Navigating the food pyramid for a healthier me.

I've been thinking alot lately about my diet since my husband got diagnosed with high cholesterol, and what I can do to make not only our family's diet better but also mine to help with getting a fitter and healthier body. The saying "you are what you eat" couldn't be more true. Now if we look at the food pyramid below:
The bottom part of the pyramid which is the largest states you should be eating more veggies, beans, lentils, cereals, bread, fruit and nuts. I love my veggies & lentils - and I eat a tonne of those but the rest are slightly put aside. It's not that I don't like fruit, but in winter I struggle to eat a cold piece of fruit when the weather is equally as cold. And the only real nuts I like are almonds but I always seem to forget to buy them and when I do, I can't stop at a handful. Bread, not a big fan unless I am eating a sandwich - must be multigrain though.

Next level up is the meat, fish, chicken, eggs, milk, yoghurt section. Meat, I love but have trouble digesting it. So I tend to only eat it once or twice a week at best. Absolutely love chicken and what the chicken has to offer, and have been focusing on buying the best quality - free range chooks and eggs around. My brother in law manages a chook farm and I get 30 eggs a fortnight. YUM. They are the biggest eggs and so orange yolked - delicious. In terms of the dairy section - I have not had milk since I was about 2 years of age. Don't like the smell or taste to have it on it's own or even as a milkshake. But I can add it to things in cooking, but this still doesn't amount to having the required daily amount. Thank god for supplements.

The top section I probably don't really need to mention because I don't use margarine at all for myself and I only use olive oil sparingly in the cooking anyways. Sugar is probably my only "naughty", but I compensate by using raw sugar.

The one thing I know I don't do is drink enough water. I drink alot of coffee - 4 to 5 cups a day and I really should stop this. This is only serving to dehydrate me more, and considering the body really needs water to function correctly - I am really doing it an injustice.

So last night I served up the yummiest dinner - Butter Chicken and Salad Corn Wraps served with a spread of hummus. What do you think?
It was so very yummy. And the kiddlets just loved it, even my fussy youngest son who ended up devouring 3 rolls worth. But my quest for supreme nutritional intake has taken me one step further. I have been listening alot to a Triathlon podcast by Chris Elmore on TriTopics and his friend Rick Kattouf from Team Kattouf speak alot about nutrition and how to use it to enhance your sporting performance. So I sent an email to Chris and Rick a couple of days ago and today I will be speaking to Rick personally about the possibility of having a coaching plan for my nutrition. I am so excited. Rick's credentials are amazing and if I can even just have a smidge of his expertise in the sporting arena I will be an absolutely happy woman.

Will keep you all updated.