for something...I am going to do my darndest to use it! :) It has also made me so much more creative in how I use vegetables and has given my kids opportunities to try new things I would not have bought at the store otherwise. Just as an example, I got my co-op yesterday and it had bananas, pears, mushrooms, cantaloupe, tomatoes, pineapple, lettuce and carrots. I always let my kids pick one thing out of the box to eat on the way home. How great to see them so excited about fruit and vegetables!

* Eating healthy is expensive...lets be honest! It has always been difficult for me to spend so much money on food. But as we have discussed what we want for our family and whats important to us we have had to change the way we think. I now view our grocery budget as an investment of the greatest kind. It's an investment in my families health...and one that I believe will pay off in the long run. Of course, its different for every person and every budget, but we have chosen to take money out of our entertaiment fund and add it to our groceries.

* Let yourself have a good old-fashioned SUPER unhealthy treat once in a while! Just 2 days ago we had prepackaged frozen rolls, fried in oil, and then coated in powdered sugar for breakfast :) Healthy....NO. Fun to celebrate a little girls bday...YES!! I am aiming for moderation, and with that comes some great treats. The upside to this is that it makes those foods fun and exciting, where if you have them all the time...not so much. We went to Park City a few weeks back and if you ask my daughter her favorite part of the trip she will tell you "I got to pick out my own sugary cereal!!" A year or so ago that would have meant nothing because thats what she was eating for breakfast every day! :)

So please tell me: What are some healthy lifestyle changes YOU have incorporated into the way your family eats?? I am always looking for new things to try or new ways to get my kids excited about good healthy food. And lets be honest...some days I really need to get excited about it too! Since I have been trying to get Fit do you know what has tempted me the most? Kraft Macaroni and Cheese! Wierd...right?! Hope you all have a wonderful wonderful weekend and thanks so much for stopping by!! :)

Fit Friday...a healthy body image!

Welcome to another Fit Friday!! Today I want to focus just a little bit on the way we view ourselves, our bodies, and mostly how these feelings can affect our children. I am certainly not a professional when it comes to these things, but I did have 2 experiences that I wanted to share that have really impacted me and my attitude about my body.

I've been very lucky in the sense that as I have gotten older, I have gotten a lot more comfortable in my skin. I've always had a fairly good self esteem and tried to acknowledge areas that needed improvement....and then worked to make it happen. Until I had my son that is :) After over a month and a half on bedrest and regular nightly trips to the local Iceberg for shakes, things were not looking too pretty after I had my little guy. For the first time I could remember I was really embarrassed about my body. I didn't feel comfortable going out, I wouldn't wear a swimsuit when I took my kids swimming, and I was grumpy every morning as I tried to squeeze into something that didn't look TOO horrible. But one morning something Skylar said brought about an amazing realization that has stuck with me to this day.

My girls had a hard time while I was on bedrest, and one of the things Skylar missed the most was me playing duck, duck, goose with them. She LOVED that game and could not understand why I had to lay on the couch all day instead of chasing her around. Well, one morning as I was in my closet just staring at all my depressing options Skylar came running in, gave me a huge hug and said "I am so happy you are normal again and can play with me Mommy!!" She was so happy that I had a body that could once again function as a mommy, and all I was doing was tearing apart that body for not looking the way I thought it should. I remember thinking about how I cried EVERY night on bedrest, feeling so guilty that I couldn't take care of those precious children the way I wanted to and just dreaming of the day I could run, chase and play with them again. Well, now that day was here and instead of showing my gratitude for a strong body that not only allowed me to do all those wonderful things but had also brought a precious new spirit to the earth, I was filled with insecurity and dislike. It was a life-changing moment for me. I was no longer ashamed or embarrased. Instead I was filled with a healthy desire to make the most of this body I was given, to take care of it in a way so I can do all the things I want to do, and mostly a deep gratitude for it. I am so grateful for that moment. Now as I strive to once again get this post-baby body back to where I want it, there is no dislike or discouragement. I know I am working on it, and that makes me okay with where I am RIGHT now. I look at all the things my body CAN do, even if its NOT fitting into that one perfect pair of jeans :)

