Fried Squash

Dad grilled some pork sirloins last night and we needed a side dish.  I had some squash but wanted something different than my usual method of fixing squash (which is roasting it in the oven.)  Growing up my Mom always battered squash in flour dipped in egg and fried it in shortening or vegetable oil.  So I decided to Paleo-tize that recipe. 

Fried Squash
2 squash - sliced
1 egg
Almond Milk
Coconut Flour
Almond Flour
Coconut Oil

I beat my egg and mixed it with a little almond milk in a bowl for my wet mix.  Then in a separate bowl I mixed half coconut flour and half almond flour for my dry mix.  I heated some coconut oil in a skillet (just enough to cover the bottom).  I dipped my sliced squash in the wet mix, then dipped in dry mix and fried in the pan.  I flipped the squash after the first side had browned.  I had to wash my pan and start with fresh oil for each new batch-2 squash took me 3 batches to fry.  It was so yummy!

Here's a pic after we ate half of it!



A Nice Little Break

I took a break from stressing about food and my family.  It was a nice little break and I learned a few things. 

As we all know by now...I obsess and over-analyze everything.  As I plan and execute each meal for my kids I have a score board in my head.  Imagine an angel on one side and a devil on the other.  My brain tallies up the healthy foods verses processed junk and it keeps score.  It even keeps note of how many bites each child eats of each thing.  Instead of letting go and erasing the board after the game (meal) this score board is perpetual.  This score board torments me and then judges me as a parent.  Then I get mad and want to give up.

So what did I do the last few weeks?  I rebooted and unplugged the score board.  There was no score, nobody won.  We ate really healthy meals and we ate really bad meals.  And guess what?  Everyone is still just fine.  I'm still a good parent.  I may not have transformed my children into healthy little eaters but I am making small changes to their eating habits.  How do I  know I am making progress?  I looked in my pantry.  Prior to Paleo/Primal my pantry was full of rice packets, mac-n-cheese, beans, gold fish, multiple kinds of fruit snacks, granola bars, cookies, crackers, candy, bread, fruit in a can (sweetened), cereals, chips, and oatmeal.

Today, I can actually see what I have in my pantry.  There's lots of empty spots.  There are 2 bags of goldfish that are opened that have been in there at least a month.  I used to buy gold fish every week.  There's no more of the multiple flavors of rice packets.  Just some ol' plain white that has probably been there for year.  We eat fresh fruit instead of fruit snacks or fruit in a can.  There's no oatmeal or bread or cookies.  I threw out half a bag of molded hot dog buns yesterday.  You can still find cereal, one particular kind of granola bars that Tyler eats and chips in our pantry.  But instead of eight kinds of chips there are only three.  Our eating habits HAVE changed I just don't realize it at every meal. 

And I have also learned Tyler will eat beef steak, pork steak, and chicken.  He just needs someone to cook it for him!

Me & Food & Family & Weekly Updates

The last few weeks I have been struggling with the temptations of sweets, cereal and chips.  I've indulged too many times lately--Super Bowl, Date Night (1st date night in 2 years at our favorite mexican restaurant) and a funeral with lots of sweets.  I haven't figured out exactly what's happening...but I have a few ideas. 


1.  I have been stressing about Tyler's eating and his weekly blog updates.  I want so bad for him to eat more protein and vegetables but I just can't seem to get him where I think he needs to be.  Yes, we have made progress but it's slow.  It's been a roller coaster for me- one great day followed by 2 bad days.  I am going to take a break from trying so hard.  Maybe I'm over thinking it.  I tend to do that. 

Solution:  I'm going to accept the fact we are making progress.  I'm not going to document every little thing Tyler eats.  Baby Steps. 


2.  Dad's eating is bothering me too.  He is trying to eat Paleo but dinner seems to be a challenge.  I want to cook the right meals for him every evening.  Each night we all eat something different and when Dad gets home he is left to figure something out to eat.  I haven't been preparing in advance lately.  I'm stressing about everyone else and I'm neglecting myself.

Solution:  Plan my meals and cook in advance on the weekend.  Stop worrying about everyone else-take care of myself again.  Before the holidays I was successful at taking care of my family AND myself.  I can do both.  STOP WORRYING.  (The caps were for me--just trying to convince myself.)   


3.  I have not been sleeping well.  At the beginning of the year the kids were sick for a few weeks and they didn't sleep well.  Olivia was getting up every night at 2 am.  She has since made this her new routine.  For the last 6 weeks we get up every night.  I have also stayed up too late a few nights working on my side business.  It's crazy how just one late night can make you tired for days.  I just don't feel like myself.  I'm more tired than normal. 

Solution:  I'm going to go to bed early a few nights a week and let my To Do List sit idle.


4.  Christmas.  Yes, Christmas is still bothering me.  This is February 8th and I am still hung up on my Christmas indulgence"s".  I am really hard on myself and I can't let things go.  (It's amazing the things you learn about yourself as you get older.)  I feel like a failure even though my success story and pictures are on the wall at the gym and people have good things to say about it.  I feel like a failure even though I'm wearing fitted clothes instead of baggie clothes.  I feel like a failure even though I'm still working out.  Go Ahead...Call me Crazy.  I admit.  I am. 

