Today, it is exactly five years since I stopped eating sugar.
That seems like kind of a big deal to me, so I decided this would be the perfect day to introduce you to a new little project of mine, which involves food.
I love food. I love eating it, making it, and taking pictures of it.
I love the bright colors of vegetables, or when healthy food looks super appealing, and I really enjoy a plate of food with great presentation. If I had time in this life, I’d be a food stylist.
But I will never have a food blog. For the following reasons:
1) I very rarely make up my own recipes.
I love following other people’s amazing recipes, but I don’t “experiment” in the kitchen. That’s just not my thing.
2) I don’t know anything about food photography.
Although I’m often taking pictures of food, I really don’t know how to do it the way professionals do. I could learn, but it’s not close to the top of my list of priorities right now.
3) I’m interested in too many other things.
While healthy eating is very important to me, and something I’m passionate about, I can’t see myself limiting this blogging hobby to food. I love Jesus, I love my family, I love photography, reading, writing, organizing, simplifying, etc, etc. The list could go on and on. A food blog or even a health blog would feel very limiting.
However.
Despite the fact that I don’t want to write an entire blog about food, I’ve been working on a little surprise for all of you who are interested.
I have been approached by several different people who are curious about the way our family eats. I am often asked questions about how I have navigated the different diet transitions my family has been through, including going gluten-free, dairy-free, and sugar-free. (Lots of free…)
Because food intolerances are becoming increasingly common, and healthy eating is on the rise, I have been asked a number of times if I could put together all of the recipes our family uses on a regular basis, as well as any tips for where to find great products, resources, or any other helpful tidbits.
The only qualification I have when it comes to healthy eating is experience. I have read and researched for hours and hours, and I have lived it for five years.
I will never forget that day, five years ago, when my naturopath called me with test results, and her solution to my health problems: a total food makeover.
The day she called me with the results, I was lying flat on the couch, recovering from a surgery which was supposed to treat my infertility issues. I felt about the worst I’ve ever felt, which was probably a good thing, because I was ready to agree to ANYTHING she suggested.
And her suggestion was: No more gluten, dairy, or sugar.
I had no idea what to eat. No idea how to cook. No idea how to survive within the new limitations I’d been given.
The first two weeks were completely terrible. Because I couldn’t eat the very things my body was desperately craving, I felt hungry all the time. I lay awake at night, thinking about food. I cried a lot.
But I stuck to it, and slowly, things started to change.
Slowly, I found a new normal. And then things went well for a few years.
Until our girls started having too many digestion problems, and Ben and I decided it was time to make some changes in the way our whole family was eating.
So I started all over again. I could feed myself in a healthy way, but it wasn’t appealing for kids.
I’ve spent the last year figuring out how to feed a family in a healthy, appealing way. It is a constant work in progress, as I learn more about what is truly good to eat, and as I discover more recipes.
But it doesn’t stress me out anymore. I enjoy it.
And I don’t ever want to go back to the way we used to eat.
I love what our family eats. I feel truly good about the food I serve. Part of me would love it if our girls could enjoy what “normal” kids eat, but mostly, I’m just thankful for how much healthier we eat because of the food intolerance issues we deal with around here. I have so much left to learn, and many more healthy habits to add to what we’re already doing around here, but I feel that we’re on the right track.
So this is what we’re going to do around here on the blog:
For all of you who have expressed interest in what our family eats, or for anyone who just loves to check out new recipes, and you want some ideas on how to eat gluten-free, dairy-free, or sugar-free, I have decided to add a new page to my blog labelled “Recipes”. I have put together a list of links to all of our favorite recipes, and I will pass it on to you, in an effort to make it easier than it was for me in the beginning.
Also, I am working on a second page which will include all of the resources and health tips I have picked up over the last five years, from the reading I’ve done, and the multitude of healthcare professionals I’ve seen.
What I know, I’ll share!
And...if you have great gluten/dairy/sugar free recipes to pass on, I’d love to have you email those to me, and we’ll share with everybody.
But if you love your wheat and sugar, then by all means, avoid those new pages, and keep coming back for the usual blog stuff! The only thing that will look different are a few new tabs across the top.
And now, I must ask: How many of you out there are with me on this food intolerance adventure?? Any suggestions on how to navigate through all of the obstacles? Any recipes to share?
*Update: I have decided to remove the recipe page from my blog, and to replace it, I have started a Pinterest board with all of the online recipes we use on a regular basis. It is much less time-consuming to keep it updated, and more easily accessible, so I hope you find it enjoyable and useful!:)
Ordinary Days 