So many questions, do you have the answers??????

Hi Sara! The first thing I would definitely try to do is eat more throughout the day, which you said you wanted to help your body adjust to. Just take small steps, you know? Small snacking, don't gorge on snacks all the time, but introduce your body to some natural foods like bananas or apple slices or a small sandwich. Take time to allow your body to get used to these foods that will definitely reenergize you!

Eating once or twice a day is really bad for your body especially because your body clings to whatever nutrients you're giving it. I feel ya though, pizza is probably the only food I can't resist, which is why I try not to be around it... :sad:

It's hard getting started because there is so much out there, but I mean take some time to research things and start reading the ingredients on boxes! Learn the difference between 'high fructose corn syrup' and 'enriched whole wheat flour' and 'sucrose' and things like that. Switch some foods out, make small changes. Instead of apple juice, buy apples. Cut out all the bad sugars in your life. A lot of people gain weight from all the hidden sugars that can be found, especially in juices.

It's great that your husband and you are doing this together. Having a partner, friend, just someone to hold you accountable and back you up will get you going.

There are different sites to get great recipes! Pinterest even helps. I've gone to foodnetwork, allrecipes, eatingwell, and fitsugar. You'll find more great sites out there and go by the recipe too! There are so many creative ways to introduce your kids to healthy eating! I have a real big issues with vegetables, we just don't mix well together, but I've learned that baked sweet potato fries are so very tasty, spinach in a banana-strawberry smoothie is good for you and tastes great and instead of buttery mashed potatoes you can make mashed cauliflower with garlic--it's to die for.

Overall, you'll learn. It'll be a bit difficult especially with young kids, but cut some junk out. You don't want to go too authoritarian or you could face serious rebellions. I had a really strict mom when I was young and she hated that I was really overweight and it just drove me to food more and more. Bring in new ideas and show them that food can taste good AND be good for you. :flowerforyou:

Good luck!

When it comes to labels, if you can't pronounce it, its probably not good for you. Try to stick with whole foods-fruit, veggies, lean meats, beans. Try some crock pot recipes, they are such a time saver. Plus cooking several meals at once and dividing them up into portion size containers and freezing is a great way to make "microwave dinners/lunches" that are easy to grab and take to work or eat when you are in a rush. When you make soups or sauces, make a large batch and freeze half for later. If you have some time to dedicate to preping a lot of ingredients, you can throw meals together in no time.

Good luck. And everyone is right, small changes are great. You will find those small things becoming habits and then you can make a few more small changes. Before you know it, you will have awesome new healthy habits and be feeling great!

Some good small snacks- handful of almonds, slice(1oz) of good quality cheese, cheese stick, small serving of whole grain cereal-with or without milk, piece of fruit, carrot/celery sticks with hummus, piece of whole grain bread with almond/peanut butter, small serving of cooked chicken, apple with cheese or peanut butter.