There are certain themes that reoccur frequently in my blogs. Just for fun I started making a list, and I may post it sometime as a future blog.

On of the themes is that while I follow the BTD fairly closely, my family is much freer and looser with their compliance. They have seen noticeable benefits from changes I've made in the way I prepare their food, but they are not ready to give up all their favorite avoids. I do not want to push them so much that they rebel and reject the BTD.

This makes me a little more relaxed in the way that I shop for them. For instance, my daughter happily substituted protein bars for candy bars or packaged pastries. She carries them with her to sporting events and on field trips. She takes a bit of pride in the fact that she isn't eating junk food like her friends.

I don't worry about whether every ingredient in a protein bar is beneficial for Type As. As long as the first ingredient is soy or rice and the sweeteners are further down the list I know she's better off than she would be at a vending machine.

I have the same philosophy about veggie burgers. My husband and daughter gave up hamburgers easily and don't miss them at all. They both enjoy veggie burgers that have a hamburger-like texture and flavor. When I first started buying them, I checked the ingredient lists to be sure that they were primarily soy based. I knew to stay away from chickpea burgers.

Though I'm more relaxed when I shop for them, I was reminded again this week that I must stay diligent. I had received a coupon for a new brand of veggie burgers. Instead of being in the frozen foods, they were with the fresh refrigerated foods. They were bigger than most veggie burgers, and looked very appetizing. I put a package in my cart, but just before I walked away I remembered to check the ingredients. The first two were hydrolyzed wheat protein and whey.

These weren't veggie burgers! They were totally artificial! I don't remember which I did first wad up the coupon or put the burgers back on the shelf. It's a tricky balance - being relaxed enough that my family cooperates with the BTD, but diligent enough to keep harmful food off the table.