Shooting for health (and thinner thighs)

Before I get into my wrap up on the last four weeks I spent participating in the President's Choice Healthy Eating Challenge I'd like to direct your attention to the name of this column.

It's called Shooting for Hip.

Emphasis on shooting: as in aspiring towards, trying, struggling, seeking, working on it, giving it a go, taking a crack at it, etc.

Diva though I may be, I have never pretended to be the picture of hipness (hipitude?) and after four weeks of "shooting for" it, I am not the picture of health either.

But I have learned a few things.

I have learned that if you are counting your calories or fat grams or sodium and you are pressed for time (aren't all moms?) then pre-packaged food can be a blessing. I love to cook and I know all about healthy foods but I've got a skinny husband who loves rich foods so a typical homemade meal for me is marinated and grilled chicken or meat, mashed sweet potatoes with butter and mayonnaise, steamed broccoli with homemade cheese sauce and a spinach salad with my special dressing.

Delicious? You better believe it! Nutritious? Absolutely! A great meal for someone who could stand to lose a few pounds? Not so much.

In addition to allowing me some extra time to hang with my boys, the Blue Menu frozen entrees I discovered on the program were a lot more diet-friendly than what I would typically whip up at home.

I have also learned to let go of my preconceived notions about frozen, pre-packaged foods. I haven't eaten frozen entrees since I got the odd TV dinner when I was a kid some 30 years ago, so I was pleasantly surprised to discover how far they have come in terms of variety, presentation and taste. My husband grew up in a European household where his parents cooked and shopped daily and he was an amateur gourmet cook years before the current chef-as-rock star trend emerged, yet he gobbled up every Blue Menu item I put in front of him with nary a snide comment. That, my friends, is nothing short of remarkable.

Most of all I've learned that when you're a mom and you're shooting for hip or shooting for health, something has usually gotta give and that's okay.

I had to give up the notion that regular exercise and a trim figure was compatible with early evenings devoted exclusively to my son and late evenings devoted to the leisurely cooking and wine-sipping I enjoyed pre-kids.

But it's okay. I have managed to get back on track with exercising, eating earlier and eating fewer calories and when it comes down to it, I'd rather say goodbye to bad habits than let myself go.

Comments

[Angella]

I have been meaning to try the blue label entrees, but love to cook. On the other hand, I would love some nights off from cooking.

The kids have had the blue label chicken fingers and LOVE them.

*runs out to Stupid Store to buy some entrees*

[nomotherearth]

I could stand to lose some poundage, so maybe I should try these? What were your favourites??

[petitegourmand]

I love the P.C. blue label line- genius.
one of Lulu's favourite soups is the P.C.-mushroom barley.
As much as I would love to prepare everything from scratch (and I do try as much as possible) but it's not realistic for a working mom, so for us the P.C blue line helps save time without sacrificing too much taste or health.

hey so do you think they should send us a bunch of freebies for all this positive promo?
I think I'll have my people make a call to Galen's people. ;

[chelle]

It is nice to read that there are some healthy, convenient alternatives out there :)

[Don Mills Diva]

Nomoearth - I really loved the Shepherd's Pie and the stuffed chicken breasts!

[karen meg]

I should really give more of those blue label products a try (the ones I have had have all been good). It's quite handy as my gym is right in the Loblaws... that was one of the smartest strategic alliances that I've seen by far... at least for people like me!