• My siblings and I grew up on 100% whole wheat bread and fat-free milk. I never even tasted whole milk until college when I thought someone messed up the cafeteria cereal bar. My husband’s family had white bread and whole milk every day.
• My family mostly ate skinless chicken breasts and baked fish with occasional lean ground beef. My mother-in-law thinks bacon is a basic food group. No lie. In fact, the first time I remember her ever truly being mad at me was when I threw away the bacon drippings from breakfast while cleaning her kitchen. I had NO IDEA they were to be kept for future use.
• We only had chips and pop (ok, soda) when hosting Fourth of July events, and the top of our refrigerator was used to display ugly ceramic thingamabobbers. The in-laws keep a ready supply of no less than 4 flavors of chips on top of the fridge, and they have a selection of pop that rivals the Coca-Cola Freestyle machine…always.
• Our kitchen was full of fruits and vegetables, so things that I consider everyday normal fare were new and exotic to my husband when we got married. I mean, crazy strange stuff like avocados and squash – whoa! Forget about radicchio, mangoes, or basil.
• I never tasted dessert until I was well into my toddler years, and as a result (according to my mom) I never developed a sweet tooth. My parents literally made me get birthday cakes from the bakery for my birthday parties so the other children could enjoy it. I had (and have) no interest. Hubby? Um, let’s just say that I finally had to ask him why there were always pieces of cellophane in the garbage when I woke up in the morning (“Those are Ho Ho wrappers, honey” he said sheepishly)…and he faithfully attends every baby/toddler birthday party we’re ever invited to – for the cake.
• Grains I love: quinoa, couscous, barley, oats, faro, amaranth. Grains my husband was familiar with before I started cooking his meals: white rice. Admittedly, my mom wasn’t throwing the world’s tastiest quinoa dishes on the table every night in the 80’s, but brown rice and regular oatmeal (not the packets) were things we had multiple times a week.
• At least 50% of our family dinners were prepared in a wok with a tad bit of olive oil; the rest were baked in the oven. My MIL rarely serves anything that has not been “scattered, smothered, covered, and topped.” This has been a real sore spot for her daughter-in-law (me) who struggles to walk the fine line between “I adore my MIL and don’t want to hurt her feelings” and “I draw the line at lard. Point blank.”
• And so as not to pick on my poor MIL, I’ll share that I have to pack a lunch for my kids when we visit my father-in-law because there is n-o-t-h-i-n-g available to eat in his home that is not in a frozen package or with less than 20 ingredients. Our freezer? You guessed it…frozen vegetables…frozen chicken breasts…and frozen homemade leftovers for occasional quickie dinners (my dad was not big on leftovers at all).

I could go on and on with the differences between our families, but it’s easy for anyone to see that my family consistently ate healthy, well-balanced meals (even back then) while the hubby grew up on down home vittles mixed with a steady diet of sugar, salt, and saturated fat.

But guess what?

My entire family is fat. His entire family is thin. And when I say “entire,” I mean it.

“Oh, it must be the exercise,” you say? Negative. My dad worked out (running, lifting weights) nearly every day of my entire life and died of cancer at 68. My FIL stretches a little in front of the TV and is as stealth as ever at 90 (yes 9-0). No one else in my family worked out…ever. But no one in my husband’s family worked out…ever…either.

In fact, my husband goes to the gym almost daily where he reads the WSJ on an exercise bike, but he breaks more of a sweat while wrestling on the floor with our 3-year-old son daughter. Going to the gym is like brushing his teeth – he knows he has to do it, but his heart isn’t really in it. Despite this, he is nice and lean with definition in all the right places (wink, wink). I, on the other hand, work out a bazillion times harder. I always leave the gym soaking wet, and I do all of this just to break even – not lose – weight.

It’s not the exercise; neither family excels there. It’s not the diet, or his family would be obese. It’s the genes. In the absence of marked changed behavior, the members of my family are destined to be fat while his are not. It’s not fair or fun…it just is. This doesn’t mean that my family, and others like it, is doomed, however. While genetics play a role and likely will determine your future if you don’t intervene, we all have the ability to make a MAJOR dent in the cards we were dealt.

A consistently healthy diet of plant-based foods combined with lean protein sources and healthy fats along with regular exercise can set the ball rolling in a different direction, and I’m a perfect example of that phenomenon at work. It takes a mindset shift and a willingness to accept, yet maneuver around, the forces working against you. But most of all, it takes understanding – understanding of what is at play and at stake if your family is like mine and understanding that your sleek physique is not all of your own doing, if your family is like my husband’s. This understanding, in turn, will allow us to be more forgiving of our own seeming lack of willpower and less critical of those who “would look like me if they just ate better.”

