Natural Living
From my experience, this topic has been a controversial subject. I have received flack over the years regarding my opinions.
Most critics say,
"Well, we have to die from something, right?" or
"You will drive yourself crazy trying to avoid everything."
Moderation is My Motto
I will start out by stating.....I believe in MODERATION - because it's what works for us. I believe that everyone's body reacts differently and uniquely to the environment, food, materials, etc. they come into contact with and consume. So while one person may not have any adverse affects from a particular material/food, another person may be severely affected with allergies, ailments or other diseases. To the first comment, yes it is true, we will die from something, but what if it doesn't have to be like that. What if by making a choice to use products with less toxins, a disease or other health consequence can be avoided? I believe in making choices that keep us on this earth for as long as God allows. Ultimately, my core belief is that we should be good stewards of all things; our body, environment, money, etc because everything we have comes from God. I believe that it is my responsibility to make choices that keep my body as healthy as I can. I think of this scripture "Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own?" 1 Corinthians 6:19. My experiences with PCOS and infertility have been life-changing and also faith-changing. I have such a level of gratefulness that I cannot describe. Grateful to carry and deliver two healthy babies, grateful I was healthy during the pregnancies, grateful for the support system I have from my husband, family and friends. For me, I cannot help but want to keep my body and family as healthy as possible to continue to have the ability to love God; and this is what makes sense to me to follow through with that belief.
There are some things that I am very strict about and others I am very lax and others, somewhere in between. I cannot be super strict on everything or I would drive myself crazy. Everyone has to decide what works for them and this is what works for us. I discuss trying to eliminate toxins from our home and our bodies in the form of cleaning materials or personal care items. I realize there is probably research stating these items are harmless and I know there is research stating these items are harmful. To be honest, I do not know which is true or accurate. I have worked in research and at our state Capitol and "research findings" all depend on the variables used and how the research is conducted (and really who is funding/lobbying for the study). Call me cynical, but at the end of the day, go with your educated gut. Yes, I read studies on both sides and then I make my decision based on what I have read and what feels "right."
In my opinion, I would rather not take a risk on a cleaning product that has chemicals when I can use something I know is safer and I believe is just as effective. In the long run, for my family, it is also cheaper.
Part of what I learned about while reading and doing my own research during my trying-to-conceive time period, is how endocrine disruptors can affect baby-making hormones. Again, I'm not a scientist and I don't know for sure what is right because studies can be flawed. All I know is the problems I have experienced having PCOS and an imbalance of hormones and I do not know the exact cause(s), but if I can eliminate or avoid as much potential toxins as possible for my health and for my kids' health; then that is what I am going to do. That includes cleaning products, personal care products, kids toys and anything else that I think might have potential toxins.
There are definitely areas that I would like to do differently. For example, we have a lawn service that sprays and fertilizes our front yard each quarter. I have not researched exactly what they use yet. This is not a battle I am ready to have with my husband nor do I have the time right now to research what I want to, so we will leave it at that for now. We also still use a microwave, much more than I prefer. I am trying to plan better and find ways to not use it as much, but a lot of it is habit and not even thinking of using something different.
I have a short story to share regarding the effectiveness of vinegar. This is only my experience. My daughter got pink eye when she was just over a year old. I freaked out just a little because I know how contagious pink is and I desperately did not want to start passing it around the three of us. I was skeptical of only using vinegar, but I did not want to use bleach or some other chemical. I called my best friend, who happened to be the one that started me down this path, and asked her how she would clean. She reassured me vinegar/water is what she would use and to put everything else in either the dishwasher or washing machine. That is exactly what I did. I kept a spray bottle of vinegar water and a cloth (switching out the cloths each day) near me at all times and sprayed down door knobs, light switches, banister knobs, cabinet door handles, refrigerator and stove handles, and even the dining room chairs. Of course, I also switched her sheets every day and changed my shirt often to prevent her from getting it again, but neither my husband or I got pink eye and once the round of drops were done, she did not get it again.
A great reference book to get started with is Super Natural Home. I like this book because it is in-depth, but it can also be very overwhelming so please use it only as a guide for you to decide where you want to start, not change everything at once. There are so many things that I still want to do, but time and money has to be factored into the mix along with changing what I think is the most important for our family.
