New Traditions

Here's to new traditions! We just got back from our first camping trip since going Paleo and none of my fears were realized. It was also the first time we had seen my husbands family since going Paleo and I was a little apprehensive about the response we would get from them.  Of course, they took one look at us and were amazed at the physical transformation. Not just the weight that my husband and I had lost but our children's countenance was so different.  Gone where the puffy faces and tired eyes.  Rebekah, our 11 year old who has  severe allergies, looked and acted so differently that they were intrigued.  Of course, they were also intrigued by the fact that my husband, the well know beer connoisseur, was no longer drinking beer. (Really, you have to know him to know what a big deal this is.) Anyway, there was the normal ribbing about having bun less hot dogs (nitrate/nitrite free) and hamburgers, and not eating potato chips or having smores (how can you deprive your children!) but overall they were very respectful and towards the end of the week I think they were a little curious about this whole "Paleo thing". Now, I'm not saying we didn't make concessions. We did. I bought a fruit/nut mix with greek yogurt chips in it. I also bought some sweet potato chips that were cooked in sunflower oil and we had corn chips with salsa. The children also got to have hot chocolate. Most of the concessions I made were "legal" but I must say there is a fine line here. Just because something is "legal" does not mean it's profitable or "healthy". When we are home we do not eat chips, I just don't think they are the best choice and given the choice between sweet potato or corn chips and carrots my children will always choose chips,so I don't give them the choice.  Hot chocolate is a treat and one we only enjoy in the cold morning air around a campfire. Some concessions I was not willing to make. I don't care if someone comes up with a "Paleo" marshmallow, we will not eat it, even as a treat. So smores are out. But you know what, my kids didn't miss them. They didn't even ask for them. I made some gf cookies and brownies before we left and we were allowed to have one every night.  Even then we forgot most nights and we came home with most of the brownies (we broke out the cookies one night when friends were visiting so those went fast). My point is this, we are the ones who create our traditions. I noticed that for my kids it was more about the bonding around the campfire; the time spent playing games, telling stories, and singing songs, than it was about the food. I was the one who put so much emphasis on the food. The kids didn't care about the food, they cared about being with us, creating memories that would last a lifetime.
I would love to hear about some of the traditions that you are creating with your family, whether or not they are "food centered". How do you celebrate important milestones? What do you do different than you did before?