Heiner Hullabaloo

So, couponing, again.

Milk= Free
Cereal= $0.99 up to $2 each
NV Oatmeal bars= $1 each
Ghirardelli Brownies= $1.75
Pillsbury pancakes= $0.50 each
Pickles= $0.80 each
Mustard= $0.50 each
Strawberries= $2

Some of the prices aren't really that amazing but the total before coupons and sales was $91.52.  Total after sales and coupons is $32.71.  About a 64% savings.  Not amazing but still pretty good.

Children's Museum's are the best.  Well, except they can cost a bit but luckily this day was half off, or something like that.  It was just me, by myself, with all the kids.  We spent about 3-4 hours there and were able to make it home in time to pick up Benjamin from work.  We really had a good time.

Okay, so I'm a bit behind.  I wanted to post the cute picture I took of the kids for Benjamin to take to work.  It came out funny looking but cute...just take a look.

It's not like we did anything fantastical, but Entegra and Bracken were very excited so we wanted to write it down.

We had quite the busy day.  Actually, a busy weekend.  I'll just start with the one day.

We started the day by enjoying breakfast at our Church Breakfast.  The kids put on their 4th of July shirts they had made, mostly by themselves, and off we went.



While we were at the breakfast we learned where the local parade was and followed a couple of people and enjoyed that.  Talk about candy!  Those parade people threw TONS of candy.  Some passed out water and one even passed out popsicles.  It lasted for about 2 hours but it was worth it to see one of the Young Women's group float.  They made a temple on their float and passed out "Pass Along" cards.





After the parade we went home to cool off and try to get Bracken to take a nap, which of course didn't happen and instead he fell asleep in the 5 minutes before getting to the place for the fireworks.  We found a perfect place to sit and wait for the fireworks and this year we were there for about 5+ hours.  We always enjoy that though.  This year was the easiest we've had for waiting for the fireworks.  We have this half tent thingy that provided shade, we brought blankets, food and water in our cooler, a soccer ball, glow sticks and sunscreen. Plus the weather wasn't too bad.  It was mostly sunny but not too hot and a nice breeze would blow through now and then.  As always, our fireworks were spectacular!

Recently on Facebook I posted a question about lunch, specifically, When you make lunch for your at home kids, do you make one thing and say, "Here it is, eat or starve." Or do you let them have say? Anyone have yummy vegan kid friendly meal ideas?

I think the Vegan part threw a lot of friends and maybe some family.  No, we are not "tried and true" Vegan's (Ben would never go for that).  We are Vegan-ish.  It would be more correct to say we're Nutritarian at home.  What in the world is a Nutritarian?




Nutritarian is a word coined by Dr. Joel Fuhrman.  It is a nutrional way of eating.  I read a book by Dr. Joel Fuhrman, which was referred to me by a friend whom suddenly looked healthy thin and great after having a baby the same time as me, 2 1/2 years ago.  The book was Eat to Live.  I tried the plan for a day and nearly passed out and was horribly sick.  I tried again 2 years later after having Braddock and it has mostly stuck.

Basic idea:  
*Eat all the veggies you want (especially greens with limited sweet potatoes and white potatoes)at least up to one lb of raw veggies a day- wow that's a lot.
*Eat at LEAST 3-4 fruits a day
*Beans at least 1-2 cups per day
*Limited grains about one cup per day (I only do this when I'm on the diet part.  I don't limit whole grains regularly, just breads or processed grains.  On top of that, the scriptures tell us "Grain is the staff of life".)
*Next to no oil (your veins need oil though, so we sub with ground flax seeds, chia seeds, and nuts).
*No added sugar or processed foods (I have not succeeded with this one yet, sugar is my...there aren't even words to describe it)
*Little to no animal products about 1-2 servings per week (the book says eggs are okay because they're the least polluted but poultry if you must)
This is basically a nutritarian way of eating, yet very similar to vegan-ism.




