healthy living commitments
Having a few days with a very sick child, an ill husband off-work and feeling rather average myself really showed how much it takes to keep a healthy-household functioning (or NOT functioning as the case may be).
I know in the “Healthy-Living-Realm” the consensus is that a healthy lifestyle is extremely easy and so, everybody should be doing it. I would like to chip in that yes, everybody should be trying to live a healthier, more sustainable life – but it’s not that easy. It takes quite a bit of forethought, organisation and dedication to upkeep – particularly in this day in age of convenience.
Having a few days “off” – ie either lying on the couch groaning, comforting Misty, cleaning up vomit or a sitting in the hospital emergency room – really put into perspective how much of my time is dedicated to maintaining a healthy lifestyle. For example – I usually shop for produce every few days, just so we have fresh stuff on hand…. plus pick up any bits and pieces we made need from the health food store or supermarket. Basically we had no proper food in the house until this morning, when I felt just human enough to go on a mission. Viper had no cereal (I make it), there is no bread (I usually make it, so Viper went and bought some), there is no nut milk/nut butters (I make them), there are no baked goods like snack bars/crackers etc (I make them) Boosty has no food (I make her Doggie-Mix), there is no hummus/cooked or soaked beans/legumes (buy dry, soak and cook myself) – you get the picture. When you are not well enough to function, it’s really hard to keep up the old routine.
I do all of these tasks happily, mind you – I really love to be busy and productive. It’s also a cost-thing for us…. convenience food is expensive – especially when you want the healthy, organic convenient option. A single income and all the financial-joys of life mean we are on a tight budget, and the more you can DIY, the better in my opinion. I’m not saying that buying a loaf of bread or can of chick peas from the store is a bad thing – I’ve just gone and done that this morning, as it is easy and I am in no shape to be be tackling too many domestic duties right now…. I’m just musing on the amount of energy I dedicate to keeping my household working the way I like it. A purely personal choice, and one I love.
In whatever way you strive to make your lifestyle a little healthier/more sustainable – whether it be making your own muesli or turning to more natural based cleaners in your house – you should be applauded. It’s so tempting to just go for the easy option in this crazy, fast paced world we live in, but I reckon a few too many easy options have created a LOT of problems (think fast food/preservatives/additives/toxic cleaning substances). Quick and easy is not always better – a little bit of dedication and investment of your time is a small price to pay for great results.
In saying all this – I have been living off nature’s “convenience foods” – fruit – for the past few days. No, this is not in line with an Anti-Candida Diet I know, but when your belly is not happy, you have to listen to what your body is telling you. Fresh fruit is what I want, and fresh fruit is what I shall eat… quick, easy, cheap and healthy. Plus, it is staying in my belly where it should, which makes for a happy Lou.
What do you DO to maintain your sort of “healthy” lifestyle (whatever that means to YOU)? I mean, some people think I’m nuts for cooking a lot of our food from scratch: Why bother? It’s so cheap to just BUY it! – however others may be disturbed that I buy UHT soy milk (albeit organic) and non organic fruit and veggies. Again, I think it’s all about that pesky little thing called balance that is always taunting me.
And yes, that is food on my face. DIY home facials not only save you a buck, but are so much better for you and the environment. Viper thinks I’m a freak.
29 Responses to “healthy living commitments”
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- - November 26, 2012
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Vegan. Stay at home Mum of Misty. Yoga teacher in training. Passionate about REAL food - creating it, eating it, sharing it. I can never stick to a recipe.
I know exactly what you mean! Whenever I have an off week, we just about starve! So, I have been stocking the freezer with home-made dinners and treats and teaching the kids to make things too. So, they are able to help out and whip up some vege soup in the thermomix when need be for our dinner! It’s all about accepting that it’s okay not to be perfect too. You look super cute in your DIY food facial !!
Ha, thanks
Oh yes I am looking forward to the day I can teach Misty to make his own snacks – his new thing is just to stand in front of the fridge (where most of his goodies are kept) and bang on it saying “More! More!”
I NEED to do a big cook up and re-stock my freezer with soups etc – it’s so handy. Lucky none of us has had much of an appetite of late, so the lack of food hasn’t been too much of an issue!
The same thing happens in my house at assessment time. I’m a freezer cooker too so that usually lasts about a week before I resort to eating out.
I’m with you though- the effort is totally worth it in the long run, especially when things like soaking beans really only takes a moment.
I hope you’re all feeling better soon! xxx
Thanks Claire – we are getting there!
It makes you think though – imagine what our grandmothers had to do in terms of cooking/food preparation/frugality back in their day? We have it SO easy – I think as a society we have just become so lazy & heavily reliant on convenience. I love the feeling of satisfaction I get from a bit of DIY.
MUST do a freezer cook-up ASAP!!
That’s so true. I remember how stressed my grandmother used to get in the kitchen and how well stocked her pantry always was… and my grandfather still enjoys canned fruit as the treat it was during the war!
Sometimes I think we were better off in harder times. People seemed to treat each other and things differently…
Oh I agree most definitely, we seriously have no idea how hard it was back then.
ps LOVE your new header too
Thank you!!
I got a quote for someone else to do it, realised I don’t have any money and then made one myself. I was a tad nervous to be honest, so thank you!
It’s fab – you clever thing you! Talking about DIY-ing!
