Eating Healthy In The New Year

Like EVERYONE else, a New Year's resolution in our household is to eat healthy and to continue getting in shape.  We're actually doing pretty good... both Dave and I have lost about 5 pounds each since the holidays.  Mine is motivated by fitting into my jeans and Dave's is motivated by his desire to get a Nintendo Wii (we have a deal).

The added benefit is getting wholesome foods into our kids every day.  They have both been very picky eaters in the past, but Joey now eats everything (even if he doesn't like it).  I guess that's a sign of things to come... I'm bracing myself for his teenage years.  And Abi has turned a corner in the last month, at the very least trying everything on her plate and eating most of it!  Yea!  I thought we would be limited to mac and cheese forever!  Actually, I was determined that we wouldn't be tied to that overused kid food, so I kept filling her plate with food and praying that eventually she'd decide she didn't like being hungry.

In recent years, we've focused on eating healthy (except for the occasional indulgences) and have opted for quality rather than low price.  But I still search for a frugal deal when I can find one.  Red Beans & Rice has become a staple in our house.  Number 1 because it's healthy and number 2 because it's CHEAP!  I think I've figured that it only costs about 50 cents per serving, even though I buy the premium red beans (Camelia really is the best!).  Everyone in our house LOVES it, which is the top reason I LOVE New Orleans!  Click here for a link to the recipe I use.

Also to come out of my kitchen this week were Lemon-Blueberry Muffins.  Doesn't sound terribly healthy, but in my defense, I used a Cooking Light recipe :)  I made them in my muffin-top pan to change things up a bit (reduced the baking time by 5 minutes)... I'd show you a picture, but they're gone!  Abi enjoyed helping me make these.  I don't know that we'd share them with others though because Abi does lick her fingers while cooking.  For some reason, she thinks picking up the flour off the counter and eating it is a tasty treat.  I disagree.  Click here for the recipe (without Abi slime).

Teaching Abigail to bake.  Word to the wise: don't eat what she makes, you might get extra slime in your food.

On the to-do list for the rest of the week: chicken enchiladas and corn and black bean salsa, homemade granola bars, and a "healthy" dessert for the Pray & Play Discussion Night.  Mmmmmmm.