Weight Loss Tips for Moms: How to Keep Weight Off for Good

Weight Loss Tips for Moms

When you’re looking to lose weight or get healthier as a busy mom, it can be overwhelming. You’re not sure where to start, feel overwhelmed with all of the diet and exercise plans out there, and feel like you just won’t have to time to be successful.

The biggest mistakes many of us make when it comes to getting healthier is that we either try to jump onto any fad plan that we see floating around because it worked for someone else or we attempt to do too much at once and set ourselves up for failure.

I’ve been there. From the time I was 16-26, while my anxiety and depression had reared its ugly head, I had ate and drank my way into obesity. My 5 foot 2 inch frame had been carrying over 200 pounds for at least 6 of these years and one day, I had decided that ‘enough was enough’.

I didn’t know where to start, I didn’t know what to do but, I knew that I had to make changes somewhere.

So I tried everything and anything. I tried diet pills, and gross tasting shakes, I attempting to eat zero carbs, and went vegan. I was on the hunt to find the ‘one thing’ that I knew would help me lose the weight for good. I mean… there had to be a ‘magic pill’ right?

After years of failed attempts, I had finally found my ‘magic pill’ and lost 70 pounds. What was it? Eating healthy and exercise.

I know, I know… annoying right?

But it’s true. So often we jump from thing to thing, wishing and hoping for magic when in reality, it’s a slow and steady race to a real and long term weight loss and lifestyle change.

This post may contain affiliate links which cost you nothing extra to use but may provide me with a commission. To read my full disclosure head on over here.

How do you lose weight for good?

I’ve learned a few things on this weight loss journey because I’ve had to do it a few times. I was able to keep my weight off but gained 50 pounds when pregnant with my daughter, lose 45 of it before becoming pregnant with my son, gain 40 with the second pregnancy and am down 30 of those 40 pounds currently.

And that’s a lot of time to learn what works - and what doesn’t - with sustainable weight loss.

Don’t get me wrong, I would love if these last 10 (and hopefully some more) pounds would just melt off but I know it’s not long lasting for my body. When I lost the 70 pounds a few things were different that made that journey a little easier. I’m 10 years older, I’ve had two kids, I don’t get as much sleep as I need, and I’m still breastfeeding.

But that doesn't’ mean it’s impossible and I’m going to throw in the towel - and neither should you!

And just one small note before you dive into the tips - I talk a lot about weight loss in this post but I want to remind you that you are MORE than just a number on the scale. It’s ONE measure in your journey and once you start to look at it more as a journey to be healthier than just weight loss, you’ll see success. Weight loss can just be a great side effect (besides loving yourself more, feeling more confident, playing longer with your kids and fitting into more clothes!)

Getting Started with Losing Weight

There are a few things I think are key when it comes to losing weight for good.

1. Goals for Weight Loss and Healthy Living

Before you think about making big changes in your life, I think it’s important to really anchor in what you’re hoping accomplish and why.

If you’re looking to really make long lasting changes, you need to have something to cling to when it’s really hard. Because it’s going to get really hard. There will be weeks or even months where your weight may not change at all, where temptation calls your name, and where you wonder if it’s worth it.

But why do you want to get healthier or lose weight?

Create a vision for yourself and really think about how your life will be different if things change. Write a letter to that future self telling you how proud you are for how far you’ve come, how you’ve overcome the obstacles, and how you have worked towards your goals. Pull this letter out to read on the super tough days.

Really think about what you’re life would feel like when things change. Can you climb up the stairs easier? Do you feel more confident speaking at work? Does it take you less time to get dressed because more of your clothes fit?

Draw into the things that matter to you and how you picture things being different for you. Create goals for yourself for the next year, next month and even next week. Make them concrete (inches lost or a number on the scale) but make them non-scale victories as well. Try on a piece of clothing that you’d like to wear each week of your journey and start to feel the changes your body is making. Each week, as those pants slide on a little easier, you’ll be proud of yourself for those changes - even when they might not show up on the scale.

2. Make Small, Trackable Goals for Your Weight Loss

The biggest mistake I see moms make when trying to lose weight or get healthier is that they try to overhaul their entire lives in one day.

It didn’t take just one day, one week, or one month to have unhealthier habits in your life so, why do we expect that every Monday, life will just magically change?

The best way to have long lasting changes is to pick one habit to work on for 1-2 weeks at least. Yup. Just 1-2. That’s it.