Solution:  I'm going to start documenting everything I eat into a food journal for my trainer, Claire to read (her idea).  I have to be held accountable again.  I have to SEE what I am eating.  

TODAY IS A NEW DAY! 

I WILL DO THIS!

I WILL EAT HEALTHY & WORKOUT!



So maybe I wasn't perfect and things didn't go my way the last few weeks.  But everyday is a new opportunity to change my life.  I can do anything I set my mind to.  I completely believe these things.  I must now live it! 

My Relationship with My Scale

I'm accountant.  I like to analyze everything.  Even my weight.  I have 3 scales.  Yes, that's right 3 scales.

Scale #1 - needs to go in the trash.  It doesn't work anymore.

Scale #2 - I use this scale sometimes 3 times a day.  When I use it I have to weigh myself about 3 or 4 times because the number changes each time I get on it.  So if you do that math--I step on a scale 12 times a day.  I know that's not healthy.

Scale #3 - My brand new body fat scale that I received for Christmas.  This is the accurate scale in the house but I keep it put up so the kids don't break it.  (That's funny-I just realized I asked for a scale for Christmas.)

I know that my mood changes with the number on the scale.  I also know that weighing everyday is not an accurate measure due to water weight, food weight, that time of the month, etc.  I also know that body fat is the only number that matters-not weight.  I know that using an inaccurate scale is even worse.  I know all of these things and I have continued to weigh myself.....

Until my trainer found out about my secret scale addition.  I have been instructed to bring her my scales or get them put away out of my reach.  The scales are put away now! 

Update:  The first 3 days were "weird."  It's such a habit.  It's part of my day, my routine.  The next few days I didn't think about it everyday, only a few times randomly.  After over-eating the last few weekends I have wanted to get the scale out & just see how "bad" it is.  I could try to sneak a weigh-in when my husband isn't looking.  But I haven't.  I can't.  I can't lie to those around me or myself.   

But I do wonder what that number is...

Clothing & Weekends

Question:  Does our eating and workout for the day depend on the clothes we wear that day?

I eat really well during the week.  I fight off temptations much easier than the weekend.  I know part of that is because my weekdays are structured.  I know where I will be every minute of the weekday.  While at work I can't go to the pantry and sneak some of the kids grains (goldfish-yes, I'm still  buying them goldfish.)

But I started thinking about something.  When I'm at home on the weekends I am usually wearing my lounge pants that are 2 sizes too big, my t-shirt that is old and stretched.  No make-up, hair pulled out of my face.  If I run to the store or to my parents or sisters house I change out of my lounge clothes..but I don't fix myself up.  I don't do my hair or makeup. 

Am I telling myself that I don't care when I dress like that?  Am I telling myself that I'm lazy when I walk past my mirror in my bathroom and I see myself looking 20 lbs heavier than I am just because of my clothing?  Hum.  Is this why I over-eat and snack on crap when I am at home on the weekends?  Is this affecting my workouts... or lack of workouts on the weekend?
I think it's time for a challenge.  Starting this weekend I will put on my nice workout clothes that are fitted and make me feel good.  I will wear a little makeup.  I will attempt something with my hair.  I'll keep you posted!

Tyler & Olivia - Week 8

A new week.

Monday - Hamburger Patties & Gluten Free Bread.  I'm excited to try gluten free bread for the kids.  It does contain some rice flour but no wheat.  I'm really hoping the kids will like it.  I made these cute little hamburgers and neither Tyler or Olivia ate them.  Tyler said the bread didn't taste right.  I knew Olivia wouldn't eat the bread but I was hoping she would eat the meat.  No-go.  Tyler ended up eating pepperonis and Olivia had sandwich meat.

Tuesday - I made the kids hot dogs minus the buns.  I served a plate to Tyler and he asked where the bun was.  I told him we were out and he thought that was okay and he ate the hot dog. Both kids ate their hot dogs, apples, strawberries and chips.

Wednesday - Our weekly visit with the great grandparents.  Instead of McDonald's nuggets this week we picked up chicken tenders from a chicken restaurant.  It may have been fried but at least it was actual chicken breasts instead of chicken parts.  I felt a little better about that.

Thursday - Karate night.  Running late.  McDonald's.

Friday, Saturday & Sunday - Some good & some bad.  We made paleo chicken strips this weekend with chicken breasts, egg, almond meal & coconut flour.  Dad & I loved them.  Tyler said he didn't like them-but I made a deal with him that I would play more that evening with him if he ate an entire chicken strip.  He ate it!  WooHoo.  He said it was good but he didn't want anymore.

I've found that I am starting to stress myself out worrying about the kid's meals.  I have made progress-I have to stop being so hard on myself.  I've noticed my grocery bill is less because I'm not buying all of the processed foods I was buying before.  The kids are eating more fresh foods than before and I'm more aware of what I'm feeding them.