Day 6: Readjusting "Normal"

I've been going over my food logs for the past 5 days and realizing that I've been misleading myself for years!  I always told myself that I eat "fairly healthy" food.  I stopped eating pork and red meat when I was 12 (my father opened a hog house...one tour and I was done)!  I stopped eating beef because I never particularly liked steak (the first one I ever tasted was burned to rubber) and I really only liked fast food hamburgers, which are so not good for you!  Because of all the blood transfusions I receive my body has excess iron that is stored in my liver and other organs (and can cause permanent, irreversible damage), so I decided to keep beef out of my diet.  One of my hematologists has equated it to "using a water hose on a house fire" but, that little water hose is better than nothing!  I'd rather have a turkey burger anyway!

Ok, back to my point...I realized that on a superficial basis I do eat fairly healthy foods (lots of grilled chicken, veggie burgers/dogs, whole wheat breads, dark chocolate).  I do need to incorporate more vegetables into my daily diet (that are not french fries, slaw, covered with cheese or dipped in ranch/honey mustard dressing).  Same for fruit, I love peaches, strawberries, red grapes, mango, papaya, kiwi, bananas, mandarin oranges, blueberries, pineapple and cantaloupe!  I live in the South, I can easily take advantage of local Farmer's Markets (even if it means getting up super early on a Saturday). 

So, this week my goal has been to eat more fruits and vegetables.  My snacks normally consist of string cheese, cinnamon graham crackers, cheese and crackers, or similar items.  I've made a conscious effort to choose fruit this week.  I made a large bowl of fruit salad on Tuesday and only have a small bowl left!  I ate a perfect peach on Monday that reminded me how truly amazing fresh food can be.  I was reminded that food that is good for you can be amazingly delicious in its simplest form (without extra flavors, sauces, preservatives, sugar...just whole and natural)!

I'll continue consciously adding fruits and vegetables, until it becomes a habit.  I am not on a "diet," I'm not trying to lose weight for some specific event or by some date.  I'm trying to change my lifestyle, to make eating whole foods a habit, to incorporate exercise into my everyday life as something I enjoy not simply something I should do.  I want to feel healthy and strong.  I don't just want to look good I want to feel good.  I will get there, I know I will.  Start small...