We all know that Moms are the backbone to families, and strong families are the backbone to our communities future........would you agree to that?
If yes.......move on to next question.....
Would you agree that if any person in your family was diagnosed with diabetes, and the medication was an additional $50 a month out of pocket expence, you would find a way to make that work......right?
If yes............move on to next question.....
So how is being on a strict budget (I am as well!) and not spending just a little bit extra a month to help you succeed in being a healthy wife and mom different????
I thought I would need to spend about $125 or more a month to get healthy options to keep me on track, but guess what? When you take off the take out pizza, the burgers on the run, latte, etc you save some money. And processed foods really are expensive. I find the best buy on produce (usually at the Hispanic grocery store) and I focus my week around that.
Make up big salads ahead of time, they are your go to foundation. Cook up chicken breast to have ready to go. beans are a great cheap protien, add them to other things like for chili, or have the seperate and add to salads and pasta
Package up last nights left overs for your lunch. Start your day off with some type of breakfast, oatmeal is a great choice, or whole grain toast with no sugar added peanut butter with a banana.
Apples, oranges, bananas....what ever is on sale stock up, that is your snack for the week......and the kids too! No more cookies, ice cream, chips........they are expensive and your kids will not die without them!
Are they going to complain? YUP guarenteed, but you have 4 kids, you ought to be used to that by now!
Do this for you!
Sample of dinners
pork loin (excellent choice--nice and lean) mashed taters (real) brocoli
(I had a 1/2 cup of mashed, some spray butter ontop, the pork, brocoli, and I had a romaine salad with green olives, french dressing (non-fat) and cottage cheese)
Chicken breast, spanish rice (home made) refried beans, tortilla
(I made the beans from scratch, and dont add oil. I skipped the tortilla and had everything on a bed of romaine and spinach, I added salsa and fat free sour cream) Leftovers the next day too for lunch!
Omlette and toast. I put left over veggies and fresh spinach in mine, and a little low fat motzerella, severed with a whole grain toast and low sugar marmelade. Kids had ham and cheese and spinach in it, with toast
I still make cassaroles, but I use brown rice, or whole grain pasta, I use less cheese. Canned tomatoes, spinach, lots of garlic and onion.
You can slim down many family favorites, but I dont cook anything that I really cannot eat...........unless it is a special occation, like a birthday.