Preserving Healthy Living

Here is an EASY roast recipe that can be changed depending on what you have around the house. Ingredients: 2-3 lb roast Favorite seasoning (mine is Weber Chicago Steak Seasoning, link below) Few tablespoons olive oil Vegetables of choice, chopped 1 cup bone stock or broth 1 canned diced tomatoes OR 1 cup bone stock or broth Directions: Dry off roast so that the seasonings will stick better and coat roast with seasonings. Heat olive oil in a pan (link for pan I used below). Sear the roast for several minutes on each side. Put your preferred chopped veggies in crockpot (ex. onions, potatoes, carrots). Place roast on veggies. Add one cup bone stock or broth. Add one can diced tomatoes (I like to use my canned balsamic cherries). If you do NOT like tomatoes, you can just add another cup of bone stock or broth. Cook on low heat for 6-8 hours or low for 4-5 hours. The meat should easily shred apart when done. Weber Chicago Steak Seasoning: *5.5 oz shaker https://amzn.to/3rlUK0h *28 oz shaker https://amzn.to/3rlUK0h Lodge Cast Iron Skillet *10.25" Skillet: https://amzn.to/3LnYiWy *As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Follow me on all the socials! Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PreservingHealthLiving/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/preservinghealthyliving/ TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@preservinghealthyliving #roastrecipe #easyrecipe #easyrecipes #easydinner #crockpotcooking #roastvideo #dinnerrecipe #recipe #recipeshorts #roast

Rason #6 - Why I Still Eat Some Ultra Processed Foods If my kid is making me a cake for my birthday (with boxed cake), or I'm at a tea party and my kid wants to serve up some pink lemonade and definitely processed cookies - you bet I'm going to eat it. The positive experience I will share my child out weighs (for me) the ingredients that may be lurking in those foods. I'm trying to find a healthy relationship with food in all aspects, and that includes moments I share with my kids. I want to keep in mind that I am GREATLY minimizing the amount of ultra processed foods I'm putting in my body, and that in itself is a huge step for me. #healthylifestyle #healthyrelationshipwithfood #ultraprocessed #healthyliving #mykids #moderationiskey #balancedeating #processedfoods #eatbetter #health

It’s not just our food that has become ultra processed… but also our lives. Just like the food that is so readily available our lives have been bombarded by cheap, convenient, distractions, distractions that are given the guise of entertainment. We stare at our phones instead of out the window on a car ride. We send memes and funny videos to our family and friends in the place of meaningful conversations. We tell ourselves we are “too tired” at the end of the day and instead death scroll social media or watch TV or both. Make a conscious effort to demand a higher quality of life, a higher quality of joy. Stop “liking” those recipe posts and instead start making them, stop dreaming of travel and instead start making a plan and go. Stop saying no to invitations and instead attend with an open mind. Stop consuming ultra-processed cheap entertainment and instead choose live a purposeful and meaningful life. Follow me on all the socials! Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PreservingHealthLiving/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/preservinghealthyliving/ TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@preservinghealthyliving #phoneaddiction #meaningfullife #watchtv #findjoy #dothething #makeithappen #openmindedness #chooselife #todaysmotivation #motivationalvideo #timelapsevideo #roadtrip #roadtrips #milliondollarhighway #healthylifestyle #lifelessons #motivationalshorts