Okay, 2nd one! Sorry, that was pretty long :) Years ago a sister in my old ward told me a story that made a huge impact on me. She talked about how when she was little she thought her mom was the most beautiful woman in the world. Then one day she heard her mom talking to her friend, saying how fat she was and how much she disliked this and that about her body. It totally changed the way my friend looked at her. She had never even realized her mom was overweight, to her she was perfect. But once she heard those things, she started to look at her differently and even later became embarrased about her mom's weight and the way she looked. As a mother of 3 daughters I KNOW how much they listen and absorb, and it terrifies me how young they are starting to notice and worry about things like this. That story made me want to be more aware of the way I talk about myself and others around my children. The world will do a good enough job of teaching them they are never skinny enough, pretty enough, or just enough...they certainly don't need to hear it from their mother too.

This week my Fit goal is to acknowledge the things I LOVE about myself and my body. This is a hard one...much harder than running 3 miles ;) But I think its probably much more important too. So even though I'm still on that fit journey, I am going to acknowledge and celebrate the things I am doing right, and cut myself a little slack on the areas that still need improvement. Let's hear it ladies....what are some things you LOVE about your body?? Here's mine for the day: even though I am about 10 lbs bigger and haven't been for 4 years...I can still tear up that 5:15 am spin class like nobody else!! :) Have a great week everyone and thank you so much for stopping by!!

Fit Friday...Get your kids movin!

If you looked around my blog at all you know I love doing fun, educational activities with these precious kids I've got :) I try to have a weekly theme and plan activites, crafts and snacks around it. A few years back one of my themes was Excercise and I thought I would share some of the fun things that we did! My kids still talk about the excercises and even remember most of them.

There are a lot of frightening statistics regarding obesity and children in the United States. My hope is that some of these activities can help my children (and myself!) see how vital excercise is,how important it is to get excercise every day, and also how fun!!

I found a FANTASTIC article on the website www.abchomepreschool.com. It had some fun excercises to do that were all named after veggies or fruits. I printed out and colored pictures of the individual fruits and veggies, laminated the pictures and printed the explanation for the excercise on the back. I am hoping that we can do these fun excercises everyday, and by the end of the week when I hold up the corresponding picture the kids will know what excercise that means!

For general warm-ups, try the "Tater Tot Trot." Jog in place and pump your arms. Every ten steps or so slowly stretch your neck, look back at the right shoulder and then at the left shoulder. For "Spud Sprints" look straight ahead and speed up to a running pace. It is important that students land on their heels and not on their toes. If fairly large plot of ground is available, try trotting on a running trail inside or outside. The "Trot" works the posterior deltoid, hamstrings, quadriceps, and illiposoas.

The "Strawberry Stretch" is a great exercise to stretch the back, arms, and shoulders. It teaches balance and coordination. First, cross your right foot in front of your left. Bend down, touch your right toe, count to eight, and then straighten up. Make sure your back stays straight and does not arch. Cross your left foot in front of your right and repeat the stretch. The "Strawberry Stretch" works the lattisimus dorsi, teres major, the triceps, and the biceps. It also engages all three parts of the deltoid, including the anterior, posterior, and the lateral parts of the shoulder.

"Pumpkin Peeler" works the legs, back, arms, and shoulders. It also requires balance and dexterity. To perform this exercise, stand and lock your fingers together behind your back. Bend forward at the waist and keep your legs straight. With your fingers still locked, raise your arms over your head. Hold for a count of eight. This can also be done by bending at the knees. Teach the children the importance of flexibility by stretching the calf and leg muscles. The "Pumpkin Peeler" synergistically incorporates the lattismus dorsi, teres major, and deltoids, while it gently stretches the legs.

The" Sweet Pea Ski" benefits the muscles in the legs and challenges the child’s balance. One should begin with feet together. Slowly bend at the knees while swinging both your arms to the right as if you were using two ski poles on that side. Straighten up then repeat the bend and swing to the left. The "Sweet Pea" is great for the inner thigh, the hip adductor, or the gracilis. It is good for the hip flexors, the obliques, and the pectineus. This exercise offers the added benefit of working the whole gluteus, which includes the maximums, medius, and minimus.