Housecleaning
My cleaning supplies: vinegar, water, 50% vinegar/50% water solution, olive oil, 7th Generation all purpose spray and dish soap, baking soda, and an all natural carpet cleaner for pet stains (the little bully may be 9 years old (Update 6/21/2017 - Lucy the little bully passed away three weeks ago at over 11 years old), but she has a personality and isn't afraid to show it). I also have some essential oils that I cannot wait to try out - one step at a time though.
Laundry: All Free & Clear detergent and vinegar as fabric softener
Dishes: 7th Generation dishwasher soap, rinse aid and dish soap
Bathrooms: 7th Generation bathroom cleaner or vinegar/water solution
Dusting: Microfiber cloth or old t-shirt and water or a microfiber dust "wand"
Stainless Steal appliances: Vinegar on a microfiber cloth (cleanmama.net blog) or olive oil on a cotton cloth (naturalmommie.com blog)
Windows and Mirrors: Vinegar/water solution and paper towels
Mopping: I have such small areas to mop so I just use vinegar/water solution or 7th generation all purpose spray and a cloth
Glass Cook-top, Sink and Stains on Formica Countertops: Bar Keepers Friend and a scrubbing sponge.
Cloth Furniture: Vinegar/water solution and hope to try some essential oils as a odor eliminator
I have found very useful tips and ideas from the cleanmama.net site. I particularly like the idea of hers to do an item, such as dusting or bathrooms, each day of the week, for example, dusting is one day and bathrooms are another. When I was working, cleaning was typically left for the weekend. Now, I like to keep the weekend for projects or fun or relaxing and have the maintenance cleaning done. I've adapted many of her things to what works for me, but her site had some great ideas and also homemade cleaning recipes. Making those is also on the to-do list to try.
How I Came to Use Essential Oils
I wanted to touch on the subject of air purifying. Just before my toxin-eliminating journey began we had been trying to get Lucy's, the English Bulldog, allergies straightened out. We had her allergy tested and she was allergic to almost every single item, from corn, chicken, oatmeal, sweet potatoes to several environmental items. She had chronic ear infections and skin infections. Once we started her on allergy shots and changed her food she became a whole new dog. With all of these changes, I began trying to change out things inside our home that might be triggers for her. I started looking at labels of cleaning products and detergents. It's so crazy how my dog was who I started making changes for first, not even thinking about how I might be affected. I used Febreeze back in the day almost everyday. It smelled great and really helped with the dog odor. I had noticed though, Lucy would react when I used the Febreeze. Sure enough, corn derivative right there on the label and we knew from the test she was allergic to corn. Not only that, I'm sure it has many other chemicals in it, but it wasn't worth looking up since it had the corn already.
Somewhere along the way, I had purchased a Scentsy warmer and several wonderful smelling scents. I loved the idea of it because I loved candles, but I did not love the black soot or fire hazard danger. I think I told myself for a while that "surely they didn't have anything toxic in them"......right! Well, when I finally decided it was time to research them, I came across articles stating they released formaldehyde. I decided then I should probably use something else. I tried plain beeswax in my Scensty warmer, but it did not have much of a smell. I'm sure there are other beeswax based "candles" that I could try, I just haven't looked that hard. I am sharing two articles regarding the Scentsy topic....you can decide. Both have interesting points, but this is what I mean when I say, who is really right. I mean, how would I know. Again, go with your gut. Scentsy blog and Dangers of Scentsy. And if you want more info, Googling will provide you with numerous articles, just always be aware of the source and do look for links to research.
I now use essential oils in a diffuser. I use Young Living and have been very happy with them so far in the diffuser. I want to try them out in other areas, such as homemade cleaning products. I would like to use them with the kiddos too, more on that on another page. So far we have used Thieves and Purification. I decided to go with this particular company because they use 100% pure essential oils and was recommended by my naturopath. As I begin to use more essential oils, I will keep you updated on how they work for us.
Personal Care
One of the first things I switched out was moisturizer and make-up. I looked up almost all of our personal hygiene items on the cosmetic database through the Environmental Working Group. I felt like my make-up was something that had to be changed since I wore it everyday and it was on my skin for a prolonged period of time. I also switched out shampoo, body wash, toothpaste, lotion and more recently deodorant. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE the smell of a certain store's sweat pea lotion, but I can only imagine what is in it. There are still several items I would like to switch or need to revisit, but that will come in time. This is part of my moderation is key, because trying to switch everything out at once is too overwhelming, expensive and really unnecessary. Just making one change can make a difference. I also have to tread lightly with some things as my husband isn't 100% on board with my "we can't use products with toxins" theory so basically when I find items that are more cost effective with no or fewer toxins then it works out better for us all. I'm cheap and I don't like to pay extra for things either. We love Amazon Prime and have really gotten into Subscribe and Save. It helps us plan and we compare prices so we know we are getting the best deal.