I always suggest when trying to make changes that moms start with water. As busy moms, we often forget to drink water during the day and having enough water is the best tip for weight loss. And, if you’re a breastfeeding mom like me, making sure you have enough water in your system is the best way to keep your milk supply up while losing weight at the same time.

Simply work on setting a timer in your phone to remind you to chug water, aim for at least half of your body weight in ounces each day, and limit everything else. Actually, don’t drink anything else. Now I’m not crazy, coffee is a must but, make sure that you aren’t adding in a ton of creamers or artificial sweeteners.

After you do that for a week or two, add in another habit and another and another. Yes, this is the slow climb up the mountain but, it allows you to actually make HABITS and not just fall in the trap of another fad diet where you lose weight and gain it the second you sniff a carb.

If you want to learn more about this concept of habit stacking for healthy weight loss, go and grab my e-book or the corresponding course The 4 Week Healthy Transition Plan! It’ll tell you exactly which habits to add or subtract, when to do it, and what to eat!

3. Enlist A Support Team while Trying to Lose Weight

It can be hard to make changes when you feel like you’re in it alone. Talk to your spouse, your kids, your coworkers and your friends. Tell them your goals and let them know that you’re really trying to make healthier changes.

My suggestion with your kids is, if you want to change their nutrition as well, that you make slow changes in your shared meals and not try to overhaul everything immediately. Doing that will set you up for the troops to go crazy and, if you want them on board and on your team, slow changes work with them too.

Make a few different side dishes at first then change up the snacks, half the amount of juices or sodas you buy and then, after a few weeks, stop buying them all together.

This is exactly what we did with my stepson who, when I started dating my husband, was a 4 year old who only ate chicken nuggets and french fries. At first, I added in vegetables at dinner and then stopped having french fries as a daily dinner option. Slowly, I started offering the meat we were having with his nuggets to let him try it and now, everyone in our house eats the same dinner. (He’s 12 years old now and not picky at all!)

If you can’t find friends locally to support you on your goals, try to find a virtual community! That’s exactly why I started the Purpose Driven Mom Club! We push each other to work on our goals, not just in health, but in our whole lives!

Come over now and check out the monthly membership and join us if you feel like you need that extra cheerleader in your corner! We’d love to have you as part of the tribe!

4. Which diet plan works best?

Here is the thing, the weight loss plan that will work best for you is the ONE THAT YOU DO.

Seriously.

I know lots of people who lose weight successfully with all types of programs that just don’t work for me. And I’m happy for them. But you have to stay in your lane, find the ones that fit your lifestyle (for me it’s a mix of portion fix and 2B mindset) and keep going with it!

The same goes for exercise. If you like to go to classes and need that to motivate you to keep going, find a gym that offers what you need. For me, the time it would take to go to a gym, workout and come home, is just not something that fits.

I work out at home and stream my workouts with Beachbody on Demand. It’s what I’ve used for years to lose my weight and can get all of the Beachbody home workouts, meal plans, and programs included in just one yearly price. I get to workout in my pajamas (if I want) while my kids watch Mickey Mouse and be done in the time it would take me to even get to a gym.

I really think this is a great solution for busy moms so, if you want to try it for the year or a 2 week free trial, go to this link and sign up! If you do, email me at coachingwithcara@gmail.com and I can add you into our health support groups (free!)

BONUS Weight Loss for Breastfeeding Moms and Post Pregnancy

I have a few posts specifically on this because it is a little trickier to lose weight as a breastfeeding mom. Head over to read those if you want more tips, meals plans and resources!

7 Day Post Partum Weight Loss Plan

21 Day Fix Meal Plan for Breastfeeding Moms

2B Mindset for Breastfeeding Moms

Can you do 80 day Obsession while Breastfeeding?

21 Day Fix Extreme while Breastfeeding

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21 Day Fix Extreme while Breastfeeding

Weight Loss While Breastfeeding

It can be hard to lose weight while breastfeeding. You have to make sure that you’re eating the right amounts of food, foods that are higher in fat, and drinking enough water just to produce your milk. When you make changes to your diet and eating, your milk production can sacrifice.

When determining a workout and eating plan to follow, moms who are breastfeeding have to be really careful to make sure that they pick something that works for their body.

When breastfeeding your body can burn around 500 calories a day to product milk for your baby. When you first start nursing, you may find yourself super hungry and reaching for anything quick and easy to scarf down. I can’t tell you how many protein bars I ate or how many meals that got spilled on my little ones while I tried to nurse and eat one handed (oh come on, you know if happened to you too!)

