Making it Special

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE celebrating holidays, new seasons, vacations, and events in the family's life.  It helps break up everyday monotony, keeps us looking forward to something fun, and helps the kids start understanding how time and seasons pass. 

The only issue has been ever since we started the diet sugar has been a HUGE no, no.  I started noticing (more) how every special event from holidays, sports games, church activities, vacations, and everything-in-between was centered around SUGAR.

Does an event HAVE to include sugary, refined flour treats in order to be "special"?  What's so special about flour and sugar anyway?  It's crazy how the cheapest items in the grocery store are the most coveted and craved.  I won't go into any science behind this sad truth, besides saying that sugar is literally addictive.  I'm addicted, my children are addicted, and most of the world is addicted (look it up, it's true!). 

Consuming food is a means to give our body what it needs for energy, healing, and function- right?  So what does sugar have to give in that process?  Well, I don't know about you but too much sugar gives me a headache, stomach ache, fainting spells, and makes me want to slap anyone who looks at me wrong.  I lose all energy and will to do pretty much anything positive.  PLUS, I'm not satisfied at all.  I just want more and more until I'm close to vomiting.  Obviously, my relationship with sugar is a little extreme, but I assume it's also pretty common.  To answer my own question: What does sugar have to give?  It doesn't give me anything, it just drains.

So, with all this in mind, how do we still celebrate and have a good time while avoiding too much sugar?  We first prepare the kids.  When we're attending a special event we remind them that the "treat" is just being there with the family, not buying candy.  Yes, they are disappointed, but at least they're not shocked or surprised when we refuse to buy cotton candy.  Then, we focus on just having fun with each other.  Soon, the kids don't even remember the junk food because they're having too much fun.  This has become the norm in our family now so the kids hardly even ask for treats anymore (a FAR cry from a few months ago).  It's amazing how fast kids get the hang of things when rules are consistent.

Valentine's day we had pink heart-shaped pancakes.  The kids were thrilled with the new color and shape! (The pancakes are made with coconut flour.)

For syrup I just throw frozen berries in a pot, melt them down, add some vanilla and cinnamon, then blend smooth...mmmm...

I'm sure we played other Valentine's day games, but I totally can't remember!  Sad...


We headed back down to San Antonio over Spring Break for some more Sea World adventures.  The kids were all sick, but it ended up being a blast anyway.

The kids knew we weren't buying any food in the park (or toys) and I was surprised how few complaints we received (it could have been the fact that they were too tired to complain:)  We packed lots of snacks (jerky, nuts, coconut flakes, Laura bars, and fruit) and everyone did well.

They have a fun little baby playground where DeeDee hangs out while the big kids are on the rides.

These are some performers from the best show in the park.

All funned out

Look at Ivy's face!

Don't ever let listen when your children insist they'll be fine with a ride where everyone ends up COMPLETELY soaked.  Ivy was not a happy girl (luckily we had swimsuits to change into).

Fish!

 We were in San Antonio over St. Patrick's Day so we had to be a little creative with our celebrations.  Hyrum was obsessed with catching one this year and came up with these Leprechaun traps:

 Apparently the little dudes can't resist pennies.

Hyrum was hoping one would climb the shoelace and fall in the milk jug and get stuck.



I promise those aren't stains, just pretty brown designs.




Unfortunately we didn't catch any of those sneaky Leprechauns- but they took the money!  They did leave a little surprise for Ivy and Hyrum though.   They were so kind to give them a little gardening bag with tools, seeds, and special Leprechaun sighting glasses.  It was so convenient because we were already planning lots of garden projects anyway!  Hyrum did mention that Mr. Leprechaun must have left "real treats" at our house, but he forgot all about it by the time we made it home.

Here's his note:

NICE TRY! HE! HE! HE!

You'll have to try harder to catch me!


Please use these tools that I give

To plant a garden for me and my family to live


Then use the glasses to help see

So you can play all day with me!!!

-Mr. L.



Lastly me and a few friends had a fun girl date to Disney on Ice (it was a little boring... just being honest!)  It was so fun to spend quality time with friends and NO treats were needed or wanted- YAY!

With Easter coming up this Sunday I can guarantee there will be candy (I'm not THAT cruel!)  We will all enjoy a small amount and by Monday it will be out of the house in one way or another.  I look forward to indulging in a Reese's PB egg, but the sad thing is I already know I'm going to be disappointed- both in the actual taste and how I will feel afterward...

Paleo Update: The Kids' Diet

Once I started feeling so amazing on the Paleo Diet, I knew I needed to get the kids eating healthier.   I wasn't very worried about Ivy and Delia- they are both GREAT eaters.  I was super concerned about Hyrum though. 




DD is a bottomless pit when it comes to food.  She eats (almost) everything with delight.  (Her tray has strawberries, scrambled eggs and sausage)


Pre-Paleo his diet consisted of cereal, bread, crackers, pizza, and chicken nuggets.  I knew this wasn't healthy food, but I had this irrational fear of letting my child starve to death so I let him limp along nutritionally.

