Almost EVERY time I share a recipe or meal-planning post, I get at least one comment or email from someone who claims to “make everything from 100% scratch” and thus has an issue with part of my recipe… because no, I don’t make everything 100% from scratch.
Usually the questions are about how I could change the recipe to be 100% from scratch with absolutely no processed ingredients… to which I respond “I don’t know”.
I’m not trying to be silly or rude, I just honestly don’t know!
As I clearly state on My Recipes Page, it’s not my goal to live without any processed or convenient foods. And it’s not my goal to make everything my family eats 100% from scratch.
I have 500 other things I need to do each day, and while eating a healthy balanced diet IS important to me, I’m also fairly confident that we will not wither and melt from eating an occasional frozen pizza or a boxed brownie mix.
In fact, this is a direct quote from My Recipes Page:
My recipes are simple, delicious, family-friendly, and budget-conscious.
My recipes are easy enough for the busy home chef, delicious enough to impress your guests, and “normal” enough that even your picky eaters are bound to like something!
My recipes use common ingredients you will find in any grocery store (or in your pantry), most offer simple substitutions to fit your family’s tastebuds, and many start with a boxed mix or some pre-made ingredients to help you get dinner on the table even faster.
My recipes are freezer-friendly, and most can easily be made ahead in double or triple batches to save you even more time.
Compare to many people I know, I actually cook and bake from scratch A LOT. However, we have at least one or two meals each week that comprise of some semi-homemade and/or processed foods — and there are many times when I start with a boxed mix for one of my baking recipe… I’m totally OK with that.
Yes, I am fully aware that it would be healthier if I did everything 100% from scratch with all natural and organic ingredients; and I realize that processed and pre-packaged foods are not as healthy as homemade foods.
BUT…
I also know that if I put the pressure on myself to make everything from scratch without ever being able to fall back on a can of soup, a frozen pizza, store-bought cookies, or mac & cheese from a box, I would go crazy and probably give up cooking all together.
We would eat out a lot more, I would be more stressed, I would spend WAY more time agonizing over what to make, our grocery bill would be a lot higher, and our freezer wouldn’t be half as full as it is right now.
I realize not everyone would fall into this trap — but I would.
I like to cook and bake but I don’t LOVE to do either for mass amounts of time. I enjoy spending time in the kitchen if I can be quick and efficient about the meals and snacks I make.
Also, I personally know MANY people who claim to “make everything from scratch” and “never buy any processed foods” but then I’ve seen those same people chowing down at Subway, McDonalds, and Pizza Hut with their family (on more than one occasion).
And while I most definitely do NOT think it’s bad to go out to eat if you can afford it, I also KNOW that these “everything from scratch, no processed food families” eat out much more regularly than Dave and I do — costing them many more dollars and calories in the long run.
When I questioned some of these people as to why they eat out so often, it almost always comes down the fact that they get completely burnt out trying to make everything from scratch — and then they just give up and resort to frozen pizza and fast food for an entire week straight. Then they get back on their healthy-food kick and are super diligent for 2-3 more weeks until they burn out again.
Honestly, I don’t blame them!
There’s just no way I could grind my own grain, make ALL my own bread, make my own cheese, and obsess over every single ingredient that enters my kitchen on a regular basis.
Sure it’s fun to cook from scratch and make time-consuming recipes every now and then — but not every meal, every day, every week.
Everything in Moderation:
Yes, sometimes I make homemade oatmeal with fresh fruit and real maple syrup or homemade omelets with whole grain toast for breakfast. But there are plenty of other days when we eat cold cereal — and I even buy PopTarts for Dave because they are his favorite.
Often we’ll have leftovers or a big fresh salad for lunch, but there are plenty of days when we have lunch meat and cheese on store-bought bread… with chips 🙂
And for dinner, I have absolutely no qualms about incorporating a can of cream of mushroom soup into my casserole with fresh veggies, roasted meats, and home canned applesauce — because I know that if I had to make my own cream of mushroom soup, I would shy away from even making the casserole in the first place and we’d resort to fast food or a frozen meal.
I am not stupid… I realize that processed foods are not great.
But I’m also pretty practical with my approach to feeding my family and realize that SOME processed food with LOTS of other fresh fruits, veggies, meats, and grains is much better than a stressed out, burned out mama who resorts to fast food and frozen meals day after day.
As I mention on my recipe page, I’m an advocate for “everything in moderation” (for food and most other things in life).
We are not going to live a horrible life because I served store-bought garlic bread with my homemade meatballs and homemade pasta sauce, or even because we eat a frozen pizza (with soda) every once in a while.
