Real Life

So if you are still reading this blog, there is a great chance that you have finished your cleanse and now you are back to what I like to call... REAL LIFE.  I think this is the hardest part of trying to create a clean eating, healthy lifestyle.  I am a type A personality when it comes to a lot of things.  So, when I am on a cleanse,  I am ON a cleanse.  Most of the recommendations are that you should be 80% or more ON the cleanse.  Well, I can't handle that kind of ambiguity.  I am 100% on... it's part of my rule follower personality.  This is great for the 10 days, because with some kind of light at the end of the tunnel, I can do anything for 10 days.  It takes planning and some sacrifice, but I am good at it. But then, REAL LIFE.

Now this is when we have to take as many of those habits that we worked on for 10 days, and incorporate them into regular, real, life.  So, for starters, focus on continued meal planning.  If you were diligent during the cleanse, you probably took the time to plan most of your meals to ensure that you weren't eating the wrong thing.  Keep it up!  I find it helpful to look at my calendar for the week when meal planning.  This way I can account for any lunch meetings I have, or dinners, banquets, etc.  No need to panic or avoid these, just be prepared to make the right choices.  Avoiding breads and carbs where you can, just say no to free dessert... you know the drill.  Then plan the meals you are going to cook, and make them good!  I always look at the make up of my entire day.  I don't plan labor intensive meals on days and evenings when we are busy.  Those are crockpot days.  Again, cook so that you have leftovers.  Plan where these fit into your calendar whether it's lunch later in the week or another dinner.  My family is not a huge fan of recent leftovers.  However, I have found that if I freeze things, I can pull them out a week or two later and they are perfectly happy!  And most of the time this can ten be a crockpot meal, because all they need to do is heat up!!

Two of my favorites are a homemade crock pot Pulled Pork and some Garden Meatballs!   Both of these recipes make enough for my family to eat twice!  The meatballs are a little more time consuming, but much can be done in advance.  I served them as a meat entree the other day, and will be throwing the other half of them in the crock pot with spaghetti sauce next week for a totally different take!  Don't forget... planning ahead is your best friend!!