If you have tried making the transition to a more natural lifestyle<\/strong> and felt overwhelmed or had no idea where to start then you have found the right place! Learning to clean up our home, diet, and lifestyle is a process. One that is achieved by taking one baby step after another<\/strong>. I will share with you tips and tricks I used to simplify life, detoxify my home, achieve more happiness as a family and some amazing foods and recipes that your family will love!<\/p>\n\n\n\n I did not learn everything overnight, no one does.<\/p>\nRebecca Huff<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n Keep incorporating healthy lifestyle habits<\/strong>! Keep coming back as I add new tips and info weekly. I will continue to add links that will help you on your way to wellness! For now, scroll down the page for an overview of the 12 Steps!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Each of these steps can be found in more detail in each of my corresponding eBooks. Community Members have access to all of the 12 Step eBooks, and are first to know about giveaways and coupons, so make sure you join<\/a>, after you skim this page. Here is your roadmap:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Implement these steps at a pace that is comfortable for you. \u00a0Some families do them one per month while some prefer to do them one per week. I have even met a few families who did them all at one time! Work at a pace that is right for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I will try to convince you, then explain how to make that step happen, and finally, I will give you examples to show you what that would look like in real life.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n Replace sodas<\/a> (<–this link also includes a podcast episode<\/a>) with fruit juice, flavored waters and sports drinks with filtered water, green tea, and herbal tea. Think about water filtration to avoid chemicals, impurities and fluoridated water supplies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Convince me:<\/strong> Drinking your calories can put you at risk for obesity, raises insulin levels, increases your chance of tooth decay and robs your bones of calcium. Water from a municipal source needs to be filtered to remove chlorine, fluoride and other impurities. Herbicides, pesticides, drug residues, heavy metals in well-water, and toxic chemicals in your urban water supplies are more dangerous than most people realize.<\/p>\n\n\n\n How to make it happen:<\/strong> Read my article about quitting soda<\/a>, purchase a water filtration system for your home, but especially for your drinking and cooking water supply.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Example:<\/strong> Try drinking sparkling water for the carbonation. Some people enjoy adding fruit to sparkling water, or even adding it to filtered water. We use Reverse Osmosis water filtration in our home.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n Replace traditional high carb breakfasts<\/a> with protein filled sustaining meals:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Convince me:<\/strong> One reason being; if you eat a carb heavy breakfast, your body will use the carbs as a source of fuel, and not your fat stores preventing weight loss<\/a>; also eating a lot of carbs at breakfast raises your blood sugar levels. Most breakfast cereals are empty carbohydrates, and unless they are certified organic they are likely filled with genetically engineered derivatives\/GMOs.(3<\/a>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n How to make it happen:<\/strong> Try replacing cereal, toast, and bagels with protein shakes, eggs, nontraditional breakfasts, smoked salmon, and even beans. Start including lots of protein<\/a> at your breakfast meals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Example:<\/strong> Truly eggs are a great staple for breakfast, they are very versatile. For a light breakfast, learn to make bone broth to drink, it\u2019s easier than you think. If you are in a hurry, you can always try Runner\u2019s Smoothie<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A Step Further<\/strong> – If you are a healthy individual, you might consider intermittent fasting.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n Veggies in a variety of colors<\/a> should be added at lunch time; later you will want to start adding a rainbow of veggies to your dinner plate and pull back on the tendency to add wheat to every meal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Convince me:<\/strong> You can\u2019t go wrong with any plant that has bright, vibrant colors\u2014think fruits and vegetables, as the phytochemicals (the substance that makes a fruit or veggie have to color) are full of antioxidants which help your body to be healthier. <\/p>\n\n\n\n How to make it happen:<\/strong> Make sure you are adding at least one, but preferably two vegetables to each of your meals daily. Eat the rainbow<\/a>, and you will sparkle like a diamond.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Example:<\/strong> Superfood salads<\/a>, stir fries, and veggie soups are a great way to get in lots of servings of your favorite vegetables. I often add a handful of spinach to my children's smoothies<\/a> and they never even know. You can always go veggie ninja and add purees to your recipes without your children ever suspecting. Like I do in our mac-n-cheese<\/a> and also our healthiest bar <\/a>ever!<\/p>\n\n\n\n A Step Further<\/strong> – Consider juicing<\/a> vegetables or stopping at a juice bar for a vegetable juice, just take it easy on the fruit juice! <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n Reduce stress<\/a> and do more things you enjoy. Spend time together as a family. Eat at least 3, but preferably five dinners together as a family.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Convince me:<\/strong> Implementing regular Family Mealtime<\/a> is a great way to unwind and enjoy your family. Create and follow a bedtime routine<\/a> if at all possible. Find ways to spend time alone<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n How to make it happen:<\/strong> Can\u2019t miss soccer practice? How about having a late dinner afterward? Just remember to throw some chicken in your crockpot <\/a>for an easy dinner together when you get home. What about packing a picnic lunch to eat during the baseball game? Try my Quickie White Chicken Chili<\/a> next time you're in a hurry!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Example:<\/strong> Try having a screen free day every other week at minimum and use that time to reconnect with each other as a family. Bonus<\/strong> points if you spend time outside. Use a family calendar <\/a>to keep up with everyone\u2019s schedules.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A Step Further<\/strong> – Limit Screentime<\/a> as a habit, implement some boundaries when it comes to using electronics, for yourself and your family.