Develop Healthy Eating Habits Early

We all know how hard it is for us as adults to make changes, especially changes to our diet.  For example, I simply do not think it is possible for me to stop making brownies (but they’re homemade and organic and full of fiber…lol).

That is why we have taught our children from the very beginning what is healthy eating.  We don’t just teach them about though, we actually eat healthy.  Because I know for some this seems like an impossible task, here are some things that we do.  Small things you can do to improve your families health.

***Don’t get half-way through this list and get frustrated. Remember I had to make these changes at some point in my life too! I survived and now this is my new normal.  If necessary pick 1 change to make every grocery trip. In my next post I’ll give you easy meal and snack ideas.***

1) DO NOT buy anything with High Fructose Corn Syrup (watch video at the end of the post), MSG- monosodium glutamate, Trans Fats-partially hydrogenated or fully hydrogenated or artificial sweetners- Sucralose, aspartame, acesulfame K, Splenda, Sweet ‘n Low, Equal.

2) Buy hormone and anti-biotic free meats.  If possible buy a 1/2 cow.  We purchased a 1/2 fully grass-fed longhorn last year and have been very happy.  Of course you will need freezer space to accomplish this.  Eat deer meat.  We live in south Texas so deer meat is prolific.  I’m sure this isn’t the case everywhere but if you know a hunter ask them if they’ll shoot a deer for your family.  Lunchmeats- Hormel and Oscar Meyer do make a line that is free of nitrates and nitrites.  Hot dogs- buy all beef. Costco sells a brand that is all beef and free of nitrates/nitrites.

3) Buy organic, at the very least, of these 10:

10 Fruits And Vegetables To Buy Organic

• Peaches : Summer’s blushing fruit contains high residues of iprodione, classified as a probable human carcinogen by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and methyl parathion, an endocrine disruptor and organophosphate (OP) insecticide. Methyl parathion has caused massive kills of bees and birds. According to Consumer Reports, single servings of peaches “consistently exceeded” EPA’s safe daily limit for a 44-pound child.
• Apples: Apples may contain methyl parathion. Both fresh apples and baby food applesauce can also contain chlorpyrifos, an OP which has caused large bird kills.
• Nectarines: In the EWG’s most recent testing, nectarines had the highest percentage of samples test positive for pesticides (97.3 percent). Common pesticides found on nectarines include chlorpyrifos, fenarimol, iprodione, malathion, methidathion, myclobutanil, parathion and pirimicarb
• Strawberries : The enhanced red color of strawberries comes from the fungicide captan, a probable human carcinogen that can irritate skin and eyes, and is highly toxic to fish. While the lethal soil fumigant methyl bromide doesn’t show up on the fruit, it has harmed California farm workers, and depletes the ozone layer.
• Pears: Pears, both fresh and in baby food, can also come with methyl parathion, as well as the OP azinphos-methyl, which is toxic to freshwater fish, amphibians and bees.
• Sweet Bell Peppers: There are many varieties of sweet bell peppers and perhaps even more different types of pesticides used on them. Testing ranked sweet bell peppers as the vegetable with the most pesticides found in a single sample and the vegetable with the most pesticides overall.
• Celery: In testing, celery had the highest percentage of samples test positive for pesticides and the highest likelihood of having multiple pesticides in a single sample.
• Imported Grapes: Imported grapes contain methyl parathion and methomyl, a carbamate insecticide listed as an endocrine disruptor; as well as dimethoate. Since they are grown under different regulations and guidelines, there pesticide residue levels frequently exceed acceptable levels set by our own government.
• Spinach: Permethrin, a possible human carcinogen, and dimethoate dominate spinach’s toxicity ratings, but CU notes that residue levels have been declining as U.S. farmers reduce use of these insecticides. DDT has been found in spinach, which leads all foods in exceeding safety tolerances.
• Potatoes : Pesticide use on potatoes is growing, CU warns. They may contain dieldrin and methamidophos, and children eating potatoes risk getting a very high dose of aldicarb, CU says.

4) Do NOT buy candy, packaged cookies, ice cream or junk food (you know, anything with HFCS ) If you want to have a treat for your kids buy a package of the 60% Ghiardelli chips and give them a couple here and there.  Our kids LOVE their chocolate.  We prefer 70% or greater but the chips are easy to dispense.

5) Milk.  The best option: Raw cow or goat milk. Next best: Organic jersy cow milk (Horizon is holstein) or Promise Land (jersey cow milk with no hormones or antibiotics).

6) Butter. Buy organic. Yes, it’s pricey but watch for sales.

7) Don’t drink tap water. Don’t drink distilled water. If you drink caffeine-free tea or coffee make sure it is swiss-water decaf.  And PLEASE!! NEVER BUY ANOTHER SODA AGAIN! I have a confession. About every three months I’ll drink a rootbeer. I know it is bad and I want that craving gone.  From this point forward if I crave a rootbeer it will be an organic brand from the health food store– with NO HFCS.

So, what do we eat??? I’ll save this for the next blog post.