The Process of Processed Foods

So the journey continues and I am 2 full weeks into limiting processed foods and felt the need to share some things about it. One of the first things you should know is that you may go through a detox/withdrawal period when coming off food that your body is used to: rice, pasta, sweets, caffeine, pork etc. I personally went through this last week and it went like this: exhausted, cranky, headaches, and one day where everything I ate tasted terrible!!! You will get past these days although it feels impossible at the time. I will be introducing BROWN rice and WHOLE WHEAT pasta back into my diet at some point, but for now I needed a full detox period (atleast 1 month) Another thing is that it is a slow process: like I said in the previous blog, I am making as much as I can homemade (HM) - which right now is everything except for ranch dressing - I make my own but I use mayo in it. Eventually I would like to make my own mayo and then it really will be all natural. Oh and I also don't make my own tortilla chips to go with my HM salsa and HM refried beans (and I doubt I ever will, unless I win the lottery and can hire a personal chef)! So wherever you are in the "process" remember this: Every Little Bit Helps. When you prepare things from scratch there are so many health benefits and you recieve many more nutrients than if it came in a package!!! It does take time and plenty of planning ahead, but it is worth it for me and my family to be healthy. Hope you are all enjoying this process as much as I am!!!

Let's Eat!

Well, I am not a writer, but I am taking a shot at this blogging thing because of a passion of mine - FOOD!!!! Hopefully this will help and inspire everyone who reads it. And I am hoping that this will be a site I can come to for recipes and inspiration from all of you!!! There are a few of us that have started a "Food Group" in which we meet and discuss healthy lifestyle changes concerning food. So far, we have comitted to use very little/no foods that come in a box or can - eliminating preservatives and just plain junk that is put in our foods. Making everything from scratch allows you to control the amt of fat, salt, sugar, etc in what you eat. This may sound impossible, but we are all doing it together and encouraging each other along the way. Plus, we understand it is a process to be fully "junk" free. Some things I have done so far....Homemade Peanut Butter (Alton Brown's Recipe) and Homemade Refried Beans (Pioneer Woman's Recipe) - Now I dont mind my 3 year old wanting a PB sandwich every day, cause I know exactly what is in it and it is a wonderful source of protein for me!!!! I have so many things on my mind right now about food and what America has done to it, but that will have to wait for another time....I must go make ranch dressing now!!! I can't wait to see where this food adventure takes us!!!!!