Living to Eat or Eating to Live?

DIET....a word that is NOT in my vocabulary!  What?  You're telling me no more cokes, no more chocolate, no more popcorn, and no more chips?  HEARTBROKEN....a word this IS in my vocabulary.  Well, James and I made a trip to HEB Plus last Saturday and I made it through the WHOLE shopping experience without crying (this is the first time since I learned of my new diet...remember, not in my vocabulary).  I'm sure most of you think it's a little silly how many tears I have shed over this but if you saw my diet list, you'd cry FOR ME!  Practically EVERY item at the store has EVERY ingredient in it that I CANNOT HAVE!!!  Can you imagine what it's like for me to go to a restaurant now?  However, after spending a whopping $327.13, I think I finally have some things to eat (at home)...and I actually like MOST of it!  Boy, eating healthy is expensive!  Here are some not so lovely pictures of our pantry and our refrigerator!  Look how full they are!!!

My brother Steven gave me a lot to think about when we discussed my new diet (both him and Dennis were great about helping me come up with ideas of things I can cook/eat).  He said that most of "us" in today's society do not eat for the right reasons.  It's like the old saying goes, "Do you live to eat, or eat to live?"  Well, to be honest, I think for the longest time I have been "Living to eat!"  I really do love to eat and don't typically think about what I'm putting in my body.  I am now learning how important it is to read the ingredients before opening my mouth and inserting.  Most of the food out there has sooo many preservatives and unnecessary ingredients in them that make it so unhealthy.  Don't get me wrong, I am not a health food nut, nor will I probably ever be.  But, because of the situation I have been put in, I am definitely reevaluating the whole idea of eating and food!  I have been on my diet for about 2 weeks now and although I have not been perfect, I have to say I am pretty proud of myself!  Oh, and believe me, when I am not so perfect, I definitely suffer for it!  Maybe there's something to this diet after all?!  Or shall we call it, a lifestyle change!