I can understand the social outcry over the news about Paula Deen’s condition.  It feels like a marketing move rather than a recognition of changes that need to be made.  It feels like the corporate sponsorship with this diabetes medication is more important than Paula actually being a positive and healthy influence on her followers.

Paula Deen built her fame on her Southern charm and Southern cooking.  Recipes ranging from fudge made with Velveeta to deep fried lasagna were commonplace on her Food Network program.  I have watched enough episodes to know that “moderation” or “healthy substitution” or “steamed veggies” were words that didn’t come up.  Ironically, I used to watch Paula’s show at the gym, on the treadmill, and often found that the butter and sugar and other ingredients inspired me to do just a bit more work. 

I don’t know how many people watched Paula’s show and would then do everything she did.  I know that I have roots in the South and know some Southern families and many of those people do enjoy country fried chicken smothered in gravy and consider Velveeta to be a food group of its own.  I also know that many of those people know full well that fruits and vegetables that grow are healthier when eaten raw and not from a factory and not drowning in butter, salt, bacon, and cheese.

But don’t we already know what the right and wrong choices are?  Is there anyone who was watching Paula and following her recipes who thought they were being healthy with those choices? 

It all boils down to one of those “soap box” themes for me.  Personal Responsibility.  Where is the personal responsibility?  Where is Paula saying, “My diet has been horrible for years and now I am paying the price.  If you make changes now, you might save yourself from this diagnosis.”  Where is Paula saying, “Not only have I given up my sweet tea and started walking a mile each day on the treadmill, I am also completely overhauling my diet and focusing on ways to live a more active lifestyle overall.” 

If Paula Deen came to me and asked me to help her fix this mess, I think the first thing I would advise is that she step up and accept responsibility that the choices she has made and the foods she has promoted are not healthy.  Those are indulgences that should be saved for an annual family reunion or holiday gathering.  I would encourage her to partner with nutrition and fitness experts who would help her with a complete overhaul of her diet and activity level.  I would ask her to make the menu in her restaurants a healthy one- dropping the fried foods and butter laden dishes and overly sweetened desserts.  I believe Paula Deen has a real opportunity to influence change and she is, instead, choosing to focus on managing diabetes with medication and very slight modifications to diet and exercise.

I also think that I, as a mom and wife, need to continue to lead the way in my own family.   I am a reasonably smart woman and know, with or without Paula Deen having diabetes, that fried foods aren’t healthy.  Sugary treats aren’t healthy.  Fake cheese isn’t healthy.  I know that a diet rich in vitamins and nutrients from fresh fruits and vegetables is best.  I know that daily activity and an active lifestyle is best.  I know that replacing sugar with artifical sweetener isn’t the best option.  I know that overloading with regular cheese in place of fake cheese isn’t the best option.  I know that sautéing in oil isn’t the best replacement for deep frying.  I know that playing Just Dance is better than watching TV on the couch.  I know that taking the family for a hike is better than sitting the family down for a movie-and-popcorn marathon.

Interestingly, at the same time that Paula Deen’s news hit the social networks, a new report on the obesity epidemic was released.  1/3 of adults and 17 percent of children are obese and the numebrs show no sign of improving.  Apparently, there is still a large part of the population who doesn’t have the resources, knowledge, or concern to make healthier choices.  And maybe this is where Paula Deen’s biggest mistake lies.  Instead of stepping up and trying to live a truly healthy life and encourage others to make life altering and saving and improving changes as well, she is instead advocating that sometimes you just end up with Type 2 Diabetes and look at this great medication you can take to help manage it. 

We are each responsible for our choices.  Paula Deen doesn’t determine my understanding of healthy living.  I am responsible for learning and sharing what I learn and encouraging my family and working through my personal struggles to do better with the knowledge I gain.

Unfortunately, my priorities slipped months ago and I’ve been struggling to recover.

I’ve gained a lot of weight.  I’ve stopped working out.  I was starting to get back on track but then the holidays hit and everything was a struggle again.  There is a long list of reasons and excuses as to how I’ve gotten back into this unhealthy lifestyle.

Part of me wants to be angry with myself, to beat myself up, to sit back and wonder how I could let this happen.  Part of me wants to be optimistic and look to the future and how I will get back on track.

But I think the first thing I have to do is forgive myself.

