The Results

This year was my 4th attempt at this October Unprocessed “real food” challenge.  I certainly did not stick to this challenge 100% of the time, but I feel like I did better than my previous 3 attempts at the challenge and I learned more than ever this time around!  I also participated in a few Clean Eating challenges throughout the month, so that helped me to stay on track.  My weight did not change at all as a result of this challenge, but I didn’t expect it to and that wasn’t one of my goals, so that is completely fine with me.

I did find myself feeling exhausted a few weeks into the challenge because I was having to make 2 completely different meals much of the time – one for me and my husband, and then something completely different for the kids.   The last few weeks of the challenge, I just decided to compromise and make something I knew the kids would eat, and then I would make a healthier version for me to eat (for example, when the kids had tacos in taco shells, I just had the taco meat over rice.)  I let go of my need to have everything 100% unprocessed for simplicity (for example, the first time I made our favorite meatball recipe this month, I modified it to use oats instead of breadcrumbs.  As a result, the kids didn’t like it.  I didn’t feel it was worth the effort to make it 100% unprocessed and have the kids not eat it, so the next time I made it, I used the usual breadcrumbs, and I ate it.)

This year, my husband decided to join me in the beginning of the challenge, and that made it so much easier because he wasn’t bringing unhealthy foods into the house.  I think the first step to clean eating begins in the grocery store.  If you don’t buy it and you don’t bring it into the house, then you’re not going to eat it.  If you can get other family members on board, then that is a huge help, but I am not a believer in forcing anyone to take the challenge with me, especially the kids.  I believe they will learn by example and be more open to trying new foods the more they see me eating them.

This year, I’m in no rush to go back to eating junk food.  I actually WANT to continue on with the challenge and continue to find some new, healthy recipes.  Right now, I don’t even crave the Halloween candy that has filled my kitchen, and that is a big deal for me and my sweet tooth.

What Did I Learn?

I found some AMAZING new recipes this month, and I’m so excited to add them into our meal rotation and share those recipes in this post!  

I would have to say I’m most excited about the taco seasoning recipe I found.  Our family enjoys “Taco Tuesday” every week, and I finally found something that everyone loves!  The best part of all is, it’s unprocessed!  Click on the Taco Meat image below for the recipe!

 

 

 

 

 

 

The next recipe I discovered that I’m super excited about is Honey Balsamic Sheet Pan Chicken.  It is SO tasty, and everyone in the family liked it!  Best of all, you can customize it to your own tastes by using the vegetables you love most (as you can see I added broccoli and sweet potatoes)

Another recipe I tried this month and really loved was Slow Cooker Stuffed Pepper soup!  Although my kids didn’t love it as much as I do, I will definitely be making this one again.

I updated my Haddock Chowder recipe this month, and I’m excited about that, too.

My daughters love this peanut butter ball recipe, so I will be continuing to make that healthy snack throughout the year from now on, not just in October. 🙂

These are just a few of the many new recipes I tried and loved this month.  If you care to know everything I ate over the past 31 days, including recipes, see below.

What Did I Eat?

For those who care to know what I ate over the past 31 days, here is the complete list.  As you can see, I started out really great, but the last few days I gave in to the sweets.  Links are provided for the recipes that I loved and will be making again soon!  I hope you will join me in the challenge next year!

Saturday, October 1

Breakfast: Omelet with Peppers, Onions, and Sun-Dried Tomatoes

Snack:  Grapes ,cashews, raisins

Lunch: Salad (Romaine, tomatoes, cucumbers, raisins) w/balsamic

Dinner: Honey Balsamic Sheet Pan Chicken

 

Sunday, October 2

Breakfast: Gluten-Free Banana Pancakes

Snack:  Celery Stick, Raisins, Grapes, Cashews

Lunch: Leftovers from Dinner and  Creamy Tomato Basil Soup

Dinner:  Crock Pot Chicken Taco Chili

 

Monday, October 3

Breakfast:  Chocolate Avocado Smoothie

Snack: Plain Greek Yogurt w/1 T honey & 1T cchips, Popcorn

Lunch: Leftover Chili

Dinner: Mozzarella-Stuffed Slow Cooker Meatballs

 

Tuesday, October 4

Breakfast: Leftover Banana Pancakes/Kiwi/Slice of BH Turkey

Snack: Fuji Apple, 5.3oz Greek Yogurt, ½ T Honey & 1T cchips

Lunch: Leftover Chili

Dinner:  Taco Meat w/Jasmine Rice, Lettuce, Tomato.

 

Wednesday, October 5

Breakfast: Leftover Banana Pancakes with Grapes

Snack:  Grapes, Chocolate Chips

Lunch: Raspberry Peanut Butter Green Smoothie (I used grape juice)

Dinner:  Slow Cooker Chicken Tortellini Soup (w/brown rice noodles)

 

Thursday, October 6

Breakfast: Scrambled Egg w/Diced Tomatoes;grapes

Snack:  Peanut Butter Cookies, cashews

Lunch: Leftover Chicken Soup

Dinner:  Pate Chinois

 

Friday, October 7

Breakfast: Leftover banana pancake, PB cookie

Snack: Yogurt w/honey & cc; apple; cucumbers,celery,dip,chips,salsa

Lunch: Leftover Tomato Soup

Dinner: Leftover Pate Chinois

 

Saturday, October 8

Breakfast: Leftover chicken soup

Snack: Kettle corn; Roasted Pumpkin Seeds

Lunch: Strawberry/banana/yogurt/milk smoothie

Dinner: Baked Haddock,rice pilaf, and Roasted Broccoli

 