A few summers ago I tried the Honest Company's products; sunscreen, lotion, chap-stick, bubble bath, stain remover and a healing balm lotion (thicker than regular lotion). I really liked everything we tried, although the stain remover is not as good as I had hoped. My kiddos, especially my daughter, has very sensitive skin and she breaks out easily. When a lotion has a scent, then it most likely has a toxin. I cannot think of any products that we use now that would have a scent. It's not worth the risk of her developing an allergy. She comes by it honestly, my husband and I both have random skin issues. (Update 6/21/2017: I have since moved away from several products due to the negative news recently.)
Kids Toys
I know what you are thinking......I had plastic toys when I was a kid and I turned out fine. Well that may very well be true. And who is to say that this particular plastic toy will or will not cause my child harm. I do not have an answer. The theme is the same here though as it is with everything else, moderation. Yes, I prefer wooden toys with non-toxic paint, but that is not always able to happen. The things we buy, I research and am very selective, but gifts are gifts and the kids do still play with them. I do not want to be "that mom".
Favorites are the wooden puzzles and blocks; and actually the wooden musical instruments. Anything musical is a hit in our house really. The play kitchen we purchased is primarily wooden with a few plastic pieces. I searched forever for this kitchen. I did not want to spend a fortune nor buy something low quality since I knew we were having more kids, and so the search was extensive but worth it. Our daughter loves it and "makes" things all the time. I think this is an area that one could easily go overboard.
Most critics say,
"Well, we have to die from something, right?" or
"You will drive yourself crazy trying to avoid everything."
Moderation is My Motto
I will start out by stating.....I believe in MODERATION - because it's what works for us. I believe that everyone's body reacts differently and uniquely to the environment, food, materials, etc. they come into contact with and consume. So while one person may not have any adverse affects from a particular material/food, another person may be severely affected with allergies, ailments or other diseases. To the first comment, yes it is true, we will die from something, but what if it doesn't have to be like that. What if by making a choice to use products with less toxins, a disease or other health consequence can be avoided? I believe in making choices that keep us on this earth for as long as God allows. Ultimately, my core belief is that we should be good stewards of all things; our body, environment, money, etc because everything we have comes from God. I believe that it is my responsibility to make choices that keep my body as healthy as I can. I think of this scripture "Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own?" 1 Corinthians 6:19. My experiences with PCOS and infertility have been life-changing and also faith-changing. I have such a level of gratefulness that I cannot describe. Grateful to carry and deliver two healthy babies, grateful I was healthy during the pregnancies, grateful for the support system I have from my husband, family and friends. For me, I cannot help but want to keep my body and family as healthy as possible to continue to have the ability to love God; and this is what makes sense to me to follow through with that belief.
There are some things that I am very strict about and others I am very lax and others, somewhere in between. I cannot be super strict on everything or I would drive myself crazy. Everyone has to decide what works for them and this is what works for us. I discuss trying to eliminate toxins from our home and our bodies in the form of cleaning materials or personal care items. I realize there is probably research stating these items are harmless and I know there is research stating these items are harmful. To be honest, I do not know which is true or accurate. I have worked in research and at our state Capitol and "research findings" all depend on the variables used and how the research is conducted (and really who is funding/lobbying for the study). Call me cynical, but at the end of the day, go with your educated gut. Yes, I read studies on both sides and then I make my decision based on what I have read and what feels "right."
In my opinion, I would rather not take a risk on a cleaning product that has chemicals when I can use something I know is safer and I believe is just as effective. In the long run, for my family, it is also cheaper.
Part of what I learned about while reading and doing my own research during my trying-to-conceive time period, is how endocrine disruptors can affect baby-making hormones. Again, I'm not a scientist and I don't know for sure what is right because studies can be flawed. All I know is the problems I have experienced having PCOS and an imbalance of hormones and I do not know the exact cause(s), but if I can eliminate or avoid as much potential toxins as possible for my health and for my kids' health; then that is what I am going to do. That includes cleaning products, personal care products, kids toys and anything else that I think might have potential toxins.
