Food for Thought

Half a century ago, mealtime in many families looked considerably different than it does today. Moms were the keepers of balance and nutrition – carefully crafting meals from all four food groups of dairy, meat, fruits & veggies, and grains- as well as providing nourishing snacks throughout the day to meet their family’s needs. In addition to being nutritious, a healthy weight was maintained.

Typical Meals Back Then

In the past, Americans typically indulged in a more balanced diet. Breakfast might include milk, fruit or a small glass of fruit juice, and either a hot cereal such as oatmeal, Cream of Wheat, or Malt-O-Meal, or pancakes with breakfast meat such as sausage/bacon/ham, or eggs with a slice of breakfast meat and toast.

Lunch consisted of sandwiches made from protein sources such as peanut butter, tuna salad, or chicken along with vegetables for added nutrition. Snacks were usually something crunchy to munch on. Celery sticks slathered in peanut butter or an apple with cheese cubes was just enough sustenance to keep hunger at bay until dinner!

Dinner was just as nutritious. Comprised of milk for dairy goodness balanced by salads bursting with a variety of fresh vegetables complimented by hot sides starches such as bread/pasta/rice/potatoes paired perfectly with meat whilst providing room enough afterward for a small dessert treat.

Times Changed and So Did Meals

In the 70s and 80s, a dual-income approach to family life became commonplace with new moms joining the workforce. To make ends meet in this busy lifestyle, meals had to become more efficient while still maintaining their nutritional quality.

I entered the workforce in the early 80s and experienced the hectic life of a full-time, working parent. Breakfast needed to be quick and easy, and cereal with milk fit that need, but it wasn’t well-balanced. A well-balanced lunch and snacks were provided at daycare for the children, so my daughter was well-fed while I was at work. Leftovers from the previous night’s dinner heated up in the microwave at work made a great lunch for me.

I planned most dinners with the next day’s lunch in mind. After a long day at work and the responsibility of picking up my daughter from daycare, I had to use every ounce of energy I had left to make dinner. With my exhaustion and hunger levels rising, I decided to treat myself to a huge spoonful of peanut butter for a quick rush of energy. It was enough to fuel me through preparing a delicious, balanced meal for us.

Well-balanced versus Unbalanced Meals

An ideal dinner was well-balanced with equal portions of all four food groups. Salad for greens and fresh colorful vegetables. Hot vegetables like carrots or peas to round out the dish with vitamins and minerals. Starchy carbs such as noodles or rice that provided lasting energy. Plus some high-protein offerings like chicken breast or fish fillet. All these combine harmoniously on one plate!

Years later, being self-employed with my husband and with merged families, I attempted to keep meals the same. However, we worked long hours, and often it became easier to eat dinner at restaurants instead. Then later, when we ate meals at home, many times we would skip making a salad. The portions on the dinner plate changed to the grain group and protein covering most of the plate and the hot vegetable the rest. The result was an unbalanced meal.

A New Old Way of Eating 

Fast forward to 2018 when our meals changed dramatically. My husband, after suffering from Rheumatoid Arthritis for 10 years, found a diet that excluded all dairy products, sugar, all grains, and most potatoes. It couldn’t have come at a better time because we had both gained several pounds during a recent vacation.

My husband and I stayed on the new meal plan for a couple of months. We slowly added back some of our favorite foods in moderation. While on the meal plan, we both lost between ten to fifteen pounds making it the perfect weight loss diet. I lost another ten pounds in the months that followed.

Our meal plan was more than just a short-term solution. Not only did it help us in our weight loss journey, but by keeping up with the habit of preparing nutritious meals and reducing sugar consumption, we were able to achieve long-lasting results! Also, who knew that meal prepping could be so easy? Surprising myself, I discovered that following the new plan had given me more time and less of a mess in the kitchen!

Select Food Thoughtfully

Balanced and nutritious meals are still the secret to achieving long-term health and weight loss success like it was for us decades ago. Eating right can be an easy way to take control of our health today!