By Erica Gray- Skinny Gene Healthy Momma

With spring, I’m always brought to a sense of renewal.

I think it’s important to not only clean out my closets, but my pantry and refrigerator too!! I also, like to do some re-evaluating. Am I eating the way I should be consistently? Am I as active as I should be? Well, no one is perfect and although I’m a mile from where I used to be in the health department, there is always work to be done.

I’m not going to lie, in the winter I tend to get a little lazier. I mean who wants to  bundle up to go for a walk or let alone get out from underneath those warm covers and face the cold. Not me!!!

I do but not as much as I probably should. Plus with all the holidays, birthdays, school parties you just get so busy. Why does it feel like the busier I get the harder it is to eat right? Why does “junk” food have to be so convenient!

Well… its time stop with the excuses and get it together! Time to make commitments and taking steps toward change. They say it takes 28 times of doing something to make it a habit. So, I will try to make good habits by choosing things I feel confident I can change for 1 month.

Step One: Clean out my pantry and fridge

Goodbye clutter, hello organized!! (I like to put the snacks and foods I
want to be eating front and center in easy to get to and labeled
containers!) Treats and such I put out of eye level and usually on the
highest shelf. If I am super hungry and I have to dig behind some potato
chips (my weakness) and cookies to get to the dried fruits and nuts, you
know what I’ll eat.

Same goes for the fridge. I put what I should be eating front and center.
Plus, keeping it organized and clean make it easier and more enjoyable to cook.

Step Two: Take steps now to make it more convenient to eat in later

– Prepare and freeze a couple of slow-cooker meals for those days that I
don’t have the time to cook.

-Precut, wash, and store fruits and veggies. I put my celery in a plastic jar
with a little water at the bottom to keep it fresh. I will put grapes, baby
carrots, etc in individual bags for a quick grab and go snack.

-I prep and bag and freeze ingredients for my green smoothies.

-Plan out meals for the next two weeks before going to the store so I only
have to make one big trip.

-If I make and easily freezable meal (soups, chili, etc) I will make a lot
more and freeze the extra in individual servings. They make great
lunches or dinner if I don’t feel like cooking.

I know this seems like a lot of prep, but sometimes if I don’t have one big
chunk of time to do this I will do it as I go. For instance, while I’m
already making a smoothie I will clean and chop ingredients for 2 more
and put them in freezer bags. If I am making dinner, while its cooking I
will prep a slow-cooker meal or chop some celery. When I clean
grapes for my daughters lunch I clean and pick all of them and store them
for later. It’s all about making new habits.

Step Three: Time to make some commitments and set some goals for at
least the next month (because that’s totally doable)

– I commit to always have at least one pre-made meal in my freezer.

– I commit to keep my fridge and pantry organized (always have at least
two “healthy” options in each that are easy to get to)

-I commit to plan out meals 2 weeks at a time and stick to the program!-I won’t beat myself up if I slip! Just start over and try again.

-I have also made some big goals on the activity front (you’ll hear about those soon!)

This is how I’m spring cleaning. How are you? What commitments are you making?

Win this amazing necklace!

In March, we look to new beginnings as Spring arrives on our doorsteps in a flurry of mixed-up weather, cleaning and breaks from school.  Spring is a season for cleaning and getting things in order after being cooped up inside all winter long, and it’s also a great time to reevaluate your goals for fitness and health for yourself and your family.

We wanted to remind you that Spring is just around the corner. It’s time to get focuesd on being outside and being healthy as the weather improves and you have time to spend with your kiddies outdoors! Pick up a new hobby…every wanted to try hiking? I bet there’s somewhere nearby that could help you reach that goal! Learn a new hobby? Finally get on a regular gym schedule? Let’s renew those resolutions as we come out of our winter haze!

To help you remember who you are being healthy for, we have a very special giveaway this month!

You can win this beautiful personalized necklace with up to six names or words that inspire you to stay healthy!

Here’s how:

Required for entry:

1. Follow Skinny Gene Healthy Mommas on facebook and share the page with your Facebook friends (leave a comment on this post letting us know you did both).

Anyone who shares it and has more than five friends join the page will get FIVE EXTRA Entries. Let us know your friends names who join and we’ll give you the bonus entries!

Optional for extra entries (leave a comment on this post letting us know you did it!):

2. Check out Camilee Designs on Etsy and show some love by giving her a heart (leave an additional comment below letting us know you did it!)

3. Like Camilee Designs on Facebook and leave her a note (leave an additional comment below letting us know you did it!)

4. Follow Skinny Gene (@skinnygene) and Camilee Designs (@camileedesigns)  on Twitter  (leave an additional comment below letting us know you did it!)

5. Post this giveaway on your blog, facebook and/or twitter- you get one additional entry for each! (leave a comment below for each posting that you share)

This giveaway will end on 3/18 at 11:59 p.m.

Each entry counts as one chance to win.  US Only!  Winner will be announced March 19. Winner will be chosen AT RANDOM by random.org.

Last month we celebrated the official beginning of Spring, but it appears that all around the country Mother Nature wasn’t necessarily in agreement. A quick trip to a chilly San Francisco had me asking the question echoed in many snow covered states, “Isn’t it supposed to be spring?” That’s when it hit me.

Spring is not only a season; it’s a frame of mind.

Ah, the first touch of sun against our skin; it’s more

By JAGwired

than the long-awaited return of warm weather. It’s a gentle reminder to get our affairs in order. It’s that little thing people call Spring Cleaning.

Being the “domestically challenged” individual that I am, I have never really liked this term. I can, however, appreciate the meaning; the opportunity to turn something that “is” into what you “want it to be”- a new beginning, a rebirth, an opportunity for change.

While you’re removing the dust and cobwebs, and putting away the old sweaters, don’t forget about giving a little extra TLC to the most important room in the house- the kitchen.

Great food may be the way to your family’s heart, but a healthy kitchen is the pulse.

So imagine you are staring at a closet full of outdated clothes, open those pantry and refrigerator doors and start tossing out what you don’t need. A healthy home is what’s in this season, and with any luck, it’s here to stay.