Healthy (not) fried zucchini

I am certainly a fan of the fried zucchini from Carl's Jr., however, more and more the greasy heavy side dish no longer agrees with me. Thank you, Google.
Search the term "breaded zucchini baked" or something of the like and you can choose from a variety of recipes.  Mine was simple.  I threw Italian seasoned breadcrumbs, parmesean, and garlic powder together. Zucchini was sliced thick, coated with flour, dipped in egg mixed with milk, and tossed in the breadcrumbs.  Baked for 15 minutes they came out brown & crunchy. So good with ranch!
P.S. No measurements are given because I didn't measure. I just used the recipe for reference.

10 ways I keep my kids healthy

1. Make my own flour- I got a Vitamix dry container for grains. Now I can grind my own flour out of whole grains.
2. Make bread myself- I got a breadmaker so that I could control what goes into the bread.
3. Make green smoothies- Back to the Vitamix...for the most part, I don't give the monkey juice (store bought). He drinks ground up fruit and veggies.
4. Use cloth diapers- Yes, its not for everyone, but it was never a question for me.
5. Make my own detergent- Most detergents have chemicals, fragrances, and colors that are not safe, so I decided to start making my own on the advice of an Ace employee.
6. Use simple cleaners- I switched cleaners to simple ingredients like baking soda, lemon juice, vinegar, hydrogen peroxide, etc...
7. Limit TV- The monkey is 2 now, but I still limit his TV to half an hour if I can.
8. Involve the monkey- I give the monkey age appropriate jobs. He helps me grocery shop, cook, launder, and clean. I believe that teaching him now will help him make healthy choices later.
9. Allow the monkey to walk- When we're in the store, he walks around the store. In the middle of summer (now, in California)
10. Breastfeed- I nursed the monkey for a year and plan on the same for the elf. It's just "easier" and definitely less expensive.

Droppin' it like it's hot (or on reaching 170)

No, it's not the d-word!

Many things contributed to my weight gain during my pregnancy with Monkey Z. By the time Monkey Z was born I gained at least 60 lbs. To my horror, I peaked at 221. I had never been so overweight until then. If anything, I was underweight and prided myself on having healthy eating and exercise habits. During the pregnancy, I picked up some bad habits that were not really too difficult to drop. Like I said, many things contributed to my weight gain. More significantly (and to my relief), many things are contributing to my post-partum weight loss.

In the last month, I have dropped about 10 pounds, which is still within normal limits. I am not going out of my way to lose weight. Besides weight loss is not my only goal. I would like to tone up as well. I have a goal, be it lofty. but nonetheless a goal: be able to fit into a size M at Forever 21. I do not know how realistic it is, but I am hoping that I can reach it before the second child wreaks its havoc upon my girlish figure. I realize that I may need to give up a few more of my bad habits, however, I know I've done pretty well so far. To date, I have dropped about 50 lbs. Of note, I think a few good habits in particular have contributed.

1. No/very little commercially produced bread- I bought a breadmaker and stopped buying bread from the store. Fresh bread or pizza dough tastes better anyway and I know I'll get my money's worth.
2. Green smoothie daily- We bought a Vitamix blender. Not cheap, but it is now indespensible! B-chan makes me a drink every day using fresh whole fruit and vegetables, like kale and spinach. It has definitely increased my intake of those foods and boosted the weight loss.
3. Nursing- It's no secret. Nursing uses up some of your fat stores and burns a lot of calories.
4. Walking- Going for walks with Monkey Z helps get me out of the house. Lately, I haven't gone because he was sick recently, but it certainly cuts down the cabin fever and the ability to munch all day.
5. Being mindful of what I eat- I know that Z gets what I eat, so I want to be careful what I put into my body. Also, I know that the majority of my foods' nutrition goes to nourish him, so it's really important that I get enough nutrition to support the both of us.
6. Eating less in general- I know I am still eating for two in a way, but I know that portion control is important for weight loss. Besides, I barely have time to eat, as it is, let alone cook a large meal.
7. Eating more whole grains (whole foods in general)- Oatmeal for breakfast, brown rice, quinoa, milliet, etc. have all replaced commercially produced bread/starches. Also, Every meal that I eat includes vegetables, even breakfast. A good idea is to cut out processed foods as much as possible
8. Allow a treat every so often- My incurable sweet tooth sometimes takes over and will not let me rest until I have something sweet. I am learning to exercise restraint and enjoy sweets in moderation, and I know I have a long hard road ahead of me. If, I allow myself something every once in a while, I know that I will continue to practice my good eating habits.

These are the habits that have worked for me. Like I said at the beginning, it's not the d-word because I am not interested in a quick fix, rather a lifestyle change.

Please share your good eating habits and other things that help you stay healthy. Thank you!