Whole foods, Vegan, Clean Eating, whatever

In September, our diet took a big turn for the better. We had been enjoying the average American diet filled with meat at every meal, dessert after every dinner, and comfort food every day. Yes, we strived for whole wheat and skim milk. But it didn't always happen. Then I read Jessie Hawkins book Vintage Remedies Guide to Real Food(www.vintageremedies.com). And we stumbled upon the movie Forks over Knives and the Engine 2 story. And viola! Here is the basic guideline that our household is trying to reach(And in a budget friendly manner):
1. Nothing processed: No man made ingredients. If it has the words, hydrogenated, hydrolyzed, modified, high fructose, ends in a number, or is something that I cant pronounce or picture in nature, then I don't buy it or feed it to my family.
2. Whole grains: whole grain brown rice and other rices, 100% whole wheat pastas,100% whole grain breads.
3. A Maximum of 2 meat dinners per week. Strive for free range and grass fed, local if possible. Opt for safe, sustainable fish. Everything else is vegan or vegetarian
4. Use extra virgin olive oil sparingly for cooking. If baking and oil is needed, sub applesauce or use canola oil.
5. Limit myself(not my kids) to one serving of dairy a day. I use Unsweetened vanilla almond milk instead.
6. Fruits and veggies, fruits and veggies, and fruits and veggies. As many as I can!
7. No refined sugars! Instead sugar is replaced by evaporated cane juice(sucanot). Along with maple syrup, honey, brown rice syrup, and other natural sweeteners. Natural sweeteners are used sparingly.
8. Strive for organic when necessary(this one we are working on).


I think this about sums it up. Maybe? It's still a work in progress. Not 100%. For instance, I still give the kids honey nut cheerios for breakfast. I haven't been able to find a cereal that we can both agree on that is a whole food. Ideally I would make them oatmeal(1/2 C oats, 1/2 C water, 1/2 C Milk, 1t suconat) every morning. But it gets monotonous for them after a week or so. Plus it's a bit hot here some days for oatmeal.

The frustrating thing about this is that my husband has lost almost 30 lbs since September. Just from the difference in our diet. And a couple inches off his waist! Me-maybe 5 lbs. But no difference in my waist. But I feel great! Which is a start Ugh! Time to kick it up a notch!!