"Infuse your life with action. Don't wait for it to happen. Make it happen. Make your own future. Make your own hope. Make your own love. And whatever your beliefs, honor your creator, not by passively waiting for grace to come down from upon high, but by doing what you can to make grace happen... yourself, right now, right down here on Earth."  ~ Bradley Whitford

EASY FIXES

1)Once a week eat only rice and beans (or lentils and rice, or macaroni and peas etc.) for dinner.

2) Eat a homemade dessert once a week. Share it with friends and family.

3)Cook from raw/natural ingredients. (Even desserts!)
This will force you to slow down and enjoy what you eat more. Use this as bonding time with those you love. Look up recipes on line and turn this into an experience instead of merely shoving a half a dozen cookies in your mouth without thinking.

4) Stop the soda! All of it! Diet too! It's a waste of money the fake sugar messes with your insulin levels—not to mention how unhealthy it is! Just stop it!

5)Get yourself a good water filter and a reusable water canteen. There are some brands that keep your water cold ALL DAY. Speaking of water... drink it! Lots of it. Drinking ice water every burns calories as your body warms it up. Win-win!

6)On Sundays eat a combined lunch and dinner (our family calls it linner!) thus saving an entire meal. If we're hungry later we simply eat a bowl of cereal or a banana.

7)Make a pact to only eat out once every two months. Circle it on your calendar and make it a family event instead of a common practice. You will all look forward to it like a mini vacation instead of taking it for granted.

8)Between meals make snacks off limits except for fruits and vegetables. At our house we have a saying, "You never have to ask me for fruit!" This natural fiber is good for the kids and they will NOT over-eat it. When it is meal time their dinner will not be spoiled because they ate an orange. (Isn't it a strange saying, "Don't eat that cookie--it will spoil your dinner!" What that really means is you won't be hungry enough to eat healthy foods later. Or it could mean, "I've slaved to cook you ungrateful kids a good meal and now you're ruining all my hard work by eating a bag of chips!" Children do not starve eating this way. They will always have good nutrition, but forgoing dessert or eating a meager meal once in a while is good for them, and more than okay for you and your budget!

9)When you go out to eat share a meal! You know you usually force yourself to eat it all, or bring it home and eat it for lunch the next day. Splitting a portion will not only prevent wastefulness, but reduce calories, expenses and cleanup!

10) Instead of eating together, take a walk with a friend. Go to a nearby rec center and play volleyball!What do we always have to eat and drink to be social? We don't!

11) Avoid places that make you feel you must eat in order to have a good time. Instead of watching TV with friends play a board game. Your hands and minds will stay busy instead of your stomach! Drink tea! How posh!

12)If you must eat out at restaurants, when the mega-plate arrives, immediately cut it in half and ask the waiter to bring a second plate, and put it aside, or better yet have the waiter put it in a doggie bag at the start of the meal, so it doesn't tempt you. Make sure you don't waste it! If you're not gonna eat it, give it to the homeless man at the corner.

13)Instead of buying a five dollar cup of coffee make your own. Put it in a reusable to-go cup and meet your friend at a park bench to talk; then take a walk!

14)Take your best dog friend for a walk. Don't have one? Go to an animal shelter and pick out a friend. Take this new friend for walks too!

15)Every time you are about to buy something to eat ask yourself, "Do I really need this?"

Homework: Look up yummy recipes on line. Yes even a couple of goodies. Remember to limit yourself and make sure to make your treats from scratch. Box mixes are out!