The Real Food Experience ~ More Fruits and Vegetables – Juggling Real Food and Real Life

It’s a new year and time to do something about those healthier eating New Year’s Resolutions.  Joining The Real Food Experience 2014 is one of the best and easiest ways to learn to eat a healthier real food diet.  With just a little bit of practice, it becomes a lifestyle that will stick for good.

 

When my family decided that we needed to eat more real food, we were completely overwhelmed.  There is so much information out there and we were just not sure where to start.  Throw everything away and start over?  That may be an option for some, but we also had a tight budget we were dealing with.  What I plan to do with The Real Food Experience 2014 is to share with you the step-by-step process my family took to changing from a completely fast and processed food diet to a diet that is 80% or more real food.

I invite you to join our Real Food Experience 2014 Facebook group.  This will be a great place to ask questions and share what is working and not working for you.  We all can use a little support when making a change like this.

The first week we are starting with Fruits and Vegetables.  The goal is to eat 2 fruits and/or vegetables at each meal. 

For some this will be easy…….for others it will be difficult.  I like starting with this goal because it is not telling you not to eat certain things.  We are only talking about things you should eat this week.

Food was created to nourish our bodies.  If we accept this premise, then we need to think about getting as many nutrients as possible into our bodies.  The typical American diet does not include 2 fruits and/or vegetables in an entire day.  No, ketchup does not count as a vegetable.  We are going to be attempting to include 2 per meal.

Start thinking about variety.  The more colors you eat, the more nutrients your body will have to increase your energy, improve your skin, and fight disease.

 

Keep it simple.  Don’t worry about complicated recipes.  Chop up an apple and eat it with your pancakes.  Carrots and cucumbers are a nice crunch with sandwiches.  Steamed green beans are pretty perfect with butter and salt and pepper.  Keep bananas and other fruit right where you and the kids can grab them.  I love when I see my little guy “sneaking” a banana.

Be a little creative.  Start thinking about how many fruits and vegetables you can add to your regular recipes.  Like oatmeal for breakfast?  Toss in mixed fruit.  I thought vegetables for breakfast was pretty difficult until I became obsessed with omelets and topping my poached eggs with veggies.   Carrots add a nice sweetness to meatloaf.  Onions can be added to almost any dinner recipe.  Just think how crazy you can go with soups!  I can’t wait to hear where you include fruits and vegetables in your meals this week.

 

Thanks for taking this journey with me.  It really means a lot to me that you are along for the ride.  If you want more information and support this week as you work on this goal, make sure you join our Facebook group by requesting and invite.  You can do this by leaving a comment below or emailing me at jugglingrealfoodandreallife@gmail.com with your Facebook email address.  This is the address you sign onto Facebook with.  You can also follow us on Twitter, check out our Pinterest boards, and join me on Google+.  The day you start feeling really great is today