My lunch has inspired me

Since quitting smoking almost two years ago, I have gained some weight. (Of course by some I mean good Lord where did all this weight come from?!) After trying (and failing) many fad diets, we are now in our fifth week of the best decision we've ever made. It's simple, really, when you think about it. We just decided to take it back to the ground. No more processed food. If I can't pronounce it, or recognize it as an ingredient I can make something with, it's out.
We started by shopping only in the outer isle of the grocery store. Lots of fruits and vegetables. Lean meats. Fish. No more junk food or snacky type things (my girls mourned the loss of Cheez-its for a while).
Through trial and error, we've learned a lot. We've experimented with bread recipes. We discovered a local food co-op where we now purchase organic fruit and vegetables for a reasonable price. We're going to start buying our meat from a local farm. And we're looking into having fresh milk delivered to our door. Not only are we getting rid of all the chemicals and preservatives and growth hormones in our family's diet, but we're supporting our local businesses.
The only down side to all of this is that it's a gorgeous 54 degrees outside today, and I have a days worth of baking and cooking to do. I've been a little discouraged by the amount of time it takes in the kitchen when I'm making all the breads and snacks and meals my family eats by hand. As a homeschooling mom, I've always struggled with finding time to fit everything in that needs to get done. Hours in the kitchen have added to that stress.
But as I was sitting here eating my lunch, I was encouraged by what I saw. I was eating a salad made of fresh organic vegetables. On that salad was dressing I made myself. Croutons I made from the bread that I baked. I also had a few pita chips-that I made myself. It's such a great feeling to know every single thing my family puts in their body is good for them. And I'm so thankful that we got it together while my girls are young enough to make it their way of life when they're grown. This is all that matters. This is what makes all the rest worth it. And I'm sure one of these days I'll become efficient and be able to streamline my process. All in good time, I suppose. Now I'm off to the kitchen ;)