Diets tend to either not work or are not sustainable. The key to getting the balance right is to find a practical, healthy eating plan that can work long term.
My diet experiences
I have only been on two diets in my life. Once before my matric dance, I did really well for about a month and then one day on the bus home from school on a day where I had baked a lemon meringue pie in Home Ec class, I thought I’d just have one bite to taste it and as you can imagine the whole pie was gone by the time I arrived at my bus stop where I virtually rolled off the bus in a sort of drunk-on-sugar haze.
The second time was before my friend’s wedding. I had been measured for a bridemaid dress and once the dress was made it just didn’t fit. I had to urgently lose weight just to fit into it. I managed it but only by eating rabbit food aka salad for a few weeks straight, not a fun exercise at all, and something I think a lot of women try in desperate attempts to shed the centimetres.
Feeding a family
When my kids were babies/toddlers, I felt quite good about how I fed them, between limiting sugar and portioning the food groups correctly with ample veggies, I felt like I was rocking the mom game (a rare feeling indeed). Unfortunately as the years went by I got less and less involved in their meals. I focused on cooking for my hubby and the kids’ meals were outsourced. Their fussy attitudes resulted in a serious decline in nutritional food in-take.
Lunchboxes
The hair on the back of my neck stands up just writing the word. It’s part of every mother’s job description and the repetitive nature of having to think of exciting options for your child every day can send any unsuspecting mother into a spin let alone trying to make the box a healthy one with variety.
The solution
A few weeks ago, after hearing several murmurs around town about this new JB Balance healthy eating plan I decided to try it out. Please bear in mind that I am the epitome of the “tried everything” club. I have spent hundreds of Rand on eating plans that I never even opened, not once! Bought and never even tried one recipe, yes… even after paying for it! I know, totally ridiculous right?
The difference
So what made this plan in particular work for me? Was it the photos of the insanely hot chicks (with abs I can only dream of) splattered throughout the booklet? Probably not.
I think the reason I love the plan is the sum of its parts. Firstly, I bought the printed version of the plan. Yes, I know it sounds old-school however I really think there’s a difference between having something on your laptop in cyber space vs having it on your fridge. The package I purchased includes printed, colourful meal plans for three meals a day for three weeks as well as a whole booklet of lunch box ideas.
Also included was a fridge magnet chart called “I ate a rainbow”, encouraging variety of colourful fruit and vegetables to be tasted by kids. I really am very impressed by what I received in this package. It is evident that this product is the result of a lot of creative thinking and energy.
The yum
I tried out three recipes last week. The Pad Thai, Scotch Fillet and Malfatti. They were all extremely easy to make and tasted absolutely delicious with interesting flavours, sauces and spices. They were all healthy and my kids loved the kiddies options. The plan is meant to help busy moms make one dinner for the whole family and it really works!
Visit jbbalance.co.za if you’re interested in finding out more or find them on Instagram jb_balance.
This is not a paid partnership, it is just a personal recommendation.
