The Low GI Challenge continues with four families challenging themselves to introduce meals to their families that help support healthy bodies and keep the blood sugar rollercoaster to a less thrilling ride.  Working with recipes from the locally produced cookbook, Meals in Minutes, we are gaining confidence and incorporating better choices for our bodies.  Working with several local fitness programs, we are balancing our healthy diet with exercise and working to remember to commit to activity to improve our health.

This week was more challenging for our participants, read on…

The D Family

A challenging week for our schedule resulted in a challenging time for our diet.  I felt like I had a handle on the food available to us and didn’t menu plan as well.  This resulted in rushed meals and dinner out, which we hadn’t done since beginning the challenge.  With the spiral of chocolate from Valentines Day behind us, we are looking forward to being successful this week.  The biggest advantage for the week saw a huge increase in our activity.  Dad and Son #1 have been taking Karate lessons together, Son #1 and Daughter went to ZumbAtomic with Mom on Saturday, Son #2 got to go for a swim with Dad, and the whole family went out to check out Crossfit again, with Natural Strength Crossfit (the kids played upstairs while Mom and Dad worked out with the group).  We totally loved it and have scheduled our next visit.  As well, we are looking forward to trying some other classes this week.

The S Family

We managed  to stay on track for most of the week, with the exception of Valentines day heart shaped Papa Johns pizza.
We are seeing amazing changes in our energy levels!  I’m enjoying searching the Internet and the low GI cookbook for delicious new recipes.

A couple new meals we had this week were
-BBQ chicken breasts with eggplant Parmesan and salad.
- salmon brushed with Garlic and olive oil topped with quinoa crackers with sprouted grain rice and green beans.
- slow roasted chicken, salad, yam fries and quinoa.
I’ve been trying hard at each meal to make extra food so there is leftovers and enough for work lunches too.

This week we are planning to participate in many of the free fitness classes we have been offered for the challenge!
Tomorrow night is Fit by Design boot camp and later in the week, Crossfit!!!
Wish us luck!!

The K Family

We have been battling sickness but are slowly getting better in our household, so we were able to get back to the recipe book, if only part-time.  We tried two new recipes from the book this week.  We tried a variation on the Szechuan Orange Ginger Chicken (pg 73) with some modifications to make it less spicy.  It was good, although I seemed to be the only one who liked the peppers.  We also tried a variation of the “Old Fashioned” Hearty Beef Stew (pg 75), removing the onions (preference) and peas (allergy).  Beef stew is always a hit.

The J Family

We, too, have been plagued with sickness. I didn’t meal plan or grocery shop at all!  I had planned on taking the hooping class again but didn’t make it due to those darn sick kids. Kind of back on track Friday, made the chicken soup again from the cook book but used left over turkey instead and it was fantastic and is a new family fave. Today I made the hearty oatmeal pancakes from the cookbook and topped with my homemade apricot jam and everyone enjoyed them as well.  I haven’t meal planned for the week but we do have lots of healthy foods in the house which will be getting prepped tonight or tomorrow night.

As a side note, went to Costco yesterday and got the silver hills bread, it’s 2 for $5.99! Amazing!! I paid probably $5 at Coopers for one loaf.

These local businesses are supporting the Family Challenge Participants:

Meals in Minutes, Low GI recipes for you and your family

Laura Kalina – laurakalina@telus.net or 250.372.0815

Fit by Design, offering Mommy’s Wellness and Boot Camp Classes

Sabrina Sinclair – sabrina.fitbydesign@gmail.com  or 250.819.0822

Let’s Move Studio, offering Yoga, Dance and Wellness

Elizabeth Beeds – letsmovestudio@gmail.com or 250.372.9642

Natural Strength Crossfit, offering crossfit training

Mira and Sean – mira@discover-your-natural-strength.com or 250.318.0672

Shift Enterprises, offering Urban Movement, Zumba and Hula Hoop Fitness

Shalen Curle – shalen@shiftenterprises.ca or 250.852.0564

About your Author | Elizabeth

Elizabeth is a Kamloops lifer. Born at RIH, she is happy to be raising her family here. Married with three wonderful children, Elizabeth is a full-time teacher and enjoys working with parents as she learns more about this "Mommy gig". Elizabeth is passionate about parenting and enjoys networking with other parents. She has been running KamloopsParents.Com since March 2010.