Whether you found me through Google, on social media, or I sent you a link (thanks for reading, mom), I’m so glad you’re here, welcome!
Although I’m new to the blogosphere under my own brand, I’m no stranger to writing informative, engaging content for news outlets, magazines and corporations.
Since 2011, I’ve written the Healthy Mama column for Fox News where I cover everything from pregnancy and pediatricians to picky eating and beyond. I even get to write some great stories like the one about women who are obsessed with losing their baby weight or this one about women have orgasms during childbirth.
If you read FIRST for Women magazine, the second best-selling women’s consumer magazine in the U.S., you may have seen my stories about women who overcame extreme fatigue and serious health conditions, lost a ton of weight and tips to help your child deal with stress.
I’ve also written for brands like What To Expect, Disney’s Babble.com and Care.com.
But I’m not just a writer, I’m a mom of two daughters, ages 3 and 5, who are watching my every step and ask a ton of questions all day long. Everything from—do you like Peppa Pig? And why are you wearing that sweater? To is your belly button and innie or an outie? And why can’t we have chocolate for breakfast?
They also want to know why I go to the gym most mornings while they’re still sleeping. To that I answer: because it makes me happy, fit, and balanced. It makes me a better mom.
Why I started this blog
It sounds cliché but my goal for this blog is to change the world, starting with how we feed our kids.
Although your child’s picky eating probably makes you want to pull your hair out, I want you to stop thinking that your goal is to stop picky eating. Instead, I want you to think about why your kids should be eating healthy now and throughout their lives.
Obesity is an epidemic in this country, not to mention the thousands of people who are diagnosed each year with diabetes, heart disease and a slew of health conditions that can often be prevented through diet alone. Although childhood obesity persists, I think that whether your children are overweight or stick thin, they need to learn how to be healthy so they always will be.
I think what many parents get wrong is thinking kids should be kids. They don’t want to deprive them of their favorite foods because they think they’re somehow robbing their children of their childhood.
Yet in reality, they’re robbing them of a healthy life. Maybe not now, but definitely in the future. Make no mistake that the foods you feed your kids today will affect them for the rest of their lives.
That’s not to say kids shouldn’t enjoy treats and get to indulge once in a while, but what they eat most of the time should be healthy, real food.
When I had my first child, I was given The Baby & Toddler Cookbook as a gift. As I read about how to make healthy, delicious homemade baby food, I was couldn’t wait to try all of the recipes and introduce my daughter to the new and interesting flavors, textures and tastes.
When she started solids, I realized that feeding her was way more important than I had ever realized. By choosing healthy foods, I was setting the stage for her health throughout her life.
Now that she’s older, she loves to eat salads, lentils and salmon. When dinner is served, she’s excited and embraces new foods. My other daughter is a bit more picky but she’s just as adventurous.
I’m convinced that part of the reason my children are healthy eaters is that I ate healthy while I was pregnant and breastfeeding, which studies show make a big difference. If you’re pregnant, I encourage you to do the same. But whether your child is 2 or 12, you can still convert your picky eater into a healthy, adventurous foodie.
I’m not a nutritionist and I don’t have all the answers, but through this blog, it’s my goal to share what I have learned and what has worked for me so that it may be able to help you too.
Every time you read my blog, you’ll get my personal stories, new research I’ve read, tips from leading experts and some healthy, delicious recipes along the way. Have a question, suggestion or a comment? Always feel free to drop me a line.
I’m just like you.
As a child of the 80’s, I ate a lot of TV dinners, meals in bags and boxes, and anything that was easy, fast and convenient. To this day, my stomach turns when I think about Tuna Helper.
Vegetables were served but not nearly as often as I serve them to my kids. I don’t blame my parents—that’s how most families ate. But since I didn’t learn how to eat healthy or learn healthy eating habits, I struggled with my weight throughout my 20’s until I finally took control. You can read more about my story here.
Like you, I’m a busy mom who is overwhelmed and stressed out. One minute I’m churning out a work project and the next I’m wiping tears and giving hugs. I wipe butts and bloody noses, clean up vomit and give baths and deal with everyday meltdowns and bedtime battles.
Like you, I spend my time as if I’m a 1950’s housewife: cooking, cleaning, doing laundry and ironing the clothes. On top of that there’s an endless list of errands, lunches to pack, school forms, homework, afterschool activities, doctor’s appointments, budgets to stay on top of and bills to pay.
Like you, I want only the best for my kids. But I’m not perfect and each day I’m learning and striving to do the best I can with what I know.
Thanks again for finding me. I’m excited to share this journey with you and I hope we can learn from each other along the way.
