Great topic Ann!

Here's the question I've been getting for YEARS!  I just haven't sat down to write a book about it yet!
I think when people start sliding into the bad phase- they either EAT ( all the wrong stuff) or STOP EATING- usually in excess!  Neither is your option.
Also I get this question with people just starting out and setting up their kitchens-
What type of fuel are we going to put in our tanks?
COOL!

Ann, I'm one of those people I think real hard core CHANGE should start with a complete sweep!
So before you go to get new stuff to bring home that will mix with your old stuff and you'll be right back in habit--
you can just do a RE-DO FIRST-
I can't cover the whole thing in one post -- but I'll take a shot and see if you can use it ok?
Let' go in stages.

Do you happen to  have a steamer or juicer?  These 2 apliances can be your friends and should be your main TOOLS.  Basically sweep your kitchen of the dumb appliances and get yourself some cool tools!
We don't eat a lot of garbage in this house-  I gave away the appliances that I just don't use and got the things I use every day.
And we FEED people here- we're weird eaters and people seem to like what I fix!

Let's look at your tools wish-list:

Juicer.. well we have 5 but ah OK... they all are for different things.
steamer (s)  I like the electric with the timers - my Black&Decker is about 20 years old..
some sort of food processor to cut and chop things- we went for the cuisinart
sturdy blender
your favorite knife-  one chef and a pairing knife
cutting board
stainless steel- STAINLESS STEEL pots and pans set- if you have aluminum give it away RIGHT NOW.
collanders and strainers
bowls and trays
BRITA water jug- and filters
start your collection of food keepers- tuperware- gladware- whatever and baggies ( The DOLLAR STORE!)
A sauce pan non stick is nice- peeler- veggie brush OK but you see where this list is leading.

Here is a good list to have healthy fun in your humble kitchen!  Once you clear away the appliances and utensiles that you don't use- you have the bare bones to your kitchen!
Part of your frame of mind can be greatly helped by getting the useless clutter AWAY from you!

Now see those cabinets and that biology experiment in your fridge?  THAT'S the next target! 
You'll need to go thru and pull out what you have.
Get a box and start filling it with stuff to give away- stuff you aren't going to be eating!
And the garbage can to throw away the rest- good riddance!
You've picked an awesome time of year to start a new program, Ann!
Good for you!
 
What we try to do in our home- remember the plate should have the magic "balance" half veggies - fourth protein - fourth good carbs.  And go for COLOR!  Make your first stop at the store to the PRODUCE section.  Try to keep veggies cut for snacks.  If you cut them and keep them in the fridge- you can grab those instead of the cookies.  With kids- sometimes they welcome it- and sometimes they try to pull back to "sugar alley"- ya got to make a choice here.
Many times when people come over- I just serve RAW everything for snacks- the goodies get the look- but they get devoured and trays come back clean!
Summertime means you can get those baskets of tomatoes- and just serve  those, cut up a cucmber and some bells of every color- I promise- they will disappear!
And try stuff you don't normally do- throw a handful of raw asparagus in your salad- see if you like it.

The snack foods- chips and crackers and cookies OH BLAH!  FULL of the stuff that's going to SEND YOU.  Let's forget to buy those OK?  Just avoid those isles completely.
I'm not saying you have to kiss them off FOREVER- just don't buy them- you'll run into enough of them on your travels at other people's houses..

We get bags of skinless boneless breast chicken- steam it.  I also like fish.  You can steam your veggies or eat them RAW.
I like the RAW scene! 
Cut raw broccoli on top of pasta- YUM-  raw grated zuchinni on spaghetti- YUM-  raw chopped spinach on everything but pancakes OH YEAH!  Find ways to sneak your RAW stuff in!
Now we eat BROWN rice- ALL of us do- even the dog- steamed.
The health foods usually have bins of grains and seeds and legumes- you can have a blast making your own mixes of stuff for the steamer- and your body needs these!
There should be some staples-
BROWN RICE- not white
OATMEAL
Remember those Dollar Store bins?  Yep well- here we go.


You can do your juicer- if you get into it- it's a fun study!  And delicious.  You can look on amazon for cheap used books on cooking and juicing.
This paragraph could go on for days- you get the idea- and don't forget the GINGER ROOT and CINNAMON!
:)
Love the juicer!

The point is- try to keep it as natural and as un-processed as humanly possible.  Try to think what your great grandparents  might have noshed on- and go from there.  I don't think they had toaster strudels!  OK don't buy those.  You can sweep your house of food you are going to steer away from- and just give it away!  Don't look back.  Move forward.  We eat much of our goodies raw- I don't own a microwave- I have given 3 of them away.

OILS- oooh check those.  Did you know OLIVE OIL is close to water soluable?  Yep.

And you may want to get a bottle of flax oil for your salads- great omegas there!

The fridge.....
I think food can be a medicine- MANY cool articles on what to feed for what ailes you!
I keep certain things ALWAYS.
AND THIS IS FOR girls mainly:
YOGURT
PRUNE JUICE
CRANBERRY JUICE
WHEN your intestines are clogged- you aren't absorbing your food- this means you'll just eat more because your body- although FULL is actually starving!
OK you need the aboves!

