Week Four: Incorporating Natural Products

This is sponsored content from BlogHer and Crystal Light Pure Fitness.

Our family has been making healthy changes for more than just the past year (since I’ve ramped up my fitness routine). Almost three years ago, I took a look at what we were consuming and decided that I really wasn’t okay with some of the things we were eating. Being the normal, over-scheduled family, dinner had become an after-thought. Six days out of seven, I was simply throwing together a pre-processed meal that was far too full of salt for my kidney disorder and all kinds of other not-so-great things for my growing boys.

I began to work on menu planning. I planned it around our paydays, so we shopped for two weeks at a time with bread, milk and fresh produce on the in-between week. The fresh produce, of course, was key. When I started adding fresh fruits and veggies to our meals and snacks, I noticed that the lot of us felt healthier. My oldest son has had some issues with fruits and veggies because of his sensory issues so he gets an added natural fruit drink or a yogurt smoothie with probiotics. Unfortunately, organic fruits and veggies are hard to come by in our area, even in the summer months. I buy what I can when it’s available. However, even just the added fruits and veggies have made a difference.

I also bit the bullet and cut out almost everything with high fructose corn syrup. I was sad because one of my favorite pre-made green tea iced tea drinks was sadly laden with it. Just recently I discovered two iced tea brands made with pure kane sugar. I was thrilled as I can grab one when I’m out on the go for work. When I’m bored with water, I’ve been making some , made with Stevia. I find that the flavor blast kind of perks me up after I get in from a hot, sweaty run. (Running in the summer is so much sweatier than running in the spring.) We’ve also decided to kick it old school and have plain boring oatmeal in the morning with (local!) honey and our choice of dried fruits thrown in. (Though I did find a brand of instant oatmeal that doesn’t contain high fructose corn syrup. Hooray!)

These more natural ways of eating, drinking and living (we cloth diapered and use natural cleaning products too) have made me feel a bit more secure about our health. There are things that are out of my control, genetics being one of them. My husband and I have every known genetic malady coming at us from all sides, from cancer to diabetes to heart disease and beyond. We decided to make some positive changes with how we live now so that our children have a fighting chance when they are older. The immediate benefits have been great for all of us. I feel great. I feel great knowing that my children are getting healthier foods. I also feel great exposing them to wide and varied types of foods, which is a struggle with a sensory sensitive child.

So, I want to know what you do to make your life a little more natural. Comment here with what foods or products you use to make your life more natural. All entries will be eligible to win a $100 Visa Gift card from BlogHer and Crystal Light Pure Fitness. Don’t forget to comment on my other posts as well! For more chances to win, visit the Crystal Light Pure Fitness round up pag and hit the official rules if you have questions.This is your last week to enter here so get to commenting!

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