Sorry, I'm not the vegan that is changing the way I eat to save the animals.  Good for those that are, but for me and mine, I see things a little differently.  Anatomically, we have canine teeth not meant for plants.  Physiologically, we need a B12 vitamin that plants are lacking, but animal products are not.  Religiously, Heavenly Father asked that the best ram be sacrificed, that lamb's blood be smeared on the door posts, and that man have dominion over the beasts.  I don't think He has a problem with animals being killed but EVERYTHING IN MODERATION.  I'm not a big fan of how most butchered animals are raised but I am not about to raise my own cow and I don't want to deal with chickens.  :)

So, at home, we try to avoid bringing home sweets, processed foods, meat, and dairy.
When we go to a friend or family's home, we enjoy the beef tacos or pepperoni pizza.  I'll enjoy the 3 different small slices of cake at the Relief Society event (church), and practice self control all day with other sugary temptations.

Has it actually done anything positive for our family or do we feel wanting of cheesy goodness?
I'll be the first to admit cheese and sugar have been the hardest to let go of at home.
I wish we were more strict, honestly.

Ben and I lost 10 lbs the first 3 weeks and haven't gained it back several months later (that was back when we were being more strict with the plan above, we need to do that again).  I have more energy and I don't need a nap in the middle of the day.  I was barely able to go 3 hours with out eating.  I was shaking, cranky, and would eat the first easiest thing I saw a.k.a. a candy bar while in line at the grocery store.  Now I have 3 meals a day and one green smoothie between lunch and dinner.

Entegra has been a pretty good eater since she kindergarten.  She loves broccoli, oranges, strawberries, and blackberries and just about any smoothie we put in front of her.

Inara, whom was previously eating mainly bread, milk, cheese, and chicken, now eats apples, carrots, bread, and oatmeal.  Previously, she hated PB&J sandwiches, now she'll eat it but only wants the PB on her sandwich.  Also, she'll drink water a lot more often then before when she only wanted milk.  She's like me and has a major sugar tooth that we're working on together.  A few medical things are much better for her, too.

Inara drinking a fruit smoothie and eating a Peanut butter sandwich on whole white wheat bread (is that bread actually healthy?)

  
Bracken wanted milk all the time.  He still would love to drink tons of Almond or Soy milk but is content with water.  He's more willing to try other foods and recently has decided to like grapes, raisins and broccoli.

I'm hoping to feed Braddock right.  I would love to be able to convice at least one of my children to eat salads.  I'm feeding him fruits and veggies as often as I can once he's old enough.  He, so far, is the first to actually enjoy learning to eat solid foods.  He's tried and liked, oatmeal, butternut squash, and sweet potatoes.  

Back to Benjamin.  He is NOT thrilled with the lack of cheese or red meats in the house.  I'm able to make up for it with different kinds of meals, the more spicy and flavorful the better- however, that makes it harder for the kids to like.  There's no winning.

So, we still eat meat on occasion.  Eggs are the main animal product in the home but still not consumed more than 2-3 times per week.  We love cheese on our pizza, but soy milk is so tasty.  We try to avoid red 32 or yellow 98 (made up but you get the idea), and have found turmeric turns food SUPER yellow if you need that color.   Basically, we went Vegan-ish to add more veggies to our plates and live a healthier lifestyle.

The more veggies I can get into my kids, the better I feel about doing my mommy job.

We always enjoy our 4th's of July.  We enjoy taking our dinner with us, scouting out a spot hours early, sitting in the sweltering heat, and figuring out what to do for those many hours.  Eventually, someone always has to use the restroom and it's our great excuse to buy a soda and sit in the air conditioned restaurant for as long as we can.  This year, our brother-in-law came with us.  In the morning, we attended our church Scout group breakfast.  In the afternoon, we went downtown and listened to some live music, visited booths and went on a "hay ride".  Entegra enjoyed playing card games with Daddy and Uncle Jon or as they've been calling him, Uncle Jonny.

The fireworks were great as usual.  They were probably a little too much this year.  I think it went on for over 20 mins!  Bracken was scared most of the time, which makes sense since the fireworks percussion sound ricochet through our bodies.  If I'm remembering my years correctly, Bracken even managed to fall asleep while I was holding his ears.