Real Food Experiment

Experiment 2: Drink More Water!

January 16, 2013 By Melanie 10 Comments

Experiment Description:

I watched a terrific documentary called “Hungry for a Change“, which I can’t wait to tell you more about at another time…. but today, I want to share one thing that really made sense to me.

Add good foods into your diet and the not-so-good foods will be pushed out as a result!

I love this! So, instead of saying “I will drink less sodas, I will eat less sweets, I will eat less fast foods, etc” …. I am going to focus on saying “I will plan more balanced meals at home. I will plan healthy snacks. I will drink more water”.

Last week, we worked on planning meals and snacks so this week I would like to focus on drinking more water each day.

Research:

According to WebMd (…no, I’m not a doctor, but I play one online… sorry, couldn’t help it! ha!), drinking water maintains the balance of body fluids, helps control calories, energizes muscles, improves your skin, helps your kidneys, and maintains normal digestion.

Hypothesis:

I expect that I will drink less soft drinks if I am drinking more water. I also hope that drinking more water will help my energy level and skin (which is so dry it hurts and bleeds!)

Resources:

On my blog, “Only a Breath”, I have two free printable weekly planners that help track how much water you drink. Please click here or here to view the two options.

Make Water Less Boring:

“But water is so … .BORING!” I’ve heard this several times from friends. I personally don’t think water is boring — do you? If so, try to liven it up a little. I love this water pitcher that you can place fruit into to add flavor to your water.

(This isn’t mine, by the way. The photo is from Amazon).

However, I am going to purchase this 48 oz. water bottle! If I take this bottle with me to work every day, that would already take care of 6 cups of water per day. I think if I drink all of that water, I won’t have to worry about how much soda I am drinking — ha!

Observations:

In order to track this experiment, I will (try very hard to) keep track of how much water I am drinking per day, how many sodas I drink in comparison, and also note any changes in my energy, skin, and digestion.

Will you join me in this experiment? Do you enjoy drinking water or find it “boring”? (It’s okay, you can be honest. No judgement here!)

Filed Under: Experiments, Water

Real Food Resources — Need YOUR help!

January 10, 2013 By Melanie 10 Comments

I have been overwhelmed by the wonderful response to this new site — thank you!!!! Most of all, I want to thank you for all of the great resources you have recommended. I love learning, and I am so excited to learn more about real food!

I am actually asking YOU to write today’s post. Please help me learn about healthy eating by recommending your favorite books, blogs, movies, etc. in the comments below. This post will actually become my reading list so that I have everyone’s recommendations in one place! Thank you in advance for your help!

Filed Under: Resources

Experiment 1: Meal Planning (and how bloggers can get a FREE YEAR of eMeals!)

January 6, 2013 By Melanie 18 Comments

One of the main reasons I eat fast food would have to be poor menu planning. When I get busy with all of my other responsibilities, menu planning tends to fall to the bottom.

Experiment Description:

For this experiment, I want to get into the habit of consistently planning a weekly menu. For right now, it doesn’t even matter to me if all of the foods on the menu are “real foods”. This is a baby step that we will build on as we go. Simply getting into the habit of consistently planning a menu is the first step in taking control of what foods we eat.

Hypothesis:

I expect that I will eat less fast food while using menu planning since I will have meals planned in advance. I also expect that the amount of money I spend on meals will decrease since eating at home costs less than eating in restaurants. My grocery bill has decreased tremendously in the past when I used menu planning because I shopped only for items on my list and not all of the “extra’s” that we didn’t need.

Resources:

I will be using eMeals for my menu planning. I have been a big fan of eMeals for quite a while and am so excited to see the new menu plans they have added, including Paleo, Clean Eating, Natural & Organic, and more!

eMeals is offering 15% off with the code “NEWYEAR” now through 2/10/13 (To get the discount, click here and enter code “NEWYEAR” at checkout)

Blogger Offer — Free YEAR of eMeals

Did you know that you can get a whole YEAR of eMeals FREE if you are a blogger?!?!?!? I just joined their blogger network and received a year of menu planning for FREE! Please click this link to apply to the blogger network and PLEASE tell them “Melanie from Only a Breath” sent you in the “How did you hear about us” field of the sign-up form… I’m sorry for the confusion, but I’m signed up under my other blog name. Thank you!

Meal Planning Spreadsheet / Apps:

To download the weekly menu plan sheet pictured at the top of this post, please click here, and then save the .pdf to your computer. Do you prefer a more “high tech” weekly menu plan? This post has a great list of menu planning apps!

Observations:

In order to track this experiment, I will keep track of grocery bills and the number of times I eat fast food vs. the number of times I eat at home. I’ll check back in with the results in 3-4 weeks.