There are definitely areas that I would like to do differently. For example, we have a lawn service that sprays and fertilizes our front yard each quarter. I have not researched exactly what they use yet. This is not a battle I am ready to have with my husband nor do I have the time right now to research what I want to, so we will leave it at that for now. We also still use a microwave, much more than I prefer. I am trying to plan better and find ways to not use it as much, but a lot of it is habit and not even thinking of using something different.
I have a short story to share regarding the effectiveness of vinegar. This is only my experience. My daughter got pink eye when she was just over a year old. I freaked out just a little because I know how contagious pink is and I desperately did not want to start passing it around the three of us. I was skeptical of only using vinegar, but I did not want to use bleach or some other chemical. I called my best friend, who happened to be the one that started me down this path, and asked her how she would clean. She reassured me vinegar/water is what she would use and to put everything else in either the dishwasher or washing machine. That is exactly what I did. I kept a spray bottle of vinegar water and a cloth (switching out the cloths each day) near me at all times and sprayed down door knobs, light switches, banister knobs, cabinet door handles, refrigerator and stove handles, and even the dining room chairs. Of course, I also switched her sheets every day and changed my shirt often to prevent her from getting it again, but neither my husband or I got pink eye and once the round of drops were done, she did not get it again.
A great reference book to get started with is Super Natural Home. I like this book because it is in-depth, but it can also be very overwhelming so please use it only as a guide for you to decide where you want to start, not change everything at once. There are so many things that I still want to do, but time and money has to be factored into the mix along with changing what I think is the most important for our family.
Housecleaning
My cleaning supplies: vinegar, water, 50% vinegar/50% water solution, olive oil, 7th Generation all purpose spray and dish soap, baking soda, and an all natural carpet cleaner for pet stains (the little bully may be 9 years old (Update 6/21/2017 - Lucy the little bully passed away three weeks ago at over 11 years old), but she has a personality and isn't afraid to show it). I also have some essential oils that I cannot wait to try out - one step at a time though.
Laundry: All Free & Clear detergent and vinegar as fabric softener
Dishes: 7th Generation dishwasher soap, rinse aid and dish soap
Bathrooms: 7th Generation bathroom cleaner or vinegar/water solution
Dusting: Microfiber cloth or old t-shirt and water or a microfiber dust "wand"
Stainless Steal appliances: Vinegar on a microfiber cloth (cleanmama.net blog) or olive oil on a cotton cloth (naturalmommie.com blog)
Windows and Mirrors: Vinegar/water solution and paper towels
Mopping: I have such small areas to mop so I just use vinegar/water solution or 7th generation all purpose spray and a cloth
Glass Cook-top, Sink and Stains on Formica Countertops: Bar Keepers Friend and a scrubbing sponge.
Cloth Furniture: Vinegar/water solution and hope to try some essential oils as a odor eliminator
I have found very useful tips and ideas from the cleanmama.net site. I particularly like the idea of hers to do an item, such as dusting or bathrooms, each day of the week, for example, dusting is one day and bathrooms are another. When I was working, cleaning was typically left for the weekend. Now, I like to keep the weekend for projects or fun or relaxing and have the maintenance cleaning done. I've adapted many of her things to what works for me, but her site had some great ideas and also homemade cleaning recipes. Making those is also on the to-do list to try.
How I Came to Use Essential Oils
I wanted to touch on the subject of air purifying. Just before my toxin-eliminating journey began we had been trying to get Lucy's, the English Bulldog, allergies straightened out. We had her allergy tested and she was allergic to almost every single item, from corn, chicken, oatmeal, sweet potatoes to several environmental items. She had chronic ear infections and skin infections. Once we started her on allergy shots and changed her food she became a whole new dog. With all of these changes, I began trying to change out things inside our home that might be triggers for her. I started looking at labels of cleaning products and detergents. It's so crazy how my dog was who I started making changes for first, not even thinking about how I might be affected. I used Febreeze back in the day almost everyday. It smelled great and really helped with the dog odor. I had noticed though, Lucy would react when I used the Febreeze. Sure enough, corn derivative right there on the label and we knew from the test she was allergic to corn. Not only that, I'm sure it has many other chemicals in it, but it wasn't worth looking up since it had the corn already.
