There is a Real Food movement going on and I’m happy to be moving with it. My movement has been gradual, but I can’t tell you how great it has been to feel like the foods I have chosen to feed my family have been doing wonders for their health.
We have always been a family who were known for being sick…ALL THE TIME! It felt like we lived at the dr.’s office (every two-three weeks at least, for years- no joke!) Since deciding to eat Real Foods, that is no longer the case. We have not been to the doctor since LAST MAY!! We have had a cold here and stomach flu there, but usually only one of us gets it now(instead of the usual domino effect of illness that would happen when one would get sick–we’d all get it!) and it is over quickly. I was the mom that got letters from the principal every year for each girl, telling me they had missed too much school. Now the only school they have missed is when mommy falls for brilliant acting on my girls part:) That has happened twice recently, but momma’s not gonna fall for it again! If they perk up after keeping them home a few hours, off to school they are gonna go!
A few months ago, I visited my pediatrician for a referral to an allergist to get my daughter checked for a suspected corn allergy.(never went to the allergist, symptoms disappeared when we stopped eating processed foods regularly) When she saw us, she couldn’t believe how long it had been since we had been in, and was really surprised my daughter was off all inhalers for her asthma. I loved it. I feel like God has been so faithful in guiding me to some answers to my family’s health issues.
All that to say, I truly believe our eating habits are the reason why we are healthier. I believe our immune systems are working as they should be, and our bodies are getting what they need through our foods. We are by no means doing everything we could be doing, and I am at peace with that. We are doing enough to make a difference in our health, so pressure is off to follow the movement perfectly. I’ll be interested to see where this challenge takes us, and if there will be a point I draw a line and say, “nope not ready for that.”
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Pennie
February 2, 2010 at 7:33 pmI want to do this! My family is stuck on processed foods, we always eat red meat for the main course of our meals, and we drink way too much juice/pop!! I just recently started reading your blog, and always find it to be motivating. Thank you!
Amy
February 2, 2010 at 8:17 pmwhoops!
Penni, meant to leave you the link for the thermoses.
Here ya go…
http://www.shopthermos.com/detail/TMS+F4008TPK6
Amy
February 2, 2010 at 8:07 pmpenni-
thank you.
don’t get discouraged, take it a step at a time.
try chicken a couple times a week.
if you don’t think you can get rid of juice/pop cold turkey, (that is HARD!), instead, make a rule(I am assuming you have kids, but this works for adults, too) that before the glass of juice or pop, they have to drink one of water, then use the juice as a reward. this gets their taste buds used to water. then, gradually cut back to where it is a “dessert drink” on weekends only or only one at the end of the day.
we use these water thermoses for the whole family. I use them in the kids lunches and when they get home they fill them back up and put them right in the refrig so they are always cold. they are a little pricey, but leak proof and do not break. if you compare them to how expensive it is to buy juice every week, it might make you feel better about buying them.
if juice is not in the house, water will eventually taste great to thirsty people:)
good luck, and remember small changes will add up in time..
Amy
February 2, 2010 at 7:55 pmjenni-sorry for messing with your world-lol. wish it was in person, i miss you!
i don’t think getting out of the “small kids get sick easier stage” is the reason. it doesn’t make sense when you think of the ages of my girls, they have been out of that stage for awhile!:). especially for it to all the sudden go away, like night and day, so quickly.
i did wonder when we started getting healthier in the summer if it was just a summer thing. i remember Todd saying “don’t get your hopes up until we see if this lasts through the winter” not only did it last through the winter, but also through the flu season.
i really believe it is because their bodies are now strong enough and have what they need to fight off the bugs. they have been exposed to some nasty viruses this winter, but still didn’t get sick.
i know they will eventually get sick, but sickness does not define our family anymore, and stopped right when we let go of most sugar, processed foods, & fast foods. We also got rid of chemicals in our house and started taking vitamins at the same time, so I think it is a combo of all that and God:)
Jenni
February 2, 2010 at 7:25 pmGirl…you’re motivating me again and messing with my world. =) By the way, you totally were the sick family! (no offense)=) Its honestly one of the most motivating things for me about changing the way we eat – b/c you have seen such results and I know that you guys really did struggle with being sick all the time, etc. Way to go! Question though, do you think any of it has to do with your girls getting older and out of the “everything in the mouth” stages? I know the eating has to have made a difference, but I just wondered if its also a season of life thing.