Real Food Confession: Jaclyn

Today we have Jaclyn, in her regularly scheduled post, talking about HER real food confession!  She’s approached it a little differently, showing you that while she may be a bit stricter about food than some, that means that other things fall by the wayside.  

How into real food are you?

I started trying to eat healthier over two years ago.  I went through a vegan phase… and today, have been eating whole, real foods for around a year.

What is one food you just can’t make yourself (even if you’ve tried a lot)?

Kefir.  I’ve tried making it with a powdered culture many times and have failed each time.  I plan to try again soon!

How much of what your family eats is *really* homemade (vs. restaurants/storebought)?

We do eat out a few times a month, but when we eat at home, 95% of what we eat is homemade.

What is one junk food/processed food your family still eats?

We don’t eat any junk anymore, but the one processed food that we still use is Annie’s organic/natural boxed macaroni and cheese.  It’s just so easy and convenient and the kids love it!

What is the worst thing your family’s eaten in the last few months? Why?

Well, we were on vacation last week, so we indulged in some [delicious] cheesecake at a [famous] cheesecake-themed restaurant .  We shared a piece, so maybe it wasn’t that bad… at least that’s what I told myself!

What’s one area where you won’t compromise?  Why? 

There are really a few things I will not compromise on: hot dogs, soda and candy/other foods with artificial colors.  I don’t compromise on these things because there is truly no redeeming nutritional value in any of them.

What’s your best tip for eating real food in the real world? 

Plan ahead.  When that’s not an option, choose the food closest to its natural state possible.

Thoughts on Real Food

My confession:  I’m not perfect.  Gasp!  Sorry for that glaring omission in previous posts.  Whew — now that I have that off my chest, I’ll tell you in what ways I’m not perfect.

While some days I’m in the kitchen all day working my tail off to provide my family with nourishing foods, the laundry sits unfolded.  Everywhere.  While I spend hours online each week researching various health and food topics and looking for new recipes, my kids are sometimes begging for my attention.  And while I make a conscious effort to not allow food to become an idol in my life, it can become an obsession.

Sometimes I’m so determined to get everything made that I want to, that I get totally stressed and discouraged by all that I “have” to get done.  Part of the problem is probably that I’m not very good at time management or staying on task.  I have a really hard time focusing on the task at hand without getting distracted and leaving one project half done to begin another.  This makes for a really messy kitchen some days.

I am forgetful.  I have to make myself lists all the time so I can remember to soak the tortilla dough, turn off the crock pot where I have yogurt warming and bottle my kombucha before it becomes rancid.  (I let my last batch sit so long, it was literally un-drinkable.  Note to self: bottle up the kombucha in a timely manner!)

Some days I don’t get around to taking a shower.  I get so caught up in all of my projects and recipes that I literally don’t have time to shower, and by the time the kids are in bed, I’m too tired!  Pair that with working outside in the garden in 105* Texas heat and the fact that I really only wear (homemade) deodorant if I’m leaving the house, and things get funky, y’all.  That’s another thing.  Just being feminine in general.  I used to be such a girlie girl.  I miss that sometimes, but there just doesn’t seem to be much of a place for putting effort into personal appearance when I’m at home in my dirty house with my neglected kids all day. 

There is always a trade off and no one can do it all.  No one.  Not even all of the perfect mommies out in blog land.  If we tell you we do it all (clean house, perfect appearance, happy kids and husband, AND scratch made meals) ALL the time, we’re lying.  Heck, I would be happy to do a few of those things simultaneously just on occasion.  But that doesn’t seem to be realistic, at least not for me.  With a baby who is just over three months old and two very rambunctious and active older boys, most days I am barely keeping my head above water.

So, no, I don’t give in very often when it comes to food.  I find very little room for compromise when it comes to my family’s health and well being.  But, there is a little part of me that wishes I could let go of the reigns a little bit from time to time.  And an even bigger part of me (and probably a BIG part of my husband) that wishes I would do a better job of keeping our house in better order.  The biggest part of me simply wants to love on my children more, and I think we can all agree that’s really what it’s all about.

Where do you struggle?