Water...

I've been wondering: Is it okay to drink water or other drinks after 8?

The Final Word on Sugar (I think)

I know there has been some debate about this... and I've been trying to figure out a way to set firm guidelines - but it is so hard because there is sugar in almost everything we eat (sad, but true). So however you have interpreted the rule - this is the new rule so please adhere to it. No desserts, candy, jam, syrup, etc. However, you need to start reading labels. If there is "sugar" (HFC, evaporated cane juice, corn syrup, etc) in the first 2 ingred. of the product then it is considered a sugar food and you are only allowed 6 grams/6 tsp. per day - this includes artifical and natural sweeteners. Debatably there are natural sugars that are better for you - but we still shouldn't be eating them in large quantities - this rule will help to curb that.

On your "free sugar" day you can eat as much as you want. But I warn you that if you go without sugar for a while and then try and eat a bunch all in one day you'll make yourself sick - I know from experience - haha. The exceptions are ketchup and salad dressing (and of course unprocessed fruit). Let me know if this makes sense or if you have any more questions. Thanks, Becky

Can't Exercise?

As far as exercise goes - I know there are some who can't do "traditional" exercise at this time. April is on bed rest, Kristel just had a baby, we have another expecting mom, and some people just have other physical limitations. If for some reason your body cannot handle strenuous movements - obviously don't do it, haha. Do something for 30 min., that you feel good about, that will take the place of exercise each day. Exercise your brain - plan on reading for 30 min. (in addition to the other 15 min). There are videos called "Sit and Be Fit". They are a little corny, but hey, they work - and most everyone could do them. Stretching, yoga, I know there are others... Check out some exercise videos on different subjects from the library. When you can start exercising again -then do. And for everyone else on here without physical limitations - you are expected to exercise! :)

How to Post

When you log in to the blog there should be a tab in the upper right corner that says "New Post" - just click on that and you will be able to post whatever you need to. If you still can't figure it out let me know.

Sugar free jellies and the Farmer's Market

We love love love! the farmer's market. There is something really nice about knowing exactly where and from whom your produce and other food has come from (especially with all of the e-coli and other outbreaks from non-local growers.). It's the next best thing to getting it from your own garden. The market we go to has a vendor that has sugar free jellies and fruit butters made just from the fruit. So it's not completely sugar free, but it has no added sugar on top of what's already in the fruit. There stuff is DELICIOUS. There's also usually a honey vendor, so you can pick up another sugar free goody. It's every Friday from 9-12ish at Center and University. They've recently gotten some other new vendors too that have free range eggs and grass fed meat. So you could get most of your basic shopping done there while you're picking up all those fruits and veggies we're supposed to be eating :)

Also, I'm sure most of you have seen this at some point, but a few months ago I saw for the first time a package with the ingredient "evaporated cane juice". This is a fancy way of saying "sugar". I see it mostly on organic and all natural foods. I just wanted to throw that out there.

Keeping Fruit Fresh!

We will all be eating more fruit for the next little while, hopefully longer, but how do you keep it from going bad before you get to it? I like to buy a little at a time but that means I HAVE to go to the store more often it is a love hate relationship! Anyway this webiste that I enjoy going to has a great post on how to keep your fruit fresher longer I hope this helps you out!

Go here to see what I mean!

P.S. read the comments there might be more advice there!

breakfast and lunch ideas

I would love b-fast ideas for lindsay.. she normally just shoves down something quick and I am normally just glad she has eaten something.. today she had a bagel and cream cheese, but obviously there should be better options….. she does like toast.. so maybe
High fiber, wheat bread with preserves instead of jelly and that could count as part of her 6 tsp. of sugars?
Also, any ideas for what a girl might do for lunch at school… they have one salad option but it has mandarin oranges which sounds gross to her… otherwise the only option is sub sand… of course Lindsay has never liked meat and cheese sandwhiches…. Gonna have to get creative…. I am fine with sending her with stuff

Answers:Hmmm... I'll just throw out some ideas and brainstorm here...
Toast would be good, oatmeal, cottage cheese and fruit? , yogurt, apples and PB, granola, any kind of non-sugar cereal, muffins, scrambled eggs, fruit smoothies, crackers with cheese or PB, pancakes, waffles (of course those require cooking, but if you baked a whole batch then you could throw a bunch in the freezer and then heat them up real fast when needed) - some of these could be made the night before so she could just grab them and go. I'll look through my books and see if I can come up with some other creative things.
For lunch - you could look on the menu and try and supplement some of the "not-so-bad choices" with something from home. Like, a hamburger from school with apple slices and bottled water from home - something like that... Wraps are always good - tortilla wraps. You can put anything in those - it doesn't even have to be meat. You could go totally veggie if you want. Instead of a sandwhich, what about using pita bread or something? They have different things at sprouts and trader joe's. Some of their stuff costs more, but you could go and see what they have and get some ideas. Make up a huge salad at the beginning of the week and she could take some for lunch each day and add different things like chicken or nuts and berries, cheese, etc. Part of this challenge is difficult because it requires more preparation in the food area... which is always more time consuming... :)
I'll add things as I come up with them.

be gentle

This fancy technology makes me think to much. Becky I will be over tomorrow with $150. for the entrance fee. I hope everyone else has coughed it up as momma needs a new pair of shoes.
This should be fun. See you all at the finish line.

Really? Another Question?

Ok I am just curious about 2 things that I am unsure of with the Wellness Challenge. First of all is it 2 servings of fruits AND veggies a day or is it 2 servings of fruits OR veggies a day? Or is it you can have one of each, each day, or however you want to do it? I need to also ask a probably simple question for some of you but would like some validation for the voices in my head...What kind of exercise are we to do on Sunday? Thanks so much for your help!