Healthy Living on a New Level

From the early days of the Sauve family, even B.C. (Before Children), caring for the bodies that God has given us and thus healthy eating has been a concern. White refined, bleached flour and white refined sugar were eliminated from the diet, although there was the occasional exceptions, such as ice cream, which was hard to give up. Through the years, pop and coffee were replaced with water, chocolate with carob, cows milk with soy milk, and food coloring with natural colors. Fruit smoothies were a healthy start to two mornings a week and an occasional vegetarian meal made it to the table. In all, healthy eating was the goal as the family grew from two to nine members.

For the last two weeks we have experienced healthy eating on a new level. Charity has worked very hard to serve more "living foods" and meals with the best combinations to aid digestion; this meant not mixing our starches and proteins. We have had fresh fruit each morning, which included large bowls of mixed fruit, apple-strawberry juice, pineapple-orange-strawberry juice (done in the juicer), mango-peach smoothie or orange-grapefruit juice. A mid-morning snack of apple slices, grapes or banana was available to those who wanted them. The goal at lunch was to be careful not to mix our starches and proteins, so our regular affair of peanut butter and jam, or lunch meat and cheese on bread were out for the time being. Instead, we have had different but tasty helpings of harvest soup, vegetable toasties, tomato sandwiches, etc., all with a large salad. Suppers, having the same goal in mind, included Mediterranean rice, carrot hash browns, fish in lemon dill sauce, pasta in a wok, shepherd's pie (bread stuffing topped with mashed potatoes), or a chef's salad with chicken. Other than the chef's salad, all meals were served with a large salad and cooked vegetables.

The meals have been very good and we are getting use to the idea that you don't have to have pasta or potatoes with your meat; vegetables can taste good with either meat or starches. The challenge has been keeping enough fresh fruits, lettuce and vegetables on hand. Juicing or making a fruit or lettuce salad for nine people has been a lot of work, but Charity has done a fabulous job and presents a pretty hard act to follow for Faith who is the cook for the next two weeks. In any case, we are thankful for the variety of foods God has given us to enjoy and we acknowledge His blessings in giving us such an abundance.