the proof is in the pudding

Actually, the proof is in the Supersized Fries, but that title isn't as catchy, is it? 

Last week I asked us all to become more aware of what/how we are eating--the good and the bad. If you're just joining us, see Part One here.

The point of this post, (if there actually ends up being a point more than just making myself look gross), 

is that people can change. 

People that have no desire to change. 

People like me.

What....you thank I always ate my own grown garden veggies?

ha.

We're fast forwarding from 6th grade me, to high school me. 

Enter hair.

I was always very active in high school--I played softball for two years, and basketball for four. Basketball practices were like natzi training camps--there were practices where I thought I actually might die--so intense I would ask myself several times why I was doing this……wait, why was I doing that? 

(And the funny thing is I would actually pay for a workout like that today)

I was scrawny and boney, and with weight gain not a possibility if I tried, I ate. 

And ate. 

Crap. 

My favorite was a toss up between the McDonalds #2 (two cheeseburgers, fries and a drink (root beer or that terrible fake lemonade)), and yep, sometimes I supersized it; and I also loved the Jr. Bacon Cheeseburger at Wendy's, with a Biggie fry and a frosty. 

And why not eat these at 10:00pm when you're in town with your friends 

(note: the phrase "in town" refers to being a small town kid who had nowhere in their own small town to go (bar anyone?), so we had to go to "Town" to do actual "things".)

Living in a small area, we traveled a few hours for some of our basketball games, and after the game was over, before our big bus rolled out of town we would stop at a gas station to get "dinner". Sometimes I would reach for my trusty dusty #2, or if McDonalds wasn't available, I'd grab my other favorite. 

Brace yourself. 

1 Bag of Nacho Cheese Doritos. 

1 package Little Debbie Swiss Rolls. 

1 package Grandmas Chocolate Cookies. 

1 Ruby Red grapefruit juice.

For dinner.

Nutritional content aside, what kind of weird combination is that?? I pride myself today on combining different flavors, but really? nacho cheese, fake chocolate, and GRAPEFRUIT? gross. 

Now back to  nutritional content--keep in mind this was after I'd just ran my little heart out in a basketball game--probably not the best choice of food to refuel.

But I know what you are thinking....

What high schooler doesn't eat bad?

Most do, I am aware of that.  

But my point here is that the habit can be broken.

Over the years (it took years) I completely lost any desire to eat those things- I have come a long way.

You don't have to start out all green and earthy and hippie and weird.

Anyone can change.

 I think people convince themselves that they actually NEED to eat this way, and I promise you, you don't. 

I was once a lover, and have been off the stuff for years (uh, junkie?)

Please don't think I'm telling you not to eat at your favorite burger/taco/chicken/popcorn shrimp place.

Eat what you want, when you want it, I am no burger Hitler.

But if you are STILL reading this, I'm betting it's something that has been on your mind. 

The road to better eating isn't lined with drive thru windows every quarter mile. 

If you are thinking you want to cut back, here are just  few simple ideas.

I'm traveling across the country:

If you have read this blog at all, you know that every month or so we are on the road somewhere. We have family 100s of miles above and below us, and it seems as though we are always packing or unpacking from a trip somewhere (note: hey family, come see us!)

We don't stop for fast food, which yes, takes a bit of  planning ahead. 

-we pack food. lots. sandwiches. crackers. cheese. trailmix. water. and m&ms. because they are perfect roadtrip food.

-we google. If we need to stop for one real meal,  wherever we are going, we google the restaurants first. We've eaten at small town diners (some good, some bad), or find the Olive Gardens and Applebees of the world.....my favorite? no. Better options than a drive-thru window? yes.

-and if that's not available (Nevada could really use some more restaurants, ahem), we go to a grocery store and buy, fruit, yogurt,  more crackers, more cheese......it's basically a free for all.

I live in my car:

I have two super crazy days a week where I leave the house before 8am and don't get home until around 2pm. We are here and there and in between--and at some point, we have to eat. This is where you might think that a drive through would be so convenient--it would be! But with a few extra minutes of planning in the morning, we have pb sandwiches, apples or cheese and a water bottle ready to go in the car. 

Easy. Cheap. Healthy.

note: healthy eating will always take a bit of planning in advance....but really, we are talking minutes!

I'm tired/I don't want to cook/I need something fast:

This is where people start to over think. There are so many things that you have in your fridge just begging to be eaten. 

-Do you know how fast spaghetti cooks....the whole wheat spaghetti I buy takes 8 minutes. 8 minutes!

-grilled cheese sandwich. one of our favorites (if you're feeling fancy use swiss)

-egg and cheese sandwich

-turkey sandwich

-don't get me started on how many awesome sandwiches you can make in just a few minutes

-black bean burritos

(I'll be posting some more quick dinner ideas in a post down the road)

I really just want my #2

Then eat it! Just don't eat it all the time. 

A couple times a year I indulge in In-N-Out, or Five Guys, because let's not lie, that is some good stuff. 

In moderation.

I also highly recommend that you--all of you--watch Supersize Me--whether you love fast food or hate it, it's very and informative and quite entertaining (in a completely disgusting way of course).

Last week I talked about how breaking habits and getting into the groove of better eating can be overwhelming and seem impossible, and I believe it IS impossible to do it all at once. 

But if you look at it in little tiny pieces, and take it slowly, it will seem much more doable.

So this week I challenge you, to make a sandwich. 

Really--that's it. 

Make your kids a sandwich for the car, or swap out your drive thru for grilled cheese at home.

And if you feel overwhelmed, or think it's too much....just picture big haired me shoving my face with cheeseburgers, milkshakes, and grandmas cookies, because if anything.....it's really funny.

I'd love to hear your ideas on how you avoid the drive thru window, and even more I'd love to hear about your binges of yester year.

*disclaimer: this post was written at midnight. My eyes were crossing as I proof read.


*disclaimer: I'm really nervous about what kind of google hits I'm going to get after using "nazi" and "hitler" in the same post

*disclaimer: see meg and liz, it's me. 

edited to add:

I should point out that we ate really well at home--we had family dinner every night, and my mom packed our lunches for school each day. So my terrible eating was only an extra curricular activity.....but still....