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about me diet healthy

The "Perfect" Diet – Can you relate?

When I was younger I was always skinny. I could eat ANYTHING I want, and never gained weight.
It was actually to the point where in my early 20’s I was taking weight gain and going to the gym so I could gain weight and muscle because I was tired of being so tiny. I always thought curves were beautiful.
Fast forward to when I hit 25 – my metabolism went out the window. I had horrible eating habits, and had never thought to change them because I was always thin. But when my metabolism slowed, my body started quickly changing. I had worked for so many years and had children at a young age so I never had time to cook, or so I thought. Instead I would eat out, go to restaurants, the drive thru. You name it. And if I had a choice between grilled and crispy? Oh, it was always crispy! Hands down!

On our wedding day my husband and I were the heaviest we had EVER been.
When I got those wedding pictures back, I was so unhappy with them. I had envisioned my wedding photos differently and it was a wake up call. I had to do something.
A few short weeks after we got married I was laid off from my job. All of a sudden I was a stay at home mom. We discovered we were pregnant a little over a month later, and it was a high risk pregnancy. I was bedridden so I couldn’t look for work at all. I became a Stay at Home Mom by chance, not choice. Through that, we had to change our spending habits. We couldn’t eat out as much, grab a pizza after the boys’ football practice or some burgers after their games. I was no longer getting home at 7pm from work and exhausted.

That’s when my life changed. That’s also when I started getting creative in the kitchen on a budget and when my passion for cooking and baking emerged.

My husband and I both lost weight just by eating home cooked meals. He lost 40 pounds and I lost 25.
In April 2011 our second child together was born, and 2 months later I had to have my gallbladder removed. At the time I ate well, didn’t eat anything too disgusting. No soda, little red meat etc. But looking back, it was probably all those years of fast food and sodas I used to eat from my early teens all the way to my late 20’s It does catch up to you. I’ve tried various diets, the shakes in the morning and afternoon and working out like a mad woman. I lost weight and got in shape, but I was always dizzy and feeling nauseous during workouts. You can’t continue like that forever, and I didn’t. So I would gain it all back, and then some.

Now, I’ve come to realize the best way to get healthy (for me, at least) is home cooked meals, as little preservatives as possible. Healthy portions, and colorful food. Usually colorful food means you’re getting a lot of fruits and veggies in there with your proteins and starches. I still indulge, but now it’s just one cookie instead of 5. And you know what? I can eat like this the rest of my life with no problem. And to date I’ve lost 29 pounds since April. That’s after that original 25 pound weight loss!

Healthy Choices are always smarter than a fad diet! Check out this humorous video that illustrates what we all know — a healthy choice doesn’t have to mean a painful choice!

 

 Disclosure: This is not a sponsored post. All thoughts are my own.

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Comments

  1. Frugal in WV says

    October 2, 2012 at 11:50 pm

    I make everything from scratch also, it’s so much healthier! I saw your post on bloggy moms and following you on GFC now. I look forward to your future posts 🙂

    http://wvfrugal-wvsaver.blogspot.com/

    • Mama Harris Kitchen says

      October 3, 2012 at 4:37 pm

      Thank you for stopping by!
      I visited your blog too and added you to my list I’m following!

    • Megan Card says

      October 4, 2012 at 1:50 pm

      I am so glad that you joined us this week for the Southern Mama’s blog hop! I am looking forward to getting to know you 🙂

    • Mama Harris Kitchen says

      October 4, 2012 at 3:55 pm

      Hi Megan! Thank you for visiting!

  2. rockinabbs29 says

    October 4, 2012 at 2:01 pm

    new follower from the blog hop! 😉

    • Mama Harris Kitchen says

      October 4, 2012 at 3:56 pm

      Nice to meet you, look forward to getting to know you! Thank you for coming by!

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[Sponsored]: Summertime is coming and will be here before we know it! You all know that I love easy meals during the warmer months, and I also love a good meal in a bowl. It’s also Vidalia Onion season 🧅 so I paired this seasonal favorite with pan-seared shrimp and veggies as a light rice bowl using your choice of grains.☺️This meal is an absolute delight!

Get the recipe and all the Vidalia Onion details by clicking the link in my profile or desktop users can click here for the recipe >> https://mamaharriskitchen.com/2021/06/pan-seared-shrimp-veggie-rice-bowl-vidalia-onions/ .

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This time of year I love warm, comforting recipes that are super easy and delish. This ridiculously easy Chicken Tortilla Soup is a one pot meal, ready in under 30 minutes and uses already prepared rotisserie chicken for maximum flavor (and ease)! With a tasty blend of flavors and textures, it’s like a bowl full of comfort. 

