Food Snob

I admit it whole heartedly... I my friends am what you call a food snob. I am well aware of it and embrace it as a defining character trait. My journey to becoming a food snob has been rather quick and healthy eating is something I have grown to become extremely passionate about. I have not always been a food snob, I was raised on home cooked, from scratch good ole Southern cooking. However, I never knew process food existed until my teenage years while visiting friends houses or grocery stores. We had hand peeled and beaten mashed potatoes almost every dinner, some sort of barbecued meat and veggies. My mom was and still is the BEST cook I have ever met and don't get me wrong I still will indulge in her home cooking to satisfy my Southern roots when I visit her. I mean who can resist fresh battered deep friend okra and from scratch corn bread? I am not writing this blog to start a movement or to criticize non food snobs, I'm simply writing this to educate my friends, family and acquaintances on why my family and I eat the way we do.


It all began when Ryder was eight months old and we introduced solids for the first time. I was a newbie to the food snob world but I did know one thing: I was going to make Rye's food from scratch. I knew that Ryder's body didn't need the added sodium and preservatives found in packaged baby food and if I could cut up a sweet potato boil it and mash it I would prefer to do that. After learning many tips and tricks for baby food making from my mom guru {like devoting one night a week to bulk baby food making, storing it in ice cube trays to portion size his servings and placing a baggie of two or three cubes on the counter to defrost while I made Trev and I dinner} I became more and more confident in my food choices for my son. One day while preparing a large batch of sweet potatoes it dawned on me... why am I so concerned with what Rye eats and not what I eat? You can say that is the moment my personal choices in food drastically shifted. Luckily I am married to the most easy going, go with the flow man and he was completely on board right away. He is a rare breed that doesn't have a sweet tooth and can and will turn down any mouthwatering treat at any moment.. I on the other hand...Although, I have recently discovered banana ice cream and will share that recipe on another entry. Within a matter of weeks we were full blown vegetarians and my husband a vegan even for a period of time. We became educated on where our food comes from, how the animals are kept and treated, which foods are beneficial to our bodies, that "fat free" and "low fat" where actually worse for you and how to read through ingredient labels to decipher what it is we are consuming. After a couple of months clearing our bodies and detoxing from meat and processed foods we slowly began introducing all natural meat back into our diets. Another thing I have learned is that you don't have to put a label on your eating habits {vegan, vegetarian, raw vegan ect..} Just listen to your body, shop the perimeter of the grocery store and look for food with the least amount of ingredients and once that you can pronounce.

Being a teacher I also know the direct correlation between food, behaviors and attention span in children. Every morning at school I take the first couple of minutes to discuss what my students had for breakfast, this can give me a clear understanding for behaviors they may exhibit during the day. If a child says they did not eat, my assistant and I feed them right then. Which leads me into why I am a raging food snob when it comes to Ryder. I have seen how foods can directly affect his mood, behavior and even worse his digestion. When someone gives Ryder something his body is not familiar processing he becomes almost immediately constipated. TMI I know, but it is a difficult situation as a mother to watch your child in so much pain and not begin able to do anything to help relieve it. I can remember right before I was in labor with Rye, my brother said to me "you know Kacey this is the only time you will be able to endure the pain for your child". I LOVE this reminder and as all mothers do we wish we could be the ones to experience the pain of teething, bumps and scratches, fevers, ear infections, heartbreaks and times of grief for our children but we can't. Which is why I am even more adamant at preventing Ryder from stomach and digestion problems from processed, nutrient less foods. Children have no say in what they are fed {for the most part lol} and if I have the power as a parent to choose his foods, he most definitely is going to consume the freshest all natural foods we can by. Often times people refer to the Standard American Diet that includes processed foods as the SAD diet and I think this acronym fits perfectly. Ryder will never know the SAD diet as long as he is under my roof and hopefully I can educate him too on why we eat the way we do.


