I don't have time!!! or the $$

This is what I hear people say, " I just don't have time to eat healthy". Really? How much time does it take you to wait in a drive through? How much time is lost by the "after lunch slump" you find yourself in after you eat processed foods? How hard is it to grab an apple instead of a bag of chips? If you give it a try, figure out a system you will find it is not as hard as you imagined! You can even find grab and go snacks that are oober healthy....right now I am in LOVE with KIND bars.

I pack food for my family just about everywhere we go. I do this for two reasons, 1: we are on a budget and I can't afford fast food. 2: we are aware of what's in processed foods and our health can't afford fast food. I have fun little BPA FREE bags that I pack all of our food in. They are reusable so I don't waste money on plastic baggies. The hubby has one lunch box and the kiddos have another. Sure, it takes about 10 minutes to pack up food for the day but I save $$, never sit in a drive through line, have snacks when the kids get cranky and cut down on behavior problems often seen in kiddos when they have enjoyed their fast food lunch (trust me, I know this first hand!)

We pack hummus, pitas, fruit and veggies. If we are going to be on the go (the zoo or a park) I leave the hummus at home (don't want the hassle) and instead we have fruit and veggie slices, raw sunflower seeds with chocolate chips and water. The kids eat until they are full and we avoid the sugar crash and meltdowns....life is good! Not to mention when a kid (or adult for that matter) is hungry we are hungry NOW! By packing our snacks we are able to eat whenever we need which helps us avoid the overeating frenzy often following hunger that is left unchecked. The kiddos have a cup of Almond Milk or water whenever we are in the car. The hubby has sweet white tea (sweetened with agave) and I have hot tea (with yummy local honey). People joke becuase we are ALWAYS eating something or have "sweet tea" yet my prego weight is falling off and white sugar is not something used in our house (unless it's holiday sugar cookies).

side note: I also hear "It's so expensive". I have a MUCH smaller food budget right now vs this time last year.....I buy MUCH healthier foods and am able to pull it off on a smaller budget. How do I do this? I don't buy processed foods which frees up $$ for yummy, organic fruits and veggies! I also buy the cuts of meat I can afford, buy whole chickens (which are SOOO much cheaper than individual cuts) and found a produce co-op. Oatmeal vs commercial cereal alone is a HUGE savings! Find a grocery store where you can buy things in bulk and you'll save even more! Farmers Markets, local farms/ranches.....use your resources (or look at mine) and you will be amazed what is right in your own backyard.

Yes, I have gone "off the deep end" and am a little OCD about all of this but it brings me great joy as a wife and mommy to know I am providing my family with the best possible food I can (and know how to) short of living on a farm and growing it all myself (very tempting but money doesn't grow on trees!) I love reading and researching food, nutrition and how to get the most out of the food God has given us. I feel like this is one of my jobs as the wife/mommy, I take it very seriously and am lovin every minute of it!

Suggestions welcome....this is a work in progress!