"Pepper Pops" are great for both the beginner and the advanced exerciser. It works the legs, chest, and back. Do jumping jacks and clap above your head. For a "Pepper Pop Plus", add a right kick and a left kick with a clap under the knee while ensuring that the back stays straight. These additional movements work the erector spinae at the lower back. The muscles of the chest, namely the serratus anterior and the pectorals major, also receive a workout.

The "Broccoli Bounce" is good for the upper and lower body. Stand with hands clasped behind your heck and your elbows drawn back. Walk in place, raising your knees, bring your left elbow down to touch it. When you lift your left knee, bring your right elbow down to touch it. The "Broccoli" is good for both the hamstrings and the quadriceps. It works the smaller muscles as well as the important part of the legs, the calves, or the gastrocneumuis, soleus, tibialis anterior and the knee.

"Cauliflower Chippers" are a great way to end an aerobic session. It works the knees and the arms. Bounce up and down with your knees without taking your feet off the floor. At the same time, stretch your arms to each side and swing them in giant circles. You may also flex and extend the important yet neglected extensors and flexors of the wrists. You can change the movement of the chippers as well as cooling down by a stretch by elongating your shoulders, back, chest, and arms. The students should be encouraged to walk slowly in order to stretch their legs properly.

How fun are those? My kids LOVE doing them and its great to get them moving (getting mine to hold still is usually more of a problem :)

I am excited to one day put together an obstacle course!! As I was doing some research on line, this is a great way to help develop preschoolers large motor skills, and sounds fun too :) I am going to have to get creative to make one in my house, but crawling under things, jumping over things, and balancing are all things I want to include :)

One of our favorite ways to excercise is to DANCE :) One fun idea I had was to scroll through the music stations we have on our satelitte, and do different kind of dances that match up with the different kind of songs (fast, slow, ballet, crazy!!) Then we can talk about which muscles we were using for each different kind of dancing.

I hope this might help give you some ideas about getting your little ones active with you. Its a great way to teach them starting young the importance of health, and it just adds up to more quality time with these precious little ones.


Thanks so much for stopping by, and have a great weekend!!

Beef Stir-fry the whole family will love!

This is another great recipe I found in the Body for Life cookbook, with a few little tweaks by me :) I love this recipe because it uses BEEF! I am not a huge red meat lover, but I can only handle so much chicken and I don't do fish...at all. Here's what you need to get started:

4 portions whole grain spaghetti ( about 8 ounces)

4 portions lean beef stir-fry ( about 1 lb, I get the kind all ready cut up nice and thin)

1/8 tsp crushed red pepper flakes

3 cloves minced garlic

1 onion sliced

4 celery stalks sliced

Sugar snap peas ( any amount you want...we LOVE these so we add a ton!)

1 bag coleslaw (shredded cabbage and carrots)

1/2 C lite soy sauce

First you get your water boiling for the noodles while you are cooking the beef. I lightly spray the pan with cooking spray and then stir-fry the red pepper flakes and the garlic for about 1 minute. Then I add the beef strips to the skillet and stir-fry until no longer pink. Once you do, remove the beef from skillet and set aside.

After the steak is done you need to add all your chopped veggies and coleslaw to the skillet. I respray a little cooking spray and dump all these beauties in!

Stir fry all the veggies until they are tender and have that nice stir-fry brown color :) At the same time your noodles should be just about finished and ready to drain.
Now you can return the steak to the skillet. Add the cooked spaghetti and lite soy sauce, mix gently and heat thoroughly.

Here is the finished product...doesn't it look yummy?!

My family all gobbled it up, and I love meals that have everything in one dish: whole grains, lean meat, and lots of veggies! Hope your family enjoys this as much as mine did!! :)

Fit Friday...Healthy snacks for Healthy kids!!

Welcome to our second week of Fit Fridays!! I got a great response from last week and I am excited that there are so many of us that can relate to this important subject. Today I want to give you some simple, healthy snacks that I hope your kids will love....mine do!