It took him a few weeks of near starvation, but every week since we've started the diet he's added at least one new food (this is a MIRACLE for anyone who knows how picky and stubborn Hyrum has always been concerning everything he puts in his mouth).  So far he's added: beef patties, turkey patties, oranges, bananas, carrots, sweet potatoes, apples, almonds, cashews, macadamia nuts, eggs, and pineapple.  His palate is maturing and his attitude toward food and trying new cuisine is becoming so much more positive.  It's very, very exciting!

Hyrum's super excited because his FAVORITE food is burgers.  He also has sweet potato chips, strawberries, lettuce, and carrots on his plate- and no, bottled mustard is NOT paleo:)

We try to stay positive about food at meal times to create a happy atmosphere.  If the kids don't want something on their plate we ask them not to voice their complaints, just don't eat it.  If they would like second helpings of a particular item, they have to at least TRY everything on their plate.  We've chosen not to make mealtimes a battle anymore (that doesn't mean there aren't plenty of tears and plenty of chaos though).  It's a long process, just like anything that's really important in life.

The only guilty situations with this crazy eating plan are when we're out in the world or if the kids have friends over.  Hyrum will come home from school and say, "Violet had a lunchables today" or "Dylan gets pop in his lunch" with such envy and frustration.  It's really hard to compete with junk food!  It's sad for me- not being the "fun mommy" of the neighborhood with never-ending sweets in all the drawers and cupboards.

The first thing Ivy asks when we visit someone's house is, "Do you have any food?"  I know she's attempting to break as many dietary rules as possible before she has to come back to her own strict house.

Ivy is THRIVING at mealtimes.  It hasn't been very difficult for her since she's always been the odd-one-out because of her allergies.  Now we eat one meal and I don't have to make something different for everyone!  (The delectable drink in Ivy's green cup is called a "green smoothie"- I know it looks gross, but it's yummy.)

I REALLY don't want my little ones to be the crazy, sugar deprived kids of the neighborhood who roam from house to house consuming as much food as they can before they are forced to come home.  I want them to be proud to give their body healthy nutrients and understand how much stronger they can be because of it...
we've still got a long way to go...

  

The Great Food Experiment

So… flash back to about a year and a half, summer 2010- we were visiting Utah and I hadn’t seen anyone in my family for months. My brother comes walking in looking younger and fitter and more full of life than I’d seen him in a long time (it’s not like he was fat or old-looking before, but there was still an amazing transformation). We started talking about this new diet he was on and I immediately lost interest. “Dieting” has always been such a horrible idea to me. Starving and depriving my body has never sounded enjoyable or healthy. He started naming all the things he didn’t eat- grains, dairy, sugar, salt, processed meats- ALL MY FAVORITE THINGS! I was super happy for him, but I knew I could never give up on my favorite foods, no matter how unhealthy they supposedly were.

I’ve never considered myself a “healthy” person. I’ve had problems with falling asleep, anxiety, depression, allergies, stomach aches, fatigue, low blood pressure, and headaches my whole life. In all those days of suffering I never thought the food I put into my body had anything to do with it. I was more focused on medicines. I was constantly consuming Ibuprofen, Pepto Bismal, allergy medicines, and my blood pressure medication with some relief, but never anything lasting.

These problems finally came to a culmination after we moved to Texas. I’m not sure if it was the stress of the move, the intense heat and humidity, or my body had just had enough, but my health was so dire I couldn’t even function. I had reached rock-bottom and was so desperate for any relief.

I decided to read the “Paleo Diet” and see for myself if it made sense. After reading the book I decided it couldn’t hurt to try for a few weeks. After THREE DAYS on Paleo my headaches and stomach aches completely disappeared without any medicine. Now it’s been about two months and the transformation has been amazing- for both me and Bryan. As long as we eat the right foods our health is incredible- lots of energy, great sleep, a sense of well-being, less allergies, weight loss, and just plain feeling great.

In a nut shell the Paleo diet isn’t really a “diet”. It’s a lifelong way of eating and exercising- eat as many fruits, veggies, and meats as you want with a small amount of nuts. It’s super simple. The CRAZIEST thing of all is I don’t feel deprived. I LOVE the food I eat not only because it tastes delicious, but it makes me feel amazing.

There are some cons of course: It’s super expensive and we can’t even afford the organic and grass-fed recommendations which cost even more money. But we are proof that it's still possible to feel great even though we can't afford "high-end" foods.  We figure spending more money on food is a smart investment for our future health, but we also get more out of each day when we feel good. Another con is the time it takes to prepare and clean up is major (it’s not hard to imagine eating cereal for breakfast is less work than a veggie and meat omelet with cut up fruit on the side). But again, the sacrifice is completely worth it.

Since this is a major part of our life now, I will be blogging much more on the subject. Things like how the kids are doing on the diet, exercising, and my continued acne problems are a few I’d like to discuss, along with many more topics in the works.

I know I sound like an infomercial trying to sell something, but I truly feel passionate about this diet. I told Bryan I wish I could hand out the Paleo Diet book and the Book of Mormon to everyone I see and say, “This one’s for the health of your spirit and this one’s for your body.” I don’t know what dismal health I’d be in if my brother hadn’t shared his new-found knowledge with me, but I’m so grateful he did. Love you Golden.