And while it’s true to have to eat more for your supply, there are many factors that can help you lose weight healthily while keeping your supply up. You need to consider how often you’re nursing, how much your child drinks (I was burning much more when my baby was a newborn compared to now that he’s 16 months old) , your age and metabolism, and your water intake.

This post may contain affiliate links which cost you nothing extra to use but may provide me with a commission. To read my full disclosure head on over here.

Now that I am postpartum with #2, I am trying to decide which program will meet my needs the best. I had lost 70 pounds before I had my daughter, gained 50 pounds while pregnant, lost 40 pounds before getting pregnant again with my son and gained that 40 back during pregnancy. He is now 16 months old and I’m excited to have lost 30 pounds and know that it’s been much harder this time around to see results.

This past year, I’ve used Beachbody on Demand to stream my workouts and follow the meal plans laid out for me. It’s helped me lose a big chunk of the weight and is a busy mom lifesaver! It’s so hard to make it to a gym with little kids so being able to stream any workout while my kids play or watch Paw Patrol has been amazing! If you’re in a similar boat, head over and get a year to stream ALL workouts from Beachbody for just $99!

After the holidays, I am ready to stop feeling like a Christmas cookie and prioritize my health again. And that’s how I settled on starting the year with the 21 day fix extreme. I like to do this program 2 times a year because it’s more advanced and a challenge for my body but, the meal plan is not something that I’d recommend you do too often.

The 21 day fix extreme meal plan incorporates what’s called Carb Cycling. Carb cycling is where you have a few days of lower (but not no-carbs) carb days and a few days with a normal amount of carbohydrates. This type of plan should only be followed foe 3 weeks at a time to help your body detox from sugars and carbs and lean out.

This is NOT a long term eating plan. Your body NEEDS carbohydrates for energy and health. It is important that you eat them. The problem comes when we eat the wrong kinds or too many of them. And, as busy breastfeeding moms, we sometimes just eat what’s leftover on our kids plates or convenient.

You NEED to make sure you are eating enough food while nursing so that your body has the calories and fat to make milk. The biggest mistake I see women making when trying to lose weight post baby is slashing their calories WAY too low. I know I thought that was what I had to do.

21 day fix extreme for Breastfeeding

When breastfeeding and starting a new weightloss program, you want to make sure that you find one that fits you and your supply. I picked 21 day fix extreme because my son doesn’t nurse that much anymore and I know my supply wouldn’t be too changed with it. I would not suggest it for a mom with a newborn while you’re supply is still regulating. We are starting to wean (okay, who am I kidding, I’m so not ready!) and he gets most of his nutrition from solids so I wanted to see how this program could change my body.

Since I’ve done it before, I know that on the lower carb days, I need to drink a lot more water to help my supply flow. I also suggest that you start to pay attention to how fussy your baby is or, if you pump, if you’re supply dips.

The first thing you’ll want to do is figure out the correct bracket for weight loss and breastfeeding.

Currently, I am eating in a bracket which is around 1500-1799 calories (bracket B). I am unsure of how my body will respond to eating this amount and if my milk supply will drop so I am playing it by ear. If my supply starts to dip, I will add in more food and if I am hungry I will simply eat more until I figure out what my body needs. The key for me is going to be adding in vegetables and not sugary treats that will make me binge eat!

When figuring out your calories, this is the general rule that I follow

Determine what your bracket would be for the program using the formula in the book
Go up ONE bracket
Add in one extra blue a day for those healthy, supply boosting fats (yay cheese!)

This is the same formula I’ve pretty much followed for the past 4 years since I’ve either been pregnant or nursing that entire time and knew I needed something to help guide me to eat healthy foods while fueling my body.

21 Day Fit Extreme and 2B Mindset for Breastfeeding

The past 6 months, I’ve also been following the principles of the 2B Mindset Program (also from Beachbody). I love this program now that my healthy eating has seriously just become my lifestyle. This is actually the first year I didn’t make a weight loss goal because I know it will just happen if I continue this lifestyle and am finally not just fixated on a number! (can I get an AMEN!)

As I dive into the 21 day fix Extreme, I’ve decided that I want to keep some of the 2B mindset principles that have helped me. This has me changing a few things in the 21 day fix extreme plan but, I’m okay with making changes that I know my body and life will respond to!

