Food for thought. True story.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT:

TRUE STORY: AT THE MARKET THE OTHER DAY A YOUNG GIRL ABOUT 10, VERY VERY OVERWEIGHT WAS IN LINE TO CHECK OUT. SHE WAS ALONE WITHOUT HER PARENTS.

SHE WAS BUYING A JUMBO CONTAINER OF GENERIC ICE CREAM, 10 PACKAGES OF COOKIES, CANDY, SUGAR SODA...YOU GET THE PICTURE.

IT REALLY AND STILL UPSET ME (EVEN NOW AS I TYPE THIS.) MY KIDS WERE WITH ME. WE WERE ALL SILENT (AND FOR MY KIDS AGES 4 AND 8 TO BE SILENT, YOU KNOW IT WAS QUITE A SITE.)

AS A MOM, I WANTED TO TAKE THIS GIRL IN MY ARMS, SHE LOOKED SO VERY VERY SAD AND EMBARASSED. DO WE INTERFERE AND BUT IN? DO WE SIT BACK? I WAS FROZEN.

THE CHECKER LATER TOLD ME HER MOM AND DAD SEND HER IN ALL THE TIME TO BUY THE SAME ITEMS. WOW. SO SAD.

WOULDN'T IT BE GREAT IF SHE KNEW BETTER AND TOLD THE PARENTS OTHERWISE? I COULD ONLY IMAGINE THE SCENARIO AT HOME OR WHAT THE PARENTS WERE LIKE BEING TOO LAZY TO EVEN GO GET THE JUNK FOOD....

LATER, IN THE CAR, MY KIDS TOLD ME THAT "THE GIRL SHOULDN'T HAVE BEEN BUYING ALL THAT JUNK FOOD, IT IS UNHEALTHY." MY 4 YEAR OLD ASKED ME WHY HER MOMMY DIDN'T TEACH HER BETTER?

HMMM.

How to make Pork Filets with an Asian Flavor

Easy healthy dinner with Asian Twist

Pan sear pork filets in olive oil, brown both sides. Add few tsp. low sodium soy sauce. Cover and simmer few minutes. While it's simmering, chop green onions into fine pieces.

Heat olive oil. Remove pork filets and top with green onions. Pour a little hot hot olive oil on top of green onions so they sizzle. Drizzle on low sodium soy sauce.

Serve with brown rice and peas. Ah so goot.

Fit Mom Angel vs. Fit Mom Devil

In church this morning the sermon was regarding "signs." Of course, it was re: finding your way in reference to God. However, it also made me relate the concept of "signs" to health and fitness. I have the gift of relating everything to fitness....oh and shopping.

Here is an image of my Fit Angel:

In movies, we see the "angel" and "devil" on the actor's shoulders, trying to persuade them what to do.

I hear these Fit Mom Angel and Not so Fit Mom Devil voices talking to me, especially when there is the last piece of uber rich, 7 layer chocolate cake on the plate at my favorite restaurant that is calling my name....

Here is the dialogue:

Fit Mom Angel:  "Take 1 tiny bite or none. Only if it's 1 tiny bite. But, you know how you are, Kiana, sometimes you take 1 bite and then it's all over and you eat the whole piece and then you'll feel so guilty.You are making such great progress and are looking leaner and stronger. Don't take that first bite. Just get up, walk away from the cake and no one gets hurt."

Fit Mom Devil: "Oh just eat it already. You know you want it! It will be so sweet and gooey. You look great, don't be so vain. You can workout harder tomorrow. Eating is one of the pleasures in life. Sugar gets a bad rap. I think anyone on their deathbed wishes they'd have eaten MORE chocolate. Oh, just eat it already, Fat Mom, Kiana."

My inner dialogue is harsh. Funny, but true.

Here is what I do when I am tempted by contradicting signs.

1. Distraction: when you are tempted to eat something that you will regret, distract yourself. Any way, any how. Put on lip gloss, people watch, have the waiter take the plate away, have your hubby eat it. Sometimes if I just look around the restaurant at the interesting people, I forget about it and the urge passes. I do the same thing with shopping. I put it on hold and if I am still obsessing about it 48 hours later, I'll buy it.

2. Out of site, out of mind: I don't keep junk food on the countertops, put it out of site.  In my family, they eat what is out: I will keep bowls of healthy colorful fruit, multi grain crackers, almonds, trail mix and pita chips on the counter. In the refrigerator, I always have hummus, mini carrot sticks, low fat fage yogurt, string cheese and sliced apples in the front mid way between "adult and kid eye level."

