My kids don?t say, ?What?s for dinner, Mom"? Instead, they ask, ?What are we having"?
It?s a subtle distinction, but somehow the notion that we?re having a meal carries greater expectations. It?s not something we mindlessly scarf down; it?s something we have.
Lately, I?ve been having difficulty planning and preparing balanced, home-cooked meals. I try my best, but life is busy ? which means I will sometimes turn to food options that are convenient rather than wholesome. Some nights, I?m having a 6 p.m. meltdown because the broccoli I was planning to serve has been in the fridge too long and turned yellow. On those nights, I?m sorry to say, we?re having chicken fingers.
Then, along came the totally redesigned version of Canada?s Food Guide, boldly decreeing that half our plates should be filled with fruits and vegetables, that we should read food labels more carefully, and that we should avoid sugary drinks and highly processed foods. The advice is undoubtedly sound, but for me, it came with a large side order of guilt. It was gut-check time. I was slacking, and I knew I could do better. I decided to renew my efforts and take action by following the new Food Guide to a tee. Here?s how the first week went.
Monday
According to the Food Guide, the only grains worth talking about (or eating) are whole grains. Realizing that my usual muffin recipes weren?t packing enough of a nutritional punch, I swapped out the white flour in favour of oat bran, wheat bran, ground flax...