I have been reading your blog for a few months now and I am trying to make baby steps towards healthier living. However, I feel completely overwhelmed. You have so many great resources on your blog…recipes, rookie tips, etc., that I find myself not knowing where to even start. I am a busy working mom of 2 little ones so I don't have much time to spend in the kitchen. Can you offer some advice, encouragement, tips to navigating your blog, etc. How do I get started? I am also on a strict budget so buying organic is not always an option. Please help me take baby steps without the guilt of failing or feeling so overwhelmed! Thank you!
My response:
I've now added a new section on my blog just for you: Start here!
You also may want to read: How I (attempt) to get it all done.
It's great that you stepped out and emailed. You can't grow and learn without asking questions and searching for answers.
Taking it slow is definitely the key! As you read the blog, say things to yourself like, “I'll get there eventually…”, and just let the various ideas sink into your brain so you're ready when the time comes.
You may want to get my Grocery store cheat sheet (when you sign up for my newsletter there, you'll get a bunch of healthy eating resources free, including my Real Food for Rookies online class!), and you also may want to grab a copy of my book, Real Food for Rookies.
Also, as you do this, I'll bet you'll find yourself changing other little things as you go along, just because you'll have the knowledge to do it floating around in your head. It will be natural and won't seem like too big a deal as those little things happen.
Before you know it, you'll be closer than you expected to where you'd like to be!
I know it's hard to take it slow, I like to “fix everything” all at once, too. But you have to be patient with yourself – there is just not enough money or time to buy everything you'd like or DO everything you'd like to all at once. LATER, when more pieces of the puzzle are “old hat”, then you can put them all together, add more now and then, and not be overwhelmed.
Another place you may want to focus on at my blog besides the Rookie Tips is the “Fast Food – Healthy Options” post. Scroll down there for meals that you can pull together fairly fast, or also check out the crock pot recipes – those are good for working moms, too. Don't worry about not buying all organic right now, but do try and look at labels and find the more natural choices when you can. If you can't, it's okay, you can only do what you can do. Think about it like this: just that you are ASKING these questions shows that you're WAY further along the journey than most people!
Lastly, (should be first actually!) be sure to pray about it. I say this all of the time, but remember He can do the impossible! What seems like such a huge hurdle right now (getting your family eating better overall), may be something you look back on in 6 months and say, “Wow, I can't believe how far we've come!”
More you might like:
- Comment below if you have more suggestions for the reader above, or for all those who feel the same way – I'm sure there are many – I remember feeling this way myself!
- Here's the recent post on this topic: YOUR Tips for Beginners
- Easy Breadmaking in the Bosch
- Kids' School Lunches – Food Additives and Learning/Behavior problems
- Should we be eating Breakfast Cereals?
KitchenKop says
Suzanne,
I can feel your frustration and I understand it well (everything is so expensive for sure), but first, remember this: you are doing SOOOOOOOOOO well with what you’ve got!!!!!!!!!!!!
I was wondering if you’d let me post your dilemma and get some good suggestions for you from my readers? Many are full of good ideas to save money while serving nourishing foods.
Let me know, and if so, I’ll post it soon.
Kelly
Suzanne says
I am overwhelmed. I have given my kids (5 of them) only whole milk for several years now, and although my husband and I used to drink reduced fat milk, we eventually switched to whole milk only, more for the sake of convenience, though I am now happy we did. I make chicken broth at least once a month, and have even made lamb stock once when we had a great deal on lamb. I buy/cook four chickens at a time, removing breasts and quarters for grilling and using the rest for stock, and I also make broth from our Thanksgiving turkeys (mine and the big family gatherings). I have made yogurt many times, and am making kefir right now. I have a friend with wonderful free-range eggs who charges me $2 a dozen. $2! Another friend has let us grow organic produce on her land at no charge this summer.
I spend as little as possible on food, out of necessity. I have been avoiding soy, HFCS, and all trans fats. I loathe buying bread and make my own when I can. I buy very little through a local co-op, but can hardly afford anything that way. My latest splurge was a case of high quality ketchup, but my good coconut oil is running low.
I am overwhelmed, because of the meat and dairy. We have the pleasure of living within driving distance to Organic Pastures, and the local CSA actually delivers it, but it is just not a possibility (either driving there or buying the stuff).
I am very thankful for what I’ve been able to do, but the whole thing with the meat and dairy just breaks my heart. I already skimp on meat, usually spending $5 or less on meat to feed our larger-than-average family. I almost wonder if it would be better to “go vegetarian” for a time to save for some real meat, but saving seems an impossibility when every penny is needed (I tried for the co-op and failed, and our only vehicle is dying)!
So, I am just frustrated and I guess needed to vent. Yesterday I cut fat away from a pork roast and saved it, but is that even worth anything? I was happy though the other day that I had saved fat from a chicken broth session, because I was able to use it in our gumbo. But again with the meat and dairy…prices for quality protein seems astronomical to me, when I rarely pay over $1 per pound.
Kelly says
Rebecca, love your great attitude, too!
Rebecca C says
I agree that you have to take it slow. A year ago I began on a journey of baking my own bread. That was it. Not grinding my own flour, or soaking grains or anything. I just wanted to stop spending $1 on something that would cost at least half as much to cook at home. I finally got a brad machine, and we actually eat homemade bread almost exclusively now. Of course I have also ventured into grinding my own flour now, and eventually we will be soaking all our grains, but until then…more baby steps!
