Have you spent even a moment of your life thinking that the rest of the world is somehow smarter than you and that you couldn’t possibly have anything new to share? Me too. But what I’ve come to realize is that “smart” has nothing to do with it. Life is encompassed by the experiences each of us has, rooting within us a unique knowledge of the world. Maybe much of what we share isn’t new to most, but maybe it’s new to some, and maybe spreading what we know helps even one person take the next step into finding their joy and purpose. We all have areas of expertise and we are obligated to share our perspective.
If your life is anything like mine, it often doesn’t go as planned but hopefully, we’re able to look back and know we’re stronger. In that realization, we all adopt life, figuratively or, in my family’s case, literally when we made the decision to pursue open adoption. On this site I’ll share our adoption journey and invite others to share theirs.
Through my journey of the unplanned (infertility and PCOS), I’ve learned so much about how the human body works, how it should be nourished for optimum health, and how much food and exercise really dictate the health state of our bodies. I once read some advice (more of a challenge, really) that stuck with me:
You can eat anything you want as long as you cook it yourself.
In this day and age of extreme busyness and convenience, we often (myself included) fall into the trap of grabbing something quick or heating up something from the frozen section at the grocery store. As a busy mom with a career and a household to run, I get it. It’s hard to make healthy eating a priority when there are so many other obligations. But please join me in this headspace for a minute:
What’s profound to me about the above statement is this: If we had to make or cook everything we eat from scratch (think French fries, tortillas, donuts, soda) how likely would we be to eat those things that don’t truly nourish our bodies? It really makes you think, right?
So, what’s next? I believe the solution is simple: Teach our kids to cook
This accomplishes three things:
- Kids (and parents) will better understand where their food comes from and the nutrients it provides (or doesn’t) and are therefore more likely to make good food choices their entire lives
- Families spend more quality time together while learning how fun cooking can be
- Eating healthy leads to other healthy choices (like exercising)
Let’s get back to the whole reason we eat in the first place: NOURISHMENT!
Let’s learn what foods truly feed our bodies’ needs and how to prepare them in a way that tastes great.
Let’s let go of the guilt associated with food choices. Striving to eat healthier doesn’t mean we will be perfect and never indulge, and that’s ok. The point is to arm ourselves with the knowledge so that food decisions become easier over time and a natural part of our healthy mindset.
Let’s take the intimidation and complication out of cooking and give kids (and parents) the tools to frequently prepare their own home-cooked meals so they are healthier, spending time together as a family, and even saving money. The positive effects are many…and can even be considered the keys to a future of better health!
Let’s get back in the kitchen—the more cooks, the merrier!
What you can expect from Life Adopted:
- Honest, real articles and conversations about family, open adoption, and parenting
- Recipes I love! As busy families, we don’t usually have the time for complex recipes with tons of ingredients. This is why I love to take good recipes and make them even better—easier, healthier and tastier. (Most of my favorites are bent toward healthy eating but I will throw in a few outright indulgences here and there.)
- Family fun! I do a lot of cooking with my two boys. They love to learn and I’m thrilled to teach them. So, grab your kiddo(s) and join us, won’t you?
Will you and your family join us on this fun adventure? Please connect with any questions or topics you want to learn about regarding cooking, food, health, adoption, and family. We want to know what “Life Adopted” means to you!