7:20 a.m. -- Start the day trying to eat right. Make protein shake while family is still asleep. Blender wakes up children, husband, and dog.
7:31 a.m. -- Prepare whole wheat, whole grain toast. Oldest child prefers bagels. Prepare whole wheat, whole grain bagels with homemade jam. Oldest child prefers honey. Prepare whole wheat, whole grain bagels with local wildflower honey. Oldest child takes one bite and spills on shirt.
7:46 a.m. -- Nibble on sandwich crusts while packing school lunches. Help oldest child find clean shirt.
8:05 a.m. -- Send two of three kids to school with Dad. All grumbling, but at least all gone.
8:13 a.m. -- Forgot to drink protein shake. Reblend. Tastes like oatmeal left out in the rain. Eat kids' cold toast and bagels instead.
9:06 a.m. -- Pack snack for 2-year-old and head to stroller fitness. Cut out of class early when child declares hunger. Realize he ate no breakfast. Spread out mini-picnic near playground. Child eats one bite of granola bar then runs to the slide. You check messages on phone and eat remaining popcorn, granola bar and applesauce. Child returns, hungry. Offer tomato juice that was to have been grown-up snack. Child refuses. Drink tomato juice yourself.
11:41 a.m. -- Head home to make lunch. Child hungry en route. Duck into coffee shop to purchase another granola bar. Decide to skip lunch in favor of green smoothie. Ask barista to add pineapple juice to make it palatable. Ask barista to add more. Still tastes like salad left out in the rain.
12:10 p.m. -- Home for lunch. Child wants quesadillas and macaroni. Look at mac and cheese box -- no whole grains! Opt for quesadillas on whole grain, whole wheat tortillas. Child snacks on pieces of cheddar cheese while waiting. Child refuses quesadilla when offered. Consider refrigerating, but remember the incident with the Parmesan cheese last week. Eat quesadilla yourself.
12:35 p.m. -- Time to pick up middle child from school. Consider biking. Waste so much time applying sunscreen and finding hats that now have to drive. Arrive outside of classroom. Youngest child, hungry again, spots sister's lunchbox in cubby. Child gnaws leftover sandwich. Check messages on phone and eat whole grain chips yourself.
12:57 p.m. -- Middle child is hungry on the way home. Scavenge through the glove box for granola bar. Share old gummy bears instead.
1:11 p.m. -- Arrive home. Decide to stave off afternoon cravings with a salad. Start washing greens. Stop to play Barbies, matchbox cars, blocks and ponies. Forget to make salad. Realize nothing is thawing for dinner. Remember article about quinoa as good source of protein.
2:05 p.m. -- Search Internet for how to get children to eat quinoa. Find website about sneaking vegetables and whole grains into everyday foods. Favorite it. Find recipe for adding quinoa to muffins. Favorite it. Read article about evils of gluten.
3:00 p.m. -- Pick up oldest child from school. Child asks for snack on the way to swim practice. Even though this was subject of long lecture last week, you forgot to pack the vegetables about which you harangued. Stop at gas station and buy granola bars for everyone. Grab pretzels and toss in glove box for a rainy day.
4:17 p.m. -- Share bag of pretzels with younger children while waiting for oldest to finish practice.
6:31 p.m. -- Decide to end the day with healthy dinner. Serve gluten-free quinoa muffins, grilled cheese and zucchini sandwiches (on whole grain bread) and oven-roasted cauliflower.
6:32 p.m. -- Everyone cries.
7:03 p.m. -- Argue with oldest child about purpose of homework. Refuse middle child a snack when complains of hunger. Discover 2-year-old eating granola bar in the garage. Holler a little. Throw children in baths. Eat one muffin while cleaning up kitchen. Eat another while folding laundry. Consider blending remaining muffins into tomorrow's protein shake.
8:15 p.m. -- Read books, apologize for yelling and tuck children into bed. Return to kitchen.
8:45 p.m. -- Feel hungry.