* Cantaloupe Cups - these are a yummy-protein packed snack that my kids love! I've realized if it looks a little different or if it has a fun name, my kids are much more likely to enjoy it! You simply cut a cantaloupe in half, spoon out the seeds and gunk, and put in a 1/2 C of lowfat cottage cheese in the center. They love that the cantaloupe works as a cup for the cottage cheese AND that they get to eat that after the cottage cheese is gone!

* Veggie Dip - I think I like this one as much as my kids. Dipping is a great way to get your kids to eat veggies, but I always felt a little guilty about the huge mound of ranch on my kids plates....was it just negating the positive effect of the veggies they were dunking in it??? Then I found this great recipe, all you do is blend 1 C of cottage cheese with some chopped green onions. Then you add a little bit of Italian Dressing Mix to taste and Walah! You have a great, ranch-tasting dip for all your favorite veggies. We love carrots, snap peas and cucumbers.

* Monkey Pops - Remember what I said about the fun names? :) These are a great treat for your kids that you can still feel pretty good about serving up. I just cut a banana in half, let the kids cover it in all-natural peanut butter, and then roll it in mini-chocolate chips. They think they are getting something super unhealthy with the chocolate...but they are also getting a ton of potassium and protein :)

* Fruit Kebobs - These are exactly what they sound like :) The kids love to get a skewer and stack different kinds of fruit on. We usually have apples, strawberries, grapes, blueberries, bananas...and whatever other fruits we have on hand. Then I let my kids dip it all in greek yogurt and roll it in shredded coconut. If you are not big coconut lovers (I'm not!) it is also super yummy to roll it in some homemade granola :)

* Smoothie on a Stick - We love smoothies at our house. Lately since its been so hot I have been blending up a batch and then pouring individual servings into small paper cups. I stick in a popsicle stick, let them freeze, and when the kids pop them out they have their very own Smoothie on a Stick! Smoothies are a great way for me to sneak in some veggies too...I always toss in some spinach with my milk, yogurt, bananas, ice and frozen fruit! :)

These are just a few that we have been enjoying at our house lately. Please feel free to share some of your favorite healthy snacks! I think the most important thing is switching it up so your kids don't get too bored, so share, share, share!!

As far as my goal from last week of running 3 miles...I ALMOST did it! I am totally blaming it on my husband though :) Yesterday I ran 2.8 miles with the intention of getting to 3 this morning. Then last night my hubs tells me he is golfing this morning so no workout for me. I am going to attempt it tomorrow morning though, so I will be sure to come back with an update after :)

The goal for this week is to add more water! I am HORRIBLE at drinking water! Really at drinking period. I can go all day without a drink, so its a big switch for me to drink water all the time. I am making it a goal to get at LEAST 96 ounces a day. I am going to fill up a big pitcher with all the water I am supposed to drink in a day, that way I will be able to see my progress throughout the day. So join me friends! What is your healthy goal for this week? Sometimes being accountable to someone is the biggest motivator....so lets help each other reach those healthy goals!! Heres to looking good and much more importantly feeling GREAT!!

Fit Friday...First Edition!!

Welcome to our newest feature at Blue Skies Ahead....Fit Friday!! I am going to take one day a week to focus on being more fit. We will have tips and advice about healthy eating, excercising, getting your family more active, and so much more!

Now, I am no expert on this subject....but it is something I have a lot of experience with. At least with the attempting to GET fit part :) Having 4 babies in 6 years and being on bedrest with 3 of those pregnancies sure does a number on your body! But this is not just about getting to that precious "number"....wether it be a pants size or what you see on the scale. This is all about getting truly fit, becoming healthier and stronger in every way. There have been times in my life when I was very thin, but couldn't even jog a mile without stopping to walk. This is not all about how I look, but about gaining strength and health, and seeing what this body of mine can do! :) I am sure I am not alone on this journey, and I am hoping you will ALL feel free to add comments and advice. I heard a statistic on the radio this morning...2/3 of adults in America are overweight and the number is growing every year. Join me as I focus on one area each week to get more fit, and make one goal for myself to reach before the next Fit Friday!

