Preemptive Strikes!

So I think I've figured out a strategy to handle the "let's eat out" syndrome - the preemptive strike!  It goes something like this.....

7:15 am - Wake up, make coffee 

7:30 am - Tell Ed and Shelby, "Hey you two - how about I make OATMEAL this morning!!!! Won't that be great?  We'll put blueberries and almonds on it!  Doesn't that sound GOOD?!"

7:31 am - They say...."That sounds fabulous. You're the best mother, and cook, on the planet. We're so grateful that you care about us enough to cook us good food that's GOOD FOR US TOO! What would we ever do without you?!"

Ok....so this isn't exactly how it goes, but you get the point. I get them excited about what I'm going to cook before they have a chance to throw the "let's eat out" bomb and ruin my healthy eating plans. 

Just so you all know - the "oatmeal scenario," while somewhat embellished (ok, a lot embellished...and I'm guessing you know which part I'm referring to.... ;-), actually did occur and we all ate oatmeal at the kitchen table this morning.  I pulled the same trick at lunch by suggesting we take sandwiches, grapes and oatmeal cookies to the park so we could have a picnic after I ran. Worked again....check....double-check....

And about the oatmeal cookies ---- I used a combination of white and whole wheat flour, reduced the sugar ever so slightly, and used that new stuff that's 1/2 butter, 1/2 new balance heart healthy spread. Add dried fruit and oatmeal, and I don't feel even the tiniest bit guilty about serving these to my family. Next time though?  I'm sneaking in some wheat germ, and they'll never suspect a thing....