About this time of year, everyone starts thinking, and planning, and contemplating, and doing all kinds of things to focus on losing weight. We plan but then often times we get busy or distracted and we don’t follow through with whatever weight loss “plan” we decided to try this year.
We think about it and what it would take to lose a few pounds and get healthy in the process. Some of us even sign up for a gym membership or exercise classes, and we get started . . . only to realize that, unless our “weight loss” plan is really a “healthy living” plan that makes sense for our “real” lives, we just can’t keep up with it, no matter how much we really, really, really want to.
One of the lessons I’ve learned along my journey through life, is that we have to remember that we live in the “real” world, with all that comes with the everyday demands of our roles as wives, or mothers, or sisters, or daughters, or friends. So it is important to make small adjustments along the way, forgive ourselves when it just doesn’t work out, and don’t give up if we slip up on our plans.
My seventeen-year-old daughter might be able to decide that she is going to go to the gym five times a week, right after school, or right after her job at 6:00 p.m., but I don’t have that option realistically. I decided to shoot for ONE afternoon of exercise each week, just to get started, and see how I do. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t. But it is realistic. Then, if I get that down to a routine, I’ll add a second day.
That’s why when we are making an effort to create healthy, nutritious meals, we don’t start out by throwing out all of the regular ol’ food around here (like breakfast cereal, bread for sandwiches, coffee creamer, and peanut butter), and go on a wild shopping spree for tofu, quinoa, and celery juice.
We started by adding a few “healthier” choices to begin with and then added a few things as we went along, then gradually eliminated some things (like Little Debbie snack cakes!), replacing them with other options like the yummy Banana Chocolate Chip Baked Oatmeal Cups. Perfect for popping in the girls’ lunch boxes!
If you are considering making some changes in your menus, here are a few ideas that are sweet and savory, and will help you take the first step on your journey to self-care in 2018. Remember, a journey of a 1,000 miles begins with the first step . . . even if that is a baby step, get moving!
Banana & Chocolate Chip Baked Oatmeal Cups
from Organize Yourself Skinny on Pinterest
Valentine’s Day Tomato Pasta Soup
from Betty Crocker
This isn’t just any ordinary tomato soup! It’s super simple because you do use canned soup, but there is so much other yummy goodness in it that your whole family will absolutely LOVE it! And they will know you LOVE them, too! Visit the Betty Crocker website for lots more recipes that are quick and easy, and budget-friendly.
from Skinny Ms.
via Pinterest
Does your family love fried zucchini in the summer? We sure do, but I’ve always been rather hesitant to fix them too many times because the only way I ever knew to cook them was breaded and fried. I hate frying anything, so I have avoided it. And really missed having those yummy fried zucchinis! So when I came across this recipe from Skinny Ms. for the oven-baked zucchini chips on Pinterest, I decided that I’m just going to have to give it a try!
from Mom Endeavors
Even though apples are usually thought of as an autumn fruit, it’s still winter and apples are one of the easiest fruits to find in the store at a good price. If you love apple sauce or apple pie, here’s a great option for cooking apples right on the stove top. Just cut up a batch of apples and toss them in a skillet with some butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon and you’ve got a quick and easy dessert that is (kinda) good for you! You could even substitute the butter with just a splash of water and steam the apples if you want to avoid the extra butter. Just a thought! Pop on over to Mom Endeavors for the complete recipe for the Easy Skillet Fried Apples.
Deluxe Cheeseburger Melt (Lite)
from Betty Crocker
Using reduced fat ingredients, this family favorite is one they will ask for again and again, and you will feel good about giving them all a dish that is heart-healthy. A deluxe cheeseburger in a dish includes everything you would expect from your favorite burger, but so much easier to prepare and serve. Find this recipe and so many more on the Betty Crocker website.
All images and recipes are the property of the original websites. RUBY magazine does not own any of the images in this article and they are used only as part of a featured collection. To find any of the original articles, please visit the websites which are linked to each image.