CANNING RECIPE! Nectarines with a Dash of Blueberries and Ginger This canning recipe is amazing and can be multiplied so you can save and store all your excess nectarines. They are such a tasty treat during those winter months. Below are the instructions. PLEASE NOTE - If you are new to canning, make sure you read up on it and follow all safety guidelines to avoid botulism and food poisoning. If you prefer not to can them, you can omit the lemon juice and store in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. **I used pint jars. Ingredients: 10 nectarines 4 cups water 3/4 cup honey freshly grated ginger (1/4 tsp per jar) 1 tbl lemon juice per each jar a few blueberries per jar Instructions: 1. Wash, pit, and quarter the nectarines. Put them in a bowl of water with some lemon juice to keep them from browning. 2. Boil 4 cups water and 3/4 cup honey. 3. Put a few blueberries (it makes the syrup have a beautiful color), 1/4 tsp freshly grated ginger, and 1 tablespoon lemon in each jar. 4. Pack the nectarines in until they are 1/2 inch from the top. 5. Pour hot syrup into each jar leaving at least 1/4 inch head space. 6. Remove bubbles by running a knife along the inside of the jar. 7. Wipe down the rims with a warm paper towel, put the lid on, screw the ring on (only finger tight). 8. Process jars in a water bath canner for 25 minutes (pint jars) or 30 minutes (quart jars). Make sure to adjust for altitude. 9. Turn the heat off and leave the jars in the canner for 5 more minutes. 10. Put jars on a towel on the counter and do not touch for 24 hours. 11. After 24 hours, check that they have sealed. Unscrew the ring so it is very lose on the jar (if it was contaminated, the top will pop off so you know). Enjoy! Follow me on all the socials! Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PreservingHealthLiving/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/preservinghealthyliving/ TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@preservinghealthyliving #canningrecipe #canningandpreserving #homecanning #homemadefood #takecareofyourself #backtobasics #nectarine #blueberryrecipe #gingerrecipe #healthylifestyle #healthyrelationshipwithfood #foodpreservation #healthyeating CANNING RECIPE! Nectarines with a Dash of Blueberries and Ginger This canning recipe is amazing and can be multiplied so you can save and store all your excess nectarines. They are such a tasty treat during those winter months. Below are the instructions. PLEASE NOTE - If you are new to canning, make sure you read up on it and follow all safety guidelines to avoid botulism and food poisoning. If you prefer not to can them, you can omit the lemon juice and store in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. **I used pint jars. Ingredients: 10 nectarines 4 cups water 3/4 cup honey freshly grated ginger (1/4 tsp per jar) 1 tbl lemon juice per each jar a few blueberries per jar Instructions: 1. Wash, pit, and quarter the nectarines. Put them in a bowl of water with some lemon juice to keep them from browning. 2. Boil 4 cups water and 3/4 cup honey. 3. Put a few blueberries (it makes the syrup have a beautiful color), 1/4 tsp freshly grated ginger, and 1 tablespoon lemon in each jar. 4. Pack the nectarines in until they are 1/2 inch from the top. 5. Pour hot syrup into each jar leaving at least 1/4 inch head space. 6. Remove bubbles by running a knife along the inside of the jar. 7. Wipe down the rims with a warm paper towel, put the lid on, screw the ring on (only finger tight). 8. Process jars in a water bath canner for 25 minutes (pint jars) or 30 minutes (quart jars). Make sure to adjust for altitude. 9. Turn the heat off and leave the jars in the canner for 5 more minutes. 10. Put jars on a towel on the counter and do not touch for 24 hours. 11. After 24 hours, check that they have sealed. Unscrew the ring so it is very lose on the jar (if it was contaminated, the top will pop off so you know). Enjoy! Follow me on all the socials! Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PreservingHealthLiving/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/preservinghealthyliving/ TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@preservinghealthyliving #canningrecipe #canningandpreserving #homecanning #homemadefood #takecareofyourself #backtobasics #nectarine #blueberryrecipe #gingerrecipe #healthylifestyle #healthyrelationshipwithfood #foodpreservation #healthyeating #recipe #recipeshorts #canning

RUFFLES VS LAY'S -Who Is The Winner?? When it comes down to potato chips - which one is a better option when it comes down to the ingredients - Ruffles or Lays? Ruffles has monosodium glutamate (or MSG) which can make you feel more hungry than you really are. Plus if you are sensitive to it, it can cause all sorts of other problems like headache, heart palpitations, flushing, and drowsiness. Lay's does NOT use monosodium glutamate (or MSG). Ruffles uses Yellow 5 and Yellow 6 which have cancer contaminated substances, plus it increases hyperactivity in people. Lay's does NOT - instead they use annatto (like what they use in cheese). So if your craving some chips - read the ingredients on the back. A simple switch can help reduce the amount of chemicals and additives you are consuming. Follow me on all the socials! Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PreservingHealthLiving/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/preservinghealthyliving/ TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@preservinghealthyliving #layspotatochips #layschips #ruffles #whichisbetter #whichisbest #healthylifestyle #healthyrelationshipwithfood #moderationiskey #smallchangesbigresults #smallchanges #processedfood #potatochips #processedfoods #eatthisnothtat #shortsvideo #ultraprocessed