The 2B Mindset Principles I am keeping during these 3 weeks include:

– Water First (helping my supply and keeping me full)

– Veggies Most (making sure I get the good stuff)

– Have snacks be optional (I’ve finally kicked my morning snack habit and want to stick with that. I was just having it out of routine and not hunger and I want to keep that up)

– Dinner and done (I’ve seen a direct correlation to the nights I don’t eat after dinner and my weight loss)

All of these principles still keep me within the 21 day fix extreme meal plan but also allow me to have flexibility to do it my way! I’ll be tracking my color coded containers, eating more veggies if I am hungry (because seriously… why limit veggies?), and making sure my water intake is high (which I 150% suggest to any mom worried about her milk supply)

Don’t have the 21 day fix extreme yet??? Head over and you can order it here! When you order from my link you get the DVDS and a set of containers to get started and I become your personal coach to help you through your journey so after you do, email me at coachingwithcara@gmail.com so we can talk about your goals and get you started!

If you want to see a sample meal plan of what I’m eating this first week, head over and download it now! I also left a blank chart so you can customize it!

Did this help you??? Can you do me a favor and share it on your social media? Don’t forget to PIN IT to go back to later!

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Healthy Freezer Meals for a Month

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Once a Month Cooking Menu

As life gets crazier and busier, one thing I know is that creating a once a month cooking menu is the best way for me to provide my family with quick and easy healthy meals all while saving time, money and being less stressed.

I recently started using a once a month cooking menu but organizing myself with Theme Nights and it’s been incredible. Creating a menu a month in advance for our dinners has helped me save a ton of time each week in planning. When you batch organize your meals, you can easily come up with meals your family will love with ingredients you know you can buy often or save on.

This post was sponsored by Once a Month Meals and I was compensated for this review. This post may contain affiliate links which cost you nothing extra to use but may provide me with a commission. To read my full disclosure head on over here.

Once a Month Meals Review

To start once a month planning, I would sit down and start to fill in my grid with my theme night ideas but often would get stuck. I get into a meal planning rut where we are making the same few dinners on rotation and needed some new ideas that fit my budget.

A friend suggested I check out Once a Month Meals and can I tell you, I am OBSESSED with it! Once a month meals provides a ton of recipes, menu ideas, and tips to create awesome meals that your family will love AND shows you how you can make them now and prep them ahead to freeze and add to your meal plan later.

I love the idea of multi tasking my cooking, where I can not only make some meals for tonight but freeze some for later. Each recipe also gives you exact directions on how to do it if you want to cook it not or if you want to freeze it for later.

Freezer Meals for your Crock Pot

The biggest bonus when it comes to using monthly meal planning and finding a site like Once a Month Meals is that SO many of the meals utilize the crock pot and what’s called ‘dump recipes’. I LOVE these type of recipes (and you can check out my free 5 day challenge to learn how these can be your best friend too!)

Now I know not everyone loves this kind of cooking but, for a busy mom like me who always has little people underfoot, can I tell you how much stress this saves me! I literally can drop in a meal that I’ve already prepped, turn on the crock pot, and just serve it at dinner time! It not only saves me time but makes clean up SO easy!

Quick and Easy Toddler Recipes

My second favorite thing, besides the easy dinners, from Once a Month Meals was the menus that you can download for toddlers! My 1 year old is at a stage where he eats everything but my toddler has become increasingly pickier.

I’ve also fallen into a rut when it comes to making their food and these menus and recipes have given me a new spark to try simple meals that bring in some variety! I’ve gotten into a good groove with breakfast but when it comes to lunches, it’s often just me throwing on plates whatever leftovers we have. The menus they provide have helped me feel much less stressed about providing my kiddos with healthier lunch options while expanding their palettes!

If you’ve never checked out Once a Month Meals, what are you waiting for?

I’ve linked below some of my favorite plans that they have to check out for free! You can also head over and get a subscription for super cheap that will provide the shopping lists and more! Go and grab it now and save yourself time and stress in the kitchen!

More Resources to Make Meal Prep and Meal Planning Easier

5 Steps to Meal Prep in 2 Hours or Less

Save Time with Meal Planning

4 Tips to Meal Plan on a Budget

How to Create a Recipe Binder + Free Printable

5 Day Freezer Cooking Challenge

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Healthy Freezer Meals for a Month

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2B Mindset for the Breastfeeding Mom

There are many weight loss plans for breastfeeding mothers out there and I have found that the 2B mindset is made for breastfeeding moms! I have been following the principles laid out in the 2B Mindset program for a few months now and have not only lost almost 20 pounds but there has been little to no change in my milk supply, I constantly feel full, and have transformed the way that I see the scale, food and my body!

