About this blog

In other words, the Zone + Crossfit = Optimal Heath!
This blog focuses on nutrition, using the Zone Diet as the basis. However, I often eat Paleo foods in Zone proportions.
I love to investigate anything having to do with food- what we eat and why. And what happens within our bodies, our organs, our brain, when we do? My precious mother struggled with eating disorders. I want to avoid this delimma based on research, common sense, and the natural consequences on my body. The Zone shows me where the balance lies between eating too much and eating too little.
My husband runs a Crossfit gym. Exercise and choosing the right foods have become a mission for ourselves and our children. We don't want to be nerds about it, we just want to be healthy.
I have been asked by several friends what I feed our family, especially our kids. My husband and I follow the Crossfit prescription to nutrition (meat and vegetables, nuts and seeds, some fruit, little starch, and no sugar). If you know me, you know that the sugar part of this equation will be a life long struggle given my love for chocolate! Evan adheres to the stricter version known as the Paleo-Zone diet (and I do on my good days!) which requires the same foods in a ratio of 40% protein, 30% carb, and 30% fat. Children require 50% carbs, 30% fat, and 20% protein. If you're wondering how to figure this out, I do it on a per meal basis and I have a "block" chart from the Zone website.
It seems like a headache at first, but if you're interested, just know that it is not that bad once you practice it for a couple of weeks. All you need is a $10 scale and some determination. It really is quite simple and makes my life easier at the grocery store and when cooking dinner. Most of all, I feel great when I eat well- mentally and physically, and we all know that the physical can affect the mental and visa versa!
Evan and I are hunter/gatherer wanna-be's! This blog will track my journey of health as it should be, and the honest reality of living in a sugar fried culture. When it comes down to it, I get excited to talk about nutrition, but I am definitely not perfect at it! If you have the desire to eat well, but it is often a challenge to overcome the temptations along the way, then you are in the right company!
I hope you leave this blog feeling enlightened and encouraged as you go throughout your day!

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

What's In YOUR Pantry?



We have two shelves to our pantry that hold food. Here you can see our staples: beef jerkey is a steal at Sam's, cheerios for the kids, almonds in a jar because we buy a 3 lb. bag at Sam's Club, a red "snack" container that usually has things like applesauce or kids' clif bars or idividual nut packs for lunch boxes, raisins. On the turn tables above: whole oats, all natural peanut butter, tuna fish,black beans, vinegar, chicken broth, protein powder, and probably a few other things to cook with. There are two canisters behind there that you can't see, but one is for whole wheat flour and the other is for sugar. I have decided to keep the sugar one empty for now! I'm not afraid to bake or concoct when cravings call!

One thing that you will not see on a regular basis anymore is chocolate chips for "baking". About three years ago, I realized that I would easily eat 400 calories of chocolate chips during the day from just getting small handfuls when I passed by the cabinet. I made a change knowing that that couldn't be good for me calorie wise. However, I now know that the even larger problem than the extra calories was the consistent insulin spike I was giving myself all day long. So, just a little FYI in case you have something like that on a regular basis that seems innocent, but may not be. And obviouisly, chocolate chips is a no no when adhering strictly to the zone! I could have 1 and 1/2 oz for a meal's worth of carbs, but that is not worth it because I would want more!

I also have another cabinet with herbs and spices, vanilla, baking powder, cooking spray, and agave nectar- stuff like that.



Post your favorite herbs to cook with or items you consider to be staples in your pantry...
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