One of the critical components to great health is your diet. Remember the phrase ” You are what you eat?” If you eat better, you feel better. If you eat the right foods, you will lose weight as well as look and feel better. What you put in your mouth and in your stomach determines your outcomes. Fats, processed foods, sweets, sugars, starches and too many simple carbs will result in your being overweight, over tired, and possibly (likely) prone to profound health issues. Nutrient rich foods, vitamins, balanced natural food will promote good nutrition, good health and vitality as well as energy in order to live you life the way you desire. You may have to switch your paradigm of food from a form of entertainment to simply nourishment. Only eat what you need to nourish your body. After slowly transforming your diet, you will enjoy better health and have a more positive outlook on life. You can do this and we will do this together as it is that important. What I am suggesting is for your to change your food habits and that, like any change, takes time. We will begin slowly and we will use what you have already purchased, but then when it is time to buy new items, we will begin to select basic, nutritious foods with less preservatives, chemicals while maintaining a delicious diet and better eating choices. Eventually, you won’t miss the unhealthy foods, as you have learned to truly enjoy the more healthy and nutritious foods that make you feel so much better. It sounds like a promotional ad but it is not. It is the truth.

The first step is to organize your pantry and date the foods that you have as of today. Take a permanent marker with you and grab that healthy beverage. We are going to begin to take control of our diet, our health and our happiness.

Step One: Organize your food items according to the following food groupings: Mark the month and year with the permanent marker on each food item:

1. Vinegars/Oils:
2. Baking: Flour, Sugars, Baking Powders, Baking Soda, Salt, Pepper and Spices, Decorative and Additives such as coconut, chocolate chips, etc.
3. Canned Goods: Soups, Vegetables, Fruits, Milk, Other Etc
4. Jar Goods: Pasta Sauces, Jellies and Jams, Peanut Butter, Etc.
5. Boxed Goods: Cereals, Crackers, Snacks etc.

Now that each item is dated, our goal will be to use these items first. They will have more flavor, and won’t go to waste if we use them now. Therefore, this month, try to utilize all the foods you have already purchased. If you need to look for recipes to incorporate these foods, that would be helpful. Add appropriate spices to every thing you cook. Hopefully by the end of the month, you will be moving on to healthier choices, better nutrition and more delicious meal planning.

Speaking of meal planning, grab a sheet of paper and plan a week’s worth of meals with what you already have. Continue to do this for the remainder of the month, purchasing only what you need to use the food you have right now. Next month, or soon after, you will have all new, fresh food that has been carefully chosen to enhance your health.

I like to utilize all the residual food from each month during my Fiscal Fast Week. During this week, I take an inventory of the food I have on hand then I create a shopping list for ingredients needed to utilize these residual foods. I use many of these ingredients to bulk cook or prep meals for the next week, or to create some heat and eat meals for those times that I am super busy. Having a heat and eat meal in the freezer saves me time when I am most busy. Prepping meals and having heat and eat meals on hand also reduce the amount of fast foods or grab and go foods to encourage healthier eating as well as saving us money.

Note: This is a great time to clean and disinfect your refrigerator and freezer.