VACATIONS! Reason #5 Why I STILL Eat Ultra Processed Foods When on vacation, I don't think we should shy away from trying food that is native or popular for that area just because it MAY contain ultra processed foods (or even if it blatantly does). I don't get to travel often, but when I do, I am going to try and explore different foods. It's important for our growth and to appreciate the world around us. Follow me on all the socials! Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PreservingHealthLiving/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/preservinghealthyliving/ TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@preservinghealthyliving #vacation #vacations #healthylifestyle #healthyrelationshipwithfood #moderationiskey #balancedeating #roadtrip #colorado #explore #exploremore #explorer #exploretheworld #trynewthings #shortsvideo #processedfoods #eatbetter

Reason #4 - Why I STILL Eat Some Ultra Processed Foods! We went over that pretty much all chips are ultra processed during my #30daychallenge, except for some tortilla chips. There is an ultra processed chip though that I don't feel guilty eating - and that's Fritos! They only have 3 ingredients - corn, vegetable oil, and salt. Follow me on all the socials! Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PreservingHealthLiving/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/preservinghealthyliving/ TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@preservinghealthyliving #reasoning #only3ingredients #3ingredients #3ingredientsonly #healthylifestyle #healthylifestyle #healthjourney #healthyrelationshipwithfood #fritos #processedfoods #shorts

Caramelized Onions and Cherry Tomato Canning Recipe This recipe makes a wonderful base for roast. I love canning it so I can easily make roast (1/2 pint of this recipe, 1 cup broth, and any added veggies). Ingredients: 2 tbl olive oil 2 pound onions (of your choice) quartered and sliced 1 tbl sugar 4 cups halved cherry tomatoes (measure AFTER halving) 3/4 cup honey 1/3 cup balsamic vinegar 1/2 tsp black pepper Instructions: 1. Heat olive oil and add onion and sugar. Turn heat to low and cook with lid on for 15 minutes. 2. Uncover and turn up heat to medium-high. Continue cooking until the onions are the consistency you like. (The more you cook them, the less jar space you will need. I filled 5 1/2 pint jars in the video, but it can fill up to 8). 3. Add the cherry tomatoes and honey and stir well. Turn heat to medium and cook until tomatoes are soft and you have bubbly liquid. 4. Fill tomato mixture into sterilized and hot 1/2 pint jars. Get air bubbles out by running a knife around the edge. Jars should have 1/4" headspace. Clean the tops of the jars off with a warm paper towel and put lid on (only finger tight!) 5. Put into preheated canner on a canning rack. Once it is boiling with lid on, cook for 10 minutes (adjust for altitude). Turn off heat and leave lid on for 5 minutes. 6. Put jars on a cloth on your counter. Do not touch for 24 hours. Check that the jars sealed by pressing the button. If the button is not down, put in fridge and use soon. If the button was not down, but stays down, it still should be put in the fridge. 7. Take the ring lids off of the jar (or on very loosely). If the food was contaminated, the top will pop off so you know you shouldn't eat it. If you leave the rings on, it could pop and create a false seal. Use this recipe however you want, but I LOVE it with roast. I sear my roast, put it in the crockpot, pour this on top with 1 cup broth and add veggies. Enjoy! **IMPORTANT - Educate yourself on ALL safety procedures for canning to avoid botulism and food poisoning. Canning is a wonderful hobby, but it is important that you know what to do. Plenty of sources online! #canningandpreserving #tomatorecipe #cherrytomatoes #roast #cleaneating #selfsufficiency #caramelizedonions #yummyfood #canning #recipe #recipeshorts #recipereel

Why I STILL Eat Ultra Processed Foods - Reason 3 - COFFEE CREAMER I love my coffee... I've tried a few different things to get away from the ultra processed creamer... milk and sugar... sweetened condensed milk... but coffee just wasn't that enjoyable anymore. I used to drink International Delight Creamer (which is basically sugar, oil, water, and a few other additional ingredients). But I have recently found Chobani, which has natural cream, real milk, cane sugar, and natural flavors. And it's good! While Chobani coffee creamer is still considered an ultra processed product (due to the natural flavors), I still feel pretty good drinking it. It tastes a lot better than milk and sugar and I'm getting away from the oil based creamers. Follow me on all the socials! Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PreservingHealthLiving/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/preservinghealthyliving/ TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@preservinghealthyliving #processedfoods #ultraprocessed #eatbetter #healthjourney #healthylifestyle #balancedeating #moderationiskey #shorts #shortsvideo #eatthisnotthat #internationaldelight #chobani #coffeelover #processedfoods