Given that my first food truck experience included a huge plate of french fries topped with an obscene amount of cheese and every nacho topping known to mankind (I know, I know…I’m sorry, but it was worth every stinkin’ calorie.) at a Serenbe May Day celebration, I was shocked to later find food truck options filled with local produce, grass-fed meat, and antioxidant-packed superfoods. My new personal fave? Happy Belly’s kale waldorf salad. It’s good, y’all.

And if you’re a food safety junkie like me (or just don’t want to eat food made under gross circumstances), a recent article from Health Magazine answers the burning question: Is it safe to grab a bite to eat from a truck that cooks for hundreds in a space that’s a fraction of the size of your kitchen? It’s a good read, and you may be surprised at the conclusion.

So if you’re up for some foodie fun, here’s a mini-guide to where to find Atlanta’s smokin’ hot food trucks:

Atlanta (Howell Mill Rd): The first permanent food truck site in Atlanta offering food truck fare for lunch and dinner

Smyrna Food Truck Tuesdays: 5:30 – 8:30 PM at Taylor Brawner Park (arrive early to avoid the lines) – Opening again soon

Alpharetta Food Truck Alley (NEW): A feast on the street every Thursday evening

This is by no means an exhaustive list, but here’s the low down on many of the Atlanta food truck vendors. Eat well and enjoy!

We’re entrepreneurs, so obviously the goal is for us to make money selling our in-home fitness and nutrition services. But more than being a business-owner, I’m a healthy living advocate. I’m totally sold out on the benefits of moving and eating well, and seeing you succeed at this is more valuable to me than any sale I could possibly make.

So here’s a list of 7 Atlanta outdoor physical activities that you can realistically do today for FREE:

1. Chattahoochee River hiking trails: Hike the Hooch! These hiking trails along the Chattahoochee River in the local Atlanta, Georgia area wind through beautiful landscapes to historic features, waterfalls, & wildlife areas.
2. Yoga in the park: Donation-based classes held is some of Atlanta’s off-the-beaten path green spaces like Tanyard Creek Park and Circle 75 Park.
3. Atlanta Beltline walking: A combination of multi-use trail and linear greenspace, the Eastside Trail is the first finished section of the Atlanta BeltLine trail in the old rail corridor.
4. Weekly running groups: These groups are organized by the Atlanta Track Club (ATC) – a nonprofit dedicated to inspire and engage the community to achieve health and fitness through running.
5. Community gardening: Community gardens provide a positive physical activity and forum for neighbors to join together and forge strong community bonds. They are also a source of fresh, affordable, local produce – some of which is donated to community members in need.
6. Outdoor workout zones: Think of these as playgrounds for grownups who want to get in shape.
7. Free swimming: Grant Park Pool is open to everyone with no admission fee on weekdays from 1:30 – 4:00PM. The pool will reopen on May 27, 2013. Check your local park pool for free hours, too!

1. Our children are becoming more and more unhealthy despite growing evidence on the importance of healthy eating because of:

• Convenience – Quick processed food requires the least amount of effort.
• Cultural norms – Everyone else eats like crap, too, so it’s hard to see how bad off things really are.
• Lifestyles – We’re overscheduled and overworked, so fast-food has become as integral as the family dog.
• Family happiness – Who doesn’t like to put a smile on their child’s face? Pizza, french fries, sweet drinks, and desserts usually do the trick.
• Parenting priorities – The right schools, the right friends, the cute clothes, the polite manners…healthy food gets lost in the mix.
• Food deserts – Believe it or not, many families just don’t have consistent access to fresh, non-processed foods.

2. When parents give excuses, they say one thing but they mean another.

• “My kid is fluffy but happy” = “I don’t see a problem.”
• “I don’t have time to be healthy”= “My family’s health is not a priority for me.”
• “It costs too much to be healthy” = “I don’t know how to shop for or prepare healthy foods.”
• “We’re genetically just big-boned people” = “I don’t see the health risks associated with our eating habits.”
• “I’m just trying to make my family happy” = “I don’t really believe there are true benefits to healthy eating.”

Controversial billboard campaign from Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta

3. Little kids don’t have driver’s licenses, cash, credit cards, or chauffeurs.

• They can’t get crap food unless you give it to them.
• They can’t buy crap food unless you pay for it.
• They can’t roll through the crap drive-thru unless you take them.
• The more crap they see you eat, the more crap they’ll want and expect.