This is so true! It takes a lot of effort and planning to live a healthier/sustainable lifestyle. The shopping alone takes some real planning. We buy any meat we eat (and eggs/little dairy) from a local farmer, who we have to call in advance and place an order with. We buy produce and other misc items at the farmers market (only open Saturdays here). Then I buy any random other stuff I can’t get those two places at a local health store. So, I am always thinking ahead about what I need to make/am running low on etc. because if I just “run out” I don’t want to have to try to navigate a semi-suitable replacement at the supermarket. So, getting sick would totally throw a wrench in all that. I love the way our system works. My dream is to one day have our own little piece of land (and house since we are still in a loft apartment)… to grow and produce more of our own food. There is really something to be said for the simpler times of years before… when it was just a give-in that everyone lived their lives that way.
Oh totally, Ami – being even a little self-sufficient (ie grow/raise/produce own food) would be amazing. I would love to have some chickens, but I KNOW that Boosty has a taste for our feathery friends (she ate a friend of ours chook!)
I think a healthy/sustainable lifestyle is the same as anything – you have to put in some hard work to reap the rewards, yes? Nothing worth doing is EASY.
Sounds like you have a fabulous little system – I am very envious you have a local farmer-source for your meat/eggs/dairy – awesome!
Hahaha, I’ve done a few homemade facials in my day as well, and my husband usually does them with me. One time, however, I busted out the avocado, mashed it up and smeared it on both of our faces. He was miserable! I don’t think he’s done one with me since….but the avocado mask lives on!
Ha, that’s hilarious – I’m amazed your husband does facials with you, that’s awesome
I DO love a good avocado mask though!
I love it when you call Viper husband, has that fully sunk in yet. Let’s say it again..husband!! OHH so adorable. I have to applaud you for all this amazingly hard work you do for your family!! I like to think I eat healthy and get my workouts in which I do, but I do buy my milk and beans from the store. I do cook my own meals, but don’t start from complete scratch as much as I probably should. I guess that’s my balance..a little bit of both!
I would love to be your neighbor for many reasons, mainly so that I could help (and eat) all of your creations. AND so I could be a freak with you and paint food on my face. I love it!
I wish we were neighbours! How much fun could we have!?!
Yeah the husband bit hasn’t really sunk in yet, but it is fun to say
I reckon you have a great sense of balance too.
Glad you are starting to feel better Lou! It’s so crazy how being out of commission can have such a ripple effect on your life! When i am feeling sick everything falls apart and it takes me ages to get back into things!
I love homemade facials
SO much cleaner and economical!
I know, right? I always go by the rule – if I can eat it, it’s OK to put on my face…. and I have always had good results. It’s amazing the amount of toxic crap in regular beauty products though, ick.
Healthy living for us means PREPARATION!
Worth it in my mind.
Each week I plan out a menu and go grocery shopping for everything we need. It means we can avoid the “what’s for dinner” debate and not end up getting take away or going out to eat. (Of course, the hubby still has days where he’ll skip my healthy breakfast option in favor of something ickier, sigh, it’s a slow process with him).
Usually at lunch I take a quick scan to see what the dinner options are for that day and see what I can prep in advance (ie soak the beans, cooks the spuds etc). Yeah, it’s a lot of work, but we’ve both never felt better or enjoyed eating so much.
When Winter takes a “nap” I try to cook up something quick and snack like. I’ll also do this when he’s having his bath with Dad or after he’s in bed. It’s a time commitment but like you, I love it all.
E.
Wow, you sound like you have a brilliant system, Em…. and your dedication is obviously paying off as you say – feeling healthier & enjoying REAL food. Just awesome – it’s so great to hear!
What an amazing list of things you make – I love doing those ‘from scratch’ things but confess to not having time for a lot of them. I tend to prioritise the things that are really expensive to buy (vegan snacks go in that category) and/or those where commercial ingredients lists are scary or pesticide-full, but do buy tinned legumes and Mr B’s bread comes from Brumby’s. I am glad you’re feeling slightly better and am sure your household will be very relieved when you’re making everything for everyone again!
I’m kind of lucky being a stay-at-home-Mum in the sense I’m AT HOME a LOT – so I have a lot of kitchen time…. I can’t imagine doing as much if I had full time job…. it just wouldn’t happen. We all do what we can huh?
So true. I find it hard enough, and really I live so close to everything. What if I didn’t have a car? Or had a reeeally small budget, or worked longer hours. It’s not always easy, is it? I got used to being home all day, and for the next 10 weeks, I’m working on the other side of town. It’s been quite the wake-up call as to how little time the average working person has for food prep and how organised you have to be to eat well in an office! Hope you are all better now, that’s not fun, having a tummy flu.
Totally – there is NO WAY I could do the amount I do if I wasn’t a stay-at-home-Mum…. I suppose I’m quite lucky in that sense, I have a LOT of “home-time.”
We are getting better, thanks – no, NOT fun at all…. (so much vomit!)
This is such a great post Lou. Sorry you’ve had such a crap week though, ugh sickness is the worst (although at least serves as a reminder for how wonderful life is when we’re not sick and totally reinforces why trying to live a healthy life is so important long term). It IS all about balance – and passion, enjoyment, priorities, feasibility, luck.
Hope you’re all on the mend x
Thanks Bonnie – we are slowly but surely on the mend – I can’t wait to feel normal again. “Normal” being reasonably healthy! It really does put into perspective how awesome life is when you are feeling WELL and VIBRANT – healthy eating/living really does work wonders
oh my gosh I like you so much! The facial photo is awesome. I appreciate your perspective. What a lovely reminder to applaude our efforts. Many of the steps to a healthier life are small and simple, but it adds up and can become overwhelming. Balance = sanity. And we can express gratitude toward ourselves for the choices we make. XO!
And so glad you are all on the mend.
Thanks Allie – I totally agree balance = sanity for sure! x