I found a great deal on a Belgium waffle maker at JCP. (I love the great deals this time of year.) Tyler and I made a batch of Paleo chocolate chip waffles. He had fun flipping the waffles in the machine. We did our taste test with the blindfold and I set up three tests.
1 - Paleo chocolate chip waffles with syrup (the bad-for-you syrup he's used to eating)
2 - Paleo chocolate chip waffles with honey
3 - Paleo chocolate chip waffles with organic maple syrup
Results: Tyler spit out the first bite, needed a drink because it was so gross & he wouldn't try anymore.
Dad thought the waffles were good but needed to be sweeter. I think I'll add honey to the recipe next time.
I loved the waffles. I thought they tasted liked chocolate chip cookies. Yum!
I don't know what I'll do tomorrow. Dad and I had a talk with Tyler about how he doesn't eat much lately. I just can't figure him out. We asked him what his favorite foods were. 1. chicken nuggets, 2. taquitos, 3. chicken legs. Did he really say chicken legs? That's healthy.
Two new ideas:
1. chicken for breakfast
2. bribery
I need to think.
Saturday, December 17, 2011
Tyler - Breakfast Week 1 Results
Monday - Made scrambled eggs and little smokies. I'm now cooking breakfast for 4 of us in the morning. That takes a little time-but it's worth it. Tyler ate a few bites of eggs and more of the little smokies. We got in the car - early morning rush - he asked for pringles because he was still hungry. Yes, I had pringles in the car--not a healthy snack in the car for the kids. I gave them to Tyler-I didn't want him to feel hungry. Monday, not so good. Baby Steps-We are making progress.
Tuesday - Scrambled eggs and little smokies. Tyler ate about the same as Monday plus Hershey's kisses. Damn candy in the house. Just broke rule #2. Keep trying.
Wednesday - Scrambled eggs and little smokies. We all sit down to eat (actually Dad, Tyler & Olivia sit and eat while I load the car-I already ate.) and Tyler sees that Dad has toast. Tyler wants toast and ends up eating 2 slices for breakfast...YIKES... So far not good. I think I'll have a discussion with Dad about meals. What are Dad's intentions? Is he going Paleo? What about our children-I guess I need to discuss with Dad his opinion of our children's eating plan. What will I do if Dad's not on board? We will have to come to some sort of decision.
Thursday - Had a conversation with Dad. He wants to eat healthy but he's just stuck in his routine. Dad wants the kids healthy too. I get the feeling he's not 100% sold on Paleo yet. Dad's big concern is that the kids get away from the candy and cookies. Dad does like my idea of a 70-30 goal for the kids (70% of the time eat Paleo). I told Dad the best way for him to change his own routine would be to take baby steps. Step 1-Drop the toast with breakfast and let's see what happens.
Tyler's Thursday breakfast: Scrambled eggs and little smokies-The bowl sat next to Tyler for 30 minutes and he didn't touch it. I was busy getting everything packed for the day and I realized we were late. Struggled with Tyler to get his clothes on for school-drama, more drama, etc., etc., etc. Got him in the car and handed him teddy grahams and marshmallows. This sucks. I had to put something in his stomach.
Two thoughts on this. First, I've read that if you offer a child a food enough times that he will eventually eat it-that's why I keep making the eggs. But how many more mornings should I give him the same thing? Or did I read this about babies-I can't remember now? Second, I've got to try something different for breakfast?
Friday - Not giving Tyler eggs again today. I gave him chocolate chip waffles, yes the bad frozen ones. But that's okay. I'm on a mission. I've got a new idea. I've always wanted a waffle press. So today I have an excuse to buy one. Tomorrow we will have another taste test and we will make Paleo waffles with Paleo friendly chocolate chips. I'm going to involve Tyler in the process of making them. If all goes well-we will make our own for next week. Wish me luck!
Tuesday - Scrambled eggs and little smokies. Tyler ate about the same as Monday plus Hershey's kisses. Damn candy in the house. Just broke rule #2. Keep trying.
Wednesday - Scrambled eggs and little smokies. We all sit down to eat (actually Dad, Tyler & Olivia sit and eat while I load the car-I already ate.) and Tyler sees that Dad has toast. Tyler wants toast and ends up eating 2 slices for breakfast...YIKES... So far not good. I think I'll have a discussion with Dad about meals. What are Dad's intentions? Is he going Paleo? What about our children-I guess I need to discuss with Dad his opinion of our children's eating plan. What will I do if Dad's not on board? We will have to come to some sort of decision.