I have to forgive the days of not going to the gym and not getting up early to workout and not finding any time in the evening for some exercise.

I have to forgive my shopping habits that went from being prepared for a healthy lunch and breakfast to relying on fast food and treating myself to meals out.

I have to forgive myself for giving in to laziness and exhaustion.

Life changes happen.  There is a reason why changing your life from one of unhealthy choices to healthy living is full of challenges.  There’s a reason why it isn’t easy.  I’ve spent the last few weeks being pretty angry with myself over getting to this point.  I’ve been depressed about the condition my body is in again.

I helped a friend clean our church and my arms were sore after washing windows.  The idea of running makes me cringe.  When I try to play one of my dancing games, I see the reflection of my rotund self and feel pretty gross.  My energy has plummeted.

Life has gotten crazy.  My schedule is overwhelmed with higher requirements at work, with commitments I’ve made to my church family, with commitments I’ve made to my kids, with attempts at quality time with my husband.  I don’t think I’ve ever known how it felt to truly be so busy.  And the thing that went first was my exercise plan.  After that, it was a fast downward spiral back into night time snacking, junk food grabbing, and even a stint of a daily stop at the vending machine.

Last night, I saw a picture of myself and realized that I have to make some serious changes.  Immediately.

Making big changes as I face the holidays is a plan to fail- I know that.  But after the holidays, it’s time to start planning on getting my diet back in check.  I need to focus on fresh fruits and veggies.  I need to start tracking what I consume throughout the day.  I need to get my eating habits back in check- no more eating after the kids go to bed, no more grabbing a drive thru dinner full of unhealthy choices to ease my stress level. I need to get back into a regular exercise regiment.  That might be getting back to running or it might be finding some group exercise classes.  No matter what, I need to make a plan and stick to it.

I forgive myself for the bad choices I’ve been making.  I forgive myself for not keeping my health and well-being a priority.

Once I have forgiven myself, I can move forward and make it right.  I can make better choices and I can stick to it- I’ve proven that to myself before.

Forgiveness.  It’s what this holiday season is all about for me!

It’s easy for Thanksgiving to become a free-for-all in the eating and lazy afternoon department.  But there are some easy things we can all do to make the day a little healthier and still enjoy all it has to offer!

I received some information from the physicians of St. Vincent here in Indianapolis and I think these are tips that are easy to incorporate!

1)       Make a list and check it twice before heading to the grocery store. Planning your meals helps curb impulse buying.

2)       Use smaller plates. When you have a big plate, instinct tells you to fill the entire plate. However, by using a smaller plate you have less room and will put less food on your plate.

3)       Variety is the spice of life! If you really want a bite of everything that is being served, then have a small bite of each thing rather than denying yourself. If you don’t satisfy your craving, it’s likely that you’ll eventually end up eating the desired item anyway.

4)       Veg out. It might be difficult to completely cut out the high-calorie favorites like dressing and buttery rolls. But if you eat small amounts of these items and fill up on things like the veggie tray, salad or roasted vegetables, you’ll be doing great things for your health

5)       Don’t drink your calories. Choose water, sugar-free drinks or skim milk to limit calories.

I think those are all pretty easy to incorporate into my celebration this year.  The challenge will be not having 4 servings on that smaller plate.  And what about the veggies that we load up with creamy sauces and butter?  Is it possible to make my favorite side dishes a little healthier, too? 

Last year, I tried this fresh green bean recipe and it was a hit and it’s definitely heathier than green bean casserole with its cream soup base and fried onions.  My mom always makes a platter of roasted veggies.  We’ve included other fresh veggies at our table before.  There are some great and easy recipes for things like brussels sprouts, acorn squash, cauliflower, or carrots. 

Resist the urge to crash on the couch after your meal.  I hear the weather is supposed to be great this year so why not get outside for a family walk or a family football game?  And if you’re feeling really motivated, start your day with a 20 or 30 minute workout first thing.  Not only are you getting active, but you just might find yourself less stressed as the day goes on.

What are you doing to add some healthy options to your holiday this year?

I’m doing something different this year for Halloween. 