EASY Homemade Cobbler From Scratch For Oven, Grill, or Dutch Oven I love this recipe because there are NO ultra processed foods. A great way to have a sweet every now and then without unnecessary chemicals and additives. This recipe is super easy to make and can be cooked in the oven, grill, or dutch oven. It makes about 5-6 smaller servings and can be paired well with ice cream. Ingredients: 4 tbl butter 3/4 cup flour (I prefer unbleached unbromated) 3/4 cup + 1 tbl sugar (keep the 1 tbl sugar for the last part) 1 tsp baking powder 1/4 tsp salt 3/4 cup milk 2 tsp vanilla extract 2-3 cups fresh fruit or 16 oz thawed mixed berries Instructions: Preheat 12-inch standard dutch oven in oven/grill/coals to 350 degrees. If cooking with coals, I would put about 16 coals on top and 9 on bottom. Prepare batter by mixing the flour, 3/4 cup sugar, baking powder, and salt in medium bowl. Slowly add milk while stirring. Add vanilla and whisk till smooth. Get the preheated dutch oven and melt the butter at the bottom. Add the berries. Pour batter on the berries. Top by sprinkling the 1 tbl sugar. Bake 50-60 minutes until the fruit is bubbly and batter is brown. Let cobbler cool a bit and then serve it warm. *Tip - if using a grill, turn every 10-15 minutes for even cooking. #homemadefood #homemade #homemadecooking #easyrecipe #bakedfromscratch #processedfoods #noprocessedfoods #eatbetter #healthjourney #healthylifestyle #healthyrelationshipwithfood

Why I STILL Eat Ultra Processed Food-Reason 2- EATING OUT Eating out with others in a sit-down setting is a positive social interaction that is important to me. University of Oxford did a study on the positive aspects of eating with other people, and not surprisingly, people were overall more happy and more satisfied with their lives. I don't want to miss out on healthy social interactions because I am afraid I might eat ultra processed food. I don't want to be afraid of food. So yes - I'm still going to restaurants and BBQs and other people's houses. I can still make healthy choices (even if it may include ultra processed food). The social and mental benefits, in my opinion, are worth it. https://www.ox.ac.uk/news/2017-03-16-social-eating-connects-communities Follow me on all the socials! Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PreservingHealthLiving/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/preservinghealthyliving/ TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@preservinghealthyliving https://www.ox.ac.uk/news/2017-03-16-social-eating-connects-communities #mentalhealthmatters #socialhealth #healthyliving #healthyrelationshipwithfood #universityofoxford #research #ultraprocessed #ultraprocessedfood #processedfood #processedfoods #balancedeating #moderationiskey

Day 17 and I'm tired of this challenge... I'm still going to finish it because I'm competitive, but I'm tired. We are going camping and so I have had to do a lot of food and meal prep so that I can stick to this competition. And it has made me realize that being 100% off of EVERY ultra processed food is just not realistic for my lifestyle and that moderation (like with so many things) truly is key. I'll be reevaluating how I eat at the end of the 30 day challenge and fine tuning it so that it leads to better healthy while being supportive of my happiness and lifestyle. Food Diary: Breakfast: Coffee with sweetened condensed milk Lunch: Cottage cheese with blackberries Watermelon Snack: Homemade peanut butter cookies (peanut butter was all-natural) Dinner: Acorn squash with a butter and brown sugar drizzle Snack: More cookies Not the best day.... Follow me on all the socials! Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PreservingHealthLiving/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/preservinghealthyliving/ TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@preservinghealthyliving #processedfoods #eatbetter #cleaneating #moderation #ultraprocessed #onedayatatime #gettingoverit #shorts #shortsvideo #30daychallenge #day17

Day 18 - DEPRESSION With Diet Changes - 30 Day Challenge No Ultra Processed Food Yup - still here. If you watched my video yesterday you probably weren't expecting another update until next week when I got back from camping. But camping was a BUST due to it being an archery weekend and Labor Day. I did want to touch on mental health when it comes to dietary changes. Getting off of excess sugar, chemicals, and preservatives can be difficult for everyone, but if you have a predisposition towards depression and anxiety it can trigger those responses. So be patient and kind with yourself. I have been struggling with it the past few days - but feeling better today (Day 19) Food Diary Breakfast: Coffee with sweetened condensed milk Watermelon Lunch: Acorn squash with butter and brown sugar Pulled pork Dinner: Pulled pork with Tostitos Tortilla Chips (NOVA 3) Follow me on all the socials! Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PreservingHealthLiving/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/preservinghealthyliving/ TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@preservinghealthyliving #processedfoods #eatbetter #depression #depressionmanagement #triggers #anxiety #anxietyanddepression #anxietytips #diettips #patience #ultraprocessed #challengeaccepted

