Time Flies

This week we celebrate the 5th birthday of our first daughter, Georgia May. These phone pics are from when she was 2 and we were baking. I was also holding our new baby, Olivia Skye, while taking these. Literally juggling the two of them to keep everyone happy. 

It is overwhelming to look at photos from the past 5 years and to see them grow and laugh and play. Georgia was practically born baking and we have photos of her receiving that apron, some oven mitts, and baking supplies when she was 18 months old. Already, at that age, I had her on a chair in the kitchen with me, cooking and baking.

I remember that she was making these cookies for Grandpa. We always baked for visits with Grandpa.

Yesterday we had guests over to our house for dinner and they remarked on how I let the girls into the kitchen with me to help bake and cook dessert. We have 2 step stools and Georgia and Olivia pulled them up to the counter and helped make the strawberry shortcake we served. I remembered that not everyone does that. In fact, I don't remember my Mom letting me cook with her. I always did it on my own. But bringing my girls into the kitchen from a young age has served many purposes and has helped to build a foundation of kitchen skills, food knowledge, and appreciation for the food we enjoy.

It is perhaps the best thing I have done as a parent so far. 

And as we approach celebrating 5 years since having our first child and becoming parents, I think it is a good time to reflect on all that we have done right. Of course we have made mistakes. But I think that when we focus on what we are doing well, and keep doing it, it diminishes those mistakes or all the things I am completely unaware of that I am doing as a parent and will find out later.

Five years has gone by fast. And we have faced many challenges along the way. But I wouldn't change it for anything. My daughters are two great people and I feel so honored to be their mother. 

~Kimberley

Easy Healthy Beautiful Food Choices

Photo from Food Inc

How often have you vowed to eat healthier? 

How often have you rewarded or punished yourself with food?

I think most of us have the self-awareness to realize we do this and we want to make changes. We want to eat better. But where do we start?

I actually think that the first place to start is to change how we think about food and its purpose in our lives. The connection of food to self- image has somehow turned us on ourselves and created this inner battle. 

Have you seen the video that's gone viral about beauty? It's pretty amazing and got me thinking about how often we criticize ourselves and then punish ourselves with food or by withholding food. And how often others connect our beauty to the food we eat.

In talking to my toddlers about food, I often use science to make food fun. We talk about the vitamins and elements in food and what that does in our bodies. We talk about where the food comes from and how it was produced. We talk about what we love about food and love about cooking and baking. I believe these kinds of discussions create a foundation for a healthy relationship to food. We are treating it with reverence and respect but we are also building the connection about the science of food and our bodies. We don't talk about dieting, carbs, reducing anything. When there is something that we want them to learn to enjoy in moderation, we say just that. "Too much of anything will make you sick."

Photo from Martha Stewart Living

When we order the non-fat latte or feel guilty for enjoying the cinnamon bun, some of us are making the direct connection of the food we eat and our self-image. But do we need to? Could we enjoy food on an emotional level that is nurturing, comforting, uplifting, refreshing, and satisfying? Is it possible to love eating food, love how we look, and let go of any guilt or shame we feel when we indulge in potato chips or chocolate cake? 

I believe its possible. And I am declaring that this is my mission this year. As I embark on my year of turning 40, I have set fitness goals for myself. But I think that I need to take one step back and start with how I think about food and my body. I will start today with one easy choice: I love my morning coffee. I know that coffee has health benefits. But I put sugar in my coffee. So every time I put it in I feel a twinge of "I would be a better, thinner person if I didn't put sugar in my coffee every morning." But would I enjoy my coffee? No. So let it go, Kimberley. Is this how I want to start my day? Feeling guilty about my favorite beverage? I don't think so. 

Photo by Kimberley's Kitchen

As I start to discover other easy healthy choices that we can make to improve our relationship with food and ourselves I will share them here. And I know that you have lots of ideas too so please share in the comments for others to see.

I think that as individuals, when we are kind to ourselves, we make the biggest difference in the world. Let's enjoy our food and believe we are beautiful. Because we are all beautiful. 

~Kimberley