Learning how to start eating real food can be a daunting task. There's a lot of information and systems out there to rely on but it can be overwhelming. And as a busy mom, you might be curious as to how eating less processed food is going to fit into your grocery budget!
Learn not only how to make the transition to a whole food diet but also how to make it PRACTICAL as a big family with small kids.
Don't want to read?
Join mama of four Heather Englund and me in the audio version above as we share our tips and tools for learning how to start eating more whole foods and less processed foods... and making it PRACTICAL for a busy household.
What Is A Real Food Diet?
Though the term "real food"' means something a little bit different to everyone, a general consensus is that a this diet refers to eating whole, unprocessed food as much as possible.
The easiest way to think about it is to ask if it came from nature. Did it grow from the ground or have a mother? Is it something you could find if you went out into the world?
Some examples are:
- Meat
- Vegetables
- Fruits
- Nuts
- Grains
- Seeds
Foods that are as unprocessed as possible
Benefits Of Real Food For Kids (and moms!)
To help our babes grow, we want to give them the best building blocks we can. And that means whole, unprocessed foods.
Some benefits of eating better foods are:
- Optimal growth (giving the body what it needs)
- Better brain development
- Improves focus
- Hunger regulation
- Stabilized energy levels
- Quality sleep
- Well rounded palate
Though the benefits of learning to eat real food are immense, it can definitely be a struggle teaching kids to appreciate them.
Hack: the younger you start them the better!
How To Start Eating Real Food
Making the switch to a healthy is daunting. But there are some tricks you can use.
Most importantly though is to not try to do everything all at once. Give yourself (or your kids) time to adjust to the changes.
Start Slow
Especially when it comes to kids, you can't just do a full overhaul. Starting by adding MORE options on the table instead of just taking things away.
Be Open Minded
Have an open mind about trying new foods and new ways of cooking. If you jump into the mindset that you dislike something before you've tried it, you're not likely to enjoy it.
Learn To Cook
You'll need to learn to cook if you expect to not eat processed foods . Challenge yourself to try one new recipe each week to branch out of your usual way of cooking.
Experiment with spices, seasonings, and different vegetables you normally wouldn't grab.
You need to step outside your comfort zone if you expect to make a change.
Get Excited
Get yourself and your kids hyped up to try new things and new colors. Let them go to the grocery store with you and pick out something new to try so that they feel like they have a say in what's happening.
Learn To Meal Prep
If you want to make a healthy diet a long-term thing, get comfy with some prep work. Having cooked chicken or chopped veggies in the fridge is crucial to making dinners easier to throw together.
Without these little staples, you're much more likely to give up (learn how to make meal prep easier!).
Use Real Food Convenience Food
You don't need to reinvent the wheel! Frozen veggies or pre-chopped veggies are easy ways to still get more veggies into your diet.
How To Plan Meals To Make It WORK
There's no doubt about it, planning your meals in advance will be a game changer to sticking to eating quality foods.
What are some, what are some routines and systems you kind of use to manage at all?
- Have one day per week in which you decide what you're having for dinner for the next week.
- Choose 3-4 meals that you and the kids enjoy for breakfast and rotate through them. There's no need to try something new every day!
- After planning out your meals, make a grocery list and execute.
- Pick one day to get some meal prep done.
You don't need to prep the full meal to make it easier. Instead, have veggies chopped up in advance. Cook rice or quinoa so that you just need to reheat them.
Hack: when you make pancakes on the weekend, make extra so that you just have to reheat them on a weekday morning!
If you're cooking meat one night, double up so you don't have to cook it again.
And of course, repurpose! Roast enough veggies to make a side dish one night and throw into a pasta the next night. Extra chicken can be made into a casserole or soup. Be strategic.
If you fail to plan, you're planning to fail.
Frequently Asked Questions About Real Food Diets
Switching to a real food diet can also come with the added benefit of weight loss for some! This is because whole foods are rich in macronutrients and vitamins we need to THRIVE. They tend to be nutrient dense but not always calorie dense and our body is more likely to use the fuel because it knows what to do with it.
Chicken, eggs, vegetables, fruits, seeds, avocados, beef, herbs, spices, fish, and yogurt are all examples of real food.
Keto, paleo, dairy-free, and gluten-free can all be part of a real food diet depending on your personal beliefs as to what is included. None of them are specifically real food-based though.
Real Food Recipes You'll Love
- One pan sausage and veggies
- Sheet pan steak fajitas
- 30+ Gluten-free snacks
- Vanilla collagen donuts
- Dairy-free alfredo sauce
- Dairy-free gluten-free dinner recipes
- Stovetop venison stew
- Baked teriyaki chicken thighs
- 30 minute teriyaki meatballs
- One pot chicken alfredo
- Slow cooker teriyaki chicken
- Easy cauliflower rice
- Dairy-free gluten-free dinner recipes
- Stovetop venison stew
- Baked teriyaki chicken thighs
- 30 minute teriyaki meatballs
- One pot chicken alfredo
- Slow cooker teriyaki chicken
- Easy cauliflower rice
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