3 Reasons Oatmeal is a Perfect Go-To Breakfast

1.    I love oatmeal! I haven't always enjoyed it. I definitely was not a fan growing up. And as an adult I prefer plain oatmeal that I can dress up how I would like it. 

     Why?!?! Well I'm glad you asked. 

     3 Reasons Oatmeal is a Perfect Go-To Breakfast

h    1. Oatmeal is a good source of fiber, so it will keep you full longer and could help you eat less throughout the day. 

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      2. Oatmeal is inexpensive! Need I say more? 

      

      3. Plain oatmeal can be dressed up anyway you would like. I have even seen recipes for savory oatmeal dishes! The possibilities are endless :-) 

     With that being said, here's one of my favorite oatmeal recipes!

      Paige’s Favorite Oatmeal:  Mix 1/2c  oatmeal + 1/2c -1c almond milk (depends on how thick you want it). Add ½ tsp vanilla extract, cinnamon and peanut butter. Cook the oatmeal OR store in the refrigerator overnight. Add 1/2c blueberries before eating. You can cook your blueberries if you prefer. Note: You do not have to cook the overnight oats in the morning, but you can if you prefer warm oatmeal.

How I Bought Groceries for the Week & Only Spent $25

Yesterday I bought my groceries for the week and only spent $25.  And no, I am not a coupon-er! This doesn’t happen every week, but when it does – it is always welcomed!

So, how do I get these weeks?  Well, I have a few standard practices that I stick to.

1. Shop from a list.  This is like “don’t go grocery shopping when you are hungry.” Without a list you end up buying things you don’t need. A list keeps you focused and it also prevents repeat trips to the store (where you will likely buy other extra stuff). Make a meal plan. Make your grocery list from that meal plan. And shop from that list.

2. Buy in bulk. Buy items like rice, quinoa, grits, and other grains in bulk. They are cheaper this way. I also buy meat in bulk, because family packs can be less expensive per pound that smaller packaged meats. Additionally, if I find meat on sale I buy extra. Separate what you need and freeze the rest. You can cook it before you freeze it or freeze it raw. This keeps you from having to buy meat every week. And meat can be a big part of your grocery bill. This is also the case for snacks like nuts, dried fruit and air popped popcorn. The snack sized or single serving packages are priced higher. Buy the big bags and separate them into servings yourself using Tupperware containers or snack sized ziplock bags.

3. Buy in season. Produce that is in season is less expensive. Coincidentally, it is also better quality in terms of nutrients and flavor.  You will notice the change in prices, but you can also google a list of in-season produce.

This list may help you plan your meals based on what is in season. 

4. Cook from scratch. Prepackaged or premixed dishes can be costly. Buying all of the ingredients and cooking from scratch allows you to get more bang for your buck because you can make more servings or meals. Freeze extras or plan your meals around the ingredients that you have on hand.

5. Shop around. I got this from my grandfather. Some items are cheaper at other stores. So, if your grocery store doesn’t price match, learn which stores have the best prices for particular items. Of course, this is only practical if you have a few grocery stores within close proximity.

My $25 week happened because I shopped from a list, didn’t have to buy items that I previously bought in bulk, the produce I bought was all in-season and I only bought whole ingredients and not packaged or premixed items. 

My food as I began to prep for this week. 

Children Have No Business Dieting and Working Out: How to Raise Healthy Children

I should probably start with this fact. I don't have children.

KEEP READING!

I don't have kids, but I was overweight as a child. So maybe I can't speak on my parenting experience, but I can speak from a child's point of view.

I was skinny through 1st grade. And then in 2nd grade I started gaining weight. It all started with the day my grandfather bought me a doughnut while we were grocery shopping.... Ok, not really but the times did coincide. The fact that I can pinpoint my weight gain at age 7 is a problem in and of itself.

Anyway, I digress.

I gained weight each year and even though I was never bullied, I was aware that I was overweight in comparison to my classmates. My 3rd grade teacher made a big deal about my being over 100lbs. My uncle told me I would have to lose weight to be in his wedding. He was NOT engaged by the way. Just crushing my spirits for no reason. My grandmother (by marriage) made comments about how I needed to lose weight every time I saw her. I should add, these RUDE people never said these things to me when my mom was around.

I'm sorry. I was 8, how exactly did they expect me to know how to correct the "problem" that they so graciously were bringing to my attention? They didn't think about that part. Or how their comments would make me feel.

So yeah, it's true that people don't remember what you said, but how you made them feel. Can't quote any of these people, but I know my feelings were hurt.

That was my experience. Pair that with the fact that I saw a father acting like a drill sergeant towards his slightly overweight, prepubescent daughter last night in the gym... and here we are. I gotta address this.

So what do you do if your child is overweight?

For starters, you don't say hurtful things to them and to the best of your ability you keep others from doing that as well.  They know. You don't have to tell them. My niece was in kindergarten last year and well aware that she was bigger than the other children. So believe me - you don't need to tell them. Do you tell grown ups they are "fat?" No. And if you do, stop that.

Then you have to address their exercise & nutrition in a natural way. In other words, make changes to the family's lifestyle without drawing attention to their weight and/or size.

In terms of food, start cooking and buying healthier foods. No "diet" talk. Just do it. Let them pick their favorite fruits and veggies. Teach them to cook. Make it fun for them. My mom started teaching my niece all about fruits and veggies and introducing her to new foods. She loved it & doesn't put up a big stink about eating them. Diet talk is hurtful and reinforces the idea that something is wrong with them. You're the adult. You control the food. Replace junk food with healthier options. And model the behavior! Everybody needs to eat healthier! Again, you don't want to make them self-conscious.

(top) Me, my mom, Tiffany, Cam &a friend at a race a few years ago.

(bottom) Tiffany & Cam at a Color Vibe 5K they recently ran together. 

Now exercise. My mom bought us a trampoline. My brother started jumping and learned to flip on it. All kinds of things. He lost weight. I read on the trampoline. Like laid down and used it as a hammock. And on hot days, I took a blanket outside and laid under the trampoline for shade. It's ok you can laugh. I am laughing as I type this. How ridiculous was I?!!? So the trampoline didn't work. But when I was in the 6th grade she signed me up for "cheernastics." Basically it was cheerleading and tumbling skills. I went 3 days a week, but because I enjoyed it I practiced all the time too. Voila! I started losing weight & that was the beginning of my athletic interests.

Find something your child enjoys doing & let them do it. And again, this shouldn't just be "their thing." Be an example. Let them see you being active too.

My best friend Tiffany is a great example of all of this. She runs with my Goddaughter & they even do races together. Cam knows she is exercising, but she is more focused on hanging with her mom than anything else. And Tiff exposed Cam to healthy foods early on, so she enjoys things like salads (her lunch of choice this school year) and brussels sprouts (which I've seen her eat alongside pizza lol).

Children have no business "dieting and working out" unless they are serious athletes. They have their entire lives to be consumed with body image. Protect their innocence and  show them how to live a healthy lifestyle.

Thanks Mom for not belittling me or making me feel self-conscious no matter what size I was!