Somewhere along the way, I had purchased a Scentsy warmer and several wonderful smelling scents. I loved the idea of it because I loved candles, but I did not love the black soot or fire hazard danger. I think I told myself for a while that "surely they didn't have anything toxic in them"......right! Well, when I finally decided it was time to research them, I came across articles stating they released formaldehyde. I decided then I should probably use something else. I tried plain beeswax in my Scensty warmer, but it did not have much of a smell. I'm sure there are other beeswax based "candles" that I could try, I just haven't looked that hard. I am sharing two articles regarding the Scentsy topic....you can decide. Both have interesting points, but this is what I mean when I say, who is really right. I mean, how would I know. Again, go with your gut. Scentsy blog and Dangers of Scentsy. And if you want more info, Googling will provide you with numerous articles, just always be aware of the source and do look for links to research.
I now use essential oils in a diffuser. I use Young Living and have been very happy with them so far in the diffuser. I want to try them out in other areas, such as homemade cleaning products. I would like to use them with the kiddos too, more on that on another page. So far we have used Thieves and Purification. I decided to go with this particular company because they use 100% pure essential oils and was recommended by my naturopath. As I begin to use more essential oils, I will keep you updated on how they work for us.
Personal Care
One of the first things I switched out was moisturizer and make-up. I looked up almost all of our personal hygiene items on the cosmetic database through the Environmental Working Group. I felt like my make-up was something that had to be changed since I wore it everyday and it was on my skin for a prolonged period of time. I also switched out shampoo, body wash, toothpaste, lotion and more recently deodorant. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE the smell of a certain store's sweat pea lotion, but I can only imagine what is in it. There are still several items I would like to switch or need to revisit, but that will come in time. This is part of my moderation is key, because trying to switch everything out at once is too overwhelming, expensive and really unnecessary. Just making one change can make a difference. I also have to tread lightly with some things as my husband isn't 100% on board with my "we can't use products with toxins" theory so basically when I find items that are more cost effective with no or fewer toxins then it works out better for us all. I'm cheap and I don't like to pay extra for things either. We love Amazon Prime and have really gotten into Subscribe and Save. It helps us plan and we compare prices so we know we are getting the best deal.
A few summers ago I tried the Honest Company's products; sunscreen, lotion, chap-stick, bubble bath, stain remover and a healing balm lotion (thicker than regular lotion). I really liked everything we tried, although the stain remover is not as good as I had hoped. My kiddos, especially my daughter, has very sensitive skin and she breaks out easily. When a lotion has a scent, then it most likely has a toxin. I cannot think of any products that we use now that would have a scent. It's not worth the risk of her developing an allergy. She comes by it honestly, my husband and I both have random skin issues. (Update 6/21/2017: I have since moved away from several products due to the negative news recently.)
Kids Toys
I know what you are thinking......I had plastic toys when I was a kid and I turned out fine. Well that may very well be true. And who is to say that this particular plastic toy will or will not cause my child harm. I do not have an answer. The theme is the same here though as it is with everything else, moderation. Yes, I prefer wooden toys with non-toxic paint, but that is not always able to happen. The things we buy, I research and am very selective, but gifts are gifts and the kids do still play with them. I do not want to be "that mom".
Favorites are the wooden puzzles and blocks; and actually the wooden musical instruments. Anything musical is a hit in our house really. The play kitchen we purchased is primarily wooden with a few plastic pieces. I searched forever for this kitchen. I did not want to spend a fortune nor buy something low quality since I knew we were having more kids, and so the search was extensive but worth it. Our daughter loves it and "makes" things all the time. I think this is an area that one could easily go overboard.
Home Management
Managing our home was something my husband and I have always shared. There were certain areas or items that he always did, such as mowing or maintenance items with the furnace, pay bills, etc. I would always take care of making doctors appointments, giving the dog her medicine, making the dreaded phone calls if we were charged something out of the ordinary on a bill, the budget, etc. We both cooked, washed dishes and did laundry. Now I feel responsible for doing the majority of it. It does not always happen (he still most definitely helps to cook) but I try. It's amazing how those little items take up so much time, but finding my groove is all part of it. I am very grateful for the help I get from him. He works very hard at his job and because of his job, I am able to stay home. I feel like keeping the house orderly and managing the day to day tasks is my job. This is what works for us. I admit though, on weekends if things have gotten overwhelming, he is great at jumping in and just getting started.
