While I’ve always been a stickler for giving my kids the best nutrition possible, I’ve not always been so good to myself. When my kids were babies, I only fed them organic foods, and made baby food purees out of anything I couldn’t find in jars.
Avocados, beets, asparagus, pumpkin, nutritional yeast, blackstrap molasses, flaxseed meal, and turmeric. I’d mix and create concoctions for them which might not sound like epicurean delights, but they were solid boosts of nutrition and I felt so good knowing that I was giving them the best start in life that I could.
In order to make sure they had all of these quality foods, I had to cut back on what I ate. So, they got organic, and I didn’t always. They grew up with the best probiotics, and whole food supplements, and I didn’t take anything. I knew the importance of taking care of myself, but invested so much into them that I really did put myself in the backseat.
This didn’t really seem to matter much, since I was getting enough calories, and rarely got sick myself, but as the years have passed, I’ve come to understand the importance of being as kind to my body as I have been to theirs. I owe it to my kids to keep them healthy, and I also owe it to them to make sure their mom stays well for years to come.
So, ironically, now that I’m a single mom, and have far less funds to play with….I’ve decided that this is the time when I need to spread the health-wealth over to myself as well. You can’t put a price on your wellbeing after all, can you?
I started taking supplements a few years ago and immediately noticed a change in my energy levels, my immune function, and overall health. I basically started using the same supplements that my kids had been taking for years, and which I had learned of via the naturopathic and integrative doctors that I’ve known and trusted for ages. Things like curcumin, probiotics, magnesium, digestive enzymes, fish oil, extra Vitamin D, and desiccated beef liver. I know some people don’t believe in taking supplements, but I trust the highly educated minds of the doctors I’ve worked with since my son was 2, and seeing as so much of our soil is depleted of essential nutrients and minerals, our foods have become less nutrient dense as a result. It’s a sad truth, but a truth nonetheless. So yes, I am all about the supplements!
By the time I started taking supplements, I had also already made a general disposal of all the chemical and toxin laden household products and hygiene items. With so much out of our control environmentally, I wanted to make sure that what we touched, consumed, and breathed-in while at home was as safe as possible. So, there I was making lots of changes. My kids were still eating insanely healthy foods, I was taking my supplements, and drinking lots of water….but I still wasn’t eating right. I wasn’t eating junk food, or anything horrible, really….but I was lacking tremendously in the fresh fruits and vegetable department. I was also definitely not getting enough quality protein.
As most moms will tell you, regardless of whether you believe in healthy eating or not, we moms tend to skip meals without even realizing it. Tired, busy, taking care of everyone and everything often times means an entire day has gone by and you’ve only had coffee and some toast if you’re lucky. I have a tendency to lose weight easily, so it was always a worry of mine that I’d get too thin…and too thin is not a look I like or want for myself. So, I’d make up for my skipped meals by eating an ungodly amount of cheese and bread at the end of the day….and cookies. If I had a glass of my kids’ green juice, I’d feel pretty damn accomplished.
This is how things went for me until very recently. I wrote about a health scare I had in my last post, and how much Frankincense essential oil helped with that. This event was also a wake up call for how much I needed to start paying attention to the quality of food that I was eating. I started watching several food documentaries, and reading more about different foods and exactly what they each can do for our bodies. I knew a lot of this to begin with, which is why I’ve fed my kids the way I have, but I needed the reminder for my own benefit.
So….now I’m adamant about what I eat and when. No skipping meals no matter how busy I am. I eat as well as my kids do. Quality proteins, fresh produce, varieties of seeds, and plenty of healthy fats. My instinct is always going to be to do what’s best for them first, but I’m finally making room for myself.
Why am I telling you all this? Well, because I’m newly inspired to start sharing about all of the foods I’m loving so much right now. So, be prepared for lots of me geeking out on nutrition. It’ll be fun. I promise! And if you are like me, and haven’t found the inspiration to get yourself healthy because you’ve been doing so much for everyone else….hopefully you’ll find some inspiration to join me on this journey.
header photo by Jessica Lewis
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