My September Reset Results, part 2: The Realization That Turned My Stomach
For the “gut” portion of my September Reset, Kat presented several challenges. A few I genuinely looked forward to, but there was one that not only was I dreading but it actually hit a nerve and made me really take a hard look at my life and priorities.
With goals to keep my (annoyingly delicate) gut in balance, to eat more healthful, nutrient-dense foods, and to plan real meals (as a reminder, that’s one of my biggest problems: I get too busy and then I don’t feel hungry and it’s just easier not to eat), let’s look at the easy to-do’s first:
Incorporate more anti-inflammatory and gut-friendly foods: DONE!
Taking a probiotic was a mindlessly easy add. Everybody knows that most of your immunity is based in your gut, and who can’t swallow a pill? This was literally a no-brainer. And I love bone broth. I don’t make it myself, but I live in McLean near the Organic Butcher who stocks (heh heh) stock, broth, and soup from 100 Bowls of Soup. Check!
Add good fats into meals & snacks: DONE!
Again, easy. I love avocados, I love walnuts. Chocolate, always. Switched from white wine to red, which was fine and felt seasonally appropriate, and chia seeds are a new-found delight. These are great, whole foods (well, not the wine…but, antioxidants!). Now are any these things as tasty as my true love, potato chips? No. But! I found that if I don’t buy potato chips, then I cannot eat them as my lunch. Genius!
Also, fried chicken in coconut oil is delicious. Delicious! If it’s too rich for you, use half coconut oil and half of your regular oil.
Cheers to your health! DONE!
This was the easiest one, partly because I was already flirting with this habit. Ginger and turmeric is my favorite morning boost – but, like bone broth, it’s not going to happen unless it’s made by someone else. I love South Block’s ginger shot, but getting there every morning is impossible. As a next-best option, I am quite liking the ACV (that’s apple cider vinegar to those in the wellness know) in water first thing in the morning. Quick, easy, and an enjoyable jolt with lemon and cayenne.
Priority #1: Be your own priority!…Erm, Not So Much
In her post, Kat wrote that “just like planning the editorial calendar for Stylebook, Madelyn will try to make a plan for her meals each day to help her stay on track with eating more whole and healthful foods, and less snacking!”
Seems straight forward enough, right? Well, it took my breath away. Why? Not to get too into the sausage-making but creating the editorial calendar for Stylebook takes a considerable amount of effort. In fact, I would say it’s the most difficult part of my job. I work very hard to ensure that the content we present is relevant for you readers and meaningful for our contributors, all arranged such that the topics feel varied, fresh, and useful.
It took my breath away to realize that I do not exert even a fraction of the effort on the most basic of human needs: nourishing myself. And worse, by extension that means I am not expending the effort of planning meals for my family.
I instantly felt like the worst mother in the world.
That I don’t enjoy cooking isn’t a good enough excuse. Touting that my husband is a great cook (for you long-time locals, he was co-owner of Radio Free Italy) and my oldest daughter is surprisingly capable in the kitchen for an 11-year-old (I am simultaneously proud and ashamed at the number of times she’s made dinner, like, a real chicken dinner) is merely avoiding the reality that I really, really, really had not been making nutrition a priority.
And that is setting a terrible example for my kids.
So, we are trying. My daughter and I sat down and listed meals that 1) we all like, 2) are healthy, and 3) we could make in advance. Travel soccer, rec soccer, track, Girl Scouts, and music lessons mean most evenings are booked…and by most I mean Every. Single. Weeknight. That’s a real challenge, but it doesn’t make it OK to have Cheerios (kids) or nothing (me) for dinner.
We came up with a pretty good list, which was surprising to me since I truly, like pathologically, dislike thinking about this stuff, then we opened up the Peapod app (going to the grocery store, um, no thanks) and, as the kids say, “ordered up” everything.
Are we eating homemade, square meals every night now? Alas, no. But I am committed to working on it.
Also, and you can add this to the “yeah, obviously,” pile from yesterday’s post, working out in the morning is really a much more enjoyable experience when you’ve eaten dinner the night before.
Who knew? I know, you all did…but at least now I’m getting there.
Thank you, Kat.
