So many of my friends were kind enough to reply to my requests for guest interviews, that I feel bad I haven't been able to get them all posted yet. So today I'm doing a compilation of three of the shorter ones I received: Stephanie, Brother Andy, & Debi. (Photos are in that order.)

What is your #1 motivation for eating/feeding your family healthier meals?

Stephanie: “Because I know there will be long term effects of feeding my family healthy meals, and to help with my own management of Type 2 Diabetes.” Brother Andy: “I want to have quality of life both now and in old age.” Debi: “I want my kids to grow up thinking about what they are eating and how what we eat affects how we feel – Lee and I also need this training!

What started you on your path to better nutrition?

Brother Andy: “Seeing negative side effects in other diabetics.” Debi: “When I realized that diet pop was giving me headaches, I started thinking about all the other things we eat/drink and it snowballed. I must admit I am a diet pop addict and still drink it, but in much smaller quantities (2-3 a week instead of 2-3 a day), the goal is still none at all!”

What is your biggest struggle in eating/feeding your family healthier meals?

Stephanie: Besides trying to learn everything, it can also be more expensive, so I am doing little bits here and there as I can. Debi: “Time restraints! There is a huge learning curve with this. It takes more time to prepare food and a lot of the food is expensive! Also, we really like the taste of junk food :).

What is your favorite healthy recipe?

Brother Andy: “Pasta tossed with just olive oil and Parmesan cheese.” Debi: “Spinach cheese quiche made with farm-fresh eggs.”

What is your best kitchen/nutrition tip?

Stephanie: “Don't try to do it all at once, pick and choose what works, do a little at a time.” Brother Andy: “Portion control while serving is the key to all good recipes.” Debi: “Making bone broth in the crock-pot. It works great because I am rarely home all day, so I can put it on in the morning and let it simmer all day.”

What did you have for dinner last night?

Stephanie: “Roast in the crock pot, baked potatoes with real sour cream (not low fat), broccoli – my kids love it!” Brother Andy: “To be honest with you, it was a sort of ‘treat Andy' night. I fried a burger and pan full of onions served on wheat bread, so I wouldn't feel totally guilty. I always say, never say never. The caveat is to not repeat it for a month of Sundays, maybe longer. But if you say never, you won't be able to keep up with any diet or good nutrition. The temptation will be too great.” (A note from Kelly on eating beef: we don't limit the beef for our family because we get it from a healthy local source – a farmer who raises his animals well: the cows should be out on grass so the meat contains healthy CLA, they shouldn't be fed junk that cows weren't meant to eat, and shouldn't be shot up with hormones, etc. See links below for more info.) Debi: “Beef lentil stew – I made a triple batch a few weeks ago and defrosted some for dinner last night. We just added bread and butter – easy and yummy.”

What about Kelly annoys you the most? (Only one please.) (I added this last question as a joke, thinking it would lighten things up a bit, but some of my friends are too nice and really struggled with this one!)

Stephanie: “Nothing! I love her………she motivates me to be healthy.”

(In future guest interviews, you'll see that some of my other friends didn't have trouble with this one at all and were more than happy to be honest!)

RELATED POSTS/LINKS:

• Myths & Truths About Beef
• Find a healthy farm near you
• Health & Nutrition not high on the priority list right now?
• Life Changes – 5 ways they're all the same