Days 1 & 2 – The Importance of Planning

Hey Gang-

I happy to announce that I have successfully completed Day 1 and that I am two/thirds of the way through Day 2!  All weekend long I pondered and discussed with friends the potential benefits of this plan. Since I first decided to partake in this journey, a number of my friends and family members have decided to join me. Let me tell you, I am so much more motivated because of this community effort.

Over the weekend, I snuck in a few foods that I knew would not be able to enjoy in the days ahead: two rolls of sushi and my adoptive mom’s lemon tart! Surprisingly, I felt a little guilty even though my target start date was Monday.

Regardless, I woke up Monday morning ready to go! One problem- what the heck should I eat?! The first lesson of this plan = INTENTIONALITY. There is no way that I will get through this if I am not intentional about planning my meals. But since I hadn’t, I was stuck with whatever was in the refrigerator. Fortunately, I happen to live with two of the most health-conscious people I have ever met, therefore I was able to get by.

My Day 1 Meals

Breakfast: a fruit smoothie

Snack 1: an apple

Lunch: peanut butter/banana sandwich and leftover mixed greens with vinegarette

Snack 2: a peach

Dinner: shrimp with tomatillo/poblano puree, rice and tomatoes/mozerella.

Let me tell you, dinner was awesome. As soon as I get a copy of the recipe, I will post it.

Day 2 Meals (so far..)

Breakfast: a fruit smoothie + protein (I found that the protein keeps me full longer!)

Snack 1: Granola + a small container of cut-up strawberries and blueberries

Lunch: Sauteed zucchini and yellow squash on toasted bread with homemade pesto and cheese + tomato/cucumber/feta w/ balsamic vinegar

Snack 2: Apple

 

As I said before, it is so important to plan your meals. When the food is already prepped for the next day, it’s a lot easier to just eat it and not have to fight urges to run and grab a burger!

What’s Your Inspiration?

Food. I crave it. I cook it. I love it. And while that may sound rather simplistic, I choose to describe my relationship with food in no other way. I want a brownie, I see it, I eat it. This simple formula has led to the poor eating habits that have plagued my brain, my body, and my health for as long as I can remember. At the height of my time on team sports, my only motivation to eat healthy was so that I wasn’t as tired during hours of conditioning.

Now, things are different. As I embark on the new phases of life after college, I have also decided to embark on a new, healthier me. I must admit that originally the idea to cut out processed foods came from a desire to look great in a turqouise Victoria’s Secret bikini spotted for a trip to the Dominican Republic. But, after talking to a friend who has cut out processed foods for the last 6 months, I realize that while I have short-term visions of my six pack on the beach, the more important goal is to bring as much longevity to my life as possible.

And so.. I have chosen to present myself, coworkers, family and friends with a challenge.  Most of us don’t realize the amount of.. CRAP.. we put in our bodies each and every meal. In an effort to become more aware, I challenge myself to 30 days of eliminating processed food from my diet.

Your plan doesn’t have to be the same. You can commit to 10 days, or maybe you want to try 60. Either way, we will use this blog as a source of support, recipes, and narrative of our challenges, but most importantly of our successes!

So tell us, what’s your time commitment, and what’s your inspiration? 

The Program & Its Rules

 

These rules were adopted from www.100daysofrealfood.com

Pick a set amount of days that you will abide to the plan and stick to it! Commit to at least 10 days and work your way up!

 

What you CAN eat:

1. Whole foods that are more a product of nature than a product of industry
2. Lots of fruits and vegetables (we recommend that you shop for these at your local farmers’ market)
3. Dairy products like milk, unsweetened yogurt, eggs, and cheese
4. 100% whole-wheat and whole-grains (find a local bakery for approved sandwich bread)
5. Seafood (wild caught is the optimal choice over farm-raised)
6. Only locally raised meats such as pork, beef, and chicken (preferably in moderation)
7. Beverages limited to water, milk, all natural juices, naturally sweetened coffee & tea, and, to help the adults keep their sanity, wine and beer!
8. Snacks like dried fruit, seeds, nuts and popcorn
9. All natural sweeteners including honey, 100% maple syrup, and fruit juice concentrates are acceptable in moderation

 

What you CANNOT eat:

1. No refined grains such as white flour or white rice (items containing wheat must say WHOLE wheat…not just “wheat”)
2. No refined sweeteners such as sugar, any form of corn syrup, cane juice, or the artificial stuff like Splenda
3. Nothing out of a box, can, bag, bottle or package that has more than 5 ingredients listed on the label
4. No deep fried foods
5. No “fast foods”

 

Remember to log onto the blog and let us know how it’s going!