4. Kids follow what they see more than what they hear.

This little anecdote was shared by one of the speakers. She’s a licensed counselor specializing in childhood eating & feeding issues. One of her teenage clients who was struggling with body image, self-esteem, and disordered eating came to a counseling session with her mom.

Mom: I want you to stop doing all of this crazy stuff. Stop crash dieting and talking about your weight and body all of the time.

Daughter: Why should I? You do it.

Mom: Yeah, well do as I say, not as I do.

Daughter: Monkey see, monkey do!

And that pretty much sums it up – monkey see, monkey do. This teenager spat out those words in a fit of frustrated anger because of her mom’s hypocritical commands, but she couldn’t have spoken truer words.

I heard so much great information that I was at risk of being overwhelmed by at all. They talked about why children are getting bigger and bigger, despite the onslaught of healthy eating info available to today’s parents. They discussed how 75% of parents who are setting their kids up for nutrition failure don’t even recognize the problem in their own homes and therefore see no need to change their behaviors. And they even highlighted the differences and similarities they found in the attitudes of parents who have overweight/obese children. It was…a lot to absorb.

But then the presenter said something that has echoed in my ears many times since then, “All of this boils down to the inability of parents to tell their children no.” GASP. You could’ve heard a pin drop in that arctic cold hotel ballroom.

So this could be my fault???

No way. No how.

It’s definitely NOT my fault that my 1-year-old screams and (literally) turns beet red with anger any time something green…or red…or yellow even touches her high chair tray. Have you ever seen a little brown-skinned baby turn red??? Swing by my house tonight around 6pm, and I’ll entertain you. She was brought into this world with 14 months of breastmilk and many, many, MANY healthy heapings of homemade organic vegetable, fruit, and whole grain purees…some of the most creative wonders available on Pinterest, might I add. So how could the fact that vegetables now make the veins in her temples poke out be my fault?

Certainly, it can’t be the (many) times that I’ve placated her ear-piercing complaints by frisbee-tossing her something from her favorite food group – “processed-artificial-sweet-or-salty-factory-made-yumminess” because I don’t do that very often…or do I? It also couldn’t possibly be the fast-food garbage that I’ve hurriedly thrown into the backseat to quiet meltdowns caused by my poor planning. Or maybe it’s because I’m a sucker for that trembling bottom lip that silently screams, “but mama I need (the entire package of) goldfish.”

And let’s not even get on the 3-year-old. She has a mind of her own. I know God is super busy these days, but I always imagine Him kicking back with a beer sparkling water, throwing his feet up on an ottoman, and chuckling in sheer giddiness as he watches me try to raise this spunky little creation of his. He knew what he was doing, and he thinks it’s funny…and so does my mom. This child doesn’t eat anything for more than 3 days except for scrambled eggs (in large chunks, no cheese please) and yogurt (pink or purple only, in a white cup – the kind with artificial sweetener – NO Stonyfield, Mom!). She despises meat (except those Swedish meatballs that are free at IKEA on Tuesdays) and she only likes plain cheese (but only “big pieces” – grrrr). She won’t eat any fruit besides strawberries, but she does consume tons of fruit. Confused by the difference? Well, she puts it in her mouth, sucks all of the sweet goodness out, and spits out the fiber & nutrient-containing pulp. Every time, folks. And vegetables? This blog post isn’t even long enough to tell you about her and vegetables.

So, Ms. Presenter…is all of that my fault, too???

Well, yes. In a way. While I can’t control what she chooses to eat or if she eats at all, I can control her options. So if she chooses to go to bed hungry each and every night (we’re on night #9 in the latest streak), that’s cool. No problem. She may not eat anything I serve, but she won’t get to demand what will be served. Easier said than done, but after seeing the alternatives, I’m sticking to my guns on this one.

As I retired to my hotel room to process what I’d learned, I settled on a few key takeaways along with the determination that I was about to go “old-school” on my wee ones. There is NO WAY that I’m going down in history as being one of those Gen-X parents whose toddlers ruled the kitchen with iron crying fists. I am not prepared to raise another generation of adults who are addicted to “food-like substances.” Fagettaboutit! I’m going to reignite some of the parenting pizazz (i.e. rules of engagement) that I grew up on – the things my siblings and I sit around and tease our mom about today. I’m committed. All in. Sold out. I will start telling my kids NO…as soon as they finish the popsicles I had to give them in order to write this blog post.

If vegetables are normally relegated to the side of the plate in your home, here are 5 veggie-centric meals that are hearty enough to warrant a regular rotation in any meat-eater’s kitchen. We won’t call them “vegetarian dinners” though…let’s just say it’s yummy stuff that even my BBQ-lovin’ husband regularly laps up.

