Real Moms Love to Eat ~ Book Review and healthy living!

Do you want to know what I just did? If not, well, too bad. I'm about to tell you.

See, I had a Chanukah Harriet drop off a goodie gift for me the other day. And just the fact alone that it still exists in my home, wrapped, is an incredible accomplishment for me. And no, the gift is NOT still wrapped. But one of the treats inside of it was. Until about ten minutes ago.

She gave me a Reese's snowman. A serious snowman. Chocolate. Peanut butter. Yumminess. Goodness. Sweetness. Calories galore. But still. Reese's? One of my favorite chocolates ever.

And my daughter just asked for some. So I took it out of the package, took out a sharp knife, and cut off a piece for her and for myself. A small piece. A slice of a Reese's snowman. Seriously. A SLICE. That's unheard of in my world.

And it's not just because of an article I read recently about the worst things you can eat over the holiday season (and this was ON that list. Gasp!). Or just because of the incredible seminar I sat through a week ago on overeating and what is good or not so good to eat.

But it's because of Beth Aldrich. And her book. Real Moms Love to Eat: How to conduct a love affair with food, lose weight and feel fabulous.

Beth is a real mom. And she loves to eat. And her book talks to you - the reader - the mom - the woman - the man, even! - whoever you are about a healthier way of life. And she doesn't talk down to you. She doesn't force you to give up the things you love forever. She doesn't ask you to skip the sweets.

Now, don't get me wrong. A Reese's treat is not exactly the kind that Beth recommend in her book. Not at all. But I do think she'd still be proud of me for not wolfing down the whole thing! For taking that one slice and being happy and satisfied with it. (For now, I admit.)

But more importantly than the chocolate (although there isn't much that is more important than chocolate) I have to thank Beth for encouraging me to implement a very important change in my family's life. After reading her book I became motivated to ensure that we have vegetables at dinner every. single. night. At least when I cook at home, that's the plan.

I have started adding salads to the meal. I'm including more veggies in crockpot dishes. I'm steaming frozen vegetables and tossing them on our plates in huge, heaping spoonfuls. I'm using up my small stockpile of canned goods. I'm baking sweet potatoes. I'm chopping celery. I'm scooping more avocados. I've got a butternut squash waiting to be baked, and its spaghetti sister has already been used up. I'm just plain doing it.

I'm on a roll, honestly. I've being at it for several weeks now and it's excellent. Again, don't get me wrong. There are lots of changes I have to work on. It's the holidays. Cookies are everywhere - including my house. It's crazy. But I'm trying to eat less of them. Fewer. Give more away. Send them to work with my husband. Whatever works. But the veggies stay here with me. With us. And we love them.

So this is just step one into a brighter and healthier home. Better eating habits. I have Beth to thank for motivating me towards this change. So while I haven't yet tried out the recipes she shared, and I haven't done each and every suggestion in her book (except the water - I am a big fan of water and drink it throughout the day, so I'm glad to say I meet the goals she has me setting for myself already), I'm working at it. And it feels really good.

So if you're interested in checking out the book, you should. Beth Aldrich is a real woman. A real mom. And she loves to eat. So if you do, too, it's worth a peek. Just can pop over to Amazon and pick up your own copy here.

** I was not compensated in any way for reading or reviewing this book. I did receive a free digital copy of the book to review and was sent a goodie bag of a variety of healthy items that are sponsors of the author and her book/book tour. All expressed opinions are truly my own. Feel free to contact me with any questions or for further clarification.

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