Note: I was compensated for my time on this campaign.

I have always been obsessed with learning about food & nutrition. I took Nutrition classes in high school & college, and while I would never claim to be the cleanest eater {I eat primarily healthy foods, but many times in more convenient, less “clean” form}, I am mindful of what I’m eating and am always watching the newest documentaries about food, nutrition, and clean eating. In fact, for awhile now I have been wanting to start slowly transitioning my family to a clean eating lifestyle, and so when I had the opportunity to listen in on a presentation from Michelle Dudash and The Motherhood, I jumped on the chance!

Michelle Dudash is a registered dietitian, Cordon Bleu-certified chef, and the author of Clean Eating for Busy Families. &Most importantly, she’s someone who really gets it. After listening to her presentation & having the opportunity to ask her my own questions, I was so impressed with how real her views are that I actually purchased her book on the spot, even though I was never asked to & was not paid to do so. I could just tell that if anyone could help me transition my family, it was her.

So what were some of her tips? A few of my favorites are below:

-Get rid of unclean ingredients. These get in the way &you can find things easier. {Not to mention you’ll be less tempted to use them if they aren’t already in your home.}

-Showcase your produce and keep healthy foods within arm’s reach. When foods are easier to see, you’re more likely to eat them.

-Make monthly & weekly shopping trips. Stock up on the essentials {like brown rice, whole grain pasta, canned tomatoes, olive oil, etc.} during your monthly trip. Stock up your pantry! During your weekly trip, pick up proteins & produce that you will need to get through the week. If you get your pantry staples monthly, your weekly trips will be much shorter!

-Cook once, eat twice. Cooking a bigger batch of a versatile ingredient like chicken can save you time in the kitchen. You can use it for dinner one night & lunch the next!

-Get kids in the kitchen. This is a big one for me as it always helps me to get Shane to eat. Kids are more interested in food that they see being made, and they’re much more likely to try it if they help you make it.

-Make lunches the night before. It’s more tempting to grab convenience foods when you’re in a rush in the morning. Make it the night before to avoid stressful mornings.

-Keep it simple. A formula for an easy but healthy dinner is one that contains a protein, vegetable and grain. Bonus points if you get them all into one dish, like a casserole or stew.

I asked Michelle what three foods she finds herself reaching for most often & what I should incorporate into my meals. She responded:

Three is tough! When it comes to meals alone, I will say I almost always cook with extra virgin olive oil and I keep it close! I use freshly ground black pepper in almost everything because you’re adding flavor without calories or sodium. We keep spaghetti sauce in my house and use it on a weekly basis. Cooked tomatoes are also very nutritious, economical and convenient. Brown rice is definitely another staple that I keep on hand, but remember it takes a little bit longer to cook. (Put the lid on to speed up cooking!) Lastly, we always have a variety of whole grain pastas. I like the ones that have a little bit of legume flour and whole grains.

The minute she mentioned that she enjoys pasta, I knew I could totally do this clean eating thing!

Whether eating clean or not, we can all agree that breakfast is an important meal, especially for kids. But thousands of kids go to school each day hungry, without enough food or money to eat before school. This March, the Walmart Foundation donated $6.7 million in grants to 5 national nonprofits that are providing children with school breakfast and helping families develop better eating habits. The grants are part of Walmart & the Walmart Foundation’s $2 billion commitment through 2015 to help fight hunger in America. You can learn more about Walmart’s commitment to school feeding & nutrition education at WalmartFoundation.org.

What is your favorite clean {or generally healthy} eating tip for busy families?