Raines Realm

Have you ever had that moment where you just finished cooking dinner after a stressful, hectic, crazy day, and its much later than your family's normal dinner time, and as you triumphantly announce that its ready, you realize that the table has not been set? Now dinner is getting cold while everyone pitches in, grabbing the plates, saucers, flatware, glasses, napkins, and condiments. Dinner is now cold. What's the solution? Everyone knows that I am a big planner. I am a firm believer that meal planning can make life so much easier. And meal planning is crucial for this habit to work. Its best if you know what the next meal is going to be, or at least have a basic idea of what it will consist. You can find more information on meal planning and prep  here . After you clear the table following a meal, set it for the next meal. Simple right? At minimum, put out the plates, saucers, and cloth napkins. Then, if you have children they can put out the flatware and condiments whi...

The holidays bring lots of delicious treats and and decadent dishes filled with nostalgia. And, we want to enjoy everything which generally means we sacrifice a few pounds on the scale to be able to have a little bit of everything. And that's okay, but now we want the weight gone! Here's the best habit to help you bounce back and maintain your weight. Stop snacking. I know, I know, even when it's not a holiday, we are bombarded with snack foods. Chips and dip, snack bars, candies, cookies, cakes, hand-held foods in every shape, size, and color. No food is off-limits, but you need not eat them in between meals to enjoy them. When you snack throughout the day, you're not allowing your body to truly be hungry at meal times. You're also adding in a lot of extra calories that your body really does not need. In a society surrounded by snack foods and the fourth meal drive thru option, we have become scared of hunger. Hunger is good. Not starving, but being hungry f...

With Thanksgiving fast approaching, it's time to take a heartfelt look at all of the things we sometimes take for granted. One of the biggest things is probably the dining room table. Eating at the table can be a magical experience. Its also very practical and beneficial for everyone. Sharing meals at the table has always been an excellent way to truly connect with others. When we eat with others, we tend to have improved communication. This is important for family and friends alike, but especially for children. Studies have concluded that children who eat at the table 5 or more times a week had better grades and lower rates of smoking, drinking and illegal drug use. Manners were also much more developed. Enjoying meals at the table is also connected to more mindful eating. We generally eat slower and can better understand our body's full signals. We can also focus on the tastes of our food and truly enjoy it. The table is the stage where our meals are allowe...