I was born a foodie in the warmth of Hawaii, where the freshest of ingredients were grown, harvested or fished. Much of that has changed since the island became a fast-food haven for instant meals. There was a time when your back yard provided papaya, avocado and mangoes. [mangos or mangoes?] My job, as a child, was to look for ripe fruit and bring it to the table.
Our parents weren't concerned about childhood obesity. We were too busy running on the sand, boogie boarding or climbing my grandfather's coconut tree. Food was colorful, organic and straight from the plant source. My how things have changed.
As a mother and a fitness foodie I've taught my children to prepare their own lunches. I want them to have a positive connection to food.
You can learn how to "Eat Clean" with my 26 day: BEAUTIFUL BODY CHALLENGE [BBC]. The link will open the door to a sequence of simple prompts and videos.
“Meals are the rituals of our body, it anoints our digestive system and blesses us with vibrant ENERGY.”
My first memory of lunches in America was negatively etched in my mind. Being a military brat I spent most of my childhood in Hawaii and eventually moved to the Mainland. [What we call the other 48 states, Mainland.] I didn't want my children to have that experience or think that food only came from a plastic bag. Which explains my connection to using glass containers since it doesn't change the quality of food the way plastic does.
Fast forward to my career as a RNCP and fitness professional, what do I see? Individuals on diets that remind me of those icky school lunches. Bland and boring are two words that come to mind. I don't know about you but I'm with Jamie Oliver, we need quality food in our schools. [And more recess, but that's another subject.]
Below are 5 Meal Plan Basics to help jumpstart your holistic and fit life; besides taking my challenge. Link up above.
5 meal plan basics
- Start with what you know. If you grew up with Southern food don't try a bunch of vegan food based off of Indian culture. [Indian: people from India, not Native American's who C.Columbus mislabeled.]
- Discover the power of labels. "No sugar" or "Natural" on packages has zero value compared to the label on the backside of the packaging. Learn more about this in the BBC.
- Swap out ingredients in your recipe. If you like ramen noodles try soba. If you use instant seasonings look for fresh herbs. Do a little research and look for a healthier alternative. Once you've found one, share it with others.
- Buy in bulk, with friends. I've noticed that Costco carries chia seeds, hemp hearts and other organic products but there's a downside. It's usually in a big bag and I might not finish it all. Create a friendly solution.
- Focus on one [1] meal-time. Maybe start with breakfast. Complete parts 1-4 with breakfast in mind and prep the first three days. Keep your meals fresh and full of flavor. Once you've mastered breakfast move on to the next meal.
