Kristin Hill Taylor

Seeking God as the Author of Every Story

Help kids have healthy eating habits

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I have one kid who loves to eat meat. I have one daughter who loves vegetables. And I have a third daughter who grazes but eats a variety of foods. I’m not a strict mom when it comes to food choices, but I do prioritize sitting down to dinner together. Of course, those dinner meals aren’t always smooth, people often have complaints about food, and I have to remind at least one kid to sit down. 

In addition to prioritizing family dinners, I also want to champion healthy eating at our home. Here are some ways we can do that:

Make cooking a family activity

Most of us take more interest in meals we have made ourselves, and we’re more inclined to give new dishes a go if we’ve played a part in their creation. There will be times parents (me definitely included!) want a quick, easy dish for the family with minimal hassle, but it’s a great idea to let your children help out if you have time. Make cooking a family-friendly activity, let your children help out in the kitchen, and encourage them to share ideas for dishes they’d like to try to cook with you. When I need meal ideas, I often find inspiration in my kids’ suggestions. They know how to add foods to our grocery list, thanks to Alexa. Of course, sometimes I Google quick, simple ideas like a garlic aioli recipe or other side dishes.  

Talk to children about nutrition

When promoting healthy eating, nutrition not dieting should be the focus. Each body is reliant on the nutrients it needs to function properly. Talk to your kids about why healthy eating is beneficial, highlight the benefits of eating different foods, and explain what different ingredients and products offer. 

I try to include a fruit or vegetable with almost every meal we make at home, even if that’s sliced apples with the Red Baron pizza. I know my youngest two kids are less likely to eat sauteed vegetables with the rest of us, so I will often cut up a cucumber for them to share. Feeding your family doesn’t have to be complicated!

Of course, food fuels us physically, but I believe food can be the catalyst to deep, meaningful relationships too. I wrote a whole book about that.

Make mealtimes enjoyable

It’s important for children to have a positive relationship with food, but it’s not always easy to achieve this goal. If you’re eager to encourage your kids to embrace healthy eating, make mealtimes enjoyable. Sit down together as much as possible, chat about the day, catch up, and put phones and devices down. Take this time to engage with each other. This month we’ve started an “Attitude of Gratitude” activity during which each person names what they’re thankful for from that day. I record the gratitude gifts in a journal. (And, yes, I’ve referenced Ben Rector’s song “Thank You” as we do this.)

Most parents go through times when getting children to try new foods or eat healthily is a challenge. If you’re keen to encourage your kids to take an interest in healthy eating, cook together, try new recipes, talk to your children about the importance of nutrition, and make mealtimes a fun, regular part of the day.

Also, I need meal inspiration, if anyone has any easy, delicious recipes to send my way!

Sharing more stories on the porch

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I want more ways to hang out on my porch and swap stories with friends.

We are currently renovating our deck at our house so it’s bigger and opens toward our new pool. I’m excited to grill out and gather around that table while people swim.

Meawhile, I’m starting another way to share more #PorchStories online.

In these cases, more really is better.

I love how women connect at my weekly #PorchStories linkup and I’m looking forward to connecting more at my new Facebook group. You don’t have to be a regular at the linkup, and you don’t even have to be a blogger.

Stories connect us as we seek
God as the author of them all.

{Tweet that.}

I wish I could have you all over to my real-life in porch in Kentucky. Until that day happens, I’m hoping y’all will gather with me on my virtual porch. This is {another} place for women to gather and swap real-life stories. Let’s encourage each other to fix our eyes on Jesus and be changed from the inside out. Let’s choose joy wherever we are.

*****

It’s Friday! I’m joining Kate Motaung for Five Minute Friday. Each week she has a one-word prompt and writers write for five minutes flat. This week’s prompt is MORE. Come join us!

Let’s party! :: On being {mostly} an extrovert

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I’m an extrovert, but I have plenty of introvert tendencies. Officially, my personality falls in the extroverted category, but it’s only a moderate advantage over the introverted version. I like to plan and host parties. I get my emotional fill from being around those closest to me. But after prolonged socializing, I like to retreat for a short time. I don’t like speaking in front of crowds.

So when I was invited to share our adoption story on the local Christian radio station last week, my immediate reaction was mixed: Yes, I’d love that opportunity. But it’s totally out of my comfort zone.

I’ve long considered myself a writer, but certainly not a speaker – mostly because my hands get clammy and I worry about the words that’ll come out of my mouth. When I write, I can draft words. Speaking has always seemed to require confidence in the first verbal draft.

Here’s a small world story. Eddie invited me on the radio. I know Eddie because when he left the Murray Ledger & Times, I was hired. So we’re both former reporters who occupied the same desk in the same newsroom at one point. He went onto do a couple of those jobs, settling in at the radio station. I’ve been mothering and freelancing and doing various other projects.

When I got into his radio studio Wednesday morning one of the first things he said to me calmed my nerves: When I wrote at the Ledger and made a mistake, it was out there in print. Now if I make a mistake, it’s out there and then gone. Of course, I’m still more confident writing, go figure.

I appreciated his perspective, even though in my head, I know people sometimes hear and remember more than we think they do. But the mistakes aren’t staring you in the face when you speak into a microphone in a small studio without an audience staying you in the face. And by you, I mean me. So, really, the radio interview was so much better than speaking to an actual audience. Of course, when my time was up, I got some texts, phone calls, and Facebook comments that helped define who my audience had been.

Anyway, the radio interview was a good experience. Eddie asked me about our adoption story and my book and I talked about how writing the story was therapeutic, how I hope the book encouraging others, how adoption helped build my faith, how the book on sale this month, and where to find my words on my blog, on Facebook, and on Amazon. {And this month

I wish I had asked him if we could record the interview. I wish I had remembered to take a picture. But those details slipped my mind when I was getting myself ready to speak words into a microphone for who knows who in western Kentucky to hear.

And speaking of my extroverted ways that have introverted tendencies, I’m having a Facebook party! I’d love for you to mark your calendars {because, yes, planning is part of my personality too!} to join me on my Facebook page on Monday, Nov. 17 from 8 to 9 p.m.

It’s the best of both worlds – a party with interaction and conversation but without having to get out of your soft pants or even brush your hair. There will be discussions to join, prizes to win, and new friends to meet.

Not that a reason is actually necessary, but I’m having a Facebook party now because I have multiple things to celebrate ::

  • Lisa Larson of The Copper Anchor made my blog so pretty. 
  • I’m thrilled to be hosting the Three Word Wednesday link up that my dear friend Beth entrusted to me. 
  • My ebook is on sale this month because it’s National Adoption Awareness Month. I know some of you may be tired of hearing about it, but it’s my favorite to story to tell so I’m enjoying sharing about it now that the project is finished and out there.

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Want more stories? “Peace in the Process: How Adoption Built My Faith & My Family” is available on Amazon. Like me on Facebook, follow me on Twitter, peek into my life on Instagram, follow 152 Insights at Bloglovin’, or subscribe to receive “Insights in Your Inbox.”