This post may contain affiliate links which cost you nothing extra to use but may provide me with a commission. To read my full disclosure head on over here.

What is the 2B Mindset Program?

2B mindset is a nutrition program from Beachbody, the creators of many home fitness program and nutrition plans. The main focus on this program is mindful eating and helping you lose weight without feeling boxed in and restricted. I’ve been following the Beachbody programs for 6 years now and have been able to lose 70 pounds before I had my daughter and subsequently have 2 healthy pregnancies where I’ve been able to continue to exercise, eat healthy and drop the baby weight within a year.

2B Mindset was created by a registered dietician, Ilana Muhlstein, who herself has lost 100 pounds with this program! (and honestly, there's just something about following a program from someone who is in the trenches with you that makes it so special).

With 2B mindset exercise is ‘extra credit’ and the focus is more on developing a healthier relationship with food. When I heard about this part of the program, I was sold. I knew that even though I exercised 5x a week, there was something missing nutritionally that was standing in the way of my results. The program comes with digital access to over 40 videos that you have lifetime access to. You can watch them in chunks, binge them all at once, or just go back to the ones you need when you might be struggling with a craving or need a refresher.

You also get access to an iOS app where you can track all your food, a journal to use if you’re more of a paper/pencil type of gal, and a water bottle to help you always be ‘water first’.

2B Mindset for Breastfeeding Moms

I truly believe that 2B Mindset is the perfect program for a breastfeeding mom. I nursed my daughter until she was 19 months old and am currently still nursing my one year old AND have been able to lose weight at the same time. There are a lot of misconceptions about postpartum weight loss and breastfeeding and many times women either don’t eat enough or hold onto some body fat while they are nursing. This doesn’t mean though that it’s impossible to lose the weight! 2B mindset is 100% set up to help you have weight loss without feeling deprived.

One of the core principles of 2B Mindset is ‘water first’. This means that you are fueling and filling your body with all of the water it needs (and more) which is perfect for breastfeeding. I know that on days I don’t have enough water, my supply is down and my son is more fussy. By following the 2B mindset, you are ensuring that you have enough water to make your milk AND lose weight. (though I want to toss a disclaimer right here… I am NOT a doctor and every women is different so make sure you check with them if you have questions and follow your baby, and milk supply's, lead!) Another struggle I had when trying to lose weight while breastfeeding was that I was hungry ALL THE TIME. I felt like I constantly was eating and many times, I wasn’t eating the proper foods for my body. Because of this, I was either gaining weight or stuck in a weight loss plateau. And while it’s true that you burn calories while breastfeeding, everyone’s body is different and, if you’re just eating unhealthy foods to feel full, you won’t lose the weight anyway. The 2B mindset teaches you how to fuel your body the right way AND how to go back for more food if you still feel hungry! This was a game changer for me when it came to pushing passed my last plateau. I finally felt like I didn’t have to feel deprived but could still lose!

One of the toughest principles to follow (but I'm working on it!) is the ‘dinner and done’ principle. Most of my night time snacking is habit and I’ve found that on the night’s that I don’t eat after dinner, I almost always have a weight loss the next day. But, I also notice that on those nights I may wake up less engorged and just ‘flatter’ than normal. I nurse on demand so I don’t have a number to share but I can definitely notice a difference. If you find you need something to eat or your supply needs a little boost, adding in some veggies with a higher fat dip like hummus or guacamole might be an adjustment you make! Listen to your body and milk supply and feel it out!

2B Mindset Results

In the few months that I’ve been doing the 2B Mindset I’ve dropped nearly 20 pounds and can fit comfortably now in my pre pregnancy clothes. I feel a HUGE difference in my mindset and have inspired my husband to start the program too! I also have started making my kids plates similar to mine and I know that they are eating a TON more veggies and a lot less processed snacks. They are also filling up on water and I’ve noticed asking less for snack after snack after snack!