A lot of things are the same.  The kids will dress up and go door to door.  My daughter is going to be Daphne from Scooby Doo and my son is repeating last year’s costume- Captain America.  As we go door to door, my daughter will ask if the home owner would like to donate a canned good or non-perishable item for our local food pantry.  When we get home, candy will be divided and many pieces will be eaten.  Then it will be bagged up and I become the Controller of Candy Consumption. 

But we’re doing something different this year and I have to admit to being kind of nervous about it.

We aren’t handing out candy.  None.

Last year, we had a basket of candy and pretzels and a big bowl of non-candy and gave out some of each.  This year, I have the leftovers from last year and supplemented with a few things I picked up and we have an overflowing giant bowl of goodies to hand out that have nothing to do with sweets or snacks.

Puzzles, bracelets, play doh, card games, pencils, temporary tattoos, and I also have little bottles of bubbles to add to the bowl.  The best part is that whatever doesn’t get passed out will easily keep until next year.  I can also trade any leftover items with my kids for chunks of their candy. 

Older kids won’t be thrilled with our offerings.  Sorry.  But the elementary and preschool set should be pretty pleased.  I figure we might get toilet-papered for our efforts or we might end up being “the cool house.”  My kids were clamoring for the items in the bowl- they wanted the play doh and tattoos and wanted to touch each pencil and try on the bracelets. 

Why did I choose to go candy free this year?   Partially because I know the kids are going to have tons of candy that they bring into the house.  Partially because I know that we will have leftovers and I don’t need the extra candy in the house.  Partially because I like the idea that whatever is leftover can be saved for next year.  Partially because, to be totally honest, there’s just too much sugary junk out there all the time anyway.

Report back!!  Were there any houses on your trick or treating route that went candy-less or offered healthier treats?  Have you considered a less sugar laden option for the treats you hand out?

The standard answers are that I want to be around for a good long time for my family, I want to keep up with my kids, I want to feel stronger and healthier.  All are very valid reasons and have gotten me through some rough patches where I wanted to quit going to the gym or wanted to skip out on a run or workout.

It struck me that there is another reason why I keep going.  It’s something that’s part of my character and it is something that I want my kids to know and have as part of their character, too. 

Stick-to-it-ivity. Determination.  Perseverance. 

When my kids see me struggling, I also want them to see me trying my best. 

When my kids are struggling, I want them to try their best, try new solutions, keep getting up.

Living a healthy lifestyle is one way that my kids have stick-to-it-ivity demonstrated for them consistently.  They know that Mommy goes out for bike ride events, they’ve cheered for me at local running events, we talk about Mommy working out at the gym at lunch.  We do active things as a family- from visiting 100 Acres at the Indianapolis Museum of Art to walking around Conner Prairie to riding bikes or going for a walk in our neighborhood.

What I don’t want my kids to see is a pattern of starting something and never finishing it.  What if I’d tried running for a week and then just decided it was too hard so I quit and sat on the couch instead?  What if I decided that having fruits and vegetables in the house was too much work so I’ll just stick to fast food instead?  What if getting my family up and active was too much of a burden so I just gave up and popped in videos all day long instead?

Sometimes, I have a hard time finding my stick-to-it-ivity.  Sometimes, I struggle with commiting to the things that I know are important to me.  But then I remember that part of why I am trying and going and doing is that I want my kids to have someone to look to when they are struggling or wanting to quit. 

There is certainly a time and place where quitting is the right thing to do.  Determination doesn’t mean you never quit.  I’m at a point where I have given up running.  And facing that decision was pushing me down.  I felt like quitting running meant quitting all my healthy choices.  It was a big factor in that emotional eating issue and a big factor in my lack of attendance at the gym. 

I had a realization, though.  Just because I choose to stop running doesn’t mean I choose to stop making healthy choices.  I can ride my bike instead of run.  I can increase my weight lifting abilities instead of run.  I can walk instead of run.  I can hike instead of run.  I can still be active and healthy and have stick-to-it-ivity in my healthy lifestyle- even if I’m not doing the same healthy choices and activities as when I started.

And the really cool side benefit is that my kids see that I’m still going.  My kids learn, in an extended kind of way, that Mom is the kind of person who doesn’t just quit or give up.  My kids experience my determination on a regular basis.  What they hopefully learn from that, in the big picture, is that Mom will also not give up when it comes to fighting for them.  Running a half marathon or cycling 30 miles or hiking up a mountain are all very tangible demonstrations of getting through life.  Each step or push forward or up, even when (especially when) it’s tough to keep going, is an accomplishment. Also, you don’t have to be first, fastest, or go the furthest in order to win. 

