How to Stay Whole in a Processed World

You need to be ready by planning ahead and being prepared whether you’re at home or out. If you’re a mom of younger children, you know that the days get crazy and you have to expect the unexpected. Without a plan, it’s all too easy for a carload of cranky kids and a mom with dropping blood sugar to make a quick stop at a convenient drive-through fast food establishment.

Keep an emergency stash of food either with you or in your car at all times. Trail mix is easy to make. Fill a portable container with raw nuts, then add a small amount of dried fruit such as raisins, blueberries or cranberries. You might also want to add coconut for variety. Despite the commonly availability of trail mixes with M&Ms and chocolate chips at the store, you don’t want to add these to your own trail mix. They will also melt and make a mess during the summer.

Other foods that are easy to transport and tolerate the heat well include pumpkin seeds, beef jerky and popcorn. In a small cooler you can keep hard-boiled eggs and cubed chicken or turkey.   If you are wanting to go strictly plant based, you can pack fruits like oranges, apple slices, grapes,  or other fruits.

Spend a little time prepping every week and you can pop these items into your backpack or diaper bag as you’re running out the door so that you’ll always be prepared, leaving you less likely to succumb to temptation.

Eating out is another major source of temptation. Remember that no matter where you eat, even at a place like Olive Garden, there will always be a protein and veggie option such as grilled chicken or a hamburger or steak with a side salad or grilled vegetables.   Or for total plant based you can get pasta and salads or veggies.  You may still struggle with temptation if you’re eating with friends who are eating whatever they want from the menu. This is when you’ll want to remember your vision and long term health goals.

Now if you do happen to cheat, give yourself a break! This is a journey you are on and sometimes we hit bumps on the side of the road.  Avoid the “all or nothing mentality” which can lead to a food binge that may take weeks, months or yes even years to recover from. Instead, try to remember that your next healthy meal is only three or four hours away and you can pick up right where you left off and eat all you want of your whole foods!