About two weeks ago, my husband and I embarked on the South Beach Diet, the veggie-filled moderated version of the Atkins Diet. Phase 1 involves cutting out all carbohydrates, sugar, and alcohol (aka: Parenting Survival Kit). We've nearly completed this portion and while we both see pasta everywhere, there is some hope that the reduced glycemic index is starting to generate more energy and less nutrition-related exhaustion.
Family meals, usually comprised of some combination of cereal, oatmeal, or scrambled eggs, now include salmon, salad, and (occasionally) a Splenda filled dessert. It isn't easy. Not by a long shot. But we're impressed with how much more energy we have for parenting: the chasing, cleaning, cooking, laundering, and fight-breaking-up that makes up our average day.
The key is how to market these changes to our girls. We don't want them worrying about weight issues, so we explain that we're eating more healthily so they can grow big and strong. Good nutrition for our family has always seemed like a pipe dream. But this little blue book makes us think that if we can do it, anyone can.
