Sunday, August 19, 2012

Debrief

So, my sister and I were just together at the beach for two whole, entire weeks. It wasn't long enough. It never will be. Even though, we had a wonderful time enjoying each other's children and catching up and just being together.

Before our trip we had lots of goals for our time together. They were pretty much all food related. We would eat/serve no processed food. We would eat/serve no refined sugar, no gluten. Karen and I would eat no dairy. Karen and I would eat raw for 3-4 days.

Before my children and I headed down to the coast, I dehydrated corn chips, flax crackers, and granola--all raw. Karen and I discussed many meal options. We were ready for achieve.

The thing is, really, overall, it was pretty overwhelming. I definitely am one to bite off more than I can chew, and this case was no different. I wouldn't say that we were unsuccessful, but we were not stringent enough to meet the goals full on. We ate very little processed foods. Honestly, I can't think of any right now, but I know there were a few. I ate gluten one time the entire two weeks--gumbo, a personal weakness. I ate about two bites of chocolate and ate ice cream two nights. Karen and I almost made it two days eating raw. In the end, it was the desire for alcohol that did us in. I had not had any alcohol for 3 weeks prior to the raw bust though.

I can't do it all. I really can't. I have to decide what is important to me. How do I want my family to eat? What do I want my children's relationship with food to be? How do I want my children to see me and my relationship with food and with my body?

The answers to these questions are fluid. But for me, right now, gluten and sugar are where I want to focus my energies. I don't think much of either are healthy for any of us. I don't want to make a big deal of it. I don't want to draw all this attention to it. I just want to serve healthy food that I can feel good feeding my family and myself. And, I want them to eat it.

So I do feel okay about our beach goals because I think we were intentional and not overly dogmatic. And really, that is about all I can do, all I can be. 

Now we are back home, missing my sister and her family and eating as best we can.