2B Mindset FAQ

The scariest part for many women when jumping into the 2B mindset is that part of it is to track your weight and use the scale daily. I struggled in the beginning because I really had ‘broken up with the scale’ during my last pregnancy. 2B mindset has allowed me to change my mindset around the scale. I no longer see it as ‘the enemy’ or something that will make me sad, but rather a tool to help me see what foods my body prefers. I’m not obsessing over the numbers but rather adjusting course as need be. This allows me to drop my "I’ll try again Monday” mentality and actually create lifestyle changes! I also wanted to share what Beachbody itself says about this program and breastfeeding moms... “La Leche League International advises breastfeeding moms to wait at least two months before making any drastic effort to lose weight, allowing their bodies to recover and to ensure a steadymilk supply. However, the 2B Mindset can help you get in the right frame of mind to makehealthy decisions for you and your baby so you can ultimately shed the baby weight. Remember, everybody is different, so you should consult your physician before starting this nutrition plan. Keep in mind that breastfeeding women may naturally lose 1 to 4 pounds per month simply due to the amount of energy required for nursing. You may notice a slight reduction in your milk supply at the start of this program, but it should quickly rebound so long as you continue to nurse frequently, drink plenty of water, eat according to the plan, sleep when you can, and keep your stress low. Some women may also see a decline in milk supply as their baby begins to transition to more solid foods, but that is to be expected for any nursing mother.”

2B Mindset Costs

2B mindset is an incredible program and completely worth the cost! Starting at $99 you can get the entire system with the videos! If you’re looking to incorporate exercise in as well, you should definitely get the package where you get a year to stream Beachbody on Demand AND the 2B Mindset access! This way you can have all the tools at your fingertips! If you decide to sign up for 2B Mindset with the link below, you’ll also get access to me as your personal coach to help guide you through! I run private support groups full of women doing the program with similar goals to be in each other’s corner! If you have any questions about which option is right for you, I’d love to setup a 15 minute FREE consultation so we can chat! Just head over here and fill out this form! If you’re ready to get started, go and grab it now! Email me once you do at coachingwithcara@gmail.com so we can get you into our health support group ASAP! And if you have any other questions, just leave them in the comments below!

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Podcast Episode 07 Mid Year Goal Check In

by caraharvey | Jun 27, 2019 | Podcast, Self Care | 0 Comments

Purpose Driven Mom Podcast Episode 07 Mid Year Goal Check In and Action Planning Today's episode will help you reflect on the first half of the year and create an action plan for the rest of the year. Grab your vision board, your planner and let's get goal...

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Healthy Toddler Breakfast Ideas

Does this sound like a situation you’ve been in before?

It’s morning time, you’ve barely had your coffee and you hear the kids getting up in the other room. You had a busy weekend so you didn’t get a chance to go to the grocery store and have no idea what to make them for breakfast. You know they need something healthy but right now, you can barely find enough cereal to fill a bowl and wish you had a better plan. You are tired of always having to think about what healthy foods to feed your toddler and wish you had a better system.

Yup… I’ve been there too.

This post may contain affiliate links which cost you nothing extra to use but may provide me with a commission. To read my full disclosure head on over here.

Toddlers are picky. Some days they love something and other days it’s the worst food ever. You may have to try super hard to get something healthy in them and other days they’ll eat the entire pint of blueberries you were hoping to enjoy too.

As our kids grow, it’s up to us to help build their taste buds and help them make healthier choices. Kids don’t know what sugar tastes like until we give it to them. As parents, it’s up to us to give them healthy choices, pray they don’t just throw it on the floor, and fuel their tiny little bodies so that they have all that energy to burn.

Now, before you go thinking we eat 100% whole foods, organic everything, and grow all of our own food (and there is nothing wrong with that!), we’re not there yet. I am currently in the slow transition to making our lives and home healthier which includes what we eat and the products that we put on our bodies. Right now though, we do our best to just make sure we are at least trying to get our kids to eat healthy.

But the thing is, it’s not easy. Tantrums are frequent in this house, I have time where I haven’t make our weekly shopping trip and it’s all about being creative in the kitchen, and sometimes we just choose whatever option is available.

So, I’ve come up with a simple system that we use in this house that allows out kids some choice, decreases the tantrums and makes it super easy to have anyone give the kids breakfast if I’m not home to make it.

What to Feed your Toddler

I like to use meals that are quick and easy to make and we are pretty much a ‘no frills’ home when it comes to breakfast. Breakfast is one of our favorite meals and often, we just grab a healthy shake and go, so I don’t go all out or make anything too fancy unless it’s a special occasion.

I also think it’s important to balance the kids food with the right things that they need. I make their breakfasts just like mine; 50% protein and 50% carbohydrate (and veggies are extra credit!). When I look at which carbs to give the kids, I look for ones that are Fiber Filled… fruits (not juice), whole grains, and high fiber foods. We try to stay away from things with white flour, added sugars, or artificially flavored stuff.

Daily Sunshine is our GO TO Shake for all of our kids! You can grab a sampler pack here!