Last week we got passes to our local gym...and I LOVE it!! Now, I am also a fan of working out at home, but there is just something about getting away from everything, rocking my favorite tunes, and pushing my body through a killer workout that gives me a high like nothing else. The thing about the gym though is that it can be a little overwhelming. Machines and free weights everywhere, a million different cardio options, and lets not forget the ever present meat heads and body builders making you feel slightly silly as you hunt for the 5 lb dumbells :) Today I thought I would share a great resistance training workout that is perfect for easing yourself back into weight training...or for getting started for the first time! For great results do this workout for 2 weeks, 4 times each week alternating Day 1 and Day 2. Here goes....!

Day 1
Chest Machine Chest press 3 sets 8-10 reps
Chest Machine chest fly 3 sets 8-10 reps
Triceps Arm extension machine 3 sets 8-10 reps
Triceps Dumbell skull crushers 3 sets 8-10 reps
Back Lat Pull 3 sets 8-10 reps
Back Machine row 3 sets 8-10 reps
Biceps Machine curls 3 sets 8-10 reps
Biceps Standing dumbell curls 3 sets 8-10 reps

Day 2
Quads Leg Press 3 sets 8-10 reps
Quads Leg extensions 3 sets 8-10 reps
Hamstrings Seated leg curls 3 sets 8-10 reps
Hamstrings Prone leg curls 3 set 8-10 reps
Shoulders Machine shoulder press 3 sets 8-10 reps
Shoulders Machine lateral raise 3 sets 8-10 reps
Calves Standing calf raise 3 sets 8-10 reps
Abs Bridge 3 sets 30-45 sec each
Abs Ball crunches 3 sets 12-15

Whew!! Are you still with me??:) If you have any questions on a particular excercise feel free to leave a comment and I will get back to you. This really is a great workout, and paired with healthy eating this will help you build muscle that will get that metabolism going and the calories a burning!!

My goal for this week is.....(no laughing!) to be able to jog 3 miles without stopping. I have been able to get up to 2 1/2 and by next Friday I want to be at 3. Running is SO not my thing, but in an attempt to be fit, I want to conquer it (on a very small level...no marathons here folks!)

I hope you liked our first Fit Friday, and I hope you will join us next week as well!! Have a fantastic day everyone and thanks for stopping by!!

Slow Cooker Italian Chicken

This is definitely one of THE easiest dinners I have ever made, but man was it good! It was also super healthy and once again passed the family test...everyone cleared their plates! I can hardly even call it a recipe it was so simple, but I thought I would share anyways :)

Slow Cooker Italian Chicken

1 lb chicken breast

1 bottle fat free Zesty Italian Dressing

Whole grain fettucini

1 lb steamed broccoli

First you throw a bunch of chicken breasts in a your crockpot with a bottle full of fat free Zesty Italian Dressing. My chicken was frozen so I cooked it on High for 5 hours. I could not believe how flavorful and tender the meat was, it really was delicious! Then I boiled some whole-grain, garden flavored fettucini til it was tender, put a chicken breast on a bed of pasta and added a spoonful of light spaghetti sauce. Add a little steamed broccoli on the side and there you have it!

Just a side note if you are like me and attempting to get a little healthier (and shed those baby pounds!;): one serving of pasta is 2 oz...I know I was eating way more than that before. There are usually 16 oz in a package so your serving should only be 1/8 of the box.

A delicious dinner made up of whole grains, lean proteins and some green stuff too! :) Please feel free to share your families favorite healthy recipes, I am always looking for more! Thanks so much for stopping by and have a great day!

Sloppy Joes....Healthy Style!

We here at Blue Skies Ahead have been trying to cultivate a healthier lifestyle, and I thought I would post some of the quick, yummy recipes I have been making for dinner that have been a hit with my family.

My favorite healthy cookbook is Eating for Life, and this is a recipe I got from there with a few of my own little changes. Here's what you need:

1 lb lean ground turkey

1/2 red onion chopped

1/2 C chopped frozen spinach

1/2 C ketchup

1 tsp chili powder

1/4 tsp ground black pepper

1 can (8 oz) tomato sauce

1/4 C bbq sauce (I usually add in a little more :)

If you have never cooked with ground turkey before, this is a great way to get started! This has enough sauce you really can't tell the difference between the turkey and ground beef and it is just so much healthier!

