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Breaking the old and creating the new!

**This post is part of the Get Real series. Please remember that this is meant as a learning community. We know that many of you are passionate about what you do and we want you to express that, just please do so in a way that will be an encouragement and aid to others making a transition. We want this to be a “safe space” for participants to learn. For that reason, we reserve the right to delete any comments that are not handled in this manner.

“Old habits die hard, and new habits are a pain to make.”

Let’s throw that out the window this minute! In this series, we can make it through the tough times of letting go and sticking to our newfound habits by doing it TOGETHER.

One of the hardest parts for me while starting this transition and continuing is making the choice not to buy those tried and true brands I have known my whole life that are not whole foods. There are some grocery items you always turn to because you know how they taste, how they cook, their low price, and just like them overall. But as we have mentioned in the last few weeks, label reading and becoming an educated consumer can quickly break those rose-colored glasses you have for your favorite brands.

Here are some national brand “whole wheat” noodles that seem healthy but still look at the added ingredients!

 

 

Now here is an inexpensive brand of organic spaghetti with a short list!

While you were purging your pantry, did you notice that some of your boxed cereals have up to 45 different ingredients? Can you imagine making that cereal from scratch with all of those ingredients, some of which you cannot even pronounce? How about everyone’s favorite blue box quick pasta meal? Is cheese even on the list?

Although it is hard to let go of what you know, what tastes good, and what is quick and easy, thinking of the consequences to these conveniences can make it the best decision you made for your family. There are many brands out there that are conducive to a whole foods diet. Just simply read the label! If there are ingredients listed you do not recognize or could not purchase for yourself easily, it is more than likely not a whole food. Even store brand items are going towards more organic, natural, and non-processed. Therefore, providing you with savings compared to some of the bigger natural brands on the market today.

I am the first to admit, even late in this pregnancy, there have been moments I have been driving home and calling the local pizza guy to deliver because I didn’t plan ahead, forgot to turn on the slow cooker, or just do not have the energy to make it through another 30 minutes without food! I just want my husband, toddler and I fed without hearing “Is it ready yet?” And I know that pizza is not a whole food and that I’m making the conscious decision to eat out, and not know what is in the pizza ingredients. However, this isn’t an everyday occurrence for us. It’s about once a month at the most.

In our home we follow the Food Rules and typically we follow the rule of “If you want junk food, make it yourself,” but in the case of the 5:30 PM meltdown, we follow the “Treat treats as treats” rule for our nights eating out.

January Week 2 Action Item:

Each week we will try to give you some simple action steps to put this journey into practice. It is important that you start this journey by understanding yourself, your goals, and perhaps your obstacles.
 
**If you missed week 1, please make sure you start there!
  1. Leave us a comment on our Facebook Fan Page or below, and let us know what you believe will be some of your hardest habits to break. Or if you have brand loyalty that you do not feel you can give up and why.
  2. Explore your habits and take small steps to change them. Take a few minutes this week to see what habits you have that lead you towards consuming or purchasing non real and whole foods. Is it the drive-thru coffee on the way to work in the morning? How about purchasing fair trade organic coffee in bulk online? Grinding it at home and making your own fresh cup, and on average saving you up to $3/day? Do you need quick and easy meals ready at dinner time? Explore the Real Foods Meal Plan and pick out a few recipes that you know your family will enjoy and do some freezer cooking!

January Get Real:

Please take a moment to thank our guest authors and sponsors by clicking over to their sites and/or liking them on Facebook and/or Twitter.

Guest Author – Lisa Leake of 100 Days of Real Food
Sponsor: ZipList – One pledged Get Real participant will be winning a $200 Visa Gift Card to help them restock their pantry! ***This giveaway is now closed.***
 
*This post contains affiliate links.