Stick-to-it-ivity.  I won’t quit.  I won’t give up on taking care of myself, on teaching my family those healthy choices.  I’m going to fight for my kids.  I have determination and grit.  Sometimes it’s a struggle, sometimes there is weakness but the true value of stick-to-it-ivity is that you keep coming back to it, keep trying again, keep going. 

What keeps you going?  How much stick-to-it-ivity do you have?

I had a lovely little routine.  I had a lovely work load- I had enough to keep me busy, I had a little bit of down time here and there, and I knew I was always able to take a day off without much stress, I knew I could go for a 40 minute run at lunch or hit the gym at lunch. 

Now, I’m bringing work home most nights of the week and often over the weekend.  Now, I rarely get a lunch break.  Now, a day off means not really disconnecting from my workplace.

Big changes like that bleed out into other aspects of life.  Less working out, grabbing food when I can, bad diet choices.  I feel like my time is strained and I work hard to keep my family my main focus. 

And I’m stressed and exhausted.  And there are times that I’m angry, frustrated, beat down, and ready to quit.

I’ve returned to an old habit.

Emotional eating.

Bad day? Cheetos, please. Sudden increase in work load? Snickers ice cream bar would be great! Big deadline? I’d love a bag of Cool Ranch Doritos and some Twizzlers, thanks!

I come home and eat a good dinner, sit down to do more work or to just relax or to spend time with my husband and it starts… a voice from the kitchen…

“Aye, Carumba! Chips n salsa need you!”

“Liiiiz… chocolate ice cream and syrup are waiting for yoooooou!”

“You deserve to treat youself- come make another sandwich with a side of chips!”

I’m battling it but it’s hard. I keep trying different strategies but nothing touches some of these cravings.

I’ve tried figuring out exactly what gets satisfied when I eat.  What exactly I’m stuffing down.  My best guess is that it feels like something I’m easily in control of and something that provides immediate comfort. 

The stress isn’t going to let up any time soon.  I’m spending a lot of time focusing on how to manage it better. 

But I’m currently losing the food battle.

Have you won?  Help me!  Are you currently struggling?  Let’s face it together.

My best friend, Christy, and I have been running together for about a year and a half.  We have run 5K’s, did the training series for the Mini Marathon, and did our first ever half marathon with that event.  We celebrated our “run-iversary” by running the Fishers Freedom Festival 5K which was our first ever 5K in 2010.

After we completed our first ever half marathon in May, we weren’t sure what would come next.  Christy had a stress fracture in her foot so she was on the “disabled list” for a while.  I needed a break from running.

But then there was a Groupon for Team In Training.  Instead of paying the $100 registration fee, you would pay $25 for the Groupon and could register with Team In Training for one of their fall events.  We can’t resist a good Groupon.  So we bought it, went to the informational meeting, got inspired and fired up, and immediately signed up for fall events.  I signed up for the Indianapolis Half Marathon which is run at Fort Benjamin Harrison.  Christy signed up for the Nike Women’s Marathon in San Francisco (she’s doing the half marathon, not the full).

The hard part of Team In Training isn’t the running.  The hard part is the fundraising.  Team In Training was created as a fundraising program to benefit the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.  You sign up, raise money, train for a running or cycling or triathlon event, and you end up helping to fight cancer.  What I like about raising money for LLS is that the money is used for more than cancer research- it’s used to fund drug research, education, support for patients as well as family, and is even used to fund treatment for blood cancer patients.  In their July issue, Runner’s World Magazine had a special section devoted to running for the fight against cancer and highlighted the Team In Training experience.

Last night, Christy and I made a healthy dinner at my church as a fundraiser.  My church has a weekly dinner and there is an opportunity for those who partake in the dinner to give money to cover the food expense and also give to the group that is preparing the food.  Christy and I hoped this would be something fun we could do that would not only give us the chance to raise some money, but also give us the chance to offer a healthy, nutritious, delicious dinner.