So first you brown the turkey with the chopped red onion and the black pepper.

Once you have done that you simply dump in all the other ingredients and simmer on low for 10 minutes....WALAAH!!

See, I told you it was easy!! I found these great whole grain flatbread buns...they are only 100 calories a bun! Throw some fresh fruits and veggies on the side and you have got yourself one healthy, satisfying tasty meal :)


These recipe even passed the family test....every single person ate their entire sloppy joe, including my 2 year old! I always double this recipe so I can have leftovers for lunch for me and my husband.

Thank you so much for stopping by today, hope you enjoy this recipe as much as we do!

Wake-up Call!

Before I get to the point of this post, I have to tell a quick story. And to understand this story you need a little bit of background on ME :) Here's the thing, I tend to be a very "all-or-nothing" type person. This can be very good, but also very bad. When I am "all", I am unstoppable. But if I feel like I can't be "all", I tend to do the other part...."nothing". The funny thing is, I'll just be going along with my life when something will happen and a switch will go off in my brain making me go "all" on some aspect of my life. This is what happened to me a few weeks ago:

Skylar was complaining of some health issues in a sensitive area and I started to do a little research. After I checked her out and did some research online, I came up with my diagnosis :) I was horrified with what I found. What she had was caused by dehydration, lack of excercise and poor diet!! I felt like the worst mom EVER! In all the research I did it was very uncommon for children to have this condition, and that made me feel even worse. Here's where the "all" kicks in! In one fail swoop I completely changed the way our family eats. Out with the enriched flour, high fructose corn syrup, and processed foods. It's hard to change a lifestyle, but when you think your childs health is at risk, it suddenly becomes much easier!!

Now are you ready for the funny part? When I took Skylar to the doctor to get her issue checked out, it turns out I was totally wrong!! :) She didn't have what I thought she did, jokes on me! So here I made this huge lifestyle change, for really no reason at all :) BUT, that doesn't change the fact that I am glad we did. A few weeks later I am seeing that I need balance and to be a little more flexible, but I am still really happy with the changes we have made. I quickly wanted to post some of my favorite things that I have found in our quest to be a little bit healthier, simply in the hopes that you will do the same! What are some healthy things you give your kids to eat? I have a pretty easy time with meals, but snacks are a little bit harder for me. Here are a few of my fave things: (and just a sidenote, I am no nutritionist, but I feel pretty good about giving my kids these things!)

My kids LOVE these Annie's Homegrown Bunny Snacks. They taste just like Teddy Grahams and Goldfish, but they are all-natural and made with whole-wheat flour. You can find them almost anywhere I think, I like to buy the variety pack at Costco.



Yogurt is one of my kids favorite things to eat. I really thought I was giving them a healthy snack, not realizing that the second ingredient listed on Gogurts is high fructose corn syrup! So needless to say I was thrilled when they recently came out with Simply Gogurts. I know, I know, these still have a bunch of sugar, but they did take out all the high fructose corn syrup and artificial colors and flavors. Its better at least, right? :)


Finally, we LOVE us some hummus!! I get any old brand of pita bread, bake it in the oven for about 7-10 minutes and bake our own pita chips. My sister in law introduced me to this particular brand from Costco while I was in New York. It is our fave new snack!!



I think one of the biggest obstacles for me when it comes to eating healthy is the financial aspect. Let's get real folks, it ain't cheap!! But after talking to my husband and looking at our budget, we decided to take the money out of our entertainment fund to add to the grocery budget. I feel like it is an investment in our health, one that I am sure will pay off in the long run.

One more sidenote: I don't think there is anything wrong with yummy, unhealthy treats!! The problem in our house is that those kinds of foods were no longer special treats, they were snacks that the kids could eat all day. So take what I am saying with a grain of salt and if you ever have the Johnson's over, don't worry about what we will and won't eat!! I have decided you can't control the situation everywhere you go, and thats just fine!! I am simply trying to teach my children (and really my husband and myself too!) how to live a little bit healthier life :)

Now don't forget when you comment :) to leave me all of YOUR wonderful healthy snack ideas!!