This past week, I sat down with a young mom (two small kids ages 2 and 4) and she shared with me her struggle to lose weight and be healthier. In talking things out, she just felt busy, uneducated and unprepared. (Common themes for many people struggling.) She is a teacher, out the door by 7:15am and home at 4:00. She trained her body to eat nothing all day and then come home absolutely STARVING. Feeling tired, rushed and dealing with the two little ones, she would snack on junk while she popped a couple frozen, boxed dinners in the mircowave and serve ’em up.
She knew this wasn’t the best thing for her family. She then reveal to me a pretty important thing.
“I have no idea how to cook. I’ve never been taught, I’ve never taken the time to learn and I just don’t have the time.”
As a mom of two, I know what it’s like to be busy with little ones and feeling like you don’t have time to spend hours in the kitchen like the Pioneer Woman.
“Why don’t you toss the chicken on a pan, put it in the oven for 12 minutes. Flip it and go another 12. You don’t have to stand over the stove at all. Play with your kids, clean, do whatever you want while it’s cooking. Take it out, toss it in the fridge and it’s done for probably the whole week!”
“See, I thought the only way to cook chicken was on the grill.”
……………
While it may sound silly, for her, it was a legitimate reason. She has zero cooking knowledge and needed easy ideas to get her started.
Of course we talked about crock pot meals, cooking meat and using several different ways throughout the week. And of course we talked about her getting in at least 1 meal during the day so she wouldn’t end up starving by 4:00.
Back to School
It’s the second week of school (ok, so it’s the 4th week for us) for most kids and I’ve already heard several times, “I’ll have to hold off on _____________ (going to the gym, doing your challenge, eating better…) because back to school is just too busy right now.
NEWSFLASH: Will the school year get any less busy?? Will life get any less busy?
Between the crockpot, cooking in bulk on the weekend, and freezing meals for the future, there are countless ways and websites out there to help you. But here’s the key…
You have to make it a habit.
No, you don’t need to go nuts and have your entire month of meals planned ahead (I tried that, not my style). But you do need to get in the habit of what you are going to do on a weekly basis. Cook on Sunday while the game is on? While the kids are doing homework? While your (gasp) favorite show is on?
Busy is an excuse. It is. And you know what they say about excuses….
