March Madness 2013: Making Healthy Changes

Trying Chick Peas in a meal

  Making healthy changes: Physical, finacially, Nutritional, and Relational. We decided to start making things healthier in our family's choices and things we do.
  
  One of the changes was how we ate. We decided that we would eat fresher, and only eat out once a month. One of the challenges was to try new foods. Which is harder for Joel than on me. I learned that making a variety of color, and mixing new foods with foods he already likes works best. Chickpeas was one of the new foods for Joel to try. We had a meatless Monday meal where I made Chickpeas with sauteed Onions, tomatoes, and fresh baby spinach. Sure enough as expected Joel was hesitant to try, but he did. He ended up loving it and wanted 2nd and 3rd. It was a meal that was healthy for both of us filled with protein, iron, vitamins, ect.

Joel double fisting meal

   We decided that our once a month meal that we ate out was in DesMoines (Thank goodness I have gift certificates) at Joel's favorite place to eat. Joel loves to eat at Bang Bang. He usually eats very well. He loves it there because he has a favorite waitress that he adores, and she adores him as well. It is nice that they staff knows both of us by name (tells you how often we go). Really it is not that expensive for us over all. Bang Bang has an all you can eat buffet which we do. Which I can spend less than at McDonalds and not have all you can eat.

On Our Mom and Son Date

  Another one of our healthy changes was Mom and Joel dates once a week. It lets us just enjoy each other's company. For first week of our new change was after Joel's dentist appointment. We went to lunch at Bang Bang, and then headed to the mall. We enjoy just walking and looking around mainly. Plus they have a good play area since the weather has been too cool to play at any outdoor parks. Joel wanted a frostie so he enjoyed one as an afternoon snack after playing at the play area.

At The Play Area at Jordan Creek

  Like I said Joel loves to play at the playarea at the mall. It gives him chance to run off energy as well as interact with other children. He really enjoyed the day we went to the mall. It gave him a little extra exercise, and me a chance to sit down and rest.
  One of our changes is doing some type of physical exercise that we can sort of enjoy together which is hard because of my heart issues, But we do what we can together. I am allow to walk atleast 15minutes every day. So we walked and while I rested Joel got to play.

  It has been some good positive changes in our home. We also have made our relationship with God better as a family. We went back to reading a bible story every day, and making sure to say our prayers together at night before Joel goes to bed.