One of my favourite podcasters, Vinnie Tortorich, always says it’s not what you eat between Thanksgiving and New Year, it’s what you eat the rest of the year. I have been working on eating better, trying my damndest to go NSNG (No Sugar No Grain) this past year, and I did well for the most part. Unfortunately, I’ve really fallen off the wagon with it, and I can tell because I’m not feeling 100%, I’m groggy, I’m tired, and I feel just gross most of the time. With the holidays, it makes it harder, because of all the sweet treats that tempt me. So, this holiday season, I’m focusing on eating better, and avoiding the sugars, breads, cookies, etc.

I do this because I want to lose weight (I could stand to lose about 35 pounds or so, I haven’t been on a scale lately to know just where I am, so this is a complete guess), but also because I want to feel better. I went paleo a few years ago, doing The Whole 30 for a month. I could not believe how clear my mind was and how much energy I had. It was great! So, with NSNG, it is the same thing, but not just the 30 days. NSNG is a way of life, and Squatch is up for the challenge to join me in this WOE (way of eating), and we plan on doing the same for Little Man.

I will admit, since we moved to the northwoods, I have been not very good about watching what Little Man gets to eat. Granma and Granpa have offered him cookies, which I’ve allowed him to have as snacks, and the bread, so much bread (muffins, bagels, sandwiches, etc.) has really started to factor heavily into what he eats. I’ve come to notice that he is not eating the meat and veggies anymore, and he had been really good with eating them before the move.

So, I made the declaration the other night that he will not be getting all the bread and cookies and whatnot, that he will be getting the meat, veggies, cheese, etc. It did not have a good reception with the in-laws. I did break and give Little Man some grilled cheese sandwich last night for dinner, when he would absolutely NOT eat the ham and potatoes I put out for him. This morning, I said no to the bagels my MIL wanted to give him, and instead made scrambled eggs and had some veggie baby food for him. He ignored the eggs and ate all of the baby food, which I was ok with, but it’s still not where I want him at. There were comments about how a small piece of bread won’t do him any harm, but they were sweet bagels (cinnamon raisin), and it’s never just a small piece. They’ve given him his own half of a bagel in the past. I don’t mind it once in a while, but when it is every day, that’s when I have a problem. It’s the same thing with biscuits & gravy (OMG, I could totally eat it every day, but I know it’s not good for me), pancakes, waffles, french toast, etc.; they are all delicious, but you should not be eating them every day, or even every week. Once a month is fine for the sweets.

As for cookies, cakes, cupcakes, ice cream, I’m stopping eating the nightly desserts that are passed around. The sugar is not good for anyone, and it is especially not good every single night. Little Man also has started to gravitate to the sweet treats, and will not be satisfied with a small bite like he used to be; he now wants his own bowl of ice cream or his own slice of cake. This is not what I want for my son; I don’t want to be setting a bad example for him either, and I have been cutting back on the size of my portions when I have had dessert.

Going forward, I am presenting Little Man with meat and veg at every meal, even if it is not something I eat. I want him to have a better palate than I do, and I want him to be adventurous in what he eats. I don’t want to have to worry about his BMI like his 8 month old cousin does; he won’t have to be careful about which furniture he sits on for fear of breaking it; he will be able to stop into any store and find his size clothing. Will he enjoy his treats? Absolutely. But they will be just that, a treat, not an every day occurrence that is expected.

As a kid, we had dessert every Sunday with dinner; usually we were at Gramma’s, and I would help her bake the cake of the week. One slice was all we got, and that would satisfy us until the following week. I’m going back to that once a week dessert. My goal is to cut it back to once per month, and eventually really not have desserts unless it is a special occasion.

Yes, this will be extremely difficult in our current living situation, but I can make it happen. We just ignore the side comments that are made, and do our own thing. I’m doing this to be healthy for myself and for Little Man, and I want him to be even healthier than me.