“By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.” ~ Ben Franklin

Let’s PLAN to SUCCEED!

Will you join me in this experiment? Do you already do meal planning and what are the results you see or expect to see from meal planning?

Filed Under: Experiments

My “Before” Story

January 3, 2013 By Melanie 12 Comments

Hi, my name is Melanie, and I like to eat trash.

Now that I am thirty-something-ish, that trash is starting to catch up with me. I am starting to notice that my energy level stays lower than I would like, I have migraines, my clothes don’t feel the way I would like, and honestly, I just think I could treat my body much better than I do now.

This blog is not about skinny jeans.

….although that would be pretty great, too….

My primary goal through these “real food experiments” is to treat my body better. This “soul container” has to carry me through life, and if I treat it poorly, what will happen?

My current exercise habits:

I don’t exercise.
at.
all.
yeah, I know…….

My current eating habits:

1 cup of coffee each day
1-2 cans of soda (regular and/or diet)
1-2 cups of water
Way too much junk food, sugar, processed foods.
Very few fresh fruits and vegetables
Often skip meals
Fast food at least 2-3 times a week

Right now (January 2013), I am experiencing the following, and I look forward to determining if changing my diet has an impact on any of the following:

Low energy
Low blood sugar issues
Rosacea
Migraines
Stress
Clothing doesn’t fit very well, and I can tell my face looks “puffy”

If you are starting this journey with me, I challenge you to take a “health inventory”, too! Then, we can re-visit our inventory in a few months!

Filed Under: About Us

Experiment Explanation

December 30, 2012 By Melanie 6 Comments

To give you a little background, I am not a cook… I am a type-A, research-driven, “scientific method” type of person. My husband laughs when I am in the kitchen that I cook like I am in a chemistry lab.

“A little bit of this and a pinch of that” type cooking stresses me out…

In addition, “some of us” in our family … not naming names… have different opinions on food. These opinions range from “fast food is not bad in moderation”, to “organic food is just over-priced versions of normal food”, to “diet soda isn’t really bad for you”, to “hey, that twinkie has cream, so I think that counts as dairy”. Again, not naming any names….

… although I was quite sad when Twinkies went out of business, but my thighs were having a party…

Anyway, I have learned that food is quite a hot topic! Everyone has an opinion, and all of us are convinced we are right.

To find out the truth for myself, I have decided to experiment on how what I eat affects my health. Of course, I do not have complete blood tests available and scientific tools. So, I will be relying on my senses and recording my observations of different “experiments” on my health. For example, how would it affect me to cut out all fast food for a month? Would I notice a difference? Are there reasons to cut out fast food? Am I even aware enough of my own body to notice how I feel right now while I am eating fast food?

Each week or possibly two, I will describe a new “experiment” along with research I have found related to the experiment. I will then list a hypothesis I think will happen during the experiment, and create a plan. Throughout the month, I will list observations on how I feel (moods, digestion, skin/hair/nails, energy level, etc). At the end of the month, I will analyze the results and continue on my real foods journey!

I would love for you to join me as we experiment together! We can compare results and share tips as we learn together! Would you join me? Subscribe here for blog updates to be delivered for free to your inbox or in a reader.

Next “real food experiment” coming soon!

Filed Under: Experiments

Welcome!

December 30, 2012 By Melanie 20 Comments

Welcome to Real Food Experiment!

I’m Melanie, and for years I have listed a million ~~reasons~~ excuses to keep eating junk food. I’m busy, work 40 hours a week, have a long commute, two kids, husband who travels with his job, and I just don’t have time/energy/knowledge to eat healthy foods and take care of myself. Excuses….see?

I also have a million reasons to start taking better care of my health and to teach my children to do the same. My family history includes a rainbow of cancer shades (quite impressive with the variety) and, as one doctor said, the only way to avoid diabetes in my family …. is if you were adopted.

Gulp.

You see, I’m a faith blogger and not a health nut, fitness guru, whole foods expert, or qualified “real food” blogger. Honestly, I’ve never bought any organic foods or even shopped at Whole Foods.

…. crickets…. anyone still there?

However, I’m on a mission this year to change our family’s eating style and overall health. I am determined to be living proof that if I can swap junk food for real foods, ANYone can do it. Read my “before” story here and join me as this junk-food-eating, non-exercising, time-crunched mom starts a food revolution…. at my own home.

I would love for this to be a community of support for others trying to take charge of their health. Each week, I will give updates on my weekly “real food experiment“, helpful resources, recipes, and more. Will you join me? Subscribe here for blog updates to be delivered for free to your inbox or in a reader.

Welcome, friends! Let’s do this!

Filed Under: About Us