Sunday, October 9

Breakfast: Apple cider donut; pumpkin seeds

Snack: Cherry Soda (Kassi made) from Joy Food p.234

Lunch: Leftover chicken soup; leftover tuna

Dinner: Crock Pot Chicken Salsa, rice & broccoli; salad w/balsamic; homemade pizza for the kids

 

Monday, October 10

Breakfast: Chocolate Banana Smoothie

Snack: Peanut Butter Energy Balls; chocolate chips

Lunch:

Dinner: Roast Chicken, Roasted Potatoes &Carrots, Leftover Cherry Soda, Salad w/Balsamic, Green Bean Casserole

 

Tuesday, October 11

Breakfast: Pumpkin Pie Smoothie; Watermelon; Pineapples;BH Turkey

Snack: celery and peanut butter

Lunch: Leftover Salsa Chicken & Green Bean Casserole

Dinner: Tacos; Salad w/Balsamic

 

Wednesday, October 12

Breakfast:  Leftover Pumpkin Pie Smoothie;BH Turkey;Pineapples

Snack: Peanut Butter Balls; yogurt w/2tsp honey & 1 T pecans

Lunch: Leftover Salsa Chicken

Dinner: Crock Pot Chicken Teriyaki; GB Casserole; Rice/Quinoa;Salad

 

Thursday, October 13

Breakfast: Broken Cookies/BH Turkey

Snack: Peanut Butter Balls

Lunch: Leftover Teriyaki chicken

Dinner: Turkey w/Gravy

 

Friday, October 14

Breakfast: Chocolate Tart Cherry Smoothie

Snack: Peanut Butter Balls; OJ; Pineapple

Lunch: Leftover Teriyaki Chicken

Dinner: Tuna Sandwich w/lettuce (leftover from Kaitlin)

 

Saturday, October 15

Breakfast: Chocolate Tart Cherry Smoothie

Snack: Peanut Butter Balls; Banana Bread from neighbor

Lunch: Haddock Chowder

Dinner: Leftover Haddock Chowder; Breadstick

 

 

Sunday, October 16

Breakfast: Avocado Smoothie; Banana Bread

Snack: Peanut Butter Balls; Orange Glorious

Lunch: Leftover Haddock Chowder

Dinner: Balsamic Honey Chicken w/broccoli & sweet potato; salad

 

Monday, October 17

Breakfast: Banana Pineapple Raspberry Smoothie

Snack: Banana Bread

Lunch: Chowder Leftovers

Dinner: Slow Cooker Stuffed Pepper Soup

 

Tuesday, October 18

Breakfast: Chocolate Avocado Smoothie

Snack: PB Energy Balls; Broken cookies; Raspberries; Cashews

Lunch: Crockpot Chicken Teriyaki

Dinner: Taco Tuesday (with brown rice)

 

Wednesday, October 19

Breakfast: Chocolate Tart Cherry Smoothie

Snack: Apple; PB Balls; Buffalo Chicken Dip w/chips

Lunch: Leftover Balsamic Chicken

Dinner: Leftovers – I made homemade pizza for the kids

 

Thursday, October 20

Breakfast:  Chocolate Tart Cherry Smoothie

Snack: Peanut Butter Balls

Lunch:  Leftover Stuffed Pepper Soup

Dinner: Leftovers

 

 

Friday, October 21

Breakfast: Pineapple-Strawberry-Yogurt-Banana Smoothie

Snack: Peanut Butter Balls; chocolate chips

Lunch: Leftovers

Dinner: Taco meat w/onion roasted potatoes

 

Saturday, October 22

Breakfast: Apple

Snack: Cookie Pizza that the girls made

Lunch: Leftover taco meat w/rice and pineapple

Dinner: Rotisserie chicken w/rice

 

Sunday, October 23

Breakfast: Cookie Pizza pieces

Snack: Apple; Reese’s

Lunch: Busy day – skipped lunch

Dinner: Angel Hair pasta w/meat sauce

 

Monday, October 24

Breakfast: Scrambled eggs w/salsa

Snack: Energy Bites; Reese’s; grapes; turkey rollup

Lunch: Smoothie – Banana/yogurt/straw/pineapple

Dinner: Clean Eating Challenge: Balsamic Chicken

 

Tuesday, October 25

Breakfast: Raspberry PB Green Smoothie; Hard-Boiled Egg

Snack:

Lunch: Leftover Balsamic Chicken; Roasted Broccoli; salad

Dinner: Angel Hair pasta w/Meatballs; salad; roasted vegetables

 

 

Wednesday, October 26

Breakfast: Raspberry PB Banana Smoothie; Apple

Snack: Energy Bites; Pomegranate Seeds

Lunch: Balsamic Chicken; Roasted Vegetables

Dinner: Salad; Pizza

 

Thursday, October 27

Breakfast: Raspberry PB Banana Smoothie

Snack: Apple

Lunch: Leftovers; vegetables

Dinner: Crock Pot Beef Stew (CE challenge); mashed potatoes

 

Friday, October 28

Breakfast: Eggs w/Salsa

Snack: Cannoli from Mike’s Pastry; vegetables; chips&salsa

Lunch: Apple

Dinner: Turkey w/gravy & Mashed Potatoes

 

Saturday, October 29

Breakfast: Blueberry Oatmeal w/Honey (CE Challenge)

Snack: Energy Bites; Donut

Lunch: Haddock Chowder

Dinner:  Leftovers; Cheeseburger Pie for kids

 

Sunday, October 30

Breakfast: Rasp. Banana Apple smoothie

Snack: Brownies; cookie

Lunch: Chowder Leftovers

Dinner: Spaghetti & Meat Sauce; Roll; Salad

 

Monday, October 31

Breakfast: Apple Cobbler Oatmeal from Joy Food p.32

Snack: Energy Bites; Halloween Candy

Lunch: Leftover Haddock Chowder

Dinner: Homemade Pizza