It’s late. Close to bedtime. And my stomach is growling. One might think inserting food is the answer, but it’s not. Instead, I’m scrolling through Angela Rummans’ TikTok videos for tomorrow’s recipe ideas. Never have I seen the healthiest-looking food make my mouth water like this. Yesterday, I modified one of her recipes, but the basics remained the same: large slices of roasted sweet potato, ground turkey, and avocado.
Before sitting down to write, I watched her make a burger using sweet potato rounds as the “buns.” You better believe I’m doing that tomorrow—with my new black bean burgers, cheese, lettuce, and tomato.
After a long stretch of having zero filter between eyes, mind, mouth, and body—eating everything greasy, sugary, and bad for me—I’ve swung hard to the other side of the pendulum; barely a teaspoon of added sugar made it into my body today!
Sugar is a major target this year. So much so that I’m teaching Evelyn about her daily recommended amount (25 grams for kids ages 5–7). I slid 25 beads over on her abacus to show her the allotment, then pushed over 25 more—50 total—to show her how much is in a soda. I timed this right before she headed to Zootopia 2 with the neighbors. I wanted her to feel less “left out” by understanding the why. Watching her eyes widen as the sugar doubled was worth it.
Another health rule: no more than one day without going for a walk. I used to exercise daily, then sporadically, and then not at all. With this rule, staying healthy never drifts out of sight.
Yesterday was board games, movies, and family time—not exercise—and that’s okay. The non-negotiable is doing it today. Which I did. On my walk, I told Dave about the rule and realized it might help to plan break days ahead of time—so if weather or life gets in the way, I can take a day off without turning it into a thing.
I have 7% left of Buffalo Hunter Hunter. Seven! I’d hoped to finish it earlier, but the day was full: soccer with Evelyn’s new goals, setting up her dollhouse, cooking spinach-and-artichoke-dip pasta. It’s all good. I’ll finish it now.
I hope you had a great day.
Love,
Jaclynn
Going On 40 