I’ve created a super simple chart that I keep on the side of our refrigerator so that anyway can create a balanced breakfast. This is super helpful for my 11 year old step son. He makes his own breakfasts about half the time and knows to go right to the chart and pick one thing from the carb column and one thing from the protein column. If it was up to him to make breakfasts he’d probably just have bacon with a side of bacon.

The things is at breakfast time we need BOTH carbs and protein. Protein will keep us and the kids full until the next meal and the carbs give us the energy to get through the morning. You want to make sure you balance protein and carb and not just give them two carbs (like waffles with fruit).

As for protein sizes, I really just eyeball what I know my kids will eat. With toddlers, I think it’s important to give them less to begin with to eliminate waste, otherwise my dog will eat most of it. I use this same system for my 10 month old as well. He and my daughter will have the same breakfast so I don’t have to make anything else and I will just cut his food into smaller pieces.

Check out the chart that we use in our house and, if you want to print one for your house, just drop your email! You’ll get hooked up with my weekly mom newsletter and as a gift, you get your own version of the chart to use in your home!

Easy Breakfast Recipes

I’m not much of a cook but, this year I made a goal to make more of an effort in the kitchen and to make as much from scratch as possible. That means that I always make a huge batch of pancakes, am drooling over this waffle maker I want to buy, and try to mix it up with some new recipes every few weeks.

I’ve also found some awesome, healthy and toddler approved recipes for you!!! Head over to check these yummy recipes out to add to your breakfast chart!

Kid-Friendly Breakfast Broccoli from On My Kids Plate

Apple Protein Muffins from One Clever Chef

Healthy Breakfast Bowls from 5 Minutes for Mom

Kid Friendly Avocado Toast from Theresa’s Reviews

Blender Spinach Muffins from Joy Food Sunshine

Yogurt Fruit Breakfast Pizza from Finding Zest

Hope these tips help you feel more in control during breakfast and ready to take on the mornings! Keep it simple, balance what your kids need, and fuel them right!

Don’t forget to jump over and get your own chart to post in your home and, if this was helpful, make sure you share it on Facebook or PIN it for later!

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by caraharvey | Jun 29, 2019 | Mom Life, Momprenuer Life, Organization, Systems and Routines | 0 Comments

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by caraharvey | Jun 28, 2019 | Self Care, Systems and Routines | 0 Comments

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Podcast Episode 07 Mid Year Goal Check In

by caraharvey | Jun 27, 2019 | Podcast, Self Care | 0 Comments

Purpose Driven Mom Podcast Episode 07 Mid Year Goal Check In and Action Planning Today's episode will help you reflect on the first half of the year and create an action plan for the rest of the year. Grab your vision board, your planner and let's get goal...

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The Best Way To Organize Your Goals

Creating a Goal Setting System

I’ m a goal setting junkie, like I’m sure most of us are around January 1st.

Does this sound like you;

Dream big about what you want out of life.
Get a new notebook or planner and make a million lists.
Decide THIS is the year you focus on you.
Have a really great first few days or week once you’ve picked your goals.
Life gets busy.
You forget about your goals.
You get put on the backburner.
Those notebooks get lost on the junk table.
The end of the year comes and you have no idea if you’ve even gotten any closer to achieving those goals.

It sounds like me a lot of times too. I am the queen of buying cute notebooks, love to write things on my to-do list just so I can cross it off, and love to dream big. But I also love data. I love systems. And I love giving myself a gold star whenever I achieve even a small goal.

This post may contain affiliate links which cost you nothing extra to use but help me fund this page. To read my full disclosure head on over here.

Organizing Your Goals

I got tired of all the paper clutter and making lists that I never checked in on, so I knew that I had to find a system that would work better for me.

Enter Trello.

Trello is an online website and app that allows you to create charts, workflows, and organize anything in your life. It is PERFECT for creating goal charts that you will actually check, stick to, and accomplish.

If you’re typically a paper and pencil girl, stick with me on this. While Trello may move you into the digital age, it will also help you check in with your goals more and keep them organized. Trello lets me see what I’m prioritizing for the current and next few months, shows me where I may not be as balanced, and lets me have a massive thought catcher for things i want to accomplish, suggestions other people give me, link and website I want to check out, all while tracking my progress towards me goals.

Trello is perfect for us busy moms who already have a million things to remember. We don’t need another paper system that might get thrown away or colored in by our toddler. We need our own space that will sync up with our phones and give us alerts and reminders when it’s time to kick butt and work on us. It’s super simple to use and is much more streamlined than putting a million notes in your phone that you forget to look at (guilty!)

