Baby Steps toward REAL food

You asked so hear it is....

Over the past few years I have made gradual, baby steps towards a healthier lifestyle.  I've read various books, watched a documentary, and frequented blogs of other REAL FOOD/ natural living followers.  Here's some books/movie I recommend.  Animal, Vegatable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver (sustainable living), The Paleo Diet by Dr. Loren Cordain (strict), The Primal Blueprint by Mark Sisson (here it is in a nutshell), watched Food, Inc (eye opening!).  My newfound love for Crossfit has also made me take a step back and look at food as FUEL and not use it as a means of fulfillment - only eating what tastes great in the moment but leaves me suffering later on.  

I am not 100% natural, paleo, primal, ANYTHING.  I've come to realize that for me to create a healthy, well home I must take slow, deliberate steps toward making our ROUTINE line up with our values.  Taking out the over-processed, nutrient lacking foods and introducing nutrient dense, real foods.  I'm trying to keep the 80/20 ratio - meeting my high standards 80% of the time and allowing myself to cheat 20%.  This mindset helps me not to nose dive after one poor choice (my frequent downfall with "diets").  Yes, we still have cupcakes to celebrate special occasions, Diet Coke almost daily, and Zone Bars for a quick protein snack when I haven't made time to prepare properly.  Here is my goal when it comes to food (from Crossfit.com):

Eat meat and vegetables, nuts and seeds, some fruit, little starch and no sugar. Keep intake to levels that will support exercise but not body fat. 

What does that look like for me?

Cooking breakfast primarily of organic eggs, meat, fruit, coffee almost every morning.  I eat a whole wheat english muffin, fried egg, and slice of cheese most mornings.  This fills up and for whatever reason (I still have SO much to learn on the why's) doesn't seem to have a negative impact on my gastro system.  I have cut out instant oatmeal and cereals.

Lunch takes planning!  By far, my hardest meal.  I'm eating alot of dinner leftovers or chicken/tuna salad (great recipe for chicken salad - next time I'm gonna try to make the mayo myself).  I have found some veggie chips with 3 ingredient - veggie, oil, and sea salt.  When shopping processed foods, I look at the ingredients.  Know what you are putting in your body!

Dinner - Some type of yummy meat (check out YonderWayFarm.com for local grassfed meat delivered once a month to Katy) with veggies, veggies, veggies (currently growing tomatoes but hoping to start a square foot garden late summer).  Occasional quinoa but I've stopped cooking pasta, rice and bread at home.  (*Drew & I cheated on our date night with a hibatchi dinner and I felt sick for 2 days.  Who wants to eat something you know will make you feel bad?!?!?  This is certainly a process to see what foods I can tolerate and what foods really do have a negative impact on my system.)

Snacks - nuts & seeds, nut butters other than peanut, fruit (apples and berries mostly, although I am TRYING to acquire a taste for bananas), cucumbers, carrots & broccoli with dip, protein shake, Lara Bars, jerkey (has to be ordered b/c I just can't find any locally w/o added sugar), boiled eggs

Drastically reducing grain and dairy intake seems to have made a huge difference in my ability to maintain energy, weight and stomach health.  Mark Sisson's article "Definitive Guide to Grains" is a great starter for learning about what grains can do to your body.  

*Note* - I do not agree with everything any of these guys (Primal, Paleo, etc) say.  Foremost, I believe GOD created man and my strength comes from Him.  That being said, I also believe my body is His temple and while here on earth, I should honor Him by taking care of it.

Now, are you on this type of journey too?  I'd love you to share some book, blog, movie, recipes, snack ideas that work for you and your family as well.