November Unraveled

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So about this whole October Unprocessed thing....it seemed like a good idea at the time.  And honestly, it went really well for a while and I learned a ton just from the shopping experiences alone.  You wouldn't believe some of the processed ingredients that go into the foods we eat everyday.  But, it was way more challenging than I expected, even living alone and only having one person to cook and shop for.  It was almost harder because the quick things still always seem more reasonable when you're on your own. Additionally since I'm always on the go I have to be that much more diligent about having healthy alternatives around so I'm not just grabbing the first snack I see.

Even though I definitely struggled through the month of October, and didn't follow every rule as it should be, there are several things that I've picked up on that I think will continue even though I was a little unraveled in November.

1. Whole Wheat Pasta - I used to hate this pasta, I thought it was grainy and had to cook way longer and just didn't taste the same.  There definitely is a different taste to it but I've found actually the best brand as far as comparability to regular pasta is Hy-Vee's whole wheat pastas! They are quite good.  I really enjoyed using whole wheat spaghetti in my favorite baked spaghetti recipe.  It made it seem that much more hearty and filling. 
2. Healthy snacking - while an occasional cookie or scotcheroo from the cafe at work may find it's way to my desk, I have gotten a lot better about healthy snacking, especially unprocessed things like carrots, apples, hummus, etc. 
3. Grocery shopping - As I said before, this was so eye-opening. I've found some new products that i love and will continue to seek out, and I've learned that when you're eating all of these fresh things, you really can't go two weeks without going to the grocery store.  You have to maintain a balanced pantry and be willing to stop by the store for what fresh ingredients you might need.  

All in all it was a good experience, even if I didn't follow it as closely as I had intended.  I hope my friends who tried it had a pleasant experience with it and have learned a thing or two they can put into daily practice. 

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