After moving into our new house last summer I unpacked a box full of random papers. Vowing to start out clutter-free, I was sifting through the stacks when I came across goals the hubby and I had each scribbled into a notebook back in 2008. At the time, I had just finished my Masters program and was itching to apply what I had learned. I was ready to move out of my basement apartment and start my “real life”, and I was frustrated that it felt like it was taking so long. Suspecting I was being unrealistic about my timelines, I sat hubby down and we both made short-term (1 year) and long-term (5 year) goals, and compared them to see if we were on the same page.
We forgot about the pieces of paper, but I believe that writing those goals down and talking about them helped solidify them in our subconscious minds. As I sat on the den floor last summer I read over what we had written…including “buy a house” and realized we had achieved every one (except “have a kid”, which necessarily took a few months longer!).
With all this in mind, I’m setting some personal food goals for 2015. The last time I did so was 2012, when I vowed to eat rapini (check!), learn how to make pie crust (check! but still intimidating), try parsnips again, make veggie burgers from scratch, and start a natural food blog (well hello there). Three ‘outta five ain’t bad, right?
For most of the upcoming calendar year I’ll be home with my baby on maternity leave, which both restricts and expands what I’ll be able to tackle.
Of course, my ultimate goal is to eat 100% real food. But these goals are more specific.
With a moderate amount of ambition, here are my
2015 Real Food Resolutions
- Make delicious whole-wheat bread from scratch. I’m sick and tired of people telling me that 100% whole wheat bread will never taste like anything but cardboard or weigh any less than a doorstop. Michael Pollan thinks it’s possible, so I believe it’s possible, and I’m going to make it happen. But first I have to get over my fear of using yeast.
- Dig myself out of food ruts. When you’re sick and pregnant or busy with a newborn, you take what you can get, even if it’s stale crackers that have been hiding out for years at the back of your cupboard. I’m ready to break free from the canned soups and microwaveable dishes I’ve been relying on while I get onto my new-mother feet.
- Plan better and waste less. Good planning saves time, obviously, and if I have time to make two meals at once (or at least chop veggies for tomorrow’s dinner), I should do it. This will help the whole family eat more healthily (no more throwing together something quick at the last minute). Planning our meals better will also help with sub-goals a. Clean out the freezer and b. Waste/throw out less.
- Make wholesome homemade baby food to transition my baby to solids at six months. I don’t trust food companies to have my Popcorn’s best interests at heart.
- Prepare more staple foods at home. Frankly I think it would take less time to make items like barbeque sauce, chip dip, cereal/granola, and baked beans than it would to read the labels at the grocery store. So why don’t I get off my tushie and do it?
There you have it: my five food goals for 2015. What are you hoping to achieve this year?
[…] folks who post them. I am infamous for getting stuck in ruts (getting out of them is one of my 2015 Real Food Goals); I’ve been eating the same oatmeal pancake recipe since my dad flipped the ‘jacks on […]