Peanut-Sweet Potato Soup – Don’t knock it ’til you try it. I promise you that this is really good – my kids even love it.

An Ideal Lunch Salad – She lists this as a lunch recipe, but it is more than robust enough to satisfy a hungry dinner crowd.

Greek Stuffed Tomatoes – A head nod to one of my besties who just returned from a tour in Greece.

Black Bean and Edamame Sliders – Nobody can resist these sliders. Nobody.

Green Pizza – I use the pre-made Boboli whole wheat pizza crusts from the grocery store, so this meal comes together in no time.

Whether you are already a vegetarian, considering a vegetarian diet, or would just like to incorporate more plant-based meals into your existing diet, you’ll want to check out the FREE class that I’m teaching at Emory-Adventist Hospital on April 10th. Appropriately planned vegetarian diets are healthful, nutritionally adequate, and may provide health benefits in the prevention and treatment of certain diseases. However, many well-meaning vegetarians turn this potentially healthy way of eating into a diet disaster zone by making the wrong food choices. Learn the myths that often derail vegetarian diets, how to truly benefit from a completely or mostly plant-based diet, and how to stay on track when you’re eating out. You’ll also walk away with a stash of tasty recipes to get you going on the right path.

Most people feel like they don’t need help with nutrition because they either “already know how to eat well” (but are not actually doing it), or they think their workout will make up for the poor diet. Well, as this picture so clearly illustrates, “You can’t compete with what you eat.” It’s nearly impossible for the average (or above-average) person to exercise enough to overcome the ill effects of bad eating. Even if you can burn the calories – and that’s a big IF – the exercise still won’t fully compensate for the sodium, artificial foodlike substances, cholesterol, carcinogens, and more that come along with the traditional American diet.

Now don’t get me wrong. Exercise is, indeed, a big step forward. According to the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, there is strong evidence that exercise lowers the risk of early death, coronary heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, adverse blood lipid profile, type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, colon cancer, and breast cancer. It also helps prevent weight gain, improves cardiorespiratory and muscular fitness, prevents falls, reduces depression, and provides better cognitive function for older adults. And finally…exercise promotes weight loss “when combined with reduced calorie intake.”

These are huge benefits and certainly should not be overlooked, but exercise alone is still not a “get out of jail free” card. A health report by the World Health Organization listed (in order) tobacco, high blood pressure, alcohol, cholesterol, overweight, low fruit and vegetable intake, and inadequate exercise as the biggest perils to the health of the world’s richest nations. Nearly all of these risks are diet related, but yet, people are still mostly gung ho about working out – not eating right.

So for 2013, while you’re making resolutions and planning for the “new you” everyone is advertising (eyes rolling), make sure that you’re not setting yourself up to take one step forward and two steps back. Clean up your diet first…and let exercise be the (theoretical, fat-free) icing on top.

At the time, I couldn’t figure out my word, but it came to me one night later that week when I was drifting off to sleep…

My word is passion.  Passion is what fuels my work and my relationships.  Sometimes passion works in my favor (like when I stay up all night long making changes to my website or when I search high and low for the perfect gift for a grieving friend), and sometimes it works against me (like when I lose my ability to function once I lose interest in something).  In either case, it is simply passion that drives nearly everything I do.

Right now, I’m passionate about helping my clients find happiness, health, balance, peace, and confidence.   Ironically, I’m also seeking these same things for myself.  Lately, the topic of balance as it relates to my eating has been front and center.

Some days, I feel like I could be a paid mascot for U.S. Food Pyramid.  I eat a bunch of whole grains and a variety of fruits and veggies that would leave anyone impressed.  Deep green, yellow/orange, and white veggies along with citrus fruits, crisp apples, and perfectly ripe apricots…just to name a few.

And other days, I’m wondering if I’m pregnant again (???) because I voraciously crave stuff that I normally don’t even think about.  Today is one of those days.  I’ve been eating ever since I woke up this morning, and my appetite seemingly just can’t be satisfied.  The strange thing is that I don’t actually have a taste for anything specific which seems like a bit of a waste.

In the past, I would have been freaking out right now – trying to figure out why my eating is “all messed up”, wondering why I want to eat, pray, love…and then eat again.  But not today.  That’s not to say that I don’t notice what my body is going through.  I do notice.  I’m just not bothered by it.  Because it all comes down to balance.  I trust her (my body) to tell me what she needs and wants, and if I listen to her with unwavering confidence, I know that she will always bring me back full circle.  She keeps me balanced.