I want to share with you a step by step walkthrough on how I use and create boards on Trello to track my goals and keep my life less of a hot mess! I’ve already done a few other videos that you can check out on how I organize my prayer time, cleaning routines, and birthday party organization so make sure you go and read those too!

You can watch the video above to create the board with me or just read through the steps below! You also can directly copy my board and save it to edit with your own goals!

Step #1: How to Copy My Boards

If you want to copy the board, you’ll need a Trello account to do so but it’s free so that rocks. Once you log in and go to the link, head right on over to the right where it says SHOW MENU. Next, hit the MORE button and hit COPY BOARD. When you copy the board, you can decide if you want to rename it and where you want it to go. Feel free to use it as a template, to get ideas, and customize however you want!

Step #2: Create Workflow Cards

The first thing that you’ll want to do is create lists with all of the headings for your goals. I suggest creating a list of the general topics such as;

-Personal

-Professional

-Social

-Finance

-Health

I also like to create lists for the time frames I want to complete them. This allows me to really be focused on a goal because I can drag the appropriate cards over to either ‘This Month” or “Next Month” or even “December” and know that I have a plan for when I will complete them.

Under each list, create cards for that specific goal. For example, if your list is ‘health goals’ you could create a goal card that says ‘lose 15 pounds’, ‘run a half marathon’, or ‘track my meals’. Dream big and create whatever goals your heart desires! If you need help figuring out what areas of your life could use a boost or how to create goals, check out this series I did on just that!

Step #3 Breakdown Cards

After you’ve created each card, you can customize them to not only keep lists of things you need to do to accomplish your goal, but a timeline of when it will happen, and links you might want to check out. I tend to always add things to Pinterest but forget to go back to them when I need them! I like to add them to my Trello cards for that specific goal so, when I am ready, it’s just a click away.

I suggest putting a few checklists on each card. You can create one for things you need to do AND create one to track what gets done. For example, if a goal of yours is to read 2 books a month, you can have a checklist with books you want to read or that others have suggested to you and a second checklist that tracks if you’ve accomplished it. This might say “January Book 1” and “January Book 2”.

If you don’t track the progress to your goals, how will you know if you’ve achieved it! And instead of using a separate planner or checklist, Trello allows you to keep the to-do list AND the tracker in one spot!

On the right-hand side, you can also add in labels to organize what type of goal they are or maybe what month you want to complete the goal in. This will let you see a big picture of your goals when you glance at your board as a whole.

The right-hand column of each card gives you a ton of things that you can use to customize the card. You can add in a due date of when you will accomplish something or a LINK or IMAGE you want to go back to later! These are listed under ATTACHMENTS and, as I previously mentioned, are the perfect place to put blog articles or PINS you come across and want to check out!

Trello is a super easy and efficient way to track goals, progress, and remember to take care of what matters to YOU too! Hopefully, this tutorial helped you feel ready to conquer the world (and decrease paper clutter!)

Did this help you get organized?? Loved some tips? Do me a fav?? Hit that Share or PIN IT to help another mama!

More Resources To Maximize Your Productivity

How to Set Your Week up for Success

Using a Time Blocking Template As a Busy Mom (Free Download)

by caraharvey | Jun 29, 2019 | Mom Life, Momprenuer Life, Organization, Systems and Routines | 0 Comments

What is time blocking and how to use a time blocking template? Time blocking your schedule is a must have time management strategy for moms! When you time block, you are looking at your schedule in a way that gives you flexibility AND structure Time blocking...

Successful Goal Setting in 3 Steps

by caraharvey | Jun 28, 2019 | Self Care, Systems and Routines | 0 Comments

Successful Goal Setting in 3 Easy Steps Successful goal setting doesn't have to be hard! It's something we often put off because we don't want to take the time to goal set. It can be hard to reflect on what hasn't worked, or what we haven't accomplished or even to...

Podcast Episode 07 Mid Year Goal Check In

by caraharvey | Jun 27, 2019 | Podcast, Self Care | 0 Comments

Purpose Driven Mom Podcast Episode 07 Mid Year Goal Check In and Action Planning Today's episode will help you reflect on the first half of the year and create an action plan for the rest of the year. Grab your vision board, your planner and let's get goal...

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Hey Mama!! Want to Make Breakfast Easier?

Creating a Goal Setting System

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Step #1: How to Copy My Boards

Step #2: Create Workflow Cards

Step #3 Breakdown Cards

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