Each fall, when the kids get ready to head back to school, busy Moms everywhere hit the pavement in search of specific items to help make their children’s school year a success:  A brand new backpack, a yearly planner, maybe a new phone, calculator or computer, an assortment of items ranging from new shoes and P.E. clothes, to rulers, organizers and beyond!  In fact, it’s likely that very few children start the new school year UNPREPARED and yet, how much time and attention do we give to ourselves when it comes to achieving our own health and fitness goals?  If I had to guess, I’d be willing to bet that most Moms don’t apply the same level of detail to ensuring their own success, as they do their children’s success–and honestly, I think that’s a mistake! Don’t let being busy Mom stop you achieving your own success! Stock up on these kitchen must-haves to ensure you’re well prepared!

[clickToTweet tweet=”If luck favors the prepared, then success is where preparation and opportunity meet!” quote=”Success is where preparation and opportunity meet ~Bobby Unser” theme=”style3″]

Modeling healthy behaviors starts early.  When it comes to embracing a healthy lifestyle, you can’t just talk the talk, you actually have to walk the walk!  Our children learn many things about the world around them by watching US.  Teaching them everything from self-confidence, self-love, to how to treat others, starts in the same place where they learn the value of eating healthy foods–OUR HOMES!

In order to prepare yourself for success, you have to implement the same level of preparation for yourself that you would for your children!  It doesn’t need to be complicated or overwhelming, you just need to be prepared! We’re all probably familiar with the saying, “Abs are made in the kitchen”, but I’ve got even BIGGER news for you, “Your health is made in the kitchen too!”  Having a six pack isn’t every Mom’s goal, in fact, most of us wouldn’t even have it on our Top 5 List, but that shouldn’t stop you from being your the best you can be!

When it comes to being a Mom and a woman, it’s important to me is to feel confident, organized, pulled together and in control of my life–so I set myself up to achieve success, by making sure there are always a few “must-haves” in my kitchen:

7 Kitchen Must-Haves For Busy (and Fit) Moms

1. Olive Oil:  It’s pretty much gospel that frying foods is NOT healthy for your heart or your hips, but trying to figure out which types of oils are healthy can be confusing!  Cold pressed or expeller pressed Olive Oils rank #1 in my kitchen and are perfect for sautéing vegetables, making your own salad dressing, or just drizzling on your veggies.  Bear in mind that olive oil is still a FAT and that you should aim for no more than two (2) Tablespoons total per day, but having olive oil on hand ensures that how you prepare your food is off to a good start!

2. Nuts or Seeds:  They say the road to hell is paved with good intentions and let’s face it, we all have good intentions!  Some days, however, I wait to long to fix my lunch, or I’m just not feeling the whole trip to the grocery store thing (Did you know I recently guesstimated that in the past 24 years of parenting, I’ve gone to the grocery store around 1,300 times)???  Waiting too long or skipping meals isn’t good for the waistline either (hello binge-eating and decreased metabolism)! but keeping nuts or seeds in my kitchen is a quick source of proteins AND healthy fats, so even if I don’t have my meals all figured out, I can stave off the hangries.  Pair them with a piece of fruit, or eat them as they are and you’ll be all set till the next meal rolls around. Don’t worry if almonds aren’t your thing (truthfully, they’re just not that filling to me), so choose something you like?  Not sure which nuts are the healthiest?  Check out my TOP TEN list here! Just be sure to keep your serving size to an ounce!

3. Sparkling Water:  You might be surprised to know that I was once dependent on Dr. Pepper.  Just typing those two words out makes me smile at the memory, but that’s one habit I’m happy to have firmly in my past!  I’ve never been a huge coffee drinker, so that was my liquid energy!  You know how exhausting motherhood is.  It’s like non-stop sleep-deprivation–am I right?!  If I could’ve administered I.V. caffeine infusions to myself, I would’ve been golden, but I suppose that would be socially frowned upon too! Sparkling water took some getting used to, but I can’t imagine my life without it!  I especially love tossing chunks of frozen fruit in it or fresh lemon wedges to make it tasty. Pellegrino, Perrier and LaCroix are my family’s top three!

