I’ve always said that if I strike it rich, the first thing I would “buy” would be a personal chef. I mean, why does this family of mine need so much food?!?! C’mon! I admit there are times that I’m in it to win it with the meals I feed my family but there’s always a good percentage of the time I’m all “cereal for dinner”.
Y’all I KNOW that isn’t healthy, no matter what brand of cereal you buy so I really strive to up my game in the healthy meal department, even if I “cheat” and grab some on-the-go food. Here’s some simple yet effective tips on how you can make healthier food choices even when you’re .
Know Before You Go Check out what the restaurant serves before you even get in your car. This has never been easier with store apps and websites. Heck, you can even order before you get there to lock in those solid it’s-healthy-for-you choices and not self sabotage at the last minute.
Opt for Healthier Substitutes You don’t have to give up your favorite foods, but you can choose healthier substitutes. For example, replace white rice with quinoa, eat whole-grain bread instead of white bread, use vinaigrette’s instead of creamier dressings and switch to sweet potato instead of traditional French fries. These easy swaps will help you eat healthier without sacrificing taste. Another hot tips is to fill up on veggies before you dive into the carb heavy foods.
Choose Grab-and-Go Healthy Options Convenience is key when you’re all meal planned out, so look for healthier options that are easy to grab and eat. Choose pre-cut veggies, rotisserie chickens, pre-made salads, whole-grain crackers & hummus cups, hard-boiled eggs, low sugar jerky, protein bars or shakes, fruit cups, nuts/trail mixes, nitrate and low sodium deli meats and cheese sticks. Thankfully bento boxes are still all the rage so call it a Lunchable and make the kids happy.
Remember we aren’t super mom’s, we are just regular mom’s doing our best. We don’t need to place a 5 course gourmet meal on the table every night, just food that’s as nutrient dense as we can possibly get our families to eat. And if that just so happens to come from Chick-Fil-A tonight, just make them grilled nuggets instead of breaded.
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Y’all, of course I might be little biased buuuuut, there is no job as tough as being a mama. We are the prize fighters, the heavyweight champions of the all the jobs out there in the universe.
We mama’s come in so many forms: working full time then coming home to the monumental task of being a mama and wife. A stay at home mama that includes being caregiver, educator, babysitter, boo boo kisser, referree, maid, chef and so much more. And single mama’s that are the breadwinner, mama and daddy all rolled into one. And what about us special needs mamas.… oy. Y’all I’m just exhausted typing this!
We are exhausted. We are tired. And it’s not hard to see why.
And even though we are stretched thin, we are wracked with guilt because we see that Influencer mama with the perfectly clean house, getting her perfectly clean kids to eat a perfectly clean, organic diet and we want more. We want to be the mama that tries to incorporate healthier foods, or start a healthier style of living. But we have nothing left in the gas tank so how can we possibly start something new?!?!?!
Take Care of Yourself Mama s HEAR ME when I say you have to put yourself first every dang day. Not just self care Sunday’s. Everyday. Damn. Day. Check out this blog post on why it’s so important. How? Nurture your own wellbeing. Make sure you’re getting that good sleep, eat well, take time out of your day for you time, whenever you need it.
Embrace Imperfection If you’re anything like me, you need someone to say this to you: YOU HAVE PERMISSION TO BE IMPERFECT. Live your life like it belongs in the out-takes baby and not a perfectly edited movie. Outakes are way funnier than the actual movie anyway!
We can yada, yada about creating goals and hitting them but, at least to me, that’s just more striving to be perfect that I know I can’t handle when I start something new. Like dudes…I’m just trying to get in the habit. I don’t need any extra goal hitting I-did-it-perfect pressure. That ish is for the birds.
Stay Motivated Staying motivated is seriously the hardest part of starting something new. I do bang all awesome for the first little bit then I’m like ‘whatever” and ghost it. #thestruggleisreal Because staying motivated can be a struggle, I found it’s best to stay engaged and interested in my new pursuit by immersing myself in a community of like minded mamas. Which is why I created The Scrunchy Mama Club. By keeping engaged with my people, I keep myself motivated to stick with my new venture. You can check out and join The Scrunchy Mama Club here.
Lean on Your Support System Trying to start something new can feel daunting, but you don’t have to go it alone. If The Scrunch Mama Club isn’t your thing, then look to your support system whether that’s your spouse, a family member, or friend, to help you through the initial stages. They can offer encouragement, hold you accountable, and provide help when you need it.
And listen Linda, for the love of allllllll that is holy, don’t be afraid to be vulnerable and ask for help when you need it. That’s when you get the most “bang for your buck” and see things in a perspective that you’ve never seen before.
Mama’s, starting something new can be soooo challenging, but it’s also incredibly rewarding. Whatever you are looking to pursue, remember that it’s never too late to begin and it’s okay to not be damn perfect. By prioritizing YOURSELF, embracing imperfection, staying motivated, and leaning on your support system, you can do anything! Don’t be afraid to take that first step – the only thing standing between you and your dreams is the courage to begin.
If you’re ready to gain energy to help you feel like a new mama, join The Energy Challenge here. Not only will you get amazing energy but you’ll sleep better and feel amazing too!
xoxo,
PS – if you’re ready to get “scrunchy” grab my free guide and start changing your life for the better!
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I might love me some sweet summertime but I think it’s fairly safe to say that we luuuuuurrrrve Fall and everything that comes with it. The foods (pumpkin pie, I’m lookin at you!), the cozy blankets and sweaters, and the delicious SMELLS!