I’ve never once claimed to be a gourmet chef or a Real Food fanatic, so if that’s the only type of food you’re looking for — you probably won’t find tons of useful recipes on my blog.
However, if you’re looking for simple, delicious, budget-conscious recipes that your family is sure to love, I can probably help you out!
And by all means, feel free to modify ANY of my recipes to substitute out the processed foods you don’t love — just don’t ask me how to do it! 🙂
Tara says
I am one of those food snobs I suppose. Although I don’t do it to be a snob. My children have very real allergies and health issues like asthma that are acutely affected by diet. I am admittedly an all or nothing kind of gal, but yes, I burn out at making every thing from scratch. Especially if I insist that our meals look like the average American meal. then it’s a lot of work to make “real meals.”
I’ve had to be ok with giving up the notion of a “real meal” requires having several different types of dishes on a plate (salad, protein, carbohydrate and dessert) because that means I have to make three or four different dishes from scratch. So I’ve learned to simplify.
A larger than average serving of fried rice filled with veggies and protein is a complete meal. A larger than average vegetable soup with some protein in it is a complete meal. Sometimes a half an avocado with salt, a handful of nuts and a piece of ripe fruit is a meal for us.
I think processed foods have definitely given us a lot of convenience and easy variety. But it has also skewed reality and expectations as to what all a meal should entail. This is especially evident for those of us who can’t rely much on processed foods as our backups for health reasons. Even as it is, I’ve had to resort to an 80/20 rule. Because, I can’t expect to never eat out or eat completely unprocessed foods (although I do pay ridiculous amounts for allergen free processed foods sometimes because it does end up being cheaper still than eating out). The American lifestyle makes it pretty difficult to live without processed “quick foods”. I’m not complaining or bemoaning it. I’m just making observations.
All this being said, it doesn’t at all bother me that you post your recipes and that you choose to eat the way you do. If I had the freedom to eat that way you better believe I’d be on top of that. Since I don’t feel I have that freedom, I enjoy food dreaming about your dairy-laden recipes and wait for the next inspiring post on organization or purging or realistic expectations in parenting. Because that’s the stuff I’m really here for anyways.
Carry on! And snuggle Simon for me. 🙂
Ann says
VERY well said! We like your recipes & for that matter, your blog- Thanks!
Jessica Hanson says
Thanks, I 100% agree everything in moderation. Thank you for this post and your recipes. they are always a pleaser in my home and easy to follow and make.
Toni W. says
I love this post! I too like to cook from scratch, but I have so much on my plate with 3 kids, soccer practice, baseball practice, taking kids to work, my own school work, housework, ect. there is no way I can do everything from scratch. Yes, we do eat prepared food on occasion & we do eat out – normally once a week.
There is nothing wrong with making things totally from scratch all the time. The people that want to do that can tweek the recipe to there liking. I have recipes that are all scratch that I substitute box/can for somethings. It’s very easy to do & all can have it the way we want.
LJ says
So agree! Moderation is everything – Whole Foods has contributed to whole new kind of food snobbery, it is no longer enough to just feed your family – the grocery cart is subjected to a whole new kind of scrutiny. Whole Foods has some great foods (although it’s pricey) but some of the stuff is just laughable in a way but I guess it appeals to a certain demographic. If you raise the bar too high, you will be left with nothing too eat. Sometimes you are better off with the “tried and true” foods, agave nectar for instance has way too much fructose and is bad for your liver – if you must have things sweet, plain old granulated sugar is probably the safest choice. I also have no fear of non-organic produce and am a lover of dairy – though you won’t see me with any raw milk- pasteurization is one of the great advances of the 20th century along with antibiotics and vaccinations. But I digress…I agree with your common sense approach to feeding your family without getting caught up in trendy ways of eating. And I think it’s healthier than you think, processed food are also fortified – nutritional deficiencies that were common prior to the advent of processed foods are almost non-existent today.
Jennifer says
A couple of things about me first: I usually don’t comment about other comments, I only follow about an 80% rule with raw/whole foods, and I am not a judgmental person, but your comment really baffles and scares me. If you think plain old granulated sugar is the safest choice, and you believe pasteurization, antibiotics and vaccinations are great advances, I seriously hope you do some reading or at least try listening to some smart people in your life who do some reading. I am hoping you are just young and naive and haven’t really looked into these things for yourself. Your last comment actually sounds like you are educated–with such great wording–but just shows your ignorance even more. Seriously, fortified? Synthetic vitamins and minerals do NOTHING in or for your body besides color your urine. And you obviously know nothing about nutritional deficiencies that were or are existent in our society. Please do some research before you misinform important people in your life and others in general just to feel better about your lifestyle.
