I’ve had a few people ask me how I do it. “How do you take care of your boys, blog, and find time for you?!” I might look like I have it all together [thank you Facebook] but the truth is I don’t. Some weeks I want to throw in the towel and just watch reality TV, order carry out for every meal, oh and read a book— assuming the boys nap. Other weeks I feel so productive I could post on this blog and work on my side projects everyday! Actually that’s never happened but maybe I’ll get there. So with keeping it real and letting you know I really DO NOT have it all together or figured out, I want to share a little secret with you….
My biggest food blogging secret is this: I only make one new recipe each week. Sometimes TWO. Sometimes. Why do I feel the need to tell you this? Because the fact of the matter is when I share a new recipe or post on my blog, that’s the new meal for the week [or from the week before]. And I want you to know you are not alone in the meatball Monday, soup Tuesday, or Pizza Friday routine. I love trying new recipes but frankly I would be exhausted if I made a new one every day. And there would be a lot of food waste because I’m almost positive my boys would protest. Just because I love to cook, try new foods, and share family-friendly recipes with you all, it’s NOT always like that in my kitchen or dining room.
So you’re telling me this registered dietitian foodie blogger only makes ONE new recipe every week?! YEP! And if you have kids you know why: mealtime is stressful. It used to be much more FUN when I had the time to peruse Pinterest, pick out four to five new recipes for the week and test them out on Ted, or in my earlier years my college roomies. But that joy has switched to stress most days and now I find myself feeding the family meals that a. we will all eat and b. I can easily change/adapt based on what’s in season.
Here’s how dinner during the week usually plays out [sides stay consistent- roasted or sauteed veggies]:
Sunday: Dinner at my parents OR if we are at our house I’ll always make some kind of pasta with red sauce. Which makes for great lunch leftovers!
Monday: Soup. I love making soup on Monday because Tuesday’s always feel like long days and I like being able to reheat something.
Tuesday: Leftovers from Monday.
Wednesday: NEW RECIPE! That’s why I usually post a new recipe on Thursday’s or Friday’s on the blog…
Thursday: MAYBE another new recipe. If not, I’ll usually make one pan sausage, potatoes and onions or shredded chicken nachos. Or panini’s! We love panini’s and gourmet grilled cheese around here.
Friday: PIZZA night!
Saturday: Order carry out [sushi!]. Oh and if I post two recipes during the week it’s because I’ve made a new recipe on Saturday afternoon while the family naps. Today I decided to write this post so you might only get one recipe next week!
Now I have some friends with kids who make quite a few new recipes each week. Instead of envying them I PRAISE them because feeding kids is tough. And I know that making a new meal or two takes patience. A whole lot harder than we are lead to believe… I thought labor and delivery was rough. It ain’t nothing compared to feeding small children!! So here’s to consistency, making life a little easier on YOU, and being realistic with food and family goals. Which is why you might only see 1-2 new recipes a week on this blog!
I’m with ya sister! I rarely make more than 1-2 new recipes a week (that’s a good week). Sometimes I have a great week and make more…always depends. But mealtimes have become extra stressful with our new little one (we were just out of the woods with the older kids), it’s always fun figuring out what everyone will eat 😉 so I do try to stick to a few standbys each week to make life easy.
Thanks for always being so real! That’s what I love about you!
Thank you for being such a supporter! You make me feel like I’m not alone is this craziness of blogging and motherhood!
I hear ya! Some weeks we develop several recipes but other weeks when real life gets in the way it may be one or even zero. We all do what we can and as my sister once told me “people will still eat if you don’t post a new recipe this week!”
I love that advice from your sister!! So true!
I am so relieved to hear your secret! As a fairly new blogger I felt like I had to keep up with everyone else and post multiple times each week. With two older kids, a part time job at a hospital, and online coaching job I just don’t have time. Of course I would love to replace the hospital job with blogging, but that’s not possible now. I decided recently to just post when I have the time and not force it!
You are doing an amazing job!!!!!! We all do what we can… And writing a post takes a lot longer than most think!
Truth – I’m lucky if I get one new recipe in every week 🙂 I’m with ya!!
Thank you!! I’m glad I’m not alone in this!
I’m so with you! I think sometimes people get the wrong idea from my blog, every time we attend a BBQ people expect some amazing new dish from me and the truth is I still go to my favorite classics so as NOT to stress myself out with pressure before an event. While I love to cook and create but just like any family we have our go favorites that are on the table more than anything. The stuff I KNOW my kids will eat.
Yes!! We need to make it easy on ourselves. Then we’ll feel more inclined to the newer recipes on not so busy nights!
Amen! I have a backlog of recipes that I haven’t posted, which is why sometimes I post more than one new one a week. The only reason for so much variety on my weekly menu plan is that I make big batches of certain foods like bolognese and soups and freeze for busy weeknights. That’s what’s happening this week!
I love making big batches of soups and freezing for leftovers. There’s nothing like opening the freezer and finding it 🙂