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n Replace regular wheat<\/a> and hybridized grains with Ancient Grains or superfood grains. Reducing the number of grains you consume can lead to better health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Convince me:<\/strong> Many experts now believe that anyone can gain many health benefits by giving up wheat products. According to David Perlmutter, M.D., not only is gluten making us fat, but it\u2019s also the underlying cause of migraines, ADHD, and Alzheimer\u2019s disease.<\/p>\n\n\n\n How to make it happen<\/strong>: It\u2019s not just bread that contains wheat. Start cooking more foods from scratch, especially salad dressings<\/a> of which many have gluten. Skip fast food entirely. Try an elimination diet for 21 days to see how you feel without gluten. This will help you to ascertain your sensitivity to gluten.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Example:<\/strong> Instead of bagels, pastries or cereal for breakfast enjoy a nice bowl of yogurt topped with fruit and honey. For lunch, enjoy a delicious burger wrapped in lettuce instead of a bun; many restaurants have this as an option. When dinner comes, instead of eating white rice, saut\u00e9 some riced cauliflower. Many supermarkets sell cauliflower that has been diced to the size of rice grains. It is faster than rice to saute it or place it on a baking sheet while you prepare the rest of the dinner meal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A Step Further<\/strong> – Some diets exclude grains and can help with various health challenges. If you are finding that just transitioning to a whole foods diet is not enough, consider the Ketogenic<\/a> or Paleo lifestyle.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n Replace sugary desserts<\/a> and treats. Start experimenting with sugar-free desserts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Convince me:<\/strong> Want to have better-looking skin, to lose weight, have more energy, and create overall wellness? It\u2019s as simple as giving up the white stuff, and I mean ALL of it, not just what you add to your coffee! Sugar is the cause of many modern day illnesses. The burden of processing sugar is overtaxing your liver.<\/p>\n\n\n\n How to make it happen:<\/strong> Start by replacing your sugary desserts with fruit. If you still need to have desserts learn to prepare your favorite recipes with sugar alcohols, stevia or honey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Example:<\/strong> Replace sugary desserts and treats with fruit. Start experimenting with sugar-free desserts. Instead of a bowl of ice cream for dessert try a bowl of raspberries! Natures dessert is so delicious and so much better for you. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n Replace fast food stops<\/a> with meal prep, carrying snacks and planning ahead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Convince me:<\/strong> Some schools do have a healthy lunch program, but most fall short. Don\u2019t take a chance with your children\u2019s health, know what they are eating at school.<\/p>\n\n\n\n How to make it happen:<\/strong> Pack your lunches if you work outside the home or even when you are running errands all day, pack your children\u2019s lunches if they go to school and you are able to do this. Start with one a week and build up to packing as many days as necessary. Plan meals, it will save you money on last minute calls to the local pizzeria and improve your health, reducing sick trips to the doctor\u2019s office. Check out my YouTube Channel <\/a>to see my lunch packing videos.<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n Example:<\/strong> Simply print out a simple menu planner (Here are a few examples are of my blank menu planners<\/a>, plus check out how I do it on Cozi<\/a>) Increase the number of good fats<\/a> in your diet. Replace unhealthy oils and fats<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Convince me:<\/strong> Your brain is about 60% fat, it is thus important to increase your Omega 3 fats while at the same time reducing your intake of Omega 6 fats. Omega 6 fats contribute to heart disease, cancer, stroke, Alzheimer\u2019s, arthritis and more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n How to make it happen:<\/strong> Eat real butter, preferably grass fed. I buy Kerrygold butter at Costco. You can find a list of other items I buy from Costco here<\/a>. Add avocados to your diet, they are truly amazingly healthy. Use coconut oil<\/a> for in cooking, baking, desserts, smoothies, coffee<\/a> and much more! Add extra virgin olive oil on salads to increase intake of healthy fats.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Example:<\/strong> Omega 3 fats: avocados<\/a>, eggs, grass fed butter. Significantly reduce Omega 6 fats such as corn oil, canola oil, and other vegetable oils.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n Focus on getting at least eight hours of sleep each night<\/a>, going to bed and rising each day at the same time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Convince me:<\/strong> Most people do not make a conscious choice to miss out on sleep. There are many life events that creep in on our sleep schedule. Occasionally, something will come up that will warrant missing a few hours of time in bed, however, this should never become the norm. So, guard the hours you schedule for sleeping!<\/p>\n\n\n\n How to make it happen:<\/strong> Most of us will sacrifice this precious commodity for many varied reasons over the span of our lives. It\u2019s important, however, not to make it a (bad) habit! Consistently<\/strong> getting an excellent night\u2019s sleep<\/em><\/a> can make a huge difference in your health<\/a> which is why I devoted an entire category to the subject of Good Sleep Hygiene.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Example:<\/strong> A bedroom oasis<\/a> will help you get quality sleep<\/strong>, night after night! Hopefully, you spend at least a third of your day in your bedroom. If not, you should be! Having a peaceful oasis to go to when your work day ends and a calm spot to wake up in is one of the best gifts you can give yourself.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n Limit screen time<\/a> for yourself and your children and learn to optimize your sleep<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Convince me:<\/strong> Too much screen time suppresses the release of melatonin, a hormone produced by the body to help you sleep. It also increases the chance of coronary heart disease and can result in elevated cholesterol later in life. (2) Optimize your sleep<\/a> for superior health, or pay the consequences later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n How to make it happen:<\/strong> Set a good example by limiting your own screen time, avoid using screen time as a babysitter, keep televisions and computers in common areas instead of in bedrooms. Consider making one day per week a screen-free day, if not the entire day, set aside at least a few hours!