If I had a penny for every time I heard a frazzled mama say, “I’ve been wanting to be vegan but my family would never go for it,” I’d spend it all on a PSA to let you all know that you are not alone.
Vegan Taco Variations - Photo Credit: Christin Bumme
If I had a penny for every time I heard a frazzled mama say, “I’ve been
wanting to be vegan (or plant-based, or to eat healthier) but my family
would never go for it,” I’d spend it all on a PSA to let you all know that
you are not alone.
As mothers we carry the weight of responsibility for keeping our homes and
families together. It involves making sure homework gets done and turned in.
Making appointments for dentists, doctors, counselors, therapists.
Transportation to all the places.
But there are so many decisions. We’re choosing which extra-curricular
activities to pursue, which laundry detergent to use that won’t irritate
anyone’s skin nor break the bank. We’re deciding how much to buy—of
everything—shoes, clothes, toothpaste, and even toilet paper.
We choose the best food we can afford that they’ll (hopefully) eat. We
choose plain Cheerios over Lucky Charms. Natural sweeteners instead of HFCS.
Trail mix over beef jerky. Organic and non-GMO. And at least a few fruits
and vegetables to balance out the junk food they still find every time you
turn around.
It’s no easy feat.
The last thing on your mind is overhauling everything by insisting on
healthier food. After all, what’s one more pizza night?
You know it’s not ideal for them, and it’s not so great for your waistline
either!
Picture having a Chipotle-style restaurant in your own home where every
customer (your partner and kiddos) can go down the line and choose their own
adventure. One wants a burrito bowl, another wants a quesadilla, another
will have the soft tacos, and you want a giant taco salad. No problemo!
Here’s how you can pull this off in less than 15 minutes:
Empower one of your youngsters to set up a small bowl for each ingredient and a plate for each person. When the buffet opens, they each get to choose their own base (rice, salad, or soft tacos), select their beans (or not!), choose their veggies, and add their favorite toppings. Add salsa and/or avocado for flavor fireworks, and you’ve got one happy family with several personalized meals. Score!
This same system can be applied to many different kinds of meals. You can
honor your own choices while honoring your family’s autonomy as well. It’s a
way to bring more sanity, harmony, and peace into your household. Less
battling, more bonding.
At the end of the day, finding simple ways to meet your own needs is not
only well-deserved, it’s an act of service. When you’re fueling your body
with food that makes you feel great, you’re setting a wonderful example for
your family, and you’ll be primed to lead them through whatever challenges
lie ahead.
Christin Bummer is the bestselling author of Baby Got Back In Her Pants. Access other simple plant-based recipes (that you can make in 15 minutes or less!) on her website.
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