4. All Natural Peanut Butter:  Okay, so peanut butter may not be your thing and that’s okay, there are other nut butters out there (almond, cashew, sunflower seed) so don’t feel like you have to choose only one!  I’ll admit, I was the kid who hid the giant jar of Skippy from the rest of the family, just so I could be the one to sit in the corner after school, eating it with a big soup spoon!  Skippy peanut butter has gone the way of Dr. Pepper, so nowadays I either treat myself to the freshly ground variety at Whole Foods or buy Laura Scudders.  The beauty of this yummy snack is that A) It’s heart healthy and B) You can put it on so many things: oatmeal, toast, apples, pears, bananas, pancakes (you have not lived till you’ve eaten a hot fluffy pancake or waffle with peanut butter on it–and of course it tastes yummy in smoothies!

5. Whey Protein:  Now before you roll your eyes and groan that this is secretly some pitch for a too-good-to-be-true Protein Powder, let me explain a little about what Protein Powders do and what they don’t.  First and foremost, I don’t care whose brand you buy, whether it’s Jamie Eason’s or you’re a diehard Beach body Shakeology fan, Protein Powders aren’t magic powders that give you special powers.  (Yeah, sorry to be the bearer of bad news).  That’s right, Protein Powders DON’T cause weight loss in and of itself and that extra energy you might get?  Well SOME Protein Powders have caffeine in them and others provide missing dietary nutrients, but guess what?  Drinking a cheap cup of coffee and eating healthy can make you feel that way too! Protein Powders DO however, provide you with added Protein.  This is particularly helpful if you’re a practicing Vegetarian or just a busy Mom just trying to make sure she gets what her body needs (or both)! Protein helps our bodies REPAIR and BUILD themselves. If you lose weight while using one, CONGRATULATIONS! You’ve begun to master the art of calorie deficit! How do you choose a Protein Powder that’s right for you?  A good Protein powder has at least 20g Protein per scoop (if not more) and has under 5g Carbohydrates (if leanness is your goal). Next, compare costs and flavor.  I cringe when I hear women talking about cutting corners in their monthly budget or joining MLM’s to pay for their “Shake habit”.  If cost is an issue, you can make your own Protein Smoothie, without Protein Powder, using liquid egg whites, peanut butter, milk and frozen fruit.  Trust me when I say it’s not only cheaper, the ingredients are purer and you get more Protein per ounce than most anything on the market!

6. Fresh Fruits and Veggies: Don’t be afraid of Carbohydrates (yes, fruits and veggies are fibrous carbs)! Consistent use of lower carb diets can lead to hormonal issues, including those involving the Thyroid gland and can also affect your estrogen balance.  Not only are Carbs a source of fuel for your muscles, your body uses Carbohydrates in the form of glucose–and the brain is the ONLY ORGAN in your body, that depends SOLELY ON GLUCOSE to function!  That’s right! Without glucose, you can’t live! Feeling like you’re in a Mom fog all the time?  While sleep deprivation can be part of it, lack of energy and Mom Brain are often tied to our diets.  Getting at least 5 FIVE servings a day (combined) of fresh fruits and veggies is one way to be sure to meet your body’s nutritional needs!

7. Chocolate: Yes, you read that right!  I wrote “CHOCOLATE”!  True, I don’t keep junk in the house.  True, I don’t eat out very often. True, I’ve successfully quit my dependence on Soda, Caffeine, junk food and store-bought salad dressings (seriously, I used to eat Marie’s Blue Cheese Dressing out of the jar with a spoon)!  False, I don’t gain weight if I eat crappy. False, I never enjoy candy, cake or other treats. False, I have an iron-clad will. That would be like saying I’ve never lost my shiz and yelled at my kids in public or jumped up and down with my veins bulging out of my neck (you should ask my kids about that one)! I get cravings. I get hormonal, but I’ve learned to minimize the damage. So I buy 85% or higher, dark chocolate.  The higher the % the lower the amount of sugar and I usually eat 1 or 2 squares.  With only 21 Cals,1g Carbs, and 1g Fat per square, it’s an easy way to cut my cravings off at the knees! (Plus everyone else in the family thinks it’s gross, which means more for Meeee)! 😀