The New Year is upon us now, and everyone is busy making resolutions.  I now use the word "goals" instead of "resolutions," and yes, I too, have been making my list. I have lots of little things I want to do, but was unsure what my main focus or goal would be for this year till I read a blog entry from Wendy at healthy girl's kitchen.

Wendy wrote earlier in a December blog post that the most important question you should ask yourself when you’re hungry or want to eat is, “How do I want to feel?”

She’s right on the money, I do believe, and I think this revelation is not only motivational, but empowering. I am using this question to help guide me as I enter a new year of a continued healthier lifestyle. It will not only serve as my guide on the healthier road my family and I are traveling , but personally, I think it will help me to stay on the right track and to not wander too far off into past bad habits. I am posting it on the fridge and on my bathroom mirror so that this question becomes a constant for me.


How do I want to feel?


It seems so simple, but anyone who has struggled with weight loss or health concerns because of weight knows that the struggle is never easy. Worth it, yes; easy, no.

And so, this is my top goal for the New Year: to stay true to myself and true to the answer of the question,  How do I want to feel? I honestly think that this question, and my personal answer to it, will guide me this year, and that all else health-wise will just fall into place. I have other goals for this New Year too, but this is my #1 goal: to ask myself the question frequently, and to try my best to answer honestly.

Thank you, Wendy, for asking this question in the first place.

The Most Important Meal of The Day...

Good Morning!  They say that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. I never believed that... until now.

Growing up, as a child, teenager, and young adult, I never liked to eat when I got up in the morning.  I think part of it was due to my many allergies which often left me feeling nauseous upon waking. I would usually drink a cup of tea and go off to school. Sometimes, I'd have a piece of toast, but that was rare. I never realised what a boost a good breakfast could give me. Now, most of the time, a good breakfast will fill me up and sustain me till lunch.

Here are my favorite " get myself going " breakfasts:

My cereal of choice is old fashioned thick cut oatmeal. This is hands down my favorite breakfast. I bring 1 3/4 c water to a boil. Then I add 1 c oatmeal, 2 Tbsp. ground flax, and 1 shredded apple, and I simmer it for 5 minutes till done. In my bowl, I put 1-2 Tbsp. raisins or TJ's golden berry blend mix. If I have fresh blueberries, I sometimes use those instead of the raisins. I also add chia seeds, and slivered almonds. Then I add a little milk to the oatmeal and mix it with the other ingredients in my bowl. I top it all with about 1/2 Tbsp. toasted whole flax seeds. It is soooo yummy. As an alternative I sometimes add unsweetened applesauce and a little cinnamon. It's great that way too.

I also like to have scrambled eggs occasionally with 1 slice of whole wheat toast and an orange or banana.Once in awhile I will add a little southwest seasoning to 2 eggs, salsa, and green chilies and wrap it up in a whole wheat tortilla to make my own version of a breakfast burrito. A smoothie is good too, but I usually only have them in the spring and summer. Another breakfast I like is a yogurt topped with my Shannon"s Great Homemade Grain-ola.

The important thing is to eat something at breakfast, even something little, so you can get your metabolism going for the day.

What's your favorite breakfast?