Healthier Choices

Why have we waited so long?

So, I just watched this Documentary called, "Fed Up" on Netflix. It talks about current child obesity in the United States. Apparently back in the day, exercising was considered bad for you. Doctor's would stake claims about how exercising would cause heart attacks and strokes. Until one guy said otherwise. Next thing you know, exercising became popular but at the same time, while gym membership rates were raising, so was the obesity rate in American. 

Why? How? Well, this is what the documentary covered. If you have kids, or have just been looking for an excuse to consider eating a little more healthier, this is something I'd highly suggest taking a look at. Here are my thoughts and personal feelings on the matter.

This documentary was talking about our food market changing to meet demand and how food got made and what the effects were on our bodies. People wanted to get healthier, so all brands started making, "Healthier Choices" options to their regular products. Labeling things like "Less Fat" "No Salt" and other things to make you think, "Oh, this is going to be a much better option than that other crap I've been putting into my body." But, what I didn't know, was that, the more FAT they took out of the product, the more SUGAR they've been putting in. Sugar. Do you want a list of all the names Sugar goes by in products? 

There are 57 different names for sugar, that can go into any product claiming to be "FAT Free" "Sugar Free", that goes unnoticed because we have no idea what half that stuff is any ways. So, here you are trying to get healthy and eat right by getting all these "Fat Free" "Low Sodium" items, only to be setting yourself back even farther because of all the sugar they are DUMPING into their product. And yes, you could be skinny and still unhealthy because of this. That is why you see type 2 diabetes in naturally skinny people. Because they weren't eating right and their bodies couldn't handle it.

Now, the documentary suggested making more "Home Cooked Meals". Instead of buying those, "Already cooked, just warm up" meals you can buy in the freezer aisle. Which sounds great, I would love to start actually cooking food on my stove rather than just using the oven to warm stuff back up! But, again, I've always made the excuse, "Well, I'm not made out of money". When in reality, I haven't even done the research in my area to see how much it would cost me, "daily" to cook my meals. Or to even start substituting a bag of chip to a bag of apples. How much more would I be spending, saving? I don't know. I already just love the thought of getting more fruit in the house. I love fruit. And because it's natural, my body will be able to process it better and easier thous making me feel better and easier. My son is still at the age where I can introduce fruit and vegetables to him and switch up his eating habits without the worry of the negative effect it might have on his body.

After watching this documentary, I kinda feel like I've let my son down up until now. I have the power to control what goes into his growing body, and because of my actions now, they are going to shape how he develops his eating habits for the future. And instead of being Ms. Healthy, I've been Ms. JustEatWhatYouWant and yeah, he is a skinny little kid despite how much he is eating BUT being skinny doesn't mean, "healthy". His weight just proves how terrible all that processed food is for him and his body. There is nothing in that food to help him grow.  I knew a girl on my Facebook, who always cooked her family meals, and her son LOVED his veggies and fruits which most parents can't say that about their toddlers. Oh, they might like certain fruits and veggies, but would they turn down a piece of candy for them? Her kid would.

I do know of.... ONE person on my friend's list who cooks his meals daily. Every time I see him at HEB and I ask, "Oh hey, what are you getting here?" It's always the same, "Just something for dinner tonight". I'm not saying there aren't more people who do this, but I just know of him at this moment. My sister, with her five kids, cooks things from scratch and I just learned how to make a simple Banana Bread. That was amazing for me. Because, I've never made anything home made. It's always been from the frozen aisle OR something pre-made. So where would I even start?

I typed in "healthy recipes" in Google. Found a few things I liked right away. Only to realize, my first choice was on a Kraft website. Using those types of websites they are going to sell you on their brands, rather than what is really health for you. In "Fed Up" a guy made a comment, "Even if you are only eating little pieces of junk a day, it's still junk." So, I will now try "All Natural Healthy Recipes" and just go from there. I'll start taking notes and checking prices for the desired items at my local Kroger and HEB and once I've got a good meal plan and what everything will cost. I'll be sharing it will everyone here :)

Author's Note

What are some of your simple all natural recipes?