We made a pasta and salad bar.  We made angel hair pasta and garden rotini.  We had sauce donated by Olive Garden- marinara and meat sauce.  We had received donations and discounts from vendors at the Fishers Farmer’s Market so we also offered sautéed mushrooms and zucchini and yellow squash (sautéed in olive oil with onion and fresh garlic).  Our salad bar consisted of a basic salad mix, baby spinach, broccoli, red onion, green peppers, carrots, grape tomatoes, cucumbers, blueberries, peas, and crimini mushrooms. 

Not only were we fighting cancer by raising money, we were offering a buffet of cancer fighting foods and superfoods.  I put some links in that last sentence that are definitely worth reading so feel free to click them open in new tabs or windows and go learn about these awesomely healthy foods.

We did raise some money towards our fundraising efforts.  On a more personally rewarding level, we received great feedback and compliments from people who greatly appreciated the healthy offerings.  The salad enhancements were so easy to do- peeling and chopping carrots, cutting up mushrooms, cutting cucumbers and so on.  Christy and I enjoyed our time in the kitchen together (and are very grateful for the cutting and peeling and chopping help from our friend, Nancy, and my husband, Jeff) and especially enjoyed the colorful presentation we were able to offer to families.  Moms thanked us for the foods their kids loved to eat- peas, blueberries, spinach, grape tomatoes.  Adults thanked us for the baby spinach along with the salad mix- many find it easier to digest (and it’s incredibly healthier for you!).

Best of all, we were able to incorporate cancer fighting foods into our fight to end cancer.  Spinach, peas, broccoli, carrots, mushrooms, tomatoes, garlic, tea- all are foods thought to have nutrients that are beneficial in fighting and even preventing cancer.  It was a night that represented everything that matters to us in choosing to do Team In Training.  We want to be active and strong so we train to run a half marathon.  We want to help others who are fighting the battle against blood cancers.  We want to eat foods that strengthen our bodies.  Serving a healthy meal that benefited our fundraising efforts took all of that into account. 

Running with Team In Training allows me to use my feet for others.  Cooking this fundraising, healthy meal allowed me to use my hands for others.  There is something very special about using my hands and feet to benefit others.

That’s nearly impossible with the under 6 year old crowd.

My husband and I were so terribly out of shape that spending a day walking around Holiday World or Sesame Place was about as active as we could get.  Thinking of purposefully doing something active felt like a chore and not like something fun.

We recently took a getaway weekend to Kentucky.  We spent 2 days in Louisville and 1 day in Lexington.  We did some laid back things like visiting an art museum and going to a minor league baseball game. 

I left my workout clothes at home and had no intention of getting exercise.  But I ended up with a bit of exercise on most days anyway!

On Friday evening, we hit the pool.  I’m not much of a swimmer but I have a decent slow and easy breast stroke.  I did a few laps while my husband played with the kids and I could feel the burn in my arm muscles.  I did some water exercises while hanging out with the kids where I would stay low in the water and use just my core and upper arm muscles to stay upright. 

On Saturday, we went down to the waterfront.  We went for a walk and found a playground that the kids enjoyed.  Then we spent an hour peddling along the waterfront in a 2 man surrey!  The route included hills and required some serious thigh muscle work from the pedalers (me and my husband).  The entire family had fun as we cruised down hills, did our best to “race” a coal barge on the river, and using the map to decide which route to take.

Saturday afternoon, I took my daughter to the pool (my son was napping upstairs with my husband).  Again, I did laps.  I also played a jumping game with her where we would stand in the shallow end, hold hands, and jump up and down.  I also did some laps all around the pool with her on my back.

Sunday, we spent most of the day on my aunt’s farm.  I have to admit that it was more of a down day for my husband and I because we had the luxury of sitting and talking to family while my strapping younger brothers tied a rope around their waists and hauled my kids around the hills on a large carboard “sled.” 

Monday, we walked over a mile at the zoo.  The difference with this walking and previous summers walking at an amusement park?  We didn’t sit to rest nearly as often.  In fact, we didn’t stop to look at much either.  The day was so hot that there just weren’t very many animals to stop and look at so the only time we really stopped to rest was when we ate lunch and when we discovered the air conditioned underwater observation area for the polar bear. 

It’s all got me wondering what is in my future.  Is this the start of seeking out fun and active things to do on vacation?  Are we going to become one of “those families” that goes on vacation to do crazy active things?  Are we going to seek out nature hikes and white water rafting?  Are we going to do bicycle tours of towns? 