Thursday - Had a conversation with Dad. He wants to eat healthy but he's just stuck in his routine. Dad wants the kids healthy too. I get the feeling he's not 100% sold on Paleo yet. Dad's big concern is that the kids get away from the candy and cookies. Dad does like my idea of a 70-30 goal for the kids (70% of the time eat Paleo). I told Dad the best way for him to change his own routine would be to take baby steps. Step 1-Drop the toast with breakfast and let's see what happens.
Tyler's Thursday breakfast: Scrambled eggs and little smokies-The bowl sat next to Tyler for 30 minutes and he didn't touch it. I was busy getting everything packed for the day and I realized we were late. Struggled with Tyler to get his clothes on for school-drama, more drama, etc., etc., etc. Got him in the car and handed him teddy grahams and marshmallows. This sucks. I had to put something in his stomach.
Two thoughts on this. First, I've read that if you offer a child a food enough times that he will eventually eat it-that's why I keep making the eggs. But how many more mornings should I give him the same thing? Or did I read this about babies-I can't remember now? Second, I've got to try something different for breakfast?
Friday - Not giving Tyler eggs again today. I gave him chocolate chip waffles, yes the bad frozen ones. But that's okay. I'm on a mission. I've got a new idea. I've always wanted a waffle press. So today I have an excuse to buy one. Tomorrow we will have another taste test and we will make Paleo waffles with Paleo friendly chocolate chips. I'm going to involve Tyler in the process of making them. If all goes well-we will make our own for next week. Wish me luck!
Tyler - Breakfast Week 1 Taste Test
Mission: Tyler's Paleo Breakfast
On Sunday (I picked the weekend since we have more time) we started the morning with a taste test to determine what Tyler "likes." Today our test is eggs. Tyler used to love eggs but hasn't ate them lately. I blindfolded Tyler (he thought this game was fun) and gave him a glass of milk to rinse his palate between bites of his taste test.
Bite 1 - Plain scrambled eggs
Bite 2 - Scrambled eggs with cheese
Bite 3 - Scrambled eggs with honey
On bite 1 Tyler said he liked the eggs.
Both bites 2 & 3 Tyler spit out.
I asked if he would eat eggs every morning this week and he agreed.
Let me tell you a little bit about Tyler. Tyler is obsessed with football. He wants to play football, work out and have muscles like football players. He runs around the house and does push-ups and tells me he is working out--its so cute! So lately we have been discussing how he is not eating enough protein for his muscles. Tyler wants to eat healthy to be like a football player but his palate is addicted to sugar. It's my fault for allowing him to eat that junk over the last few years ...but I am determined to get him healthy now!!!
On Sunday (I picked the weekend since we have more time) we started the morning with a taste test to determine what Tyler "likes." Today our test is eggs. Tyler used to love eggs but hasn't ate them lately. I blindfolded Tyler (he thought this game was fun) and gave him a glass of milk to rinse his palate between bites of his taste test.
Bite 1 - Plain scrambled eggs
Bite 2 - Scrambled eggs with cheese
Bite 3 - Scrambled eggs with honey
On bite 1 Tyler said he liked the eggs.
Both bites 2 & 3 Tyler spit out.
I asked if he would eat eggs every morning this week and he agreed.
Let me tell you a little bit about Tyler. Tyler is obsessed with football. He wants to play football, work out and have muscles like football players. He runs around the house and does push-ups and tells me he is working out--its so cute! So lately we have been discussing how he is not eating enough protein for his muscles. Tyler wants to eat healthy to be like a football player but his palate is addicted to sugar. It's my fault for allowing him to eat that junk over the last few years ...but I am determined to get him healthy now!!!
Tyler - 6 years old
Now that I have figured out this Paleo living for myself its time to work on my family.
The week of Thanksgiving we were really busy preparing food for our 3 Thanksgiving feast in 24 hours, getting the house decorated for Christmas, and preparing for both kiddos birthday party the following week. I think I picked up fast food 4 times that week for the kids! I felt so guilty. How can I feed my children those greasy McD's french fries? (BTW: Tyler eats a 6 piece chicken tender happy meal with apples and a large fry.) I have to make a change. Tyler's diet has become horrible lately. I'm not sure what has happened since starting Kindergarten-but he has seemed to drop all healthy foods from his diet. He claims he doesn't like anything. He eats goldfish, teddy grahams & marshmallows, chicken nuggets, pizza, taquitos, chips and of course chocolate candy.
So here's my plan for Tyler. Start with breakfast. Get Tyler to eat a Paleo healthy breakfast. I'm not going to even think about lunch or dinner yet. Take the next few weeks and work solely on breakfast.
Here's my rules:
1. Paleo Breakfast
2. No candy until after lunch. (We have birthday candy & Christmas candy in the house. This will be gone soon.)
Baby Steps, Baby Steps.
