Before starting any major endeavor, it's helpful to identify your goals and any potential stumbling blocks. Here are my goals for Food Discovered:
Writing my goals was short and sweet. Unfortunately. My list of stumbling blocks took considerably longer.
Alright, I have my goals and my challenges. Take a minute to think about yours. What is your dream for your family's food. What is standing in your way?
- Learn to like a more diverse palette of foods, particularly healthy ones.
- Improve my cooking skills.
- Discover tasty, healthy, easy to prepare recipes.
- Eat more nutrient-rich foods and reduce junk foods.
- Make eating pleasurable and social instead of hurried, mindless, or antagonistic.
Writing my goals was short and sweet. Unfortunately. My list of stumbling blocks took considerably longer.
- Mr. Picky – My husband, AKA Mr. Picky, likes meals that are low in fat and carbs. However, he also likes meals that are low in vegetables. His ideal dinner would be a plate of just meat. And by meat, I mean chicken or lean beef. He also eats so fast that I don't know if he ever really tastes anything.
- Captain Buzzkill – My daughter can instantly ruin any happy cooking buzz. She greets most every meal with “That looks disgusting!” even if it was her favorite food two days ago. She also tries to negotiate every bite of food and has the table manners of a feral dog. Maybe you're thinking Captain Buzzkill is a preschooler. Unfortunately, she's 8.
- Instant Gratification – okay, this is me! When I want something I want it NOW. I've ruined many dinners by trying to cook 3 times as fast as the recipe requires. I have trouble planning ahead and tend to munch instead of eating real meals. I do like most fruits and vegetables – when covered with sugar, salt, and sauces.
- Time – Mr. Picky and I both work full-time. The Captain swims three nights a week which makes cooking all but impossible on those nights.
- Space – We live in a small apartment and most of our counter space is devoted to the microwave, drying dishes, and the crock pot (our most used kitchen appliance). Prep is tough.
- Budget – We live on a fairly tight grocery budget. Steaks, fancy cheeses, and organic produce are items we generally do without. Part of my experiment will be to find ways to include these foods without going broke.
Alright, I have my goals and my challenges. Take a minute to think about yours. What is your dream for your family's food. What is standing in your way?