I do like vitamins- and minerals.  They are also an interesting study- our foods don't always contain these anymore in abundance- well as with everything READ THE LABELS- multis usually don't contain enough calcium- so we actually have a few bottles of vitamins.  Actually a lack or imbalance can shoot your emotional balance right out the window- good thing to look into.


There are e-zines you can subscribe to- and also I like to go to sites for althletes and read around,  they often have food tips that are wonderful!  See if your local dojo has anything on the web- you'd be amazed!
As long as you take a firm steady step forward, you'll find your path open right before your eyes- maybe not easy- but give it a try.

Now there's more to this change- other than food- let's skip a rock across that pond real quick.

The part nobody wants to hear- you need a stretch.  You do!  All those icky thoughts store in your body EVERYWHERE like lockers at a train station..  If you can't bear the thought of exercise- stretch- or walk- go on a star gazing walk- try to take a trip to a water source.

But MOVE AND BREATHE.
You don't want those lockers filled with baggage from years ago- when you MOVE- you circulate all this MIRE that's trapped in every cell of your being!
MOVE AROUND AND BREATHE!
I don't know WHAT you'll find that you enjoy - but there's a variety of exercise programs- and the list grows daily- you'll find something that works for YOOO!  I seriously don't think one exercise fits all- look around and do what you can handle.
Small steps here.

Another helpful thing- do your best to keep a journal.  You write down what you're dealing with on inner and outer levels.    Who is around you and what's going on- what you eat,  what you learn.  Your dreams.  And DATE YOUR ENTRIES.   Sometimes I have forgotten that date part- and it drives me nuts trying to find WHEN I felt a certain way- because sometimes you can see patterns.

And a friend.  Even a long distance friend that you write to and keep in touch with.  I have a friend that lives far away- we study the same things- and for years have been pulling each other up by the beltloops when the other one falls- I know we're hundreds of miles away- but who cares we're there for each other!  Sometimes your friend is the best therapy.

I find trying to do what gets you outside yourself- and brings your full attention to whatever you are  doing.  Even gardening.  Or learning to paint- who knows you might be a Picasso and never knew it!

Summer is coming- maybe look into learning to grow something you can eat!  Or juice!

:)

Too much introspection can be an exhausting dance- and it can last into the wee hours!

At the moment I'm in between 3 computers- lucky me!  However my articles that I have saved are also in between 3 computers...  I have food articles like nobody's business.  I wrote what I live basically - and I'm always studying and reading more.  If ANY of this helps you Ann, then my studies have been worth it!
I could write on for days here- but I'll spare you- just get started! 
It will be fun once you take your first step!

Have a spectacular year Ann!
If you have a question- I check in from time to time- just write me- lots of people do!
No worries!
:)
~Wilderness

But I have no clue what just happened to my post.

I'll check in a while and see if it pops up! 

Do you exercise? 

Peace, 

Amy

Do you exercise? 

Peace, 

Amy

Well this is sort of sad- I took the time to compose an answer- I felt would help you- but apparently it's not going to post- the site won't let it.

If you would like to send mail to my box here- I'd be glad to send you a copy.

It's sad that you can't give an answer on this site - how can people help with one liners?

Feel free to contact me Ann.  I think you're picking a wonderful time to make changes.. and I have been where you're at.

:) 

We get bags of skinless boneless breast chicken- steam it.  I also like fish.  You can steam your veggies or eat them RAW.
I like the RAW scene!  
Cut raw broccoli on top of pasta- YUM-  raw grated zuchinni on spaghetti- YUM-  raw chopped spinach on everything but pancakes OH YEAH!  Find ways to sneak your RAW stuff in!
Now we eat BROWN rice- ALL of us do- even the dog- steamed.
The health foods usually have bins of grains and seeds and legumes- you can have a blast making your own mixes of stuff for the steamer- and your body needs these!
There should be some staples-
BROWN RICE- not white
OATMEAL
Remember those Dollar Store bins?  Yep well- here we go.


You can do your juicer- if you get into it- it's a fun study!  And delicious.  You can look on amazon for cheap used books on cooking and juicing.
This paragraph could go on for days- you get the idea- and don't forget the GINGER ROOT and CINNAMON!
:)
Love the juicer!

The point is- try to keep it as natural and as un-processed as humanly possible.  Try to think what your great grandparents  might have noshed on- and go from there.  I don't think they had toaster strudels!  OK don't buy those.  You can sweep your house of food you are going to steer away from- and just give it away!  Don't look back.  Move forward.  We eat much of our goodies raw- I don't own a microwave- I have given 3 of them away.

The fridge.....
I think food can be a medicine- MANY cool articles on what to feed for what ailes you!
I keep certain things ALWAYS.
AND THIS IS FOR girls mainly:
YOGURT
PRUNE JUICE
CRANBERRY JUICE
WHEN your intestines are clogged- you aren't absorbing your food- this means you'll just eat more because your body- although FULL is actually starving!
OK you need the aboves!