Get the recipe by clicking the link in profile at @mamaharriskitchen or just google “Mama Harris Kitchen Easy Chicken Tortilla Soup” 🍲 Enjoy!
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(AD) There has been a lot of cooking going on this year, so I’ve tried to make life a bit easier by getting creative with my leftovers. These pulled pork totchos are a great example of leftovers with a few key ingredients to create something new to keep our meals exciting. Adding a few key ingredients like @lamorenausa adobo peppers and jalapeños and carrots definitely livens up something simple. La Morena peppers are hand selected, using only the highest quality peppers to bring you authentic home style flavors of Mexico. I purchased my La Morena items from my local Safeway, but you can find them at your favorite grocery store in the international food section. #PayItForwardwithLM #VivaLaMorena #WeCanWithLaMorena 
 
INGREDIENTS:
- 32 oz tater tots
- 2 cups shredded cheese (Mexican blend + Pepper Jack)
- 2 cups prepared bbq pulled pork (check my pulled pork sliders recipe!)
- 1/2 can La Morena Adobo Peppers & Sauce
- 2 tablespoons sour cream 
- 2 tablespoons ranch dressing
- 1 cup pico de Gallo
- 1/2 cup guacamole
- 3 chopped green onions 
- 3-4 La Morena jalapeños and carrots, sliced

INSTRUCTIONS:
Prepare tater tots as instructed, in air fryer or oven. Heat oven to 450°. 
Cover the bottom of a large cast iron skillet with the cooked tater tots. 
Top with 1 1/2 cup of cheese. 
Combine the chopped adobo peppers and sauce with the prepared bbq pulled pork. Spread the pulled pork mixture on top of the tater tots, then top with the remaining cheese.
Bake in the preheated oven for 5 minutes.
Top with sour cream, ranch, pico de Gallo, guacamole, green onions, and sliced jalapeños and carrots.

Enjoy!! 😋
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✨Growth✨
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Happy December, all!! 🎄Since it’s basically Christmas now, it’s time to share ALL the holiday cookies! 

Every year I join my friend @natashanicholes as she heads up her #HousefulofCookies virtual cookie swap, where many of us share some sweet treats for the holiday season. 

This year I’ve created Cranberry Pistachio Citrus Cookies to share as my contribution. 🍪 I know that a lot of things have turned “virtual” throughout this year, but a little virtual bake-off is a fun way to connect with some of your favorite people!

For this recipe and many more, click the link in my profile at @mamaharriskitchen ❤️
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Click the link in bio at @mamaharriskitchen for the recipe!
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Hello Instagram fam! 💖 There’s some new faces around here and it’s been a while since I showed mine!

I’m Dawn, creator of Mama Harris’ Kitchen, and I’m so glad you’re here with me! In this space I share my family-friendly recipes for all occasions, whether it be a 30-minute meal for those busy weeknight dinners or a full spread for entertaining a crowd - and everything in between.

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🍿Five fun facts about me:
1. I LOVE elephants! 🐘 I collect a lot of elephant items, whether it’s trinkets or  artwork, notepads etc. I love what elephants symbolize and I truly love anything elephant related.
2. I’m a total plant lady! 🌱 I have about 35 houseplants, give or take, and there’s still more on the list of wants. Plants have become such a peaceful outlet for me, and I feel that they really center me within my space. I love the element plants bring to your space and the feel of your home with them in it, and new leaves are so exciting!
3. I have seven tattoos and I have plans for about eight more. 💉 Those that know me aren’t surprised, but those that follow me here tend to find it a bit surprising. 🙃
4. I’ve been a mother for a long time, over half my life! I’ve also been a lot of different “types” of mom - teen mom, single mom, working mom, stepmom, stay at home mom, PROUD mom, military mom, mother in law - the list goes on. No matter what, motherhood looks different for everyone and there’s unique challenges and experiences each mother faces. Please be gentle with yourself! ❤️At the end of the day we’re all just trying our best!
5. I’m a bit of an introvert, and often struggle with the “social” aspect of social media. I tend to go silent sometimes, but I’m working on it.

☀️Thank you for joining me here!
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Did you know that the third Sunday of July is considered National Ice Cream Day? 🍦Not that we need an excuse to enjoy our favorite treat! You can make any day one to celebrate with my Birthday Cake Ice Cream! Full of rich creamy flavor, colorful sprinkles and maraschino cherries. 🍒 No “official” birthday needed to treat yourself!

Get the recipe now! Click the link in my profile at @mamaharriskitchen ✨
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