The week of Thanksgiving we were really busy preparing food for our 3 Thanksgiving feast in 24 hours, getting the house decorated for Christmas, and preparing for both kiddos birthday party the following week. I think I picked up fast food 4 times that week for the kids! I felt so guilty. How can I feed my children those greasy McD's french fries? (BTW: Tyler eats a 6 piece chicken tender happy meal with apples and a large fry.) I have to make a change. Tyler's diet has become horrible lately. I'm not sure what has happened since starting Kindergarten-but he has seemed to drop all healthy foods from his diet. He claims he doesn't like anything. He eats goldfish, teddy grahams & marshmallows, chicken nuggets, pizza, taquitos, chips and of course chocolate candy.
So here's my plan for Tyler. Start with breakfast. Get Tyler to eat a Paleo healthy breakfast. I'm not going to even think about lunch or dinner yet. Take the next few weeks and work solely on breakfast.
Here's my rules:
1. Paleo Breakfast
2. No candy until after lunch. (We have birthday candy & Christmas candy in the house. This will be gone soon.)
Baby Steps, Baby Steps.
Friday, December 16, 2011
Paleo/Primal Living
For those more interested in the Paleo or Primal living check out the following sites.
http://www.paleoplan.com/
http://www.robbwolf.com/
http://www.marksdailyapple.com/
http://www.everydaypaleo.com/
http://www.atxfunfit.com/
http://www.paleoplan.com/
http://www.robbwolf.com/
http://www.marksdailyapple.com/
http://www.everydaypaleo.com/
http://www.atxfunfit.com/
My Story - Results of Paleo
After 5 months of Paleo my results are amazing. While my "external" appearance has changed and become smaller-I am really excited about my "internal" success. I feel amazing.
When I was eating processed crap before Paleo I never felt "bad" or so I thought. I felt what I thought was normal. After eating pasta, breads and rice you feel bloated; beans make your stomach gassy and gurgle-y. Those were normal feelings-it wasn't necessarily painful-just normal. Now, without those things in my diet my stomach NEVER makes noise. I never get that stuffed feeling. I feel great plus my energy level is amazing. Even with a full time job, two hour commute a day, two kids, housework, meal planning and trying to start a side business I feel like jumping rope at 8:30 at night. (maybe not every night-but you get the point.)
The other amazing side effect of going Paleo is that I finally feel like my relationship with food has changed. I realized this on Thanksgiving when I "allowed" myself to eat anything and everything. I found that my body didn't want those non-Paleo foods. I didn't want potatoes or rolls. I did have some stuffing/dressing but I didn't need much. I ate the desserts that were my favorites and didn't have ALL of the desserts. The week of Thanksgiving my weight stayed the same. Normally-I would expect a 7 lb weight gain. Again-I think it has to do with the fact that I'm not restricting anything from my diet-my brain is pleased.
For those of you curious--In 5 months my body fat has dropped 9% and my weight down 22 lbs. As exciting as this is - I'm most thankful for feeling healthy and being healthy inside. I still have more fat to lose but I feel healthy now. I know that I am healthier and stronger than I've ever been. Thanks to Claire for introducing me to the Paleo Plan and my "Functional" workout 3 times a week.
When I was eating processed crap before Paleo I never felt "bad" or so I thought. I felt what I thought was normal. After eating pasta, breads and rice you feel bloated; beans make your stomach gassy and gurgle-y. Those were normal feelings-it wasn't necessarily painful-just normal. Now, without those things in my diet my stomach NEVER makes noise. I never get that stuffed feeling. I feel great plus my energy level is amazing. Even with a full time job, two hour commute a day, two kids, housework, meal planning and trying to start a side business I feel like jumping rope at 8:30 at night. (maybe not every night-but you get the point.)
The other amazing side effect of going Paleo is that I finally feel like my relationship with food has changed. I realized this on Thanksgiving when I "allowed" myself to eat anything and everything. I found that my body didn't want those non-Paleo foods. I didn't want potatoes or rolls. I did have some stuffing/dressing but I didn't need much. I ate the desserts that were my favorites and didn't have ALL of the desserts. The week of Thanksgiving my weight stayed the same. Normally-I would expect a 7 lb weight gain. Again-I think it has to do with the fact that I'm not restricting anything from my diet-my brain is pleased.
For those of you curious--In 5 months my body fat has dropped 9% and my weight down 22 lbs. As exciting as this is - I'm most thankful for feeling healthy and being healthy inside. I still have more fat to lose but I feel healthy now. I know that I am healthier and stronger than I've ever been. Thanks to Claire for introducing me to the Paleo Plan and my "Functional" workout 3 times a week.
My Story-Transition to Paleo
The first 30 days of my transition to Paleo weren't easy. We have our routines and our busy schedules that only allow time for fast food lunches and processed out of a box dinners. Finding and creating a new system and a new routine can be difficult.