Kelly says
Jeanne, I love your nice, relaxed attitude, that’s great advice.
Lisa, how fun about your raw milk!!!
Lisa says
Amen Kelly! I’m pretty new (less than two years) to the healthy eating lifestyle, and am actually not there completely yet. I think an important tip for a rookie is one that you’ve discussed before and that is that the higher up on the food chain the food is, the more important it is that it be organic. So meats, cheeses, etc. are more important to eat organically than say veggies or fruits.
I also wanted to tell you Kelly that I’ve gotten into a raw milk group and am about to get my second delivery of raw milk. I am so stoked!! 🙂 I can’t prove it 100%, but that stuff is a miracle in a bottle (or jug to be accurate)! It kept me from getting sick when everyone around me was and I just can’t say enough about it and how wonderful it is. Praise God for bringing me on this journey and for leading me to your site. It has proven to be an invaluable tool along the way!!
Have a great week, everyone!
Lisa
jeanne says
Although my job is very flexible and I can be home if necessary, I also work outside the home about 30 hours a week. Meal planning and prepping a head keeps me from going crazy on a daily basis. I started years ago by making a list of our favorite meals. I did this in categories, beef, poultry, pork, Italian, Mexican, Soups & Salads, and Sandwich for dinners, and then a list of Breakfast foods. I had my husband and children’s input. Make small healthy changes to the regular recipes you already use.
On a weekly basis I just pick something from each of this categories and make a list on Thursday of meals for next week. (I usually shop on Friday or Saturday and then again mid week for more produce). I don’t plan each specific day, I just know what I am going to make during the week.
Remember to be flexible. I usually will spend a lot of time one day of the weekend prepping as much as possible. If you have the freezer space, remember if you are making something (like a meatloaf) it is
just as easy to make 2. Eat one that day/ or week and put the other in the freezer for later in the month. I also plan for leftovers so that one night is “restuarant night” where they get to pick what they want from the leftovers. My kids loved this when they were little.
Now that they are teenagers it is just leftover night!
I try to plan the day before anything I can get ready for the next day. As Kelly has suggest in other post keep an inventory of your freezer.
Also remember this is an on going process! Some weeks you’ll be great with planning other weeks you wont! And that’s okay . . .
Lauren says
Thanks Kelly for the encouragement!!!
Kelly says
Martha, my oldest also whines about the good old days, it grates on me after a while, although I guess I can’t blame him. If all things were equal, I’d probably want sugar bombs and poptarts for breakfast every day, too!
Lauren, hang in there, no matter the weird looks you get – YOU know and WE know that you’re learning the better way to nourish your family!
Kelly says
First of all, sorry about all the bad links in today’s post, that’s what I get for not having time to get on here until now! (I had copied my email response to her into the post, and apparently the links didn’t transfer well.) I fixed them all now.
I’m terrible about “meal planning” – I still haven’t gotten back into that like I should. Probably because the way I’m doing it now, while not perfect, is pretty much working for us. I keep my freezer stocked and fill in with produce whenever I go to the store, then I just choose from whatever looks good on my “family favorite meals list”. (https://kellythekitchenkop.com/2008/02/kitchen-tips-series-favorite-meals.html)
That’s the extent of my “meal planning” these days. 🙂
IssacsWife says
I am in the same boat as the lady who wrote in………….I just came across your blog a few weeks ago. I have a friend who is already very much into Sally Fallon’s Nourshing Traditions and she briefly writes about various things on her blog so over the past few years I have had gotten tidbits of info from her……….. I have yet to get the book and read it.
I am really looking into it more now that I am first time pregnant and eating sugar has been my biggest downfall.
Since reading your blog it has made me think about what I am going to eat when I am hungry, and I have been snacking on more nuts and eating avocado like there is no tomorrow and just having a slice of cheese to fill the gap. Rather then getting into the chips or chocolate.
I am about to get my first batch of fresh milk tomorrow.
my question is about your everyday meal plan………what do you have for dinner on a weekly basis? prehaps you could show us a sample of your menu for two weeks.
I am not sure if potatoes are a good thing to eat? or should I be eating rice (which I have had a few time in the past 2 weeks cooked in broth 😉 ). I tend to only have pasta once a week if that.
Any insight on what your meals are like would be great.
I read about the school lunches yesterday, which was inspiring as both my husband and i take lunch to work and it can get frustrating on what to pack him as he doesn’t seem to fill up.
Martha says
Oops, sorry for the typos. I’m trying to corral my toddler as I type.
Martha says
I still have long way to go, but Kelly is right, things to start “clicking” as it were, and as one things becomes a natural habit, the next doesn’t seem as overwhelming to do as you change slowly. It is great that both Lauren and the previous poster have such young kids. It will make the changes easier on them. My oldest yearns for the “good old days!” LOL
Julie says
Kelly – the link “fast food – healthy options” didn’t work for me.
Lauren says
I just want to say that I am in the same boat as the lady who emailed you Kelly! Everything that she said in her email is our family exactly. I just want her to know that there are many others out there that feel the same way she does. I have a 2 year old and another one on the way and our family just now started this conversion process at the beginning of the year. It hasn’t been easy, but we are taking things one day at a time. When I excitedly tell people how we have begun to change how and what we eat, they look at me like I am crazy, which isn’t great for me especially since I am so new at this. But we are ready for this journey and can’t wait to see what God has in store for us!
Deanna says
Thank you for all the tips and encouragement!