Living in the Now: Worthy Meal Shortcuts

"If anything is worth doing, it is worth doing badly."  

G. K. Chesterton

 

Eating together as a family, even a single meal a day, has fallen to a rare normal.  A mere 27% of families eating together, only eat, drink, and converse at meal time (listen to Les and Leslie Parrot talk about this sobering pattern).  Eating purposefully, together, and regularly is indeed worth doing, but admittedly, sometimes needs a few shortcuts.  Create space to mealtimes.  Give these a try.  Be realistic.  Suggest a few of your own shortcuts in the comments below:

• Use paper plates.  Try fun colors or paper party plates.  Special touch for sabbath family meals.  Easier for you, you'll also win eager eaters.
• Try frozen entrees.  A reheated lasagna and fresh salad is a cinch to prepare, and is a step above frozen pizza.
• Prepare two, freeze one.  If you go to all the trouble of preparing a meal, save yourself some work by preparing double, and freezing half for a future meal.
• Rotate helpers.  Even middle schoolers can make a pot of mac and cheese and throw in some tuna and veggies for a one pot wonder.  To simplify, assign a specialty meal for each helper to prepare on their meal night.
• KISS.  Keep it Simple, Silly!  Have a regular finger food night that is simple to prepare and fun to eat.  Find a hummus recipe you like.  Dip veggies and bread.  Easy to make ahead and serve in a moment!
• Commit to 15 mealtime minutes.  Be realistic.  An average week night meal need not carry the pressure of a long drawn out ritual.  Focus on sweet and prompt times together.  You will be more likely to connect regularly if you set a reasonable goal.
• Think outside the norm.  Instead of family dinner time, try Saturday morning pancakes or Sunday pizza parties.  Spending a family meal together is most important.

Living in the Now: Food Swap

Pondering the soulful knitting between eating and being, I wanted to hear how you handle the daily logistics of good eating.  My little rut-full system always needs updates and fresh ideas.  Especially, have you:

• jumped on the once a month cooking bandwagon, shopping and prepping a whole month's worth at a time to simplify your routine?
• found a fabulous frozen entree (not that I would ever serve it to you, but sometime I want a night off)?
• found a good rhythm for favorite meal rotations?
• stashed your favorite staples in the pantry?
• juggled dietary restrictions for the whole family without driving anyone crazy?

Your ideas will help me, and maybe save my little family a bit of peace!

Living in the Now: The Heart of Being Kosher

Sometimes the best library books I find are when I just stroll the aisles.  Hence this random jewel:

Buy on this fab website

Old Testament law reminds me of why I love being Anglican: God's abounding love for us began before the foundations of the world.  How He desires a relationship.  His heart towards me is good.  This soulful story's foundation is in these first few books. 

But, I have never read a book on being Kosher.  I found it worth a toe dip, even if it is too much to jump all the way in.  The motive for this lifestyle can be found here:

For you are a people holy to the Lord your God, and the Lord has chosen you to be a people for his treasured possession, out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth.  You shall not eat any abomination.  Deuteronomy 14:2-3

At its heart, Kosher is eating purposefully, honoring heritage, and acknowledging the Lord.  Kosher is a humble lifestyle of submission.   Live-giving, nutrient rich food is eaten purposefully to bring glory to the God who feeds us, mind, body and spirit.  The author, Lise Stern notes:

Deciding to keep kosher, and how you keep kosher is a personal choice.  For me, keeping kosher reminds me of my Jewish beliefs and of God every time I eat.  It makes me consider what I am eating, and helps me appreciate it.

I was startled--and convicted--to find Stern's heart was practically opposite of how I eat on an average day.  When was the last time my PB&J reminded me of God?  Maybe I've been sacrificing a moment to worship. 

The most purposeful meal I prepare or eat is Eucharist.  The pattern of preparing and receiving is well-considered.  No other distraction demands my attention, and I'm fully present in this feasting moment.  There is soulful music, companionship of family, and deep satisfaction in participating.  Maybe communion is the most Kosher thing I do all week.  What if "keeping the feast" was a culmination of keeping little feasts all week?  What if my undivided heart seamlessly worshiped God the same way, communion wine or PB&J?

My challenge for you is to consider the heart of being Kosher.  See the stark contrast that our average American day leaves us wanting.  What ways can you live purposefully, to honor our Creator with each life-giving morsel? 

Living in the Now: Making Choices

It's 2:00 in the afternoon.  I wish you were here to see the polite, quiet struggle.  While I've had an extremely productive day checking off responsibilities, Someone has been slightly less productive.  Quietly, respectfully, he refuses to work on his school. Purely won't pick up the pencil. 

A little less quietly, he has clearly refused all food offered, and somehow that was the breaking point for me.  He used to be such a good little eater, and this insane pickiness, this overwhelming stubbornness, hurts my pride.

Ah, there's the root. 

Its somehow shocking that I can't force him to make good choices.  And eating wholesome food, lovingly prepared from scratch, being served with a kiss and a smile...he won't choose it. His undying stubbornness to sit at the table, on strike, for this many hours is unsettling. Lord have mercy, what will he be like when he's 15?!

In the meantime, I'm committed to letting home be a place where it is safe to make choices--good or bad. A safe environment to live out what you choose, going hungry or grazing.  How much more my Father does for me, a mindless sheep in His pasture: 

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Psalm 23: 5-6

How do you coach your little one into making good choices? How do you let go of pride and humbly walk with God?  This has been an ongoing battle for months.  We've probably tried the basic ideas, so dig deeper.  Input needed.