There are two things that helped me transition. First, Claire my trainer, told me NOT to clean out my pantry. Don't go throw the bad stuff out--make gradual changes. This was not going to be an "all or nothing" approach. All of my previous attempts were diets, all or nothing, and then fail. Gradual changes to my eating pattern made it a lifestyle change rather than a diet. I've always heard you shouldn't "diet" but never knew "how" to make my eating habits a lifestyle change. Remember, I've always been looking for that quick fix. This showed me that small gradual changes become new routines.
Second, I learned that the Paleo Plan is 80-20. Eat Paleo 80% of the time and whatever 20% of the time. This means that I didn't have to give up anything! Yes, that is right--Do not give up any foods! I can still have any bad for me food I want...just in moderation. On a typical "diet" my mind freaks out because I can't eat something I really want. I tell myself "NO" and I crave it even more. If I want candy for a snack....I can have it!! Easy!
As the months went by and I made gradual changes to my diet I am officially 80-20 Paleo.
There are two things that helped me transition. First, Claire my trainer, told me NOT to clean out my pantry. Don't go throw the bad stuff out--make gradual changes. This was not going to be an "all or nothing" approach. All of my previous attempts were diets, all or nothing, and then fail. Gradual changes to my eating pattern made it a lifestyle change rather than a diet. I've always heard you shouldn't "diet" but never knew "how" to make my eating habits a lifestyle change. Remember, I've always been looking for that quick fix. This showed me that small gradual changes become new routines.
Second, I learned that the Paleo Plan is 80-20. Eat Paleo 80% of the time and whatever 20% of the time. This means that I didn't have to give up anything! Yes, that is right--Do not give up any foods! I can still have any bad for me food I want...just in moderation. On a typical "diet" my mind freaks out because I can't eat something I really want. I tell myself "NO" and I crave it even more. If I want candy for a snack....I can have it!! Easy!
As the months went by and I made gradual changes to my diet I am officially 80-20 Paleo.
My Story-The Beginning
My story starts like many others...
I have always been the big girl. I started gaining weight in 2nd grade. I started dieting in high school. Tried them all-atkins, low-fat, diet pills, counting calories, etc. They were always just a diet and on a few occasions provided a temporary weight loss. I was always hungry. I was miserable. I craved food. I literally counted the minutes until I could have my next snack. I used food to fuel my boredom, one 100-calorie package of crackers or cookies after another. As soon as I had one tiny "bad" food I fell off the wagon...only to start again a week later. I was always looking for the quickest weight loss plan!
In 2011 my life changed. I found a personal trainer with a different plan. Claire and the Functional Fitness (http://www.atxfunfit.com/) team introduced me to the "Paleo Plan." The first few meetings with Claire she told me a few things I should and shouldn't eat. No peanuts, no bread, nothing processed. A few more meetings and some research on the web on the Paleo lifestyle I realized NO Grain, NO Bean, and NO Dairy. I thought she was crazy. Beans are so good for you, aren't they? No dairy? What? Give up my yogurt? That's my daily healthy afternoon snack. No oatmeal? You have got to be kidding! That's my breakfast of champions. I just knew this had to be the newest "FAD" diet. Am I really going to try this? This goes against everything I have been taught in life. Claire asked me to try it for 30 days before making any judgements. I've tried everything else...sure...let's add this to my list of unsuccessful attempts....
I have always been the big girl. I started gaining weight in 2nd grade. I started dieting in high school. Tried them all-atkins, low-fat, diet pills, counting calories, etc. They were always just a diet and on a few occasions provided a temporary weight loss. I was always hungry. I was miserable. I craved food. I literally counted the minutes until I could have my next snack. I used food to fuel my boredom, one 100-calorie package of crackers or cookies after another. As soon as I had one tiny "bad" food I fell off the wagon...only to start again a week later. I was always looking for the quickest weight loss plan!
In 2011 my life changed. I found a personal trainer with a different plan. Claire and the Functional Fitness (http://www.atxfunfit.com/) team introduced me to the "Paleo Plan." The first few meetings with Claire she told me a few things I should and shouldn't eat. No peanuts, no bread, nothing processed. A few more meetings and some research on the web on the Paleo lifestyle I realized NO Grain, NO Bean, and NO Dairy. I thought she was crazy. Beans are so good for you, aren't they? No dairy? What? Give up my yogurt? That's my daily healthy afternoon snack. No oatmeal? You have got to be kidding! That's my breakfast of champions. I just knew this had to be the newest "FAD" diet. Am I really going to try this? This goes against everything I have been taught in life. Claire asked me to try it for 30 days before making any judgements. I've tried everything else...sure...let's add this to my list of unsuccessful attempts....
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