Unprocessed March

So I've made a commitment to not eat processed food in March

And my lucky family gets to do it with me!

I love to cook and bake and EAT-

A LOT!

I have always joked that I run so I can eat what I want.

It was kinda a serious joke though...

The hubster and I recently watched the documentary 

Forks Over Knives.

I really still can't believe I watched it.

I have managed to not watch Food Inc.

or any of those other highly informative movies that might just 

make me second guess my food choices.

Somehow I let this vid slip through and OF COURSE 

it made me want to eat differently.

(I am such a sucker for fads!)

This is not really a fad though :)

It is serious.

Our bodies are our temples and we tend to really make a mess of them.

Now that I get to stay at home I feel like it is really on this momma's 

shoulders to create healthy habits in my family.

I read a blog post at a small snippet

that I think explains my decisions really clearly.

I'm not going to repeat what she says- I'll let you hop on over and read if you are interested!

(sidenote: I do not grind my own flour although I think she is very awesome for doing it!)

Anywho, you may not give a flying flip about this change in my life 

and I totally understand if you don't!

But if you have been considering this change to and

want to try it out with me next month I would LOVE it!

There is a lot of debate about what "unprocessed" or "clean" eating actually is. 

For me, I have no desire to cut out meat and dairy.

I definitely have a desire to limit it but I will not be doing a "whole food" diet as is defined in 

Forks Over Knives.

I am leaning more to the definition and "rules" given on the blog food rules.

I also have learned a lot from the blog 100 days of real food

and I have found a bunch of frugal delish dishes at poor girl eats well.

I am going to take one month and see if this is seriously a change my family could make permanently.

These are my goals:

1. (honestly) I'd like to drop the baby weight.

2. See how much this diet coupled with working out regularly changes the way I feel/ look

3. Try to eat really healthy on a budget (see if it is truly possible)

4. know how to read a food label/ be aware of what my family and I are consuming

I am getting a slow go on things this week.

I have made my dinner menu unprocessed... but we didn't eat much processed food for dinner to begin with.

It is the snacks that get us... and the desserts!!!

Here is a look at this weeks "almost" unprocessed menu:

(This is in my oven right now!)

this will be our sandwich bread-

100% wheat and honey bread

and a breakfast option

(it smells SO good)

apple cinnamon bread

Another breakfast option-

homemade granola

We had a veggie pizza for dinner tonight on this crust

Dinner tomorrow night:

braised coconut spinach and chickpeas with lemon over a sweet potato

vegetable tian-

a side dish to grilled steak

Dinner

Spinach and Swiss Quiche

Lunch:

greek yogurt chicken salad

And of course...

DESSERT!

So I am thinking this is not going to be that bad at meal times...

Now we just have to conquer snack time!

I do have some plans for homemade (really quick and easy) granola bars.

And I am planning on dehydrating some strawberry fruit roll-ups tomorrow!

I'll keep you guys posted-

But not TOO often for those of you who could not give a flip :)

PLEASE join me if you want!

There is always strength in numbers

(and more recipes!)

If you would like some unprocessed meal ideas as I scour the internet I am posting to this Pinboard.

Feel free to start following it!

~happy healthy eating