I QUIT! 30 Day No Ultra Processed Food Challenge IS OVER I have come to the conclusion that the "all or nothing" thinking this challenge presents is not good for my overall health. That being said - I am absolutely not going back to eating the Pop Tarts and Chips Ahoy and all of that. I will be releasing a mini reel series called "Why I Won't Stop Eating Ultra Processed Food" where I will explore what ultra processed foods I will eat, news released that pertain to the nutrition world (ex - like upcoming aspartame being classified as a "possibly carcinogenic"), Eat This Not That examples, and other key factors of why I am keeping some ultra processed foods in my life. So follow, share, comment, as we go further on this health journey. #30daychallenge #shorts #ultraprocessed

Why I Eat Ultra Processed Foods - A Reels Series Reason #1 - IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE Not all ultra processed food is bad, at least not in my book. And when it comes to bread, if you aren't making it at home yourself, it always counts as an ultra processed food. I have two bread products I love. Rhodes Warm 'n Serv Rolls and Old Fashion white bread. Rhodes Warm 'n Serv Rolls only have a handful of ingredients, all of which I know. Old Fashion White Bread is a non-GMO bread that doesn't have high fructose corn syrup or artificial flavors or colors. So there you have it. Why do I still eat ultra processed foods? Because sometimes it doesn't make sense (for me) to avoid them. Follow me on all the socials! Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PreservingHealthLiving/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/preservinghealthyliving/ TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@preservinghealthyliving #eatbetter #cleaneating #healthyrelationshipwithfood #moderationiskey #bread #rhodesrolls #oldfashion #nongmo #processedfoods #healthjourney #healthylifestyle

Day 16 - TODAY'S TIP - 30 Days No Ultra Processed Food Challenge Day 16 and still going strong! More than half way there. I wanted to share a tip that I have learned on this 30 day challenge that helps me quickly identify if a food is ultra processed. Natural Flavorings - they are so processed that by the time they are added to our foods they are not much different than artificial flavorings. And every food I have found that have natural flavorings is listed as NOVA 4, which means ultra-processed. Just a reminder - you can look up a food's rating by going to https://world.openfoodfacts.org/ Anything that ranks as NOVA 4 is ultra-processed. Food Diary: Breakfast: Coffee with sweetened condensed milk Fresh fruit bowl Lunch: Pulled pork rice bowl Dinner: Fajita rice bowl Snack: Watermelon Follow me on all the socials! Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PreservingHealthLiving/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/preservinghealthyliving/ TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@preservinghealthyliving #processedfoods #day16 #eatbetter #naturalflavors

Day 14 - SOCIAL IMPACT - 30 Days No Ultra Processed Food Challenge I thought the hardest part would be evenings. My family and I are snackers and usually eat ice cream or cookies after dinner (I know that's not the healthiest - we don't do it every night ;) ). But I found it quite easy to find a replacement. Whether that was a healthy soda, fresh fruit, homemade bakery items like zucchini bread... It was very manageable. The hardest part so far is the social impact. The BBQ's that I went to but didn't eat at, the celebratory ice cream after recitals... I mean, I was THERE for the celebrations but by not eating it just felt awkward and weird. I'm going to be really pondering about the balance I want after this 30 days. I don't want to go back to how things used to be... but I do want to participate in social settings. I want to find moderation and a solution that fits best for me. Food Diary: Breakfast: Coffee with sweetened condensed milk Cottage cheese with raspberries Lunch: Taco meat rice bowl Healthy soda Snack: Watermelon Dinner: Roast beef with potatoes and cheese Snack: Watermelon and blueberries #processedfoods #eatbetter #cleaneating #day14