Before, as I said, he would pay the bills, which I have taken over, but I would always do the budget. We are Dave Ramsey followers and have attended Financial Peace University several times. I am the "nerd." I love, LOVE, LOVE Excel and so this is totally my domain. I have a tendency to over analyze things and make it too difficult though so my husband made me switch to Quicken. It has been a great transition. I typically upload transactions once a week and check the categories to make sure everything transferred correctly. I can easily see how much we have spent on food (which is always our budget buster) and any other items. I have started looking at it a little more often because we are trying to reign in our food budget. I think we will get there, slowly......we just really like to eat. I still do use Excel for a budget template because I do not like Quicken's budget system. We budget twice a month and Quicken only has a monthly option. Anything that has to be paid monthly is set up on some type of automatic system. I highly recommend this as it usually only takes me five minutes to "pay bills". I have the budget set up where certain items are always paid the first half of the month and others the second half. A sinking fund is a must. I use this for items such as, taxes, tires, Christmas/gifts, the dog (because allergy-friendly food, heart-worm medicine, and allergy shots are expensive) and anything else that I know is coming up that is expensive. The sinking fund is a place where money goes as savings until it is needed and is separate from an emergency fund.
Meal planning is our weak link I believe. Before kids, we were great at meal planning. We planned out what we would eat for the week, bought only those items we needed and then actually ate what we said we were going to eat. Sound simple, right?? We are also left-over eaters, which helps. We like to cook a lot on Sundays for the following week. This will get us to Wednesday night, usually. We also freeze soups and chili in individual servings. My husband likes to grill and smoke meat so he will make pulled pork and freeze in family size servings. This has saved us on more than one occasion. Actually, we aren't awful meal planners right now, we have a syndrome called "but that doesn't really sound good tonight" and this is what gets us in trouble. I think it could also be called stress eating, maybe? Either way, this is an area we are working on. We are both fairly picky eaters and most meal planning sites and services do NOT work for us. Did I mention we like food? Well, it also has to be good food. This would also be the primary reason for why my husband still cooks as much as he did before. I am OK with that, although I do wish I could throw something together and experiment sometimes. :)
Before, as I said, he would pay the bills, which I have taken over, but I would always do the budget. We are Dave Ramsey followers and have attended Financial Peace University several times. I am the "nerd." I love, LOVE, LOVE Excel and so this is totally my domain. I have a tendency to over analyze things and make it too difficult though so my husband made me switch to Quicken. It has been a great transition. I typically upload transactions once a week and check the categories to make sure everything transferred correctly. I can easily see how much we have spent on food (which is always our budget buster) and any other items. I have started looking at it a little more often because we are trying to reign in our food budget. I think we will get there, slowly......we just really like to eat. I still do use Excel for a budget template because I do not like Quicken's budget system. We budget twice a month and Quicken only has a monthly option. Anything that has to be paid monthly is set up on some type of automatic system. I highly recommend this as it usually only takes me five minutes to "pay bills". I have the budget set up where certain items are always paid the first half of the month and others the second half. A sinking fund is a must. I use this for items such as, taxes, tires, Christmas/gifts, the dog (because allergy-friendly food, heart-worm medicine, and allergy shots are expensive) and anything else that I know is coming up that is expensive. The sinking fund is a place where money goes as savings until it is needed and is separate from an emergency fund.
Meal planning is our weak link I believe. Before kids, we were great at meal planning. We planned out what we would eat for the week, bought only those items we needed and then actually ate what we said we were going to eat. Sound simple, right?? We are also left-over eaters, which helps. We like to cook a lot on Sundays for the following week. This will get us to Wednesday night, usually. We also freeze soups and chili in individual servings. My husband likes to grill and smoke meat so he will make pulled pork and freeze in family size servings. This has saved us on more than one occasion. Actually, we aren't awful meal planners right now, we have a syndrome called "but that doesn't really sound good tonight" and this is what gets us in trouble. I think it could also be called stress eating, maybe? Either way, this is an area we are working on. We are both fairly picky eaters and most meal planning sites and services do NOT work for us. Did I mention we like food? Well, it also has to be good food. This would also be the primary reason for why my husband still cooks as much as he did before. I am OK with that, although I do wish I could throw something together and experiment sometimes. :)