Sometimes I feel badly about the way I eat - too much sugar, not enough fruits and veggies and whole grains - and then I go grocery shopping and see what everyone else has in their carts. No, my diet isn't perfect, but I'm doing a hell of a lot better than the average American, and I've come a long way, myself.

For one thing, whenever I went shopping, I used to always get myself either a 20oz of soda (Pepsi or Vanilla Coke, back when they made Vanilla Coke) or a Frappuccino - I rationalized that the Frappuccinos were healthier than the sodas because they at least had milk, and therefore, protein, calcium and vitamin D. (Never mind the sugar and caffeine!) Now, I get a bottle of juice, but only if they have Dole Pineapple Peach Mango. Otherwise I just drink the bottle of water that is always in my bag.

As a matter of fact, I don't buy soda anymore at all - which is pretty huge, considering that I used to buy 2 2-liter bottles every time I went grocery shopping - and I usually ended up going out for more halfway through the week. I don't even buy a 6-pack of Kit Kats or a bag of Peanut Butter M&M's anymore.

I don't buy things like Lunchables or Trix-Flavored Yogurt or "fruit drinks" whose top two ingredients are water and high-fructose corn syrup. I do still buy lunchmeat, but I prefer roasting a turkey breast for dinner and slicing up the leftovers for sandwiches. Today I bought a tub of Stoneyfield Farms organic lowfat vanilla yogurt (which tastes SO much yummier than Yoplait or Dannon, by the way). Every week I buy a big jug of apple juice and a carton of Orange-Peach-Mango, both 100% juice.

If I buy chips, they're plain tortilla chips, and if I buy crackers or bagels, they're usually whole wheat. My bread is 100% whole wheat, too. Today I had to buy all-purpose flour (because you can't always use whole-wheat) so I got organic, unbleached all-purpose flour. On an average week, half of my cart is taken up with fresh fruits, veggies and herbs, and I buy organic frozen veggies as well. I buy whole grains and legumes from the bulk bins at the natural foods store, and yes, my toddler drinks chocolate milk, but it is all-natural, organic chocolate syrup in organic soy milk (he is lactose intolerant).

I have been told that I am wasting money by buying organic, all-natural foods and that it would be better for my family to save the money on groceries. But I am down to my pre-pregnancy weight (I was in the best shape of my life when I got pregnant, by the way), I recovered from major surgery in no time at all, and the baby had one stomach virus, no major colds and no ear infections during his first year of life. Could any of this have to do with the way we eat? I think so! (And since I buy most of this at the Comissary, I'm only spending maybe five or six extra dollars a week anyway - and I think my family's health is worth the investment!)

So while I know that I still have a ways to go, nutrition-wise (I must admit that I bought a Hershey's with Almonds today), I think that overall, I'm doing pretty darn well.