New

Shiny and New!  New and Improved!  It’s brand New!  Big whoop.  I like my old stuff.  Like my comfy black sneakers and my favorite pair of jeans.  When I go to a restaurant I always order the same thing (lasagna) because I know it and trust that it will taste good.

New = change and why change it if it’s working for me?

Fine…but what if it’s not working?  An often used quote is, “doing the same thing and expecting different results is the definition of insanity.”  So when you don’t like the results and it’s driving you nuts, well then you have to try something new, right?

The new thing in my household right now is that I am cooking a healthy dinner each night, trying to use the tenets of “clean eating.”  It’s been tough and we’re only 5 days into it!!!  But the old way just isn’t working for me, because I know it’s unhealthy for my kids.  And I also know how many hang ups I have with food, and I don’t ever want them to go through years of yo-yo diets and self image issues.  So in with the new and improved eating lifestyle!

Day 3 – Attempt Kid “Buy In”

I theorized that if the kids helped me to prepare the food they would be more interested in eating it.  Not so, it seems.

Dinner was turkey burgers on whole wheat bread with lettuce and tomato slices and clean sweet potato fries.

Said my five-year-old daughter, “These don’t taste like McDonald’s fries.”

So true…

Day 4 – Not as Raw as my Feelings

One Fit Mama suggested I go for raw vegetables instead of cooked ones.  So I made ground turkey seasoned with Mrs. Dash, raw carrots and broccoli and mashed red potatoes with low-fat milk and butter spray.

My son asked why the potatoes had boo-boos.  “No, honey, that’s potato skin, not…never mind.”

But they ate the carrots!  And my son ate the broccoli so score on the tip from One Fit Mama!

Day 5 – Go for the Lowest Common Denominator

“What’s for dinner?” asked Rylee.  “Turkey chilli!” I said enthusiastically.  “Mom, you’re killing me.  Please can we eat kid food again?”  (She even put her hand on her hip to demonstrate her extreme frustration with my new lifestyle choice I was thrusting upon everyone.)

“Chilli is a kid food.  I used to love it when my mom made us chilli,” I reasoned.  “Well just because you like it doesn’t mean I’ll like it;  we’re different, you know.”  (I am raising a lawyer.)

“Yuck!  No!  No!  No!  Stop being mean!” cried my son as I placed the bowl before him.

“Ok, guys, I wasn’t going to do this, but if you try your dinner I will teach you a secret song.”  This piqued their interest.  They each took a tentative bite, making the appropriately disgusted face.

I sang, “Beans, beans, good for the heart.  Beans, beans, they make you fart!”  Yes.  I went there.  *sigh*  After giggling profusely they ate half their chilli while singing the bean song.  I have no doubt they will feel the need to sing this at church tomorrow.  But at least they are starting to eat new things.  Victory… Sort of!

How about you?  Are you trying anything new in the New Year?  How’s it going so far?

Lisa

P.S. – This post is part of a January Blogger Challenge.

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