Andrea, great post! So, true. I just wish you didn’t feel like you have to defend yourself so much. People should feel lucky to be able to get such personal, helpful info shared with them on a blog!! Sorry about the above. The comment just put me beside myself.
LJ says
Can you say listeria from raw milk? Smallpox? Measles, mumps, polio? Rheumatic heart disease from untreated strep infections? Iodine in your salt to prevent goiter? Folic acid in your frosted flakes? I will stand by my statement that pasteurization, antibiotics and vaccinations and food fortification are great advances. I can understand the appeal of an “all natural” lifestyle but there is definitely a downside – most of us were not around to remember life before these things… lots of disease and suffering and death even from things that are treatable/preventable today.
Lisa Rohrssen says
In 2013 for my new years resolution I decided to cut out as many processed foods as possible. I was not going to go nuts about it because like you say everything in moderation. It has not been easy to do but I have utilized some of your recipes (made the Stromboli last night it was a hit and it’s going to be a monthly meal for us). I DID use the frozen bread dough. Where I use packaged products is when it’s not going to matter. The outside of that meal was good but it was what I served inside that made the meal.
I feel that any time you are making a meal and eating it like a family you are doing well. Too many families are eating in front of the TV or not at all together.
Julia K says
Good On You Andrea – I’m with you ALL the way !
I always keep some jars of store bought pasta sauce , instant gravy mix etc in the pantry and this way I can whip up some great (mostly) home cooked meals which I often double and triple the quantity of for the freezer.
Down with martyrdom I say 🙂
JD says
Well written piece. Quite familiar with the holier-than-thou crowd of home-made from scratch, local, organic, no-process-food-shall-cross-our-lips foodies. Several years ago, we chuckled at one colleague who had spent months telling everybody about her family’s non-processed, organic-only, home-made from scratch lifestyle and condemning anyone who dared to buy a non-organic apple, grab a Subway sub with chips for lunch or worse visit a chip wagon for french fries. While travelling in another country, we walked into our temporary office to see her chowing down on a couple of Whoppers. We never said anything, just looked at her, smiled, chuckled and shook our heads. That action caused her to get rather angry. Remember, we said nothing and there were organic restaurants (twice the price of other eateries) nearby as well as a Farmers’ market with fresh produce. Fortunately, a few weeks later after we returned home, she did apologize to us for her behaviour. I told her I didn’t care what she ate but that she might want to lay off the looking-down her nose at those who occasionally felt like grabbing a sub or Big Mac or eating a poptart. At that point, she admitted that organic and non-processed foods were getting rather expensive.
Like you, I enjoy cooking. Sometimes from scratch, sometimes partially from scratch, other times I combine many pre-prepared items for meals. My personal view is eat what you like. Try foods a couple of times before you decide you don’t like them. The only reason not to try a food is when one is allergic or intolerant to that food or something contained within.
On a final note, I’m convinced nobody likes all fruits and all veggies though you can find at least a few you will enjoy. I absolutely loathe lima beans and brussel sprouts.
Kelly K. says
Amen, Sista!!! Keep the recipes coming. Looking forward to making those brown and serve sandwich rolls as part of our son’s First Holy Communion celebration brunch.
Kristen @ Joyfullythriving says
Well said, Andrea! I am in completely agreement. If people want to adapt your recipes (or mine), they are welcome to do so! I have no problem with eating some processed foods, even as I am trying to get away from some. Everything in moderation. Besides, like you, frugality and convenience win out a lot of times for me!
Deana says
AMEN!!
Rhonda says
DITTO!!
Jamie says
I am one of the those people that try very hard not to use processed foods. We are trying to eat mostly organic and could not afford it if I did not make most things from scratch. I am also one of those people that do get burned out and we eat out at least once a week (would probably be more if we could afford it). I have given up some things like making fresh bread. I tried for months to keep this up because I didn’t want to spend the $5/loaf for organic bread. But then it hit me one day….when I haven’t made bread and the kids need lunch we end up heading out for a “cheap” meal. It ends up costing us more than the loaf of bread would have costed and it isn’t nearly as healthy. All that being said, I have absolutely no problem with you posting recipes that are not 100% made from scratch. If I want to tweak it, I can. And if I don’t, I can choose not to use the recipe. Don’t let the negative emails get to you. You have made clear time and time again that this is what YOUR family does. I have gotten lots of inspiration from your site.