When I look ahead at the rest of our summer and into the fall, I see active things I’ve planned for myself.  On June 18, I’m riding 50K in The Girlfriend Ride in Columbus, OH.  On June 25, I’m running the Fishers Freedom Festival 5K.  Over the summer, I’m training with Team In Training to do my second half marathon in October (The Indianapolis Marathon & Half Marathon).  In September, I’ve got another bike ride planned- The Hope Ride.  I’m planning on doing a 5 mile run at Mallow Run Winery on Oct 1. 

It seems I need to find more active things for my family to do as well.  I want to find nature hikes and trails we can enjoy.  We recently visited 100 Acres at the Indianapolis Museum of Art and very much enjoyed the interactive art exhibits and also our walk along the nature trail into the woods.

We are working on making our family more bicycle friendly.  We want to be able to ride together as a foursome to various things around our town.  We are trying to decide if a trailer is our best bet or if there are other options we should consider.  We want to be able to ride together to the Farmer’s Market on Saturday mornings or ride together to church on a Sunday or ride to a local eatery for lunch.

I want to find more things that we can do to be active as a family.  For the most part, we have been great at being active in terms of what we offer our kids.  They love to run around on the playground while we sit on a bench and watch or stand close by and watch.  When our daughter played soccer, we stood on the sidelines and watched. 

I did find a program with our local YMCA that would be a 4 week basketball class for our 3 year old and parent participation is required.  I think my son and my husband will have a great time playing basketball together and practicing those skills together. 

What are ways that you get your entire family active and moving?  I need ideas, please!

I moved my body forward for 13.1 miles.  I ran as much as I could.  I walked when I had to- which was a lot of the last 3 miles.  I felt fantastic for about 6 miles before I started to feel soreness and fatigue.  It was a vast improvement from my 10 mile run experience just 2 weeks ago. 

I stayed hydrated and fueled myself with dried pineapple. 

I wore my Merrell Barefoot Pace Glove.  My original pair gave me a terrible blister and Merrell was awesome enough to replace my shoes before my run.  A couple of weeks in them would have been better but I was still happy.   

I have some blisters.  My legs are tired, my feet are sore.  I came home and took one of the best baths of my entire life.

I ran and walked 13.1 miles. 

There was entertainment all along the route.  There were bands and people cheerin all along the route.  There men outside a neighborhood barbershop, there were families on porches, there were high school cheerleading squads.  I remember a lady holding a little gray toy poodle- that encouraged me because I thought of my own little poodle at home.  There were kids and older folks giving high fives and words of encouragement. 

I started and ended strong.

I crossed the finish line and couldn’t stop laughing and crying.  I stopped at the side of the road, hunched over with my crying and laughing and not being able to breath.  A medical person came to me to see if I was alright- I straightened up and told her that I was crying and it was preventing me from breathing.  She gave me the best medical care she could- an amazing hug. 

I ran with my best friend.  We’ve been running through all kinds of ailments and stress.  She ran with an injured foot.  We sometimes compared pain points and then redirected ourselves to focusing on parts of us that didn’t hurt- elbows, ears, shoulders, cheeks.  We ran our intervals for the first half pretty consistently.  With her hurt foot, she walked slower than I walked but ran faster than I ran when my hip was hurting.  So we just kept lapping back and forth for a good while. 

She pushed at the last 1/4 mile through to the end and was cheering for me as I crossed the finish line.  She cheered for me when I ran up the incline leading into the Speedway track.  She went the 4 extra steps to get me a bottle of chocolate milk at the post-race party. 

My husband sent me text messages with updates of what he was seeing on the TV coverage at home.  He is proud of me.  That’s an amazing feeling for me.

I did it.  I did it!  I fought my way through 13.1 miles.  I enjoyed many parts of 13.1 miles. 

I finished a half marathon.

There’s nothing Mini about that!

There is a new cook at the school.  Her name is Caryn Allen.  Caryn has a catering company called Casserollin’ so she is skilled in cooking for groups.  And she is definitely skilled.

When I see the weekly menus, I drool.  I’ve tried suggesting that the leftovers from lunch be packed up and made available as brown bag leftover lunches for parents to buy at the end of the day.  I’ve been there when she is cooking and it smells delicious.  It smells like my mom’s kitchen.  You know that smell?  Real food… comfort food… cooking in the kitchen. 

