Today I am going to share a little different side of me. While I enjoy all things home and decor, I spend a great amount of my time in the kitchen. Whether I am making breakfast, packing school lunches, or preparing dinner, a large amount of time is spent planning, shopping, and creating food for my family. I’ve written about food in the past, I remember a lot of people enjoyed the post about the gadgets I use in the kitchen (that fryer is still the best air fryer I’ve ever used!) so I thought I would talk some more about my kitchen and routine. My food posts for the blog often focus on old family favorites and delicious treats. Yet, it was brought to my attention just recently (thank you to Fitzy and our oldest son) that I haven’t shared my quest for healthy food options on the blog.
You see…a couple of years ago we discovered that our youngest daughter has a severe allergy to dyes. You know…those pesky additives that make our food and products more appealing. From the blue dye that is used to make yummy marshmallows appear whiter to the red dye that is added to so many lotions and body products, each and every one gives my poor baby a terrible rash. Over the years, we have learned to eliminate all dyes from our home. In the beginning this was a very challenging task. Now…we have learned that eating ‘real’ foods and using safe products makes a world of difference to her sensitive skin. When others learn of her sensitively, the common reaction is, “That must be so hard!”. Well the truth is…it is pretty easy. By eliminating all those pesky dyes that we shouldn’t really be consuming anyway, we have learned to live a healthier lifestyle.
In an attempt to eliminate dyes from our home, I began reading each and every label of every.single.product that entered our home. No longer could I purchase a single product without being aware of the ingredients. In reading every single label, I began to question what exactly was in our food. From high fructose corn syrup, butylated hydroxyanisolebha (bha), butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), aspartame, sodium nitrate, monosodium glutamate (msg), dyes, etc., the list could go on and on. My first reaction was WOW…what are we doing to our bodies?!?!?! My second reaction was ACTION…what can I do to make a difference in our lives to avoid these toxins?!?!?!?!?!
Over the last couple of years we have worked hard to ‘clean up’ our lifestyle. Saying goodbye to so many toxins in our food and household products has honestly improved our overall health. The unexplained rashes are gone and the upset tummies are gone. It is amazing how much better we feel and how much better our bodies function when living a healthier lifestyle. I can’t believe how healthier I feel and it’s all from changing the food that I am consuming into my body. It’s amazing. At this point, I definitely don’t want to go back to how I was feeling before, so that is why I am considering taking up exercise to help continue my healthy living journey. My friend, who has recently completed her yoga training in rishikesh has persuaded me to come to one of her yoga classes as she said that this comes with a lot of health benefits. I’ve never been a huge fan of exercise so I think this could be a great way to get started. I will try anything to be able to keep up with my healthy lifestyle.
We also take looking after our oral health and hygiene much more seriously now. Alongside brushing our teeth, using mouthwash, and frequently flossing, we have dramatically reduced our sugar intake. Our dentist has told us that she can really tell the difference based on the improved state of our teeth. Which reminds me, I have been told that if you are looking for a new Dentist Santa Monica is home to a variety of fantastic dental practices. One of our friends recently moved to Santa Monica and has promised to follow our new healthier lifestyle, so I cannot wait to hear about how she gets on and whether or not she notices any differences to her oral health too.
Now, let me add a disclaimer here. I am not a healthcare professional. I am not offering advise or suggesting this will work for you. This is simply what has worked for our family. Friends and family often ask me for suggestions based on healthier foods or products. With this in mind, I would like to start a series that highlights healthier options. Snacks, essential oils, products, books, and recipes are just a few of my ideas to start the series. Stay tuned!!! I am so excited to share what I have learned with you.
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