There are words in today's vernacular that we never heard growing up. Words such as:
Chicory Coconut Mango Salad
For most boomers, our childhood cupboards were filled with the typical foods of the 1960's:
I grew up in a house with a German born father who enjoyed German meats, or wurst, such as knackwurst, bratwurst and also a good salami. On occasion we'd have salami and egg omelettes for breakfast. Don't get me wrong: I enjoyed every bite of them.
Are your arteries clogging by thinking about this? Thankfully times have changed.
Today, we're more aware of the importance of eating healthy, reading food labels, eating in moderation and staying away from foods high in fat, cholesterol, sodium or carbohydrates. We shun high fructose corn syrup after learning about its danger. We limit or cut out white flour and sugar completely, and use extra-virgin olive or canola oil in our cooking.
We grew up relying on comfort food to make us "feel better" during times of stress. Had a bad date? A quart of Ben and Jerry's will make you feel better. Bad grade on a midterm? A bag of M&M's will melt your troubles away. (Okay, sometimes I still do that!)
Are you a master at talking yourself out of sticking to any diet plan?
"It's only one bowl of pasta, and I promise to be good tomorrow." 
"There's only one piece of bread left so I might as well eat it."
"I had a bad day and deserve this bar of chocolate/ice cream/bagel/fill-in-the-blank."
"I haven't had this in months. This one time won't kill me."
But wait! Hold on. These are the eating patterns that led to my clothes not fitting and feeling less than healthy. As the numbers on the scale were creeping up, my self-esteem was plummeting. I began hating the way I looked and felt.
I needed to make a change. When the people at Jenny Craig approved my request to be a part of their blogging program, I was more than thrilled. I saw this as a chance to recapture my former self by taking back control of what I eat, of feeling emotionally and physically better. Their meal plan, along with eating plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, drinking a lot of water and finding time for daily exercise, began my new chapter of feeling better about myself.
I'm on my way back...to me. And it feels good to start feeling good about myself again.
As my Jenny consultant says, it's not the number on the scale that matters but the way you feel about yourself that does. Those are wise words for us all to live by.
*I received a free month on the Jenny Craig program and a discount on food for this review. There was no compensation. All opinions are solely my own. NOTE: Clients following the Jenny Craig program lose, on average, 1 -2 lbs. per week.
Pasta is just so darn good! I know, everything in moderation! The Chicory Coconut Mango Salad looks delicious...Maybe dinner tonight! Thanks.
I am absolutely a master at talking myself out of good eating habits. I think I need to go back on Jenny.
Velveeta cheese. OMG. It was a staple in my mother's fridge. Yuck!
My dad was a salesman for Kraft foods until I was 12 (then he switched careers and became a 5th grade teacher). We had an unlimited supply of Velveeta and Macaroni and Cheese (always with dented boxes!).
Pasta!!! I like it so much. You made my night delicious. I like your blog very much. You are a good writer.
Thank you for making my night.
Haha sometimes ignorance is bliss but okay not in this instence! I bet their are still jars of TANG out there with good shelf life dates! That stuff lasted forever. Eating healthy and staying on track is sometimes hard but worth the hard work. Love the trip down memory lane though!
I must admit to LOVING the TV dinners in the aluminum pans. Especially salisbury steak (which was far from steak... and the potatoes were likely not even potatoes). And, yes, I loved pot pies in the little tins. Perhaps it's more that I saved the tins and used them for playing house with my best friend.
Great tips and motivators here. (And that salad sure looks yummy!)
I almost choked on my coffee laughing when I saw that TV dinner! Seriously Cathy, do you believe that was fine dining in the day???? Personally I am glad we have come this far!!! Great post.
Isn't Jenny Craig who coined the phrase "nothing taste as good an thin feels" - clearly it is not about the number but about a feeling of wellness and health. Although some of those things tasted might good!
Good for you!
Fun post and memories! Those foods! I wasn't your typical child of the 70's and was so picky I refused to eat it if it wasn't fresh and homemade.
It's amazing when I think what we ate as kids, and what they say about a lot of those foods today. It sure does feel great to eat healthier!
I know I feel better when I eat healthier. I think I need to go back on Jenny, too! And you are looking terrific, by the way.
I loved Tang growing up! It would probably taste like a chemical to me today. Glad we have moved on from those days of "food" 🙂