I have a guest on my blog today, the publicist extraordinaire Krista Rolfzen Soukup. She works with several clients on book promotion and publicity and offers consultations with authors on ways to get the word out about their books and who they are as authors. She’s also a dear friend, a great mom, and a wonderful cook. Thanks for taking the time to write this post, Krista!
As a single mother of four children, time is a commodity that gets depleted faster than a batch of hot cookies sitting on my counter. I have always loved baking and cooking, but most of all I LOVE to eat fresh homemade food. Even in the midst of a busy schedule of family and work, I take the time to cook meals and have a sit down family dinner. As more and more studies surface on the health risks of corporate cooked food, I find it increasingly important to continue home cooked meals for my family.
I recently watched this video of Michael Pollan (Michael Pollan Video ), author, activist, journalist and professor of journalism at the UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism. He emphasizes how cooking at home is one of the simplest and most important steps people can make to improve their family’s health, build communities, help fix our broken food system and perhaps most importantly, break our growing dependence on corporations. I love how he explains how our view of cooking at home has changed. Why do we see it as an activity that gets in our way of life, instead of an important part of our daily lives?
I can’t say planning, preparing and serving meals to my family is easy or effortless, but like my own mom says, “What more important thing would you rather spend your time doing?” I recently remembered calling Mary and saying “What was I thinking!?”, after I had just pulled together a roast beef, mashed potatoes and home-made gravy meal in the midst of scheduled day of swimming lessons, work deadlines, martial arts and book club. Yes, it was a tasty achievement, but not one I’d likely attempt in the near future. Planning is the key.
Take the time to Read a book, cook at home and take a walk. All worthwhile, and really, what more important thing would you rather spend your time doing?
It’s important to know where your food came from and who is cooking it. Why not get the kids involved in the process! A few fun photos from the Soukup family.
Thanks, Krista. I love a good old-fashioned roast beef meal with all the fixin’s! What time’s dinner?
I love this post! I read Michael Pollan’s book “The Omnivore’s Dilemma” for a project in college. WOW! Talk about eye opening! I’m so thankful my husband and I both love cooking. I agree with you, Krista: it is important to rethink cooking at home. It’s not a duty or a chore, it’s an essential part of our lives with our families AND an essential part of our health!
Great post!
Jen
Thanks, Jen. I agree. I feel better about myself as a mom when I provide a good meal for my boys.
Thanks, Jen. It was scary to listen to Michael’s words about corporate food. Yikes!
Thanks for sharing your well-written thoughts with us, Krista. See, you really ARE a writer! Thank you, Mary, for including Krista in your blog.
I’ve been telling Krista that for years! And, yes, she has words of wisdom here. Plus, really cute photos!
Thanks Lauren! Maybe all of the great writers I’m hanging out with are rubbing off on me!
Of course, they are Krista. Plus, you have what it takes!!!
What a thought-provoking sharing! The circle of family & relationship is delightfully found around the kitchen table. Home cooking creates multiple layers of awareness – in talking, nurturing, creativity & health. Krista, you are a wonderful example of ‘it can be done’!
Cheers and Blessings to you!
Debbie
Yay! Thanks, Debbie.
This is a great post and my mouth is watering for a roast beef and potatoes and it is still morning! I always feel guilty that I am a “bad wife” because I don’t know how to cook. My husband does the cooking and cleaning. I am perhaps one of the least domestic wives in the world. Hmm…today is dreary and rainy and we have to go to the store, perhaps I will convince my husband that I should make pot roast tonight, or maybe a thick beef stew 🙂
Melanie, let the guilt go! I’m now in a relationship with The Biker Chef, and I am happy to turn the kitchen over to him!!! We can do other things, like set the table, buy the groceries, mmm and ahhh over the deliciousness. I know, I want beef & potatoes, now, too!
Usually, I do let it go, and then it sneaks up on me. I talked him into going to the store, but we stopped and got lunch while we were out. Ended up not feeling so good while at the grocery store, so now I am curled up on the couch and he is likely going to make dinner after all – although it is too late in the date for beef and potatoes! Perhaps sometime in the next 2 weeks (it is supposed to stay dreary and wet so good pot roast weather!)
I agree with this! At the same time, I’ve been struggling in the cooking a homemade meal category for the last month or more. But is it a goal ever before me, something I know is healthy and important for my family’s well-being. Yes! Thanks Krista!
Get the kids involved, Roxane. I need to work on that part, too. The Chef can’t be here ALL the time! Plus, they need to learn how to cook, and to enjoy it, too.
Last year we stopped eating take-away (take out) food and reestablished the meal at the table routine. It has made a tremendous difference to our family. It is the one time of day we gather from all our different focus lives and share as a family. I am so glad I did it. We are eating better and spending less.
Even if the meal we eat together is yet another quick pot of spaghetti, it’s worth it!