Passionately balanced.

While canned soup is souper salty, the lower-sodium versions available from many companies can go a long way towards turning soup into a nearly perfect meal. There’s only one problem:  The soups lacking sodium are often lacking something else…taste. If you’ve also found this to be the case, you’ll find this guide from the Nutrition Action Newsletter quite helpful:

Does that lower-sodium cup of soup need a little help? Try adding:

TOMATO SOUP
➤ a few fresh basil leaves
➤ a light sprinkle of dried oregano, thyme, or tarragon

BUTTERNUT SQUASH SOUP
➤ a pinch of dried sage
➤ a pinch of curry powder with a swirl of plain yogurt

BEAN or LENTIL SOUP
➤ chopped roasted red peppers and freshly ground black pepper
➤ some baby spinach and a drizzle of olive oil

VEGETABLE SOUP
➤ chopped fresh parsley and a teaspoon of grated Parmesan cheese
➤ a dab of basil pesto

CHICKEN SOUP
➤ freshly grated ginger and a squeeze of lime juice
➤ a dash of hot sauce and a few cilantro leaves

No wonder this stuff has collected dust in the back of the pantry. If you won’t eat it or feed it to your family…why donate it to someone else?

I’ve posed this question many times before, and the overwhelming response is typically some version of, “Hey, if you don’t have anything to eat, something is better than nothing.” Hmm…I could say a lot about this selfish line of reasoning, but I cleaned up my potty mouth after having kids, so just keep reading…

Last night, I was at Kroger, and the lady in front of me at the register was instructing her daughter to keep the “donation food separate from our real food.” This seemed reasonable enough because it would make the donation drop-off easier if that food was in a different bag, but as I looked at their two piles, something really struck me:

The “real” food was wholesome and yummy – fresh produce, whole wheat bread, frozen veggies, canned soup, whole wheat pasta, etc. The “donation” pile consisted of all of the cheap, empty-calorie junk food that was on sale.

This.Is.Not.Cool.

Varies by food bank – check with yours!

Most of the recipients of our food donations are families with children. They get enough of this crap from other sources. If you’re going to help, really help. Please don’t go through the grocery store picking up all of the dyed, salted, sugared, fatty crap food that you’d NEVER give your precious babies. Yes, you are paying for it, and the food banks are thankful for your donations, but the food is going to feed someone else’s precious babies. They may be facing temporary hard times or living in chronic poverty, but they also have little ones who are loved and cherished, and giving them cruddy crud should not make you feel good.

Another stupid lame excuse I’ve heard is, “Well, the poor kids are going through such tough times that it’s good for them to have tasty treats and fun junk food.” That is a dumb thing to say. Again, you’re rationalizing your poor behavior.

With that being said, I TOTALLY get the need to be frugal with your purchases – whether they are being donated or used in your own household. I’m not asking you to spend more money. I’m asking you to shop smarter, and to actually care. OK, I might be asking you to sacrifice and spend a bit more money, if you can.

In addition to the obvious options (i.e. what you eat and feed your loved ones), here are some suggested food bank donations:

• Look for the pop top canned goods when possible (easier for the elderly and those without can openers)
• Canned soup (good flavors, please – not cream of celery)
• Corn meal, flour, sugar
• Tea, Coffee, coffee creamer
• Pancake mix
• Spaghetti sauce
• Preserves (100% fruit, reduced-sugar)
• Dry beans, canned beans (endless opportunities here – kidney, navy, black, white, etc.)
• Canned low-sodium vegetables (be reasonable…what would YOU eat?)
• Nut, seed, and soy butters (all natural)
• Dried fruit, canned fruit (in fruit juice or light syrup)
• Reduced-sodium chicken and vegetable broth
• Healthy ready-to-eat cereal, oatmeal, cream of wheat
• Canned or vacuum-packed protein (tuna, chicken)
• Rice, whole grain pasta (Ramen noodles don’t count)
• Shelf-stable cheeses (think Laughing Cow – not Velveeta)
• Shelf-stable cow, soy, rice, or almond milk
• Pudding, fruit, applesauce cups
• Freeze-dried vegetables
• Healthy crackers

In the event that you can’t get these things, or don’t have time to shop for healthier foods, you can always donate money or grocery gift cards. And some food banks happily accept perishables – frozen veggies, frozen dinners, meat, produce, etc.  Just be sure to ask before dropping off.

God willing, you won’t end up on the receiving end of a food bank donation…but the right thing to do is to give as if you will.