There are ezines you can subscribe to- and also I like to go to sites for althletes and read around,  they often have food tips that are wonderful!  See if your local dojo has anything on the web- you'd be amazed!

As long as you take a firm steady step forward, you'll find your path open right before your eyes- maybe not easy- but give it a try.

Now there's more to this change- other than food- let's skip a rock across that pond real quick.

The part nobody wants to hear- you need a stretch.  You do!  All those icky thoughts store in your body EVERYWHERE like lockers at a train station..  If you can't bear the thought of exercise- stretch- or walk- go on a star gazing walk- try to take a trip to a water source.

But MOVE AND BREATHE.
You don't want those lockers filled with baggage from years ago- when you MOVE- you circulate all this MIRE that's trapped in every cell of your being!
MOVE AROUND AND BREATHE!
I don't know WHAT you'll find that you enjoy - but there's a variety of exercise- and the list grows daily- you'll find something that works for YOOO!  I seriously don't think one exercise fits all- look around and do what you can handle.
Small steps here.

Another helpful thing- do your best to keep a journal.  You write down what you're dealing with on inner and outer levels.    Who is around you and what's going on- what you eat,  what you learn.  Your dreams.  And DATE YOUR ENTRIES.   Sometimes I have forgotten that date part- and it drives me nuts trying to find WHEN I felt a certain way- because sometimes you can see patterns.

And a friend.  Even a long distance friend that you write to and keep in touch with.  I have a friend that lives far away- we study the same things- and for years have been pulling each other up by the beltloops when the other one falls- I know we're hundreds of miles away- but who cares we're there for each other!  Sometimes your friend is the best therapy.

I find trying to do what gets you outside yourself- and brings your full attention to whatever you are  doing.  Even gardening.  Or learning to paint- who knows you might be a Picasso and never knew it!

Summer is coming- maybe look into learning to grow something you can eat!  Or juice!

:)

Too much introspection can be an exhausting dance- and it can last into the wee hours!

At the moment I'm in between 3 computers- lucky me!  However my articles that I have saved are also in between 3 computers...  I have food articles like nobody's

business.  I wrote what I live basically - and I'm always studying and reading more.  If ANY of this helps you Ann, then my studies have been worth it!
I could write on for days here- but I'll spare you- just get started!  
It will be fun once you take your first step!

Have a spectacular year Ann!
If you have a question- I check in from time to time- just write me- lots of people do!
No worries!
:)
~Wilderness

Great topic Ann!

Here's the question I've been getting for YEARS!  I just haven't sat down to write a book about it yet!
I think when people start sliding into the bad phase- they either EAT ( all the wrong stuff) or STOP EATING- usually in excess!  Neither is your option.
Also I get this question with people just starting out and setting up their kitchens-
What type of fuel are we going to put in our tanks?
COOL!

Ann, I'm one of those people I think real hard core CHANGE should start with a complete sweep!
So before you go to get new stuff to bring home that will mix with your old stuff and you'll be right back in habit--
you can just do a RE-DO FIRST-
I can't cover the whole thing in one post -- but I'll take a shot and see if you can use it ok?
Let' go in stages.

Do you happen to  have a steamer or juicer?  These 2 apliances can be your friends and should be your main TOOLS.  Basically sweep your kitchen of the dumb appliances and get yourself some cool tools!
We don't eat a lot of garbage in this house-  I gave away the appliances that I just don't use and got the things I use every day.
And we FEED people here- we're weird eaters and people seem to like what I fix!

Let's look at your tools wish-list:

Juicer.. well we have 5 but ah OK... they all are for different things.
steamer (s)  I like the electric with the timers - my Black&Decker is about 20 years old..

What we try to do in our home- remember the plate should have the magic "balance" half veggies - fourth protein - fourth good carbs.  And go for COLOR!  Make your first stop at the store to the PRODUCE section.  Try to keep veggies cut for snacks.  If you cut them and keep them in the fridge- you can grab those instead of the cookies.  With kids- sometimes they welcome it- and sometimes they try to pull back to "sugar alley"- ya got to make a choice here.
Many times when people come over- I just serve RAW everything for snacks- the goodies get the look- but they get devoured and trays come back clean!
Summertime means you can get those baskets of tomatoes- and just serve  those, a cucmber and some bells of every color- I promise- they will disappear!
And try stuff you don't normally do- throw a handful of raw asparagus in your salad- see if you like it.

The snack foods- chips and crackers and cookies OH BLAH!  FULL of the stuff that's going to SEND YOU.  Let's forget to buy those OK?  Just avoid those isles completely.
I'm not saying you have to kiss them off FOREVER- just don't buy them- you'll run into enough of them on your travels at other people's houses..

I've got most of my thoughts out here.

I do hope some of this helps you Ann.

I'm not sure if it's my machine or the site- I do have a bit more for the kitchen wish list..... but ahh..

OK

let's go with this for now.

Truly a subject I'm passionate about and love discussing and helping people with!

All the best to you Ann!