Here are some examples of the lunches that Caryn serves:

• Meatloaf, corn, dinner roll, fresh fruit
• Breakfast burritos (eggs, sauage, cheese in soft shell) with salsa, Hashrounds, fresh fruit
• Pulled pork BBQ on bun, sweet potato fries, fresh fruit
• Nachos, salad (lettuce, carrots, tomato), fresh fruit
• Spaghetti and meatballs, fresh fruit, breadstick

The best part?  Caryn knows how to get veggies into these kids.  She is divinely skilled with spinach.  She adds spinach to the meatballs and the kids never know.  Those nachos?  It’s chips and the meat they dip into is black beans, ground beef, and corn.  When the school celebrated Dr. Seuss and she was tasked with making Green Eggs and Ham, she didn’t use any artificial coloring to create those green eggs.  I was so inspired by her green eggs that I took her idea and created a casserole (I’ll share the recipe in a bit).

According to Caryn, the kids will always eat well (asking for multiple servings) when she serves any kind of breakfast for lunch, BBQ chicken pizza, spaghetti and meatballs (with spinach enriching those meatballs), and tacos or nachos.  Most surprising to her is how much all the kids have come to love caesar salad!  Another observation she’s had is that when a “good” eater sits next to another good eater- they both eat well.  But the picky eaters tend to bring down the borderline eaters to a picky level.  To me, that’s exactly what plays out at home.  When kids have parents and siblings who eat well, eat healthy, try new foods, they are more likely to have a healthier diet and be good eaters.

I had the pleasure of eating lunch with my kids at school recently.  Caryn made teriyaki chicken, teriyaki rice, broccoli, and fresh fruit in a yogurt and honey sauce.  The chicken had pineapple on it.  The yogurt was sweetened and flavored by Caryn.  I cleaned my plate!! 

Caryn has gotten rid of the last items that still contained high fructose corn syrup- she’s even found a Log Cabin pancake syrup that doesn’t contain it!  She is committed to serving fresh fruit- there were 4 fresh pineapples in the kitchen when I spoke with her.  The fruit I had included fresh banana, kiwi, melon. 

I’m pretty picky about what my kids eat.  I’m up front with them about sugary junk versus healthy options.  We talk openly in our house about sugary junk being a rare treat.  We talk about how chicken helps your muscles and cheese helps your bones and carrots help your eyes and so on.  I love knowing that they are served a healthy, balanced meal at school.  I love knowing that the food on that plate is very similar to what I serve the kids at home.

Something really exciting is that Caryn is working with the school’s owner/director, Lori Lorenz, to develop more food into the curriculum in the classroom and in the upcoming summer camp program.  The classrooms have learning play centers and there is talk about incorporating a cooking/food center with a focus on fruits and veggies and healthy foods.  This summer, Caryn wants the kids to learn to make a simple breakfast for their families, to measure water and flour and such, and wants to introduce fun foods like fondue.  (No, grown ups can’t sign up for the camp… yes, I asked.)

The big concern about healthy food is always the money spent.  According to Lori, the spending and savings still hasn’t changed.  She says Caryn is skilled at buying on sale, with coupons, and so on.  She says that there are times Caryn will come in with bags and bags and bags of food and a receipt as long as her arm and the total is practically a drop in the bucket.  It is possible to eat healthy on a budget!

I do believe I promised you a recipe.  This is an adaption of a recipe a friend shared and the tricks Caryn used to green up those eggs.

I used about 3/4 bag of refrigerated hash browns, I bought diced ham and sauteed it with some chopped onion. I put the hash browns in a casserole dish then the onion/ham on top, took a handful of shredded cheese and layered that on the meat. In a blender, I combined 8 eggs, 1/2 cup milk, 2 handfuls of baby spinach, and the meaty green parts of about 4 green onions. Pour over the casserole. Sprinkle some salt and pepper on top and then bake at 350 for about 40 minutes. I took it out and cut into it and it was still watery so cooked it about 10 more minutes.  The casserole fed 2 adults breakfast for a week.  It was super easy and yummy when reheated and with the spinach and eggs, this is a great source of protein, iron, Vitamin A, and calcium.

Special thanks to Little Explorers for letting me be part of the changes made this year!