Processed Free March, are you in?

Through Instagram, I found Laury Raiken who writes The Fitness Dish blog.  During the month of March she is doing a challenge called “Processed Free March”.  There are no giveaways for this challenge.  Her goal is simply to raise consumer awareness about what real food looks like.  If you know me, then you know I was definitively interested in participating.

The “Processed Free March” challenge got me thinking.  Are we “processed free” at home?  The quick answer would be no.  We are not completely “processed free”.  With two little girls at home, there’s bound to be some Fruity Pebbles and Oreos in our pantry.  My husband’s love for Diet Coke and our love for pork easily takes our household out of that classification.  We still drink mostly cow’s milk; although I make my smoothies with almond/coconut milk.  I love white rice, so I limit our intake by cooking quinoa or millet.

Poached Eggs, sweet potato and berries.

So for this challenge, my goal is to add more veggies and fruits to our meals.  My definition of processed foods really means “fast food”.  The food you get from a drive through.  Now, please understand I do occasionally eat a cheeseburger from McDonald’s   And yes, my daughters love the chicken nuggets happy meals too.  But to us, going to McD’s is a treat, it is a “fun food day”.   Prepared foods that come out of a box with instructions or out of the freezer section would also qualify as processed foods.  I’m not talking about frozen or canned veggies.  Eating frozen or canned veggies is better than not eating any vegetables at all.

Adapted recipe from Peru Delights
http://perudelights.com/chickpea-and-chard-stew-for-lent/

The point of this “Processed Free March” challenge is not to focus on the things you can’t make at home because you have too much on your plate already.  To me the point of the challenge is to see where you can start cutting unhealthy foods out of your diet and adding healthy foods instead.  Try a new vegetable, visit a new grocery store, check out a new cookbook.  There are so many ways to include real foods in your diet.

Here are some good sources to get you started:

Fruit and Veggies More Matters

Healthy Living Blogs

Simple Green Smoothies

Are you in?  With fifteen days left in March, will you join us in the “Processed Free” March Challenge?  Upload your pictures on our Facebook page with the #ProcessedFreeMarch or add the hash tag to your pictures on Instagram!

Are you “Processed Free”?