Page 6 - Winter2008

Letters

store. Stephanie’s sweet potato muffins not feel deprived that they are not get- I’m out all day in an adventurous search
were a hit, and so healthy, at my three- ting the newest space-age techno-food. I for organic food, I come home too tired
year-old’s birthday party! want them to feel good about what they to cook what I planned, so I opt for Plan
I need to learn healthier, alternative are eating. B (whatever that may be).
recipes like that as I struggle with the If you come from a home where the One week there is an unplanned
alternative grains and food preparation parents have the final word and children bargain when I go shopping so I stock up
for kids. I’d like to see recipes like this do as they are told, including finishing for the next few months. Now I actually
in every journal. every last morsel on their plate, please have to use up all that I bought. I hope
The traditional foods are easy, but ignore my comments. Since I abhor you get the picture!
not if you have to avoid things like dairy, physically manipulating food into my I have my few set guidelines that
eggs, gluten grains and nuts. And my children’s mouths, I opt for the look and have helped me, which is why I would
daughter reacts immediately to coconut! taste appeal of naturally satisfying food. like to share them with you. During a
Believe it or not, I know two other kids So when the organic pasture-raised busy work week, I try to prepare meals
who do as well. I just want to thank you foods cost double and triple I don’t bat that take about one-half hour prep time
for the work you all do. an eyelash, I put them in my shopping and about one and one-half hours’ cook-
Lisa Olauson cart. I have even stopped looking at the ing time. I consider a meal successful
Long Beach, California prices. So much for budget! However, when more than a majority of family
since I do avoid processed food, I usu- members consumes at least four spoon-
MANY STYLES OF MEAL ally spend less, although not always. fuls. I am happy when about 85 percent
PLANNING As for meal planning, once upon a of the meal is prepared according to
I just wanted to add my two cents time I would diligently plan a weekly WAPF principles. So sometimes my
regarding the recent articles on money menu, but no more! How do you plan grains are soaked properly and some-
and meal planning published in the last when life’s twists and turns are so unpre- times they are just baptized (toiveled,
issue (Fall, 2008). I wanted to present dictable? For example, I cook double and if you are Jewish). On a bad week I’m
another side of the story for all those my kids gobble up everything. Who’s to happy if I cooked a decent meal 50 per-
mothers who are struggling with tight- stop a hungry child from eating good cent of the time. I have no qualms about
ened spending while cooking healthy food or thwart a mother’s delight in serving breakfast food for dinner or vice
meals. watching? Then, I cook for one meal and versa. Pancakes are one example.
I must admit I’m a maverick mom it lasts a week. I don’t want to waste my I’m also not concerned if a child is
and budgeting and meal planning are expensive food so now I have to camou- on a monodiet. Isn’t that what Dr. Price
dirty words in my house. Yes, I do fol- flage it in other foods before it rots in the learned from native cultures? I’m a
low WAPF principles to the best of my never-never land of my refrigerator. sneaky cook so I try to prepare food that
ability. My children still eat junk but I cook a sumptuous dinner and ev- looks like the neighbor’s but with my
there is only so much you can hold back erybody rejects it for toast with cheese. ingredients. Millet in our house is called
from them when all their friends are eat- One week the kids finish every drop and couscous. Our brown rice is disguised
ing that way. Once upon a time I tried the next week no one wants it. with turmeric and called “yellow rice.”
to apply all the proper principles of a One week a certain child has special Some vegetables are processed into a
budget-conscious mother and at the end nutritional requirements so I make a dif- smooth paste so that they are indiscern-
of the day it didn’t work. For example, ferent menu for him. One week I’m too ible in the meat sauce. (However, it
when I’m shopping for healthy food and pregnant and nauseated to look at any- didn’t help for the one child with X-ray
I’m competing with the junk processed thing, so the kids fend for themselves. vision.) Liver is mixed with the ground
food, I spend the money so my kids will I plan a meal in the morning, but since meat. Dense, sourdough bread is fried
6 Wise Traditions WINTER 2008