Small Steps Towards a Healthier Diet

One of the goals that my husband and I had for 2010 was to eat healthier. The responsibility of meeting that goal mainly fell to me, and why not? I am the meal planner, grocery shopper, and chef. For Christmas of 2009, my lovely sister-in-law gave me a copy of Patrick Holford's The Optimum Nutrition Bible. Another one of my goals for 2010 was to read it cover-to-cover, and somehow, I managed it! At first I was really discouraged. "The only way for us to have an optimum diet is to spend a fortune on only organic food and miraculous supplements," I fretted. As I went on, however, I did become encouraged to make some baby step changes that will benefit us now and in the years to come. We still have lots of little changes we could make, and hope to progress further in 2011, but here's where we've started:

1. I make all my own bread, in my handy-dandy Breadman bread-maker, which I purchased for $15 second-hand. I can use whole-grains, and know all of the ingredients. No nasty preservatives, and it tastes much better! I haven't purchased a loaf of bread in over a year.

2. We eat lots of whole grains other than wheat. I make lots of brown rice and quinoa for side dishes and casseroles. The other side of this is that we've been trying to limit our wheat intake, as according to Mr. Holford your body really shouldn't have it more than 3-4 times per week. We have a long way to go on that kind of reduction, but we're getting there.

3. I put a baby spinach salad in Niall's lunch each day. Every morning when I make Niall's lunch, I stick a small salad of baby spinach, red bell pepper, and carrots (sometimes broccoli or cucumber to mix things up). This helps to keep him regular :). All in all, it doesn't cost more than $3-$4 each week. Well worth the cost and time involved to give him an extra dose of veggies!

4. We eat lots of organic oatmeal for breakfast. Each week I go to Wegman's organic bulk section and buy a couple of scoops of oats. They are super cheap! I soak a cup of them overnight in 3 cups of water, and we cook it on low for an hour or so each morning as we get ready for work. This makes for a creamy and nice porridge.

5. We also eat organic yogurt loaded with pro-biotics and frozen berries for breakfast. Because we are pretty early-risers, a lot of times Niall and I eat two small breakfasts spread through the morning before we head out the door. A delicious favorite of ours is to nuke a small handful of frozen mixed berries for 30 seconds, and then add three big spoonfuls of Wegman's organic yogurt to it. Delicious! And super healthy!

6. We've started taking a simple multi-vitamin. One of my favorite motto's is "something is better than nothing." I cannot tell you how motivational that is in so many different circumstances! Although we can't afford to go crazy taking top-of-the-line supplements, we can invest $10 or so a month on a simple, natural multi-vitamin. We may not be getting everything we need, but we're getting more than we were when we didn't take any vitamins. And something, my friend, is better than nothing.

7. I buy more fish and less red meat. I love steak, ground beef, and bacon. Any kind of meat really! But fish is tasty too, and of great nutritional benefit. Although I'll purchase beef or pork once or twice a month, we try to have fish at least once a week, even if it is out of a can.

8. I've been finding tasty meat subsitutes. My husband LOVES his meat, and feels a great sense of disappointment when the dinner is served up without it. But I have managed to find some meatless meals that satisfy! I make a barley bake that has a rich, nutty flavor, which makes us miss the meat less. Also found a great recipe for lentil tacos. Who knew it was possible, but they are almost as good as ground beef ones! I also like to use a lot of eggplant in dishes during farmer's market season. It's another nutritious substitute with a comparable texture.

These are my best suggestions so far. How about you? What are some of the little things you do to serve up a healthier diet?

The Delights of Dreaded Domestic Duties

One of the things that the Lord changed my heart about (when going through the previously mentioned study with my pastor's wife) was my attitude towards certain hated chores. Namely, ironing and dishes.

Do any of you hate doing the dishes??? Because I sure did! How about ironing? It can be very time-consuming, and not so delightful at the end of a long work day.

Graciously, the Lord has slowly changed my heart towards those things. Elizabeth George, and Janet (my pastor's wife), helped me to realize two things. 1)Washing the dishes and ironing Niall's shirts is being obedient to the Lord by fulfilling the role He has given to me. 2) By faithfully performing these acts I am serving and showing love to Niall.

Realizing those two things has completely changed my attitude! There is joy in knowing that you are obeying God and blessing your husband. I wonder sometimes how I can serve God and how I can best please Him, and this is such a simple and truly easy way if you really think about it. And when I go to my sink, piled high with the day's dishes, and think about honoring God and my husband, it makes me happy. And that joy carries me quickly and painlessly through the task at hand.

May the Lord grant you joy in the duties you dread to carry you through!

A Purpose Statement

It seems appropriate to begin a blog by stating a purpose for it. Hmm.

My name is Rachel and I am blessed to be the wife of Niall O'Neill. We have been married for 2 1/2 years and what a joy it has been :).

I love being a wife, and I love my home. Right now we have no children and it is necessary for me to work full-time, but I eagerly anticipate the day when I can leave the working world and retire to my home to raise our children in the fear and admonition of the Lord.

Because I work full-time, I have found it to be a struggle to pay the kind of attention to my home which I feel it needs and deserves. Praise God for my pastor's wife! After Niall and I had just celebrated our first full year of marriage, she invited me to do a study with her on Elizabeth George's book, A Woman After God's Own Heart. God graciously impressed upon my heart my need to strive diligently at making my home and husband first priority! Despite work, and exhaustion, and a busy modern schedule. For the last year and a half I have been laboring to make changes, becoming more faithful in my domestic duties and learning to delight in them. And my husband has noticed the difference :).

My purpose for this blog is to record the things I'm learning spiritually, and practically, as a wife and homemaker. This will help my own frail memory, and hopefully as an added bonus encourage other women who are seeking the same priorities of God first, husband second, and home third.

Happy homemaking!