Your Money or Your Life?

I had never really given much thought to my eating habits.  As a child I simply ate what was put in front of me and my options for snacks were limited to what was already in the cupboard.  I may have complained when I was given food I didn't like, but it's nutritional value didn't even enter my head.  Food was food, and as far as I was concerned there was a limited amount of choice and only the sugary stuff was really worth eating - all other food was eaten only in order to get pudding.  I started to take more of an interest in cooking after I cooked a meal with my then boyfriend (now husband), Mike, when we were 15.  It was a simple Bolognese but I was still surprised when it didn't come ready-made from a jar.  I was still using the ready-made sauces my mum bought, but I started adding frozen vegetables and basic herb mixes.  It wasn't much, but I found cooking became much more fun.  When I left home to live with Mike at age 20 I still didn't really notice that there were more aisles in the supermarket than the frozen foods and the bakery, but we cooked together and dining became more of a social experience.


Then I had my son and I was given a book that changed my life.

I will be eternally grateful to the former colleague who gave me a copy of Amanda Grant's 'Baby and Toddler Healthy Eating Planner'. It was a real eye-opener.  I only wish that I had read it before I got pregnant - I cringe when I think of some of the processed, sugar-crammed nasties I was eating.  I didn't have the worst diet in the world but there were basic foods I didn't know existed.  I was literally having to search the internet before going shopping because I wasn't sure what aubergines looked like!  There were so many flavours and colours and textures.  There were new herbs and spices I could add to fresh ingredients to enhance their taste.  There was a whole world of food to explore and I had the perfect opportunity to test everything - a baby.
I had struggled to breastfeed for 4 months and was feeling guilty for giving him formula top-ups and not being able to continue to provide him with the best nutrition (see If Only I'd Known About..Part 2).  This was a chance to redeem myself.  I would make sure I gave him fresh, nutritious, home-cooked food and I would make sure that I could teach him to enjoy cooking and eating well.

Nathan making Cheesy Chicken Stuffed Peppers

Had I suggested to Mike that we completely change the way we cook and eat without the excuse of our son, I'm sure I would have been met with more resistance.  Not that there hasn't been a significant improvement in the quality of our meals - it's just that Mike hears 'healthy' and thinks 'rabbit food' (and this is still the case every time I try something new and he asks what we're having and I don't mention meat or cheese - he usually ends up eating the lot with no complaints!)
Another concern was cost.  I was sure that a healthy lifestyle would mean an unhealthy bank balance.  It's hard to compare our food bill as a couple to our food bill as a family (especially since Mike eats enough to feed 2 adults), but I know that I can keep the cost down enough to easily justify the change.  Our food is more exciting, tastier, fresher and good for us.  So, I have created this blog in order to inspire others to do the same.  After all, what's more important - your money or your life?


Sheena x