learning from home

I didn't announce this with too much fanfare, but I took my final certification exam to be a holistic health coach last week. I am super excited to be working on a couple of exciting ways to share this experience and knowledge with all of you, with my focus continuing to be on helping moms feed their families well on the busiest of days. (Because really, can we busy moms ever have enough help when it comes to mealtimes?!)  

I must admit that I am a sad that the program is over. Each week, I was exposed to a variety of dietary theories, and thoughtful ways to balance out our busy lives. For me, the beauty of this integrative nutrition program was that I could expand my knowledge from home, and continue to be present for my children when they were home from school. While I am always looking for ways to learn, grow, help and inspire, I've made a conscious decision to be a "stay-at-home-mom"... so anything I do on top of that can augment, but not take away from this special time in my life. It was sometimes tricky, but I found pockets of time to listen to my lectures, and fit time for my husband, friends, volunteer work and writing around my schoolwork.

Even this weekend, I made the juggle work. IIN was having their conference in NYC. So close... and yet so far. My husband was out of town on a ski weekend with college friends, and my children had a variety of classes and fun things to do queued up both weekend days.

So, I decided to spend the day with my kids up at the mountain... snowshoeing (in some much-appreciated solitude while they skied with their groups), and then skiing with my little one in the afternoon.

I got to be present for my older son's ski awards ceremony, and then we all headed home, tuckered out and content. A quick family dinner, then they agreed to read to each other before bed so I could start listening to a reply of the conference at 7pm.

And now I am sitting here in front of the fire, enjoying (a replay of) the conference, smitten that I also got to enjoy the day with my kids. For any of you busy moms whose interest in this nutrition program might be piqued, I am more than happy to describe my experience and share my feedback. Feel free to send me an email and you can ask away! And in the meantime, if you want a sneak peek at what integrative nutrition is all about, you can download this free ebook about health and wellness, which I found hugely inspiring a year ago, when I began my studies.

perfect afternoon

me: listening to a lecture outside
one child: reading
one child: making mud pies
our snack: celery with freshly ground peanut butter (from the do-it-yourself dispenser at the market) + cucumbers with sun-dried tomato-cashew-pine nut spread

heading back to school!

I am officially back in school! I could not be more excited about the coming year. I have ogled the Institute for Integrative Nutrition for years and years, but it never seemed feasible time-wise. But this is a big year for me... I turned 40. And, well, I am tired of the post-baby weight that's lingering. I'm tired of being tired. I feel ready to make some changes. I *know* what I should be eating and doing, but for some reason, I lack the framework to really make it stick. And so, it is with great excitement (and some trepidation) that I have returned to school to better understand the nitty gritty aspects of nutrition and diet, as well as the holistic nature of wellness. I hope to come out of this year feeling better and more balanced myself, with a framework to make it sustainable. And looser jeans would be nice too.

In anticipation of school ramping up, I had the kids help me organize the playroom. It was like herding cats, getting them to focus, not play... but I am determined to have them play a more active role in tidying up at the end of the day. I am a super mom, but I am not Supermom. I will need help from everyone in my family to be successful.

On the meal front, I have a small stash of meals in the freezer, which I intend to add to on days when I have a chance to cook (and relish on the nights I don't). Right now, the stash includes: a spinach lasagna, a veggie-version of my go-to enchiladas, a big thing of my favorite turkey chili and Sunday's veg taco filling. Admittedly, I also have a stash of Amy's frozen pizzas. As I cooked on Sunday (veg taco night) and Monday ("redemption salad" a.k.a. my fav Asian-inspired salad), I also prepped extra amounts of the basic ingredients, so meal prep the remainder of the week can be quick and easy. I've written about this prep ahead concept before. Trust me, it's so worth it. Fruits and veggies are prepped in the fridge, so packing lunches is a breeze and the pre-dinner snacking platter can be assembled with minimal effort. Here's the scoop on some of the ingredients in my fridge as of Monday evening, and what they may become:

• turkey that I'd roasted and frozen >> turkey sandwiches; go into a soup or stir-fry; top a salad; or as-is as a simple meat protein
• edamame >> quick snack/lunchbox side as-is or edamame hummus
• honeydew melon >> quick snack, lunchbox side, smoothie ingredient or side at any meal
• more of the veg taco filling >> quick lunch as a taco salad or filling for veggie quessadillas
• shredded cabbage >> salad or stir-fry ingredient
• tomatoes >> salad, sandwich, scrambled egg or frittata ingredient
• shredded carrots >>  quick snack/lunchbox side or salad/stir-fry ingredient
• snow peas >> quick snack/lunchbox side or salad/stir-fry ingredient
• bell peppers, washed and cut into spears >> quick snack/lunchbox side, quessadilla or stir-fry ingredient, add to scrambled eggs or a frittata
• leftover Asian dressing >> marinade for chicken
• cooked quinoa >> quinoa salad or added to black bean cakes in lieu of breadcrumbs
• very ripe avocados >> guac or salad ingredient

Hopefully this sheds a little light on how I prep-- and use up-- lots of different basic ingredients. Once I am in more of a school groove I am happy to meet with you one-on-one and do a sample cook day of things your family likes, and then map out what you would then make the remaining days of the week. But first, I need to remember how to study! I know it's going to be tricky juggling school, raising two young children, volunteer work and being present for my family and friends, but I am thrilled to finally be pursuing a program I have admired for years.

exciting news to share!

I am thrilled to share some exciting news with you all... 

Three years ago, I started this blog (then called "mom-a-licious") with a goal of sharing my strategies for staying balanced as a wife, mother and friend. In that first post, I wrote:


"...a mom is “mom-a-licious” when she feels good about herself, and good about her skills as a wife and mother. Like you, I am trying to do it all: raise happy, kind, confident children…be an interesting and interested wife…get back into shape…see my friends…volunteer in my community and children’s schools…stay abreast of what’s going on in the world…have a homemade dinner on the table…and stay grounded. Believe me, I know it’s not easy to do it all, and do it well!" 


I called motherhood the most important job I'd ever had, and I still believe that it is. But like so many of my fellow moms, I haven't been able to strike the truly healthy balance I so desire. And while I'd love to say I'm feeling "40 and fabulous", the truth is: the fabulous part needs work. I have the cooking part down pat. I have a tremendous knowledge of nutrient-dense foods...and a knack for making them family-friendly. And, I love writing this blog for the creative outlet and the chance to share what is working here-- around our kitchen table, in particular.

But I also have come to appreciate that there is so much more to being "healthy" and feeling good as a wife, mother and friend. This year, I've decided to make this my focus, both personally and professionally. After eyeing and admiring the IIN program the past 10 years, I will become certified through the Institute for Integrative Nutrition as a holistic health coach. This is a grand step in my resolution to continue to learn, and I cannot begin tell you how excited I am to further my education in this holistic approach to health.

I will continue to share simple recipes and mealtime inspiration here on the full plate blog. My goal is to get into a regular posting schedule once I am in my school groove. I recommend subscribing via email, in the upper right hand corner of the blog, if you'd like to be in the loop. (Don't forget to confirm that you would like Feedburner to subscribe you, otherwise your subscription goes into some sort of black hole...). I also pop things on to the FB page for full plate / meals in a snap page, so you might like to "like" that as well so you get updates on recipes and articles I find inspiring.

I cannot imagine a better gift of health for myself, my husband, my children, and hopefully for my clients down the road. Here's to an amazing learning experience ahead
  

as I excel at the most important job I will ever have.