Before I go any farther, I want you to know that this post was inspired by Heather over at Frugal Fit Family.  She turned back the curtain on her real life and I realized that I have been wanting to write this post for quite some time.  She has given me the strength to bare my soul to all of you.

Is that dramatic enough for you?? Now for the evolution of my family’s real food journey.

Year 1:  I was super excited to get started on the journey.  I had a lot of years of bad eating behind me, but I had made a decision that I knew would change our life.  I researched nutrition, healthy recipes, and cooking techniques on a constant basis.  I was obsessed.  I couldn’t get enough information fast enough.  I read every single ingredient label before I made a purchase. My research was rewarding.  I learned about that funny word quinoa, how to soak beans, and the crazy world of fermented vegetables.  The kids turned into constant food critics.  They felt it very important to tell me what they did and did not like.  They critiqued everything about our meals, including specific spices and ingredients.  Boy did I get an earful.  I have never been known for my domestic skills.  Come on……….”I’m doing the best I can here,” I thought on more than one occasion.  We ate real food at least 90% of the time…maybe more.

Year 2: Things got easier.  I still researched food on a regular basis, but I had some favorite go-to brands so the time at the grocery store was reduced.  I discovered my elementary school daughter preferred to eat a flexitarian diet.  She will eat some meat, but she prefers to only eat meat a few times a week.  Out of this desire a new set of challenges were created.  I researched more about plant based proteins and packed even more cheese in her lunches.  With each meal I planned that would make my daughter happy, the boys declared that they were carnivores and needed meat to survive. Oh boy!  This was going to be fun.  My husband reviewed our food budget and realized that I was spending more and more money on food.  I decided that I probably should be more frugal.  I also discovered a new “little voice in my head”.  It kept reminding me that little cheats here and there would be OK.  After all, it’s what we eat most of the time that matters and not what we eat once in a while for a special treat. We ate real food about 80% of the time.

Year 3:  We have really settled into a groove now.  We have our favorite quick dishes.  The kids are now familiar with what I cook and we have a well-established “new normal”.  Rather than being embarrassed about the different foods that their mom cooks, they embrace the real food lifestyle and sometimes even show it off a bit.  I still research food on a regular basis, but the obsession has faded.  My husband now enjoys conversations with me about things other than food.  OK…since it’s confession time………..the conversations are now usually about blogging, but at least it’s not food all of the time.  That’s progress, right?  I’m starting to worry that the “little voice in my head” is winning more than it should.  I am pretty excited that my chopping skills are getting better and quicker.  My husband really pitches in and we share shopping and cooking duties.  That has turned out to be a huge help so that we don’t have to eat dinner at 9:00 every night.  8:00 is really late enough.  We are probably eating real food about 78% of the time.

My goal is to be eating real food at least 80% of the time.  We need to get excited about it again.  I think the secret to a successful real food journey for us is a combination of excitement and knowledge…..and maybe a healthy bit of fear.  Wish us luck!

Have you started your real food journey yet?  Did you experience an evolution?  What keeps you excited about eating real food?

If you are looking for help in making the transition to eating more real food, you should check out the Real Food Experience posts. You can get get started at the beginning or jump around the challenges. You can find a complete round-up of the program here. Each week’s challenge is full of terrific advice to help you transition from fast and processed food to a real food diet. Changes that will help you to live a healthy lifestyle and have the energy to keep up with your busy schedule. I would also love for you to join me on social media. You can find me on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram on a regular basis. Leave me a comment and let me know you are there. I love to visit with my readers. Yes, I’m a real person.