3.  Vanity: if I am going to a dinner party, work related or red carpet event or reception, I'll eat a substantial healthy snack that includes lean protein and a little fat; such as some string cheese, a few slices of grilled chicken and a piece of fruit. I will eat something substantial to fill me up with nutritious foods. This way when I get to the party, I am full and not tempted to eat all the fattening appetizers.   On a vanity level (hey whatever works), if you aren't eating messy foods, you won't mess up your lipstick.

So, FIT Moms, get a grip. Out smart that Fit Mom Devil voice. Put the Fit Mom Angel on a pedestal.

Where are her parents?

I am sooooo upset. I have to share this with all of you, my millions of Fit Moms. I hope you can help me make sense of what I saw today at the market.

The scene: I was at the grocery store with my kids. Buying a few things for Taco Tuesday: Extra lean ground turkey, whole wheat tortillas, lettuce, tomatoes, etc. The grocery store was very crowded  and we tried to find the line with the least # of people. We went to checkout #4.

As we walked up to the checkout stand,
I looked to see who was in front of me, it was a little girl about 9 years old.  She was shopping alone. She was very over weight.  When she raised her arms to lift her cart up to the the checker, her shirt pulled up to reveal her tummy that hung way over her shorts. She was 9.

On the checkout stand, she put the following "foods:"

• XL 2 gallon generic brand ice cream chocolate


• 3 cans of whipped cream


• 3 Pizza Pockets


• 2 bags frozen Mashed Potatoes


• 2 bags generic brand frozen pigs in blanket


• 3 bags frozen french fries


• 4 packages of chocolate chip cookies


• 3 liters of regular Coke

She looked very unhappy, very self conscious and lonely.  Why was she at the market alone, unsupervised?  She could be kidnapped!? I envisioned her "parents" leaving her money on the counter and leaving her all alone for the day. Very sad.

My daughter asked me if I thought the little girl was "going home to eat all of that food or if her mommy told her to buy it for the family?"  I told her I hoped it was for a big party for lots of people but that I had a bad feeling she was going to eat it all herself. To make matters worse, the grocery clerk told me that girl comes alone all the time and buys similar junk food all the time.

So many thoughts filled my head at once: Did she live alone? Her happy childhood is filled by sweets? Were her parents obese and unable to get off the couch or bed to go to the grocery store? Did they tell her to buy those foods? Would she end up a diabetic? What kind of life would she have? I thought of all the activities she would miss out on as child.

I took this opportunity to explain to my kids that they are so lucky to have parents who look out for them and care enough about them to say "no." This blog was meant to support Fit Moms who say "no" with love to protect our kids and teach them the proper foods to eat. And what foods are to be enjoyed a little at a time.

Hug your kids-they are so lucky to have you Fit Mom!

Kiana’s Mini-Me(s)

I am 1 proud Fit Mommy!  Why? Because my 2 daughters, ages 7 and 3, are so aware of healthy foods and know the importance of exercise.  At such a young age, they have learned so much about what is good for them and what is not.  Hmmm, it seems the role model thing does work.

Check this out: The other day at the grocery store, my 7 year old read the nutritional breakdown of a cereal she saw advertised on t.v.

(She did this on her own, without my asking her to do this, which makes it so much better!) She turned to me in shock and said, "Mommy you won't believe it-this cereal has 38 grams of sugar per serving! That's disgusting!" She put it back quickly. Ahhh, this Fit Mom is so proud.

Another shocker: My 3 year old prefers fruit to any dessert.  She literally turns down ice cream and cookies when there is fresh fruit. When I buy her her own cartons of berries, you'd think it was Christmas! Farmers Market with all fresh fruit...it's her Disneyland! I know, hard to believe, but it's true. My eyes are tearing up a bit.

Fit Fun: I try and keep them as active as possible in our video game era of life. We jog at the beach, play freeze dance and they workout in our home gym with me. They jump on the trampoline, do kid pushups and do body squats while I lift weights. I am so proud of them and feel so accomplished knowing that they are aware of making healthy choices and exercising their little bodies! They love their swimming and dance classes, too. Their love of exercise is even evident in their art work!

I am proud of you too, Fit Moms! Stay focused, fit and positive and your kids will too! Love, Kiana

Kiana Mini Meal: Parsely Pesto Shrimp

We love summer! We barbecue a few times per week and enjoy healthy food, relaxing music and time with our family.  We love hanging out in the back yard, looking at the blue sparkling ocean, feeling the warm breeze and relaxing in the shade of the palm trees.  Here is one of my favorite Grilled Shrimp recipes. As you know, I love recipes that are simple to prepare, require a minimum of high quality ingredients, that are easy to clean up. This Parsley Pesto sauce is so easy to make and you can store the extra in the refrig for up to a week.