Here is a list of approved foods for Ryder:
Cage Free Eggs
All natural oatmeal
Fage Greek yogurt with honey
Whole wheat bread {not white bread}
Any and all fresh fruit {not canned, packaged or pre-frozen}
Any and all fresh veggies {not canned, packaged or pre-frozen}
Fresh herbs {Rosemary, basil, oregano}
Quinoa
Quinoa Pasta
Rice
Lentils
Black beans
Veggie sticks
Almond butter
Three ingredient or less jelly
Pirate's Booty Popcorn
Fresh blended frozen banana ice cream
All natural Trader Joe's cookies
Green smoothies
Fresh juices fruits and veggies
WATER
Organic Horizon whole milk

Here is a list of food Ryder will not be eating:
McDonalds {NEVER EVER}
Any and all fast foods for that matter
Processed boxed foods
Frozen dinners
Processed cookies, graham crackers, cereal, crackers
Easy Mac
Butter
Anything with: high fructose corn syrup, artificial coloring and dyes, artificial sugars or sweeteners
Store bought juice
Non organic milk
Non Cafe Free Eggs
Soda
Powerade
Kool-aid
Capri Suns
Anything not on above approved list
{If you are questioning if he can have it, he probably can't so please don't give it to him or I will know soon enough}

I hope this explains my family's lifestyle in more detail and why I choose to be a food snob.

Hi My Name is Kacey

As a mom we often times neglect who we are, what we like/dislike and doing things for ourselves. "Mommy Me Time" is sparse in the life of a full time working mom or a stay at home mom's daily routine but time that should most definitely not be neglected. Whether it's unwinding with an episode of your favorite T.V. series and a glass of wine or taking a moment to do something you love {as for me: writing} this is a time all mommies need to help refresh, re-energize and to not loose focus on who they are. My son is my world, my everything but not the only defining aspect of my life and who I am. First and foremost I am a believer... a follower of Christ, my faith guides my daily choices, my life goals and how I parent. Secondly, I am a wife...my amazing husband's best friend and vice versa. Lately, I have fell out of touch with myself and who I really am and as each year passes and the new year approaches us, I wanted to take a moment to redefine myself. Over the years, I have noticed that the people I encounter or life experiences I go through help to shape me into who I am... Constantly I am evolving and changing, my aspirations change, my likes and dislikes change...

Hi My Name is Kacey Age: 26 Favorite Color: Turquoise Status: Married Children: Ryder {1 year old} Religion: Christian Job: Preschool Teacher Passions: Being a believer, a wife and a mother. Teaching. Humanitarianism Efforts. Supporting Gay Rights. Hobbies: Writing, reading, traveling, vintage treasure hunting, working out, clean eating and crafting. Favorite Music: Christian and Indie Likes: Spending time with my husband, Ryder, friends and family, drinking coffee, super comfy blankets, baking, vans, shopping, pedicures, traveling, massages, getting my hair done, surprising my husband, cooking, hosting, listening, talking politics, DIY projects, socks, napping, and volunteering. Dislikes: Unappreciative people, commercialized Christmas, kid leashes, jean bling, crocks, socks with sandals, toddlers in tiaras, meat, the color pink, sequins and glitter, mom jeans, moochers, the financial aid system and girls who act like they like football and video games. Favorite Food: Spinach Dip, Hummus, fried rice, quinoa and pretty much anything sweet or that my mom makes. Favorite Drinks: Coffee, water, prosecco, ICEE's and tea. Goals: Receive a Master's in Occupational Therapy, have more babies, work for a non-profit, give more...

Ryder turned nine months on September 3rd and it hit me hard that in just three months my little man will turn a year old. I try not to get emotional when I think about this reality as I'm sure all mothers’ do as they stop and ask themselves "where has the time gone?" Being a working mom is tough... I'm not talking about the exhausted from teaching twenty one three and four year old, never feeling caught up, ever growing to do list, coming home to full time mommy duty tough... I'm talking about not having enough hours in your day to spend with your son tough. With the recent move into our new home my commute to work went from 15 minutes to 35 minutes. I leave the house before Rye even wakes up and often times hold him for the first time all day at 4:30 p.m. He goes down for bed between 7:30 and 8 so that leaves me with a total of 3 maybe 3 1/2 hours to spend with him. I made a promise to him and myself that I will not do an OUNCE of school work until he goes to bed {this includes checking emails}. I am proud to say I have held true to this promise but it's doesn't come close to making up for the mommy guilt that consumes me like a dark cloud every night as I contemplate waking him up to get in one more snuggle, one more drooly open mouth kiss, one more scrunched nose smile... I have been praying lately for clarity and balance. Clarity as to what God's plan is for my path... working mommy or stay at home mommy... and for being able to balance both my full time jobs in the mean time until God grants me the clarity my heart, body and mind so desperately desires. I think about our next child and I can't help but think of things I will do differently. Starting with the length of my maternity leave...I will take the full 12 weeks if not 4 years. I will not pressure myself to solely nurse but I will give it my all. I will pump every three hours to increase my supply and to stock up. I will baby wear from day one and buy the straight Native American baby wearing sling of my dreams. I will nap when baby naps and take all the help that is offered to me. Some things I will not do differently: love my baby unconditionally, savor every laugh, hug, kiss and smile, read them bedtime prayers before bed, praying they have a strong relationship with God, try my best to be the best mom I know how to be. Ryder: Age: 9 Months Hobbies: Perimeter walking, laughing, finding the smallest piece of dirt, food or trash to put in his mouth, dancing, playing at the park and pulling things out of boxes and containers.

