You know what can make you lose your mind? I’ll tell you, just in case you didn’t know.
Trying to homeschool a 6 year old while also occupying a 3 year old and a 12 month old…while also trying to maintain a clean house…while also working from home…while also trying to cook everything from scratch.
Yep. That might do it. It’s totally a guess though.
I’ve been on the road to real food now for 5+ years. And even knowing the right things to do, I still detour and end up lost and having to ask directions at a gas station.
I have good road maps, like Trina Holden’s book and The Bread Beckers.
But can I tell you something? I’m awful at reading maps – I even got Barry and I lost on our honeymoon because I couldn’t read the map. True story.
How I find the way to go is by messing up and finally figuring out what works for me.
Real food can be so hard, guys. I get that. I have kids and I homeschool. It’s easy to think, “Well, I can’t do that because I just don’t have the time to make real food.”
Like Ruth Soukup says, there is a difference between GRACE and EXCUSES. I can offer myself grace when I’ve had a hard day…but I can’t make excuses for the long haul.
How can you make real food work for you when it seems so hard? When it seems like there is NO time? When everything seems so time consuming and difficult? When you can’t figure out how to keep the dog off the couch?
Well, I can tell you what has finally worked for me and taken away the guilt, and the crazy mindedness (okay, so that part still remains).
My goal each day is to do TWO real food things. That’s it. Two.
Two is easy. Just about anyone can do two. And if I’m doing two per day on most days, then days when the poop hits the fan, I don’t feel bad.
Now, sometimes the two things you do will vary based on time. You can plan accordingly each day based on your schedule.
On days when I’m busy my two things might be milk kefir and fill the Berkey. Or maybe cut up a pineapple and and soak some beans to cook.
On days when I have more time I make make Baked Oatmeal or one of my favorite muffins.
If I have LOT of time I might make English Muffins and Bagels or Honey Oat Bread and Kefir Cottage Cheese.
So, that’s my solution. That’s how I’m making real food work for this family without sacrificing all day with my kids and having a billion dishes each day to wash.
Do you want to join me in making two real food things per day? I would love to hear you chime in below or on Instagram! I usually post my daily food pictures so you can see what I’ve done – and so you can hold me accountable too. 🙂
You can use the hashtag #stacysrealfoodjourney to get ideas of what I cook daily and see how we’ve made it work for us.
How about it? Can you make two real food things per day?
That’s good breaking it down. Now that I’m out of the house 15 hours more this year, I am actually realizing the value of just making one thing at a time. I used to make 3 batches of granola bars at a time. Now I’m fine if it’s just one, and I feel like I’m on top of things in the kitchen. I am allowing store bought sprouted bread from Costco and tortillas.
Yes – sometimes one is good enough. Because it’s better than 0. 🙂
You are so smart. I am with you on this plan. I have become a burned out real food advocate. Two a day is doable, though. I already met my quota so it’s corn dogs for dinner!
I love how two things a day adds up to be 12-14 things for a week! 🙂
Love this!!!!! Two a day sound so doable. And I loved Ruth’s periscope about Grace vs Excuses. Such a fine line.
I tend to have difficulty extending grace to myself – so her posts are always refreshing for me.
Hi Stacy!
Thanks for the great post. I really have enjoyed your posts over the years and always look forward to what you have to share.
I’ve been on a “real food” journey for 2 1/2 years, have lost 35 pounds (and 3 sizes) and kept it off. My husband has lost about 20lbs as well.
One of the things we cut out of our daily diet was soda/pop and we started drinking more water. I bought myself a really nice reusable bottle, which helps (lots of ice helps too!). Other than my requisit coffee in the morning, this works for me.