Day 15 - TWO CONFESSIONS - 30 Days No Ultra Processed Food Challenge I am halfway through my 30 days. Woot woot! That being said - I have two confessions. First confession... I thought I would lose more weight than I have (so far 2 pounds). I read in articles and heard from people that the weight just "fell off". This has not been the case for me. I'm happy about the two pounds, but I honestly thought it would have been just a bit more (like 4 pounds). But I suppose I need to be more patient and also realize I may need to do more than just stop eating ultra processed foods to lose weight (I am 40 after all). Which leads me to my second confession... I hate exercising. I don't mind hiking, or engaging in activities, but to decide I'm going to stop whatever I'm doing to just exercise is another chore to me. And I hate it. But I think combining exercising with not eating ultra processed foods is what I need to do. After this 30 day challenge, I will be doing a new challenge combining the two (with a few tweaks) - so be sure to subscribe and follow so you don't miss out! Food Diary: Breakfast: Coffee with sweetened condensed milk Fresh Fruit Lunch: Hamburger patty (no bun) with pepperjack cheese, medium cooked egg, and jalapenos Fresh Fruit Snack: Healthy Soda Dinner: Chicken spaghetti (with homemade spaghetti sauce) Snack: Watermelon #30daychallenge

Day 13 When I got dressed, I felt that my shorts were looser - so I weighed. I still haven't lost more than the first 2 pounds at the beginning - but clothes are fitting better! I know that the ingredients in ultra processed food can cause bloating . This is a noticeable difference -so it was a pleasant surprise. Overall it was a good day - I knew I was going to be hungry after the second day of substitute teaching - and I was so happy that my husband had gone out and bought a lot of fresh fruit. Now I'm stocked back up for my healthy sodas. Speaking of healthy sodas - I tried to make it with all-natural jam and that is NOT the same. I would stick with fresh fruit. For dinner, the family had Tony's pizza, which is AMAZING pizza... And while I was tempted, it wasn't as hard as I thought it would be to turn it down. I don't know if it's because I know I'm doing this for only 30 days and then reevaluating? Or if I'm just getting used to not eating ultra processed food. Food Diary: Breakfast: Coffee with sweetened condensed milk Homemade waffle with all-natural strawberry syrup Lunch: Cheese Triscuits with a hint of salt Dinner: Roast over mashed potatoes and gravy Follow me on all the socials! Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PreservingHealthLiving/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/preservinghealthyliving/ TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@preservinghealthyliving #30daychallenge #30dayfoodchallenge #30dayhealthchallenge #processedfood #processedfoods #ultraprocessedfood #ultraprocessedfoods #eathealthy #eatbetter #bettereating #fooddiary #healthjourney #healthjournal #healthyjourney

Day 12 It was the first time I did a substitute teaching gig - and it complicated things. I TRIED to plan out what I was going to eat - I just didn't realize I wouldn't have any alone time to EAT it in. But I did manage to eat some apple and peanut butter really fast. By the time I got home - I was RAVENOUS. I walked up to the cupboard looking for a quick fix and it was really tempting. Because honestly who would know?? Except for me - so I was good.... Food Diary: Breakfast: Homemade waffle with all-natural strawberry syrup Coffee with sweetened condensed milk Lunch: Apple Natural peanut butter Snack: Triscuits Dinner: Pork Carnitas rice bowl Follow me on all the socials! Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PreservingHealthLiving/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/preservinghealthyliving/ TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@preservinghealthyliving #30daychallenge #30dayfoodchallenge #howtoeathealthy #healthyeating #fooddiary #processedfood #processedfoods #ultraprocessedfood #ultraprocessedfoods #day12

Day 11 I actually planned dinner out in advance, which I think reflects I'm having more energy. Yea! I made a roast in the crockpot. It took FOREVER to get tender, so we didn't eat until 8 PM - but it was very yummy. I'm going to remember to do crockpot meat meals more often because it is so easy to repurpose the leftover meat (salads, stews, rice bowls). I still have food on the mind and am always thinking of things I would like to make... Let's see what I can accomplish! Food Diary: Breakfast: Coffee with sweetened condensed milk Homemade waffle with all-natural fruit syrup Lunch: Leftover rice/beans/corn mixture with leftover taco meat - topped with cheese Dinner: Roast Mashed Potatoes Carrots Follow me on all the socials! Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PreservingHealthLiving/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/preservinghealthyliving/ TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@preservinghealthyliving #30daychallenge, #shorts, #30dayfoodchallenge, #30dayhealthchallenge, #ultraprocessed, #ultraprocessedfoods, #processedfood, #processedfoods, #junkfood, #healthyliving, #bettereating, #fooddiary, #myjourney

