We are so excited to have Rachel and Shannon here, authors of the new eBook Sharing an exclusive recipe from their eBook + 4 simple tips to keep your family nourished while still leaving room for the occasional treat or two!
You can find Rachel and Shannon on Instagram, talking all things food and fitness, @rachel_rebuilt and @cleaneats_cleantreats.
We know many of you set goals to “Eat Clean in 2016,” either to support healthy weight loss or to improve overall health. We’re both busy mamas, balancing motherhood, home businesses, and other responsibilities, so we know how challenging it can be to prepare and serve nutritious meals the whole family will love. But we also believe that real food—food that comes from Mother Nature—is the key to lifelong health, sustained energy, mental focus, and emotional balance. What you put into your body matters! And we want to help you make smart, sustainable choices for your whole family.
Here are four simple tips—plus one mouth-watering recipe—to help you nourish your family, while still making room for special treats and favorite meals!!
4 TIPS…
Tip 1: Start with simple, natural foods. The best foods are created in nature, not a lab. Stock your fridge and pantry with fresh, seasonal veggies and fruits; whole grains; legumes; nuts and seeds; healthy fats; and quality meats and animal products (e.g., eggs, dairy). Foods with just one or two ingredients should form the foundation of your daily meals.
Tip 2: Limit processed, packaged foods. Supermarkets are full of convenience foods. Unfortunately, most contain added sugar, refined grains, trans fats, and chemical additives. However, consumer demand has inspired a few companies to produce cleaner versions. These timesaving foods may have a place in your family’s diet. But choose carefully, sticking to products with a short list of familiar, natural ingredients. If you can’t say it, don’t eat it.
Tip 3: Focus on possibilities, not limitations. If you focus on eliminating “forbidden” foods, you may start to feel deprived or anxious, which can drain your will power and lead to uncontrolled binging. Instead, concentrate on bringing more whole foods into your diet. Try a new veggie each week. Experiment with unfamiliar spices. Focus on what you can have, instead of what you can’t.
Tip 4: Indulge when it matters to you. Don’t sacrifice special experiences in the name of clean eating. Some meals and desserts are worth every bite. Splurge on high-quality desserts or once-in-a-lifetime meals. Skip cheap, store-bought confections. Celebrate holidays and milestones with traditional meals or sweets, but hold back during ordinary social gatherings. Choose foods and moments you won’t regret.
Many people think of clean eating as a way to get skinny or fit. And while it can support healthy weight loss and maintenance, we prefer to think of clean eating as an act of self-love. Our bodies aren’t just ornamental; they are homes for our souls and vehicles for fulfilling our deeper purposes in life. As we care for our bodies, we also feel more confident about who we are inside, our gifts and talents, and our unique voice. The mind and body are deeply connected. As we nourish one, the other also begins to flourish. We join with Mom’s Best Network in encouraging you to “Be Kind to Yourself” by caring for your body from a place of self-love, rather than a place of shame or comparison.
Check out their new eBook for more exclusive recipes + 117 Tips & Tricks to get you on the right track to nourishing your family in healthy way! The eBook also includes a budget-friendly, 7-day meal plan for the whole family, including the two mouth-watering recipes featured below.
RECIPE:
Chipotle Lime Pork Roast
Serves 6
INGREDIENTS
1 (2 to 2-½ lb.) boneless pork roast
½ cup chicken broth
1 tsp. cumin
1 tsp. garlic powder
¾ tsp. salt
⅛ tsp. cinnamon
½ cup chopped onion
2 chopped chipotle chilies in adobo (from a can)
5 large garlic cloves, minced
2 limes, juiced
OPTIONAL TOPPINGS
shredded kale
shredded carrots
chopped cilantro
METHOD
Clean and trim roast. Pour chicken broth into slow cooker. Add roast. Sprinkle with seasonings. Add onion, peppers, and garlic. Cook on low for at least 6 hours or until roast shreds easily with a fork. Shred and add lime juice. Garnish with shredded kale, shredded carrots, and chopped cilantro. Drizzle with fresh lime juice.
whole family option
Serve with whole wheat tortillas and feta cheese.