Additionally, I eat a large healthy breakfast and found that it’s easier to make up a large pan of eggs (with lots of “fresh goodies”) that I can take to work and eat all week. Dinner out is always kept to a minimum and is mainly for special occasions or traveling. Both my husband and I don’t make everything from scratch, but we are careful with what we buy to make our healthy meals. Our kids are grown and on their own, so it’s just the two of us and we always have left overs to enjoy (it really is hard to make a recipe for one or two) or share with my mom; so we don’t really meal plan, but we do have a list of meals we like and always have the ingrediants on hand, so it’s more of a “I have a taste for … today” kinda plan (that’s what you do when you are empty nesters!). 🙂
I think that the key to being successful in a real food journey is just cutting out what you can afford to cut out and watching what you use and NOT BEATING yourself up when you can’t make something from scratch.
Like Lisa said, “Real food is a very personal journey, it has to be because we are all in different circumstances. We just do the best we can with what we have!”
Happy Tuesday Stacy!
This was such an encouraging comment, Lori! Thank you so much for leaving it!! 🙂 I’m glad you’ve been able to find your happy spot – and in only 2 1/2 years! Way to go! 🙂
“There is a difference between GRACE and EXCUSES” I LOVE that! This is the post I needed to read today to get my butt (I say it a lot too:) ) in gear. My husband and I did a Whole30 a few months ago and I’ve missed the cooking I did during that time…I need to get back to it and two things a day is a great way to start!
Wow! Whole 30 – you are much braver than me! 🙂
I am just starting the journey of healthy eating. Slow going but I give myself grace. I just made my menu out first time in over a year clean out the pantry freezer and cupboards I have a game plan.
Good luck! Let me know if I can help you.
Great post, we can’t do it all! I think location also plays a big part in this. I’m on a farm, and choose to have cows, chickens and rabbits. That means my real food work is milking each morning, gathering eggs and doing animal care.
I’m learning (finally) that I don’t also have time to make everything from scratch on top of everything else. I go too crazy and am not a nice mommy.
If I were in town, I wouldn’t have the livestock, and would also free up time to use in different pursuits.
Real food is a very personal journey, it has to be because we are all in different circumstances. We just do the best we can with what we have!
Excellent point!! Thanks for adding that. 🙂
We are at the stage in our family where my 12 year-old wants to help in the kitchen. She was such a plain eater as a young child, but now her tastes are expanding as she gets involved in making food. My 4 year-old will never miss an opportunity to help me bake. I work three days a week so those are our simple food nights, but we still eat real food. On the other two days, I will make something more complicated. I throw something in the crockpot on Saturdays because we are always out and Sunday is my day off from cooking (hello leftovers or eating out!). I am gracious with myself about buying bread because I have no time to make it, but it is a goal of mine to make baking bread part of my life. My husband and I try to eat wheat-free and low sugar, so that changed things up drastically when we switched to that about a year ago and I’m still learning and expanding our recipes. I love the journey of cooking for my family, but it can be downright exhausting!
Stacy, this post is another example of why you stay on my closely edited subscription list. You are a good thinker, and therefore I enjoy reading your site. This is my “atta girl” for the day!
My dh prefers crap food; unlike a two-year old, though, I am not responsible for nourishing him. So I appreciate the Two-a-day plan…accountability is encouraging since I basically cook for myself and accompany him while he eats burgers and ice cream around town. Last night I made rice, freezing single servings for stir fry, Side dishes and soups. And I roasted kale chips. It feels great to eat great!
Oh, that’s a great one!!! Rice freezes SO good!!
I’ve never thought of freezing rice! good to know. I love having things in my freezer ready to go. Yesterday I made tomato sauce and put it in the freezer in can size amounts (8oz & 15oz). Thanks for this post. I can do TWO things and not feel guilty about not doing EVERYTHING.
I agree with the spirit of this post wholeheartedly. Let’s not let our inability to do everything become an excuse for doing nothing. Sometimes the spirit of the conversation surrounding food or natural living has an all or nothing feel to it that I find so unhelpful and discouraging. I really appreciate your honesty and common sense.
Thank you very much, Katie.