It's As Simple...

It's as simple as something that nobody knows... "Do what makes you happy". This is a phrase that has resonated with me recently and as I fester on what it truly means, my belief in this outlook grows stronger. From recently hearing of possible moves for close friends to ensuring you find time for the things/ people you love “doing what makes you happy" has taken precedence in my outlook on life. It is easy to become bogged down with the rituals of daily life ie: grocery shopping, cleaning, laundry, errands ect.. but if we fail to take time for the things that truly make us happy in life what kind of life are we living? A "perfectly" structured life maybe? But a life free of creativity and flexibility? Free of spontaneity and excitement? Free of changing and finding hidden interests and talents? When we take time to do what makes us happy, we in turn are more creative, flexible, spontaneous, exciting and ultimately happier beings. Take my husband for example... those of you who know Trev would agree whole heartedly. So tonight instead of assuming my domestic chores of laundry and cleaning the floors I decided to write because writing is something that makes me happy... take a moment to think about what makes you happy and well… Do it. It's as simple as something everyone should know...

Decisions...

“Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.” Philippians 4:6 NLT I hold this scripture as a foundation for my decision making. In life we are faced with countless decisions...some being small while others can be life changing. When faced with a decision and worry sets in like a rain cloud over a clear sky, I remind myself to seek God's guidance. At the very moment I begin my prayer any trace of worry disappears as quickly as it arrived and at the end of my prayer I feel an overwhelming sense of peace wash over me. We don't know the outcomes of our decisions until we make them and this is where faith in God and trusting in him becomes key. From the teaching position I was given, to how quickly Trever and I became pregnant...God's word holds true.

As much as I love my job I couldn't help but count down the days till summer... summer is usually anxiously anticipated and welcomed with a smile by all teachers. However, for this new mommy this summer would be different than any other. After regretfully only taking six weeks of maternity leave, every ounce of my being longed for more time with my son. Trust me when I say I am taking full advantage of my time with him. Our days consist of cuddling, smiling at each other, naps, tickles, nursing, singing, reading books and sharing kisses. We recently began introducing solids after being advised by our doctor to wait until Rye was six months. Dr. Secuar (a retired veteran with over twenty years of experience) always gives the best analogies and said, "Think about it, do you feed a paraplegic that cannot swallow solids with a spoon? No, you feed him liquids." He said at six months babies have more ability to sit with assistance and the food can travel down their throat with ease. In addition, he noted that current research indicates starting babies too soon on solids can increase their risks for food allergies. This advice made sense to Trev and me so we choose to wait. Does this mean this is the answer for all mommies and babies? No, I recommend doing what YOU feel is right for you and your baby. God gave us those maternal instincts for a reason. I decided to go straight to veggies and skip rice cereal all together. To me it seemed like a filler with not much nutritional value and meant to help babies sleep longer. Well since Rye already sleeps 8-10 hours at night it seemed only logical to skip the cereal altogether. After steaming and purreeing fresh organic sweet potatoes for Rye, the ever looming all encompassing "mommy guilt" (of a short maternity leave) slowly drifted away as I told Trev how proud I was of myself for doing something I have always wanted to do for my babies. Cooking for Rye is a new found hobby and one I embraced wholeheartedly. I think I can safely say “This is the best summer yet”! Here are some pics of "The Summer of Ryder" (As a good friend/ fellow mommy likes to call it):

Finding Balance

“We need to maintain a proper balance in our life by allocating the time we have. There are occasions where saying no is the best time management practice there is.” Catherine Pulsifer

Lately my goal has been finding balance...amongst the many roles we acquire in our lifetime being a follower of Christ, a wife and mother take priority. In addition to these roles I am a daughter, a sister, an aunt, a sister in law, a daughter in law, a best friend, a niece, a granddaughter, a teacher and a student. Often times I feel overwhelmed with full filling every role to its entirety however, I am slowly realizing how unrealistic this notion truly is and that it’s okay. For the time being my goal has shifted and instead of finding balance I will focus on my ability to trust in God…and as a result balance will find me.