What's Genny For?

If it tastes good...

                             ...spit it out!

I've been having the hardest time trying to switch our family over to eating healthier. I know we have inflammation issues. I also know that some of my redheaded minions kids are triggered by things like wheat —

Fun fact: Did you know gluten can cross the blood brain barrier and that the proteins in wheat are converted into shorter proteins, “polypeptides,” called “exorphins", and that those exorphins act like an opiate?

— and sugar —

Fun fact quote: “Research shows that sugar can be even more addicting than cocaine,” says Cassie Bjork, R.D., L.D., founder of Healthy Simple Life. “Sugar activates the opiate receptors in our brain and affects the reward center, which leads to compulsive behavior, despite the negative consequences like weight gain, headaches, hormone imbalances, and more.”

— but despite the countless hours I've spent online looking for "wheat and sugar free, kid friendly meals", I can't seem to find anything that the minions kids find appetizing. Even the stuff that looks good to me ends up tasting, well, blah.

Not to mention that with seven underlings kids, each with their own taste buds and picky habits, it's nigh on impossible to find a recipe that everyone will eat.

sigh.

Everything I've tried — Paleo, The Whole30, Grain Free — they all cost soooo much in ingredients. And then nobody will eat what I've made. They'd rather starve. What does that say about these so-called "diets"?

So I think I'm going to just cut out as much wheat as possible and try to limit the sugar —

Fun fact: We're celebrating two birthdays tomorrow so bring on the sugar-loaded cake and cartons of ice cream!

— and incorporate as many fruits and veggies as I can into simpler meals (which, oddly enough, is the type that the minions gush about).

Now if I can just calculate how many fresh fruits and veggies we need for the week without them going bad. . .