Leanne says
I love this post… because it’s BALANCED… we have the horrible nut allergy issue in our house, but I NEVER ask people to refrain from nuts or those products because it may not be right for THEIR family… there are 1000 websites on organic, grow your own everything, and grind it down too… your blog is one of the few that I actually usually have those ingredients on hand and can figure out pretty easily if I need to make a modification!
and nearly every recipe I’ve tried of yours has turned out wonderfully!!!!!
I do have one question—
what is that amazing looking casserole dish picture… I MUST make that!!
Andrea says
Thanks Leanne! And that “casserole” is actually chicken lasagna. Here’s the link — and yes, it is DELICIOUS!
Sonshine says
Well said! I hold to a similar philosophy. 🙂
Trying to feed my family of seven can be a challenge but if I had to add making everything from scratch as the only way to feed them and I know that would be insane by now. 🙂
I make homemade things but I still have a stocked freezer of processed/ready made products for those quick weekend lunches or dinners.
Allison Rust says
YESSS!! Thanks for this post. My thoughts exactly.
Mandi says
I like this article regarding the obsession of eating healthy food. I am a strong proponent of moderation and doing what works for you in this season of life you are in. While we all should strive to better ourselves, we can only do so much at a time. Do what works for your family and don’t make others feel rotten for doing what works for their family….moderation.
“Ultimately, a rules-based approach to food misses some of the most important things about food: that it is a gift of God to be received with gratitude and pleasure, and that food brings people together.”
http://www.christianitytoday.com/women/2012/may/dark-side-of-healthy-eating-diagnosing-orthorexia-eating.html?visit_source=facebook&start=2
Andrea says
Thanks mandi — and yes, I totally agree with you that food is a gift from God. Thanks for pointing that out.
Janice says
You are right on, girl! I had my “Mother Earth” period back in the 1970s when that was very fashionable. I did the everything from scratch thing. I even milked goats. But, now I’m a little less OCD and moderation in all things is my motto! I LOVE your recipes!
Tari says
I completely agree. We can’t do everything, but we can do some things well. If I can make mixes ahead of time and have them on hand then I’ll go for it, but 100% all the time is exhausting. I’d rather spend quality time with people, than trying to be perfect and ignoring them. I try to make one homemade thing (in bulk) per quarter. I think that is reasonable, and doesn’t give me anxiety. I’ve recently made home made body wash, I think its pretty good! So it isn’t just food, it seems as though if we aren’t bathing in avocado masks and eating only butter made in a full moon by happy cows our lives don’t measure up to the new standard. *shakes head* No. People are more important than things. Is that really what we want people to say about us when we’re gone? She made an awesome home made from scratch fill-in-the-blank, but I don’t really remember what she was like. Not for me. I’ve got bigger fish to fry. Haha! Here’s to spending time with people you love, being a little more careful to not eat total garbage, but loving people well.
Heart and Haven says
I do get the point of this post….I do. I appreciate the simple and frugal meals you share (I’ve even tried a few of them). I understand that “people need to do what’s best for their family”…but I also wish there was a better way to teach healthier eating and inform others of health(ier) choices to this fast food/processed foods generation. Perhaps even starting with the simple to make well-balanced meals (not “everything” organic/made from scratch) is a good start.
There are people I know, like my mom, that thinks kids “eating healthy” is eating a large amount of food. Or that fruit juice “made with real fruit juice” is healthy (without realizing the added sugar and/or corn syrup added to it – yikes!). Or even families with busy schedules, whether it’s a single mom, 2 parent working family, or other after-school activities – that they can find ways to prepare healthier choices for their family that are still quick and easy to make. I know I’m working on very simple meals for my family by keeping a variety of meats, frozen veggies (if not fresh), and carbs (ie. potatoes, rice, pasta) that I can quickly prepare most meals within 20-30 min. I’ve also been experimenting more with freezer cooking and/or crock pot meals too for added variety.
I guess what I’m saying is…I actually appreciate your more balanced approach, so people aren’t intimidated that they have to take an all or nothing approach to make healthier choices (and often times more cost effective) than succumbing to fast food or processed meals purely out of convenience.
Andrea says
Thanks for your thoughts… I guess I probably do agree with your side of things too — and that’s what we TRY to do in our family. Simple, healthy meals MOST of the time with occasional processed foods for speed and convenience. I think the point I’m trying to make is that SOME processed foods and a sane mom is better than stