“Haste Makes Waste”- The Book of Wisdom (190 BC) When I was a kid my mom often threw that phrase at me as I was rushing around. She was usually right because I’d end up making a mess or a mistake, which meant I had to clean up or start again. Sheesh—annoying! My Paddy was […]
I asked my mom if she would share her memories of growing up in a large family (she’s one of 9 kids) in the 1950s-60s and what it took to feed everyone. My mom wrote, “It was always a challenge feeding a large family. In the summer growing up, we ate what was growing in […]
Happy Early Australia Day! (Australia Day is January 25th) My husband immigrated from Australia more than 20 years ago but still has cravings for his childhood favorite foods. Because our kids are half Australian, and we want them to know the culture, we’ve baked lamingtons, cooked meat pies, pikelets, and rissoles. And they’ve all grown up […]
Lately, I’ve had the opportunity to be reminded of the power of choice. Giving kids some age-appropriate control & choices around food can really reduce power struggles. For a tween/teen, choice could look like asking them to make a meal plan and actually letting them do it, regardless of what they put on the menu. […]
Sometimes teenagers tell me “I want to be healthier, but I don’t have the willpower & motivation to keep with it”. We spend some time untangling what they really mean and then get down to making a plan. Here’s the thing: willpower & motivation are overrated and will only get you so far. What we […]
New Year’s Resolutions are BS. This time of year is baloney….”A New Year, A New You!” Yuck. First off–you are fantastic, just the way you are! You don’t need a “resolution” to transform yourself into whatever crock is being marketed at you. New Year’s resolutions are often too bold and un-doable, meaning we fail and […]
Frozen veggies & fruits to the rescue! It’s a common myth out there that the best veggie is a fresh veggie. I’m here to bust that myth for you—-frozen veggies & fruits can actually be MORE nutritious than fresh. It’s because they’re processed (frozen) quickly after harvest and so retain more of their nutrients. But, […]
It’s time once again to rant about my biggest Pet Peeve: hiding veggies in foods. I understand the motivation! Parents who are worried that their kids won’t eat veggies resort to adding them secretly to smoothies, muffins, pancakes, and pizza sauce and buy products that tout that they have “hidden veggies” in their products. Here’s […]
I firmly believe that sharing food is a way to connect with others. Think about it. When we go out with friends we often meet at a favorite restaurant; holidays can revolve around traditional foods and when new neighbors move in we bring them a plate of cookies to welcome them to our community. Food IS connection. […]
Eggs are a nutritional powerhouse! Quick to prepare, satiating, and pair with lots of other foods (toast, fruits & veggies!). One of my favorite ways to prepare them is by hard boiling them. Sometimes kids tell me that they don’t like hard-boiled eggs—the white part is rubbery, the yolk is dry with a green, smelly […]