It has often been said that if you want your kids to pick up your values, you have to be intentional about it. Unfortunately we can’t assume that they will always “get” what we want them to just by hanging around and watching us. (Unless it’s something you don’t want them to pick up, then they’ll have it down pat, guaranteed.) If your kids go to school, you know they won’t get the proper teaching on nutrition there either. So if you value Real Food, and the power it has to keep you and your kids healthy or to heal, then you’ll want to hear today’s audio interview with my friend, Kristen, the Food Renegade. (Scroll down to go straight to the audio interview.)
She has put together an online curriculum made just for parents (or anyone who wants to take a course on Real Food), called the Real Food Nutrition & Health e-Course. What a perfect solution for those of you who don’t feel solid teaching this topic, and need someone to handle it for you! (You can get $20 off with the code KK20OFF!)
Here are a few of the topics we covered in the interview:
- How she became a Real Foodie and the impact the movie, The Future of Food had on her life.
- The shocking story of how she ended up blogging at FoodRenegade.com. (You won’t believe this one…hint: it’s related to a preventative breast cancer treatment.)
- The 3 philosophies that formed her views on homeschooling. (A good conversation to hear for those of you not sure about homeschooling, or who are trying to decide which way to go.)
- The various formats this course uses to reach kids with all different learning styles: video, audio, reading, weekly assignments (an experiment or project), discussion questions, and more!
3 Reasons You Need This Course:
- If you’re not strong on the topic of nutrition and want to call in back-ups. No one is strong in every topic, and most homeschoolers look for help in the areas they’re not comfortable teaching.
- If you feel pulled in a zillion different directions (don’t all parents feel this way?!) and don’t have the time or energy to cover one more thing, yet you know THIS topic MUST be taught so your kids can grow up healthy and raise healthy kids of their own. You can even choose to have the course graded for you if you want this to be an independent project for your kids to do totally on their own.
- If you don’t have many nutrition resources to do a good job teaching this – Kristen has MANY available to her, and we all know that a variety of materials is important.
Kristen says about this course: “Absolutely No Boredom Allowed” – what kid wouldn’t love that?!
Keep in mind this is not just for homeschoolers…
It is geared toward those 12 & up, but you could use it as a supplement to your child’s education even if you’re not a homeschooling family, which is what I plan to do. OR you can use it to further your own Real Foodie education, too!
Sign up soon!
Registration for the Real Food Nutrition & Health e-Course closes on January 31st. Classes begin February 4th and run through April 8th. (You can get $20 off with the code KK20OFF!)
LISTEN TO THE AUDIO INTERVIEW WITH KRISTEN FROM FOOD RENEGADE
Note: Did you notice anything odd during the interview? During the first part of our conversation, you heard a little of me and Kristen both. In the last half, you’ll only hear Kristen because we had some technical difficulties (story of my life), and she was wise to just keep talking, and I kept recording! 
Questions? Email Kristen: Kristen@FoodRenegade.com
$40 worth of Safe Sexy Stainless Steel!
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
Thanks for the heads up! Congratulations!
so true about kids and food. i’ve noticed as my kids get older (4 and 6) that exposing them to my decision making process, so they are capable of making similar decisions is far more effective than banning items i’d rather they not eat. when they get junk at a party, we read the label together. i ask them if they want all those chemicals in their body and making it hard for their brain to think and listen. they usually say no, sometimes they want to eat it anyway, and I let them choose.
the other day, my six year old asked for the beef jerky he got for christmas. i said sure. we started reading the package, and I said “grody, this jerky has MSG in it, MSG is bad news for your brain.” without hesitation, he tossed it in the trash. i didn’t even get a chance to ask “are you sure you want that MSG in your body?” of course i picked up a package of less junky organic beef jerky at whole foods to reinforce his real food choice. i say less junky because i’m skeptical how much better “natural” smoke flavor actually is.
thanks for sharing this great resource on real food education with your readers kelly. we need as more real food for kids advocates!
Jenna, it’s good that you’re skeptical. The labeling regulations allow “natural flavorings,” “spices,” etc. to have either “up to” or “must be less than 50%” of any one ingredient in their “proprietary blend,” and that can include MSG or any other combination of nasties. Just because we don’t see it on the label doesn’t mean it’s not in there.
Bless you for raising your children to make decisions on their own! That is a wonderful way to get them to buy in. My (step) kids are older–the youngest is 16–and of course, they get almost whatever they want over at their mom’s house. It’s really a struggle, because 1) they don’t want to listen at that age, and certainly not to a step parent, 2) their Dad “says” he buys in (but he’s the first one to buy corn chips–Doritos even, for the kids!), but just like Kelly says–you have to do more than SAY it, you have to LIVE it, and of course 3) they get all the “low fat” and packaged garbage (including the brainwashing) at their mom’s. The youngest actually said to me the other day, “You think everything causes cancer!” Well, Sweetie, don’t think millions of people can’t be wrong! *sigh* I just do my best to serve up delicious and nourishing meals and explain as I’m dishing it up why it is healthier than how we used to prepare foods–then, I drop it, because I don’t want to beat anyone over the head with it. I do, however, make as much of our food from scratch–even found a Worchestershire sauce recipe that isn’t half bad, and hubby LOVES the granola “cookies” and meat jerkies that I make in the dehydrator. Come a good long weekend, and that thing doesn’t shut off for days!
Going to look into the course now… even though the rest of the family needs it instead of my needing it? Maybe I can pass something to them yet!