As someone who keeps a blog that posts a lot of recipes and talks about food, you would think that I was someone who loves to cook and be in the kitchen. That perhaps I read cookbooks for fun or really enjoyed hosting dinner parties with friends and that we laughed in my magazine perfect kitchen while I prepared foods with complicated names and expensive ingredients.
That couldn't be further from the truth. I have never loved cooking. It is pretty low on the list of things that I have to do and some people enjoy. Most days, I don't even like it at all. But here I am, getting to write a blog about it and you might be wondering why I spend so much time writing about something that isn't my passion.
Because taking care of my family IS my passion and a few years ago, I learned that feeding them healthy food, having family meals and being active together was one of the best ways that I could take care of them.
I learned these things from Food $ense classes. One of the very coolest things about these classes are that they are offered all over the state of Utah, I promise, you do really have some in your area!
Or you can do what I did and learn all about it online.
Maybe you have seen us your local Farmer's Market, or at a community event. Maybe you have received a copy of our Yearly Cookbook. Or even got a copy of our Newsletter.
I took a brave step into this world that would mean a lot of changes for me and for my family. I wouldn't have thought twice about picking up dinner 4-5 times a week at a fast food restaurant. I may have even thought, look at what a good mom I am being - able to afford this "luxury" and taking my kids to such a fun place. I would say, Let's get our work done and we'll go get a soda. But I was beginning to realize that these things that I was doing that I thought were so good for my family was actually hurting them.
It has been such a journey. I was so scared to begin. I didn't know where to start or if I could keep up with it, what if I failed, like I always did on the crazy diets? I had so many questions and I felt so unqualified to start.
Then I thought about it like riding a bike. You don't expect to just know how to ride a bike and then you just start riding a bike because you already know how. Nobody starts something for the first time because they already know how to do it. It makes so much sense when you think of it that way. You begin this journey, BECAUSE you don't know how to do it!
And you aren't going to be perfect at it, no one is. And that is the beauty of it. You'll start to make one good choice at a time, and then another and another and each choice for the better helps you to create a healthier life for you and the people that you love.
Please don't think that you can't begin just because you are not already perfect at it.
Please don't think that when you show up for a class that you'll be the only one there that has never poached an egg ( I Still never have done that!)
Please don't think that because you have never bought spinach that no one in your family will want to eat it. - My kids and husband eat things I would never have guessed they would. In fact, the other day, I picked up fast food meals for the kids and headed to my mom's office for a picnic. We got the kids all set up and they were excited for their toys and yogurts and my mom opened an avocado, Charlie immediately abandoned his cheeseburger and ate her entire avocado and my poor mom was forced to eat a cheeseburger for lunch.
I don't get to sit here and say, Oh yes! I have always fed my kids the finest avocados and so of course they love them. It shocked me more than anyone else. This journey is always surprising and fresh and new for me. I am always learning something new and sometimes things don't work out well at all, and I am learning that is okay too - there is no such thing as perfectly healthy or a perfect diet, there is only such a thing as people trying to be better everyday.
If you are looking for a place to start, Please try Food Sense. The classes are always free, they have yummy samples and things to share, the teachers are compassionate and knowledgeable and so real! If classes with a group aren't you thing, Join our online community and read our blogs, connect with us on social media and become a part of our community of people who want a better life for themselves and people they love.
Better health doesn't come because people already know it all, Better health is created everyday by tiny little choices that we all can make.
