Captain Moroni and Eating Healthy

As a mom I can usually predict what my children will forget. My oldest son will always forget his lunch on the kitchen counter. My second son will always forget he has additional homework until bedtime. My daughter will always lose her Sunday shoes; I can go on and on making predictions about what I know about my children. I am usually right. In order to help them succeed, I place Coltons lunch in his backpack. I ask Zac if I can see his homework assignment after school, and I tell Alida “DO NOT TAKE OFF YOUR SHOES UNTIL YOU GET TO YOUR CLOSET”

I know where I am weak. If I am hungry I am unable to eat healthy. A starving stomach is not rational. Healthy eating requires preparation. If I do not have a plan before hand and food at the ready, I will not succeed in weight loss, and healthy living. Just like sitting out your work out clothes the night before I have to plan what I will eat before hunger decides for me. Moroni teaches that I have to provide strength to my weakest spots. I am weak when I am running errands, serving after school snacks (we usually share) and eating seconds.

This is my plan:

In the morning I make a menu for the day. I decide before hand what I can prepare that day to feed me and my family. I make sure I know what I need to pick up and that I will have time to prepare. I have made dinner many times at 8:00 in the morning when I know that my afternoon will be impossible.

I have a huge breakfast of Bob’s Red Mill hot cereal, fruit, & milk. If I am hungry after that I will have wheat toast and freezer jam. If I am in a rush I grab a banana and 3 slices of homemade wheat bread and take it with me. Reading the scriptures while eating helps me stretch the meal out past the 20 minute mark. Make sure you are nice and comfortably full. Do not leave the house unfortified! You are setting yourself up for failure.

I make everyone’s lunches in the morning. I even make the two pre –schoolers and my lunch as well. I bag it, and set it on the counter or take it with us. I usually run errands, and if they go too late I will be tempted to stop and buy McDonalds or Taco Bell. I make myself a lunch of a whole grain bread sandwich, fruit, peas and carrots and a treat like one of those Hershey chocolate 100 calorie sticks, or a snack size big hunk, or 3 musketeers. As long as I have a little chocolate about 2:00 I can get through the day.

In my purse I have a bag of raw almonds and raisins ready to help me defeat the popcorn at Target. I also carry water, and for a treat I will carry flavored water, or diet pop, that helps me defeat starbucks frapachinos (I live in the Northwest – they are everywhere.)

In my van I carry slim-fast snack bars and meal replacement bars. That is backup, which protects me from candy bars and starvation in the afterschool driving thing, or when I am crazy busy and didn’t get to eat breakfast. This is important. You have to have back up. I also buy Costco size Extra bubble gum. I place some in my purse, some in my van and some in my drawers in the kitchen. If you chew gum while you cook, you won’t be tempted to taste. I always make sure I have gum in my mouth during my greatest temptations, cookie dough or yellow cake batter.

Dinner is always spent together sitting down. I find if I plate the food before it gets to the table it is easier to resist seconds. I have never asked for seconds at a restaurant. I will prepare veggies different ways and serve more of that than the main course. I use brown rice, homemade whole wheat bread, wheat pasta, and fresh fruit. My goal is to get good and full within 20 minutes which will get me through the night.

There are zillions of recipies for healthy food everywhere. Be creative. Instead of white tortillias in enchiladas, use corn tortillias. White pasta, use wheat, cheerios, use cracked wheat or oatmeal. Use the thing with the most power in it.

Remember Pac Man? The little dots fed the guy, but the big colored blobs gave him super energy. You want super energy! You want to be full of grains, fruit and veggies so that you can resist the worthless foods. They are not your friends.

In the evening I drink hot chocolate, peppermint tea or chamomile tea. I always stop eating by 7:00 then it is just water or nothing baby.

For the things that come up that always include treats like book club, young womens, or R.S. I prepare in advance and have a smaller dinner, or smaller snack. Then I take the treat, (don’t be afraid to offend by asking for small) and enjoy, and stay away from the table after that. When treats are left out they are dangerous. You have no way of monitoring yourself. Pretend they are kryptonite. Stay on the other side of the room. If the temptation is too much and you don’t feel very strong, don’t be afraid to leave before the refreshments come out.

Don’t drink calories. Eating is so much more fun. Stay away from regular pop, juices and consider milk as a serving of dairy. It has calories too so be careful to not be unlimited.

Here is a plug for “retiring to thy bed early” (D&C 88:124) I am in bed by 9:30 and asleep by 10:00. It is easier to avoid late night snacking while asleep. It is easier to get up early and exercise too. DVR’s make it possible to save any show that you want to watch, and going to bed early will protect you from so much temptation and I feel so much better when I get my 8 hours. You can do anything for 2 weeks, give it a try and see if I am right. Remember “an ounce a morning beats a pound of afternoon.

In the comments section write out some of your ideas. Things that help you fortify your weak spots. This can be useful to others that read this blog.

“And why should I yield to sin, because of my flesh? Yea, why should I give way to temptations, that the evil one have place in my heart to destroy my peace and afflict my soul? Why am I angry because of mine enemy?
Awake my soul! No longer droop in sin. Rejoice, O my heart, and give place no more for the enemy of my soul.” (2 Nephi 4:27-28)