Day 10 Still in a slump but much better than Day 9! And I'm officially over 30% of the way to the 30 days! I'm thinking about food a lot - but I think that's normal... I did find out that Minute Rice is NOT ultra processed. I guess I thought it was because it comes in a box, cooks faster than other rice... you know, all that convenience. But it's just rice! Food Diary: Breakfast: Coffee with sweetened condensed milk Cottage cheese and raspberries Snack: Tostitos Scoops (this is a NOVA 3 processed food, NOVA 4 is considered ultra processed) Lunch: Pork Carnitas nachos (shredded pork, tortilla chips, corn, black beans, homemade salsa) Dinner: Pork Carnitas rice bowl (shredded pork, minute rice, diced tomatoes, corn, black beans, shredded cheese, and homemade cheese crisps) Follow me on all the socials! Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PreservingHealthLiving/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/preservinghealthyliving/ TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@preservinghealthyliving #minuterice #30daychallenge #30dayhealthchallenge #30dayfoodchallenge #day10 #processedfood #processedfoods #ultraprocessed #onedayatatime #whatisminuterice

Day 5 I tried a "healthy" soda that was suggested by a listener. It is carbonated mineral water, mashed fresh fruit, and a bit of sugar. Finding that helped A TON with my soda cravings and helped me finish strong. I'm realizing a few things... One - finding one good alternative to something you loved can make all the difference - so explore! Second - I fell into one of my old traps of getting too busy and skipping a meal. This leaves me feeling super hungry and all those ultra processed foods suddenly look ok. I need to realize that when I'm skipping meals, I'm living an unbalanced day and that I need to slow down. Third - Having quick and convenient options on hand (that are not ultra processed) are important to my success. I have to have quick items on hand if I'm going to make the 30 days! Cottage cheese, fruits, veggies, popcorn.... And even making some things in advance (like zucchini bread) so I have something to munch on a few days will help me succeed. What are some of the things you found that help you succeed? Or what have you found leads you astray? Food Diary Breakfast: Coffee with sweetened and condensed milk Scrambled eggs with cheese Lunch: Leftover stir fry Snack: Two "healthy sodas" Dinner: Skipped! I need to make sure that doesn't happen again... Late Night Snack: Cottage cheese and grapes Zucchini bread (the last of it!) Have you started your journey of No Ultra Processed Foods for 30 Days? I'd love to hear about it! Follow me on all the socials! Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PreservingHealthLiving/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/preservinghealthyliving/ TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@preservinghealthyliving #30daychallenge #30dayfoodchallenge #challenge #fooddiary #processedfood #ultraprocessedfood #eatbetter

Day 7 Recap The day started out pretty good - but when it came to making dinner at the end of the day, it put me in a pretty bad mood. I ended up not making anything, but just reheated some left over spaghetti. But some days are going to be like that - but the important thing is I remained strong and still have not eaten any ultra processed foods. I did add some all-natural fruit syrup to my "healthy soda" and it was AMAZING. It is seriously so good, I think I could remain off ultra processed soda after the challenge is over. Food Diary Breakfast: Coffee Apples and Peanut Butter Lunch: Leftover stuffed shells fruit Dinner: Leftover spaghetti Snack: Popcorn with salt and butter Follow me on all the socials! Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PreservingHealthLiving/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/preservinghealthyliving/ TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@preservinghealthyliving #30daychallenge #healthchallenge #day7 #healthylifestyle #howtostopeatingjunk #processedfoods #ultraprocessedfoods #challengeyourself #healhysoda #sodaalternative #fooddiary #healthjourney

Day 6 Things are getting a bit easier today. The brain fog clearing and the mood is lifting. There was an issue I knew I was going to run into... My kids had their summer recital and it is tradition to go and get ice cream afterwards. Since ice cream is ultra processed, I didn't have any (sad...). The entire family was very supportive though, and the kids might have even thought it was a bit funny. I think celebratory dinners/treats is something that I would allow after this 30 day challenge. Moderation is key for a healthy lifestyle. But for now.... we are doing the full 30 days! I would LOVE to make some homemade ice cream (since I can control the ingredients going in, it wouldn't be ultra processed). I looked on Amazon and felt very inundated by the many selections. So if YOU have a great ice cream maker, please send the suggestions my way! Food Diary: Breakfast: Coffee with sweetened and condensed milk Fresh fruit Lunch: Hamburger with egg Cheese Fresh Fruit Dinner: Stuffed Shells Snack: Wine Follow me on all the socials! Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PreservingHealthLiving/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/preservinghealthyliving/ TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@preservinghealthyliving #30daychallenge #30dayfoodchallenge #ultraprocessedfood #processedfood #fooddiary #eatbetter