Here’s some yummy essential oil blends that will be sure to give you all the cozy Fall vibes. These blends are based on a 2 ounce bottle but you can increase to fill any size bottle!
Y’all…I’m still trying to figure out how to get the dang Pinterest pin on my website so pardon the newbie move but here’s the Pinterest link so you can Pin for later: https://pin.it/3nzyfJg
PRO TIP
You can easily turn this into a diffuser blend by reducing the total drops to a maximum of 20 drops. I personally reduce the recipe into thirds. For example the Orange Spice diffuser blend would be 4 drops orange, 4 drops cinnamon and 2 drops cardamom.
For the mamas out there who are looking for natural and low toxin remedies for their family’s health and wellness, essential oils could be the answer. Essential oils have been used for many centuries to support physical and emotional health. They are derived from plants and contain natural compounds that can help alleviate various ailments.
I started using essential oils for the purpose of ditching chemicals and being more self reliant with our “medicine”. The more I learned, the more I realized that they had so many other benefits! If you are a mom who is looking to live a low-tox lifestyle and is considering essential oils as an alternative to traditional, over-the-counter medicine, then this post is for you.
Essential Oils as Medicine Essential oils contain potent and highly concentrated plant extracts that have been used for centuries as a form of traditional medicine. I like to think of essential oils as the “life blood” of the plant. Each oil has its own unique set of therapeutic benefits, which range from pain relief and immune system support to reducing anxiety, promoting sleep and releasing stored emotions.
Essential Oils vs Traditional Medicine Traditional medicine definitely has it’s place in today’s world and I am in no means saying essential oils can replace all modern medicine, but rather essential oils can enhance your health and overall well-being. In the Morse house we reach for essential oils for things like headaches, relief from minor burns, help getting “regular”, help relieving coughs and immune support before we go to the doctor or pharmacy. How to Use Essential Oils for Medicine When used properly, essential oils can provide relief for a range of ailments. Oils can be applied topically on the skin, with a carrier oil like coconut oil for example, or inhaled using a diffuser. You can also add a drop or two of essential oil to your bath or mix it with your favorite beauty or hair product. When it comes to ingesting essential oils, it’s extremely important to trust your essential oil source. I trust my families health with these oils to be pure enough for my family to ingest.
Sometimes it can seem overwhelming because there are many oils to choose from. While you’re getting to know essential oils, it’s a really good idea to follow recipes from a trusted source, so you can learn what oils can be applied neat or need to be used diluted and to match oils to ailments/problems.
There is nothing that I love more than teaching people how to use essential oils for their families health! It is beyond fun to see people light up when they see results from a little bottle of oil. #bestfeelingever
Over on my group, The Scrunchy Mama’s Club, we share how to start with essential oils, deep dive on how to use essential oils topically, aromatically and ingestion, what oils are perfect for what ailments, really great recipes and DIY how-to’s. Head over to join the group and get scrunchy with us!
Mama’s, I think we can all agree that sugar can be our best friend during stressful and sleepless days. A big fudge brownie after a long day of work can send us into a euphoric state of calm. But let’s face it, ladies. Our love for sugar is not doing us any favors. If you’ve followed me for more than 10 minutes, y’all know that sugar and bakes goods are my nemesis. But they are the sweetest, most delicious nemesis you can have, amirite?
Intellectually I KNOW that sugar is addicting (even more than cocaine!) but it took this quiz to really make me open my eyes of HOW addicted I really was. And just like that, I made the decision to give up sugar. Here are a few reasons why I am going sugar-free and why you should too!
1. It’s SOOOO Bad For Our Health
Let’s face it. Eating too much sugar isn’t healthy. Numerous studies link sugar to obesity, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and certain cancers. As moms, we need to make sure we live long and healthy lives, so we can see our babies grow up and enjoy their families someday. Sure, giving up sugar won’t completely prevent these health issues, but it can have a significant impact.
2. It Affects Our Mood
Many of us think that sugar consumption only affects our bodies, but it also has an impact on our moods. When we eat sugar, our blood sugar levels spike, and then crash. This can lead to mood swings, irritability, and anxiety. We don’t need any more stress in our lives, do we? After giving up sugar, I noticed my mood stabilized, I felt calmer throughout the day and Hangry Jacquie not kicking around the house at 5 p.m. anymore.
3. It Helps Us Make Better Food Choices
When I gave up sugar, I also made the decision to really buckle down on eating more veggies. Meals used to be heavy carbs, low or no veggies. Now I’m concentrating on high veggie content. Do I pay attention to carb counts in veggies? Not even a little bit. My concentration is on a variety of veggies, not just the same three all week long.
4. It Sets a Good Example for Our Kids
I gotta admit, this is one of my most motivating factors as a mama. As moms, we are our children’s most significant influence when it comes to healthy eating habits. If they see us constantly consuming sugary foods and drinks, they will think it’s normal. But, if they see us making healthier choices, they will adopt those habits, too. When I started giving up sugar, Jace, my sugar junkie, began being more selective about his sugar consumption too. Man, it made me SO proud to be setting a good example.
Making the decision to give up sugar was not an easy one for me. It’s 100% the right choice for me and my family. If you are struggling with your relationship with sugar, I encourage you to try giving it up for a while. Start by slowly cutting back or trying natural sweeteners like honey or maple syrup. Your body (and mind) will thank you. Let’s aim for sweet freedom, mamas!