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Example:<\/strong> Replace screen time with \u201cmove your body\u201d activities, such as sports and family exercise<\/a>, weekly hikes, bike riding, or participating in martial arts<\/a> as a family.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A Step Further<\/strong> – Implement some ideas that will keep your family busy and help kids to forget about their smartphones. How about some field trips<\/a>, a nature walk<\/a> or implementing a countries and culture night<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n Learn to read labels<\/a> as a habit and teach your children how to read them as well<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Convince me:<\/strong> When children learn to read labels it becomes a lifelong habit that will help them to maintain superior health throughout their lives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n How to make it happen:<\/strong> When you become passionate about eating healthier<\/a> and making better choices your children will too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Examples:<\/strong> Become food detectives<\/a> and go on a search for the healthiest choices at the supermarket. Have contests to see who can come up with the best choices and reward them with a small prize such as a new Lego set or the latest Pokemon cards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A Step Further<\/strong> – Adopting a whole foods diet will cut down on how many labels you'll need to read. Vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds and grains usually don't have extensive labeling. Meat, eggs, and fish are pretty straightforward as well.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n Work on replacing toxic cleaners and body products with nontoxic ones or using alternative cleaning methods<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Convince me<\/strong>: There are over 80,000 chemicals in use in the U.S. many of which are banned overseas. Of those, only a very small percentage have been tested for toxicity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n How to make it happen:<\/strong> Start replacing your chemical cleaners<\/a> with a do it all formula that can cover all your needs! A Step Further<\/strong> – Clean up your beauty routine<\/a> and start replacing products that have toxic chemicals with more natural and organic options.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n It is my goal to give you action steps<\/strong> that will set you on the path to living life with superior health<\/strong>. You can find more on my YouTube Channel: ThatOrganicMom.<\/a>\u00a0If you are curious how the name ThatOrganicMom came about, please read my series Branded For Life<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\n
12 Steps to Achieving Superior Health<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"Step](\"https:\/\/www.thatorganicmom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/quit-soda-habit-step-1.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nStep 1 – Quit Soda<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"Step](\"https:\/\/www.thatorganicmom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/breakfast-step-two.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nStep 2 – Make the Most of Breakfast<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n![\"Step](\"https:\/\/www.thatorganicmom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/step-three-color-your-plate.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nStep 3 – Color Your Plate<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"Step](\"https:\/\/www.thatorganicmom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/step-four-reduce-stress.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nStep 4 – Reduce Stress<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n![\"Step](\"https:\/\/www.thatorganicmom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/step-five-reduce-grains.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nStep 5 – Reduce Grains or Go Gluten Free<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"Step](\"https:\/\/www.thatorganicmom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/step-6-replace-sugar.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nStep 6 – Replace Sugary Desserts and Treats<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n
Example:<\/strong> Berries make a great dessert. We enjoy making desserts with stevia, erythritol, and xylitol.Replace fast food stops with meal prep, carrying snacks and planning ahead.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n![\"Step](\"https:\/\/www.thatorganicmom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/step-7-quit-fast-food.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nStep 7 – Replace Fast Food Stops<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Lunchbox Inspiration<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n![\"Step](\"https:\/\/www.thatorganicmom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/step-8-replace-unhealthy-fats.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nStep 8 – Replace Unhealthy Fats with Healthy Fats<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n![\"Step](\"https:\/\/www.thatorganicmom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/step-9-enough-sleep.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nStep 9 – Get Eight Hours of Sleep<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"Step](\"https:\/\/www.thatorganicmom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/step-10-reduce-screemtime.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nStep 10 – Reduce Screen Time<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n![\"Step](\"https:\/\/www.thatorganicmom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/step-11-read-product-labels.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nStep 11 – Read Labels<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"Step](\"https:\/\/www.thatorganicmom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/step-12-eliminate-toxins.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nStep 12 – Alternative Cleaning Methods<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Example:<\/strong> Work on replacing your chemical cleaners one bottle at a time, or if it makes you feel better, donate all of your old ones to a shelter and start from scratch! Take a look at my toxic free laundry room tour on this video<\/a>. Make some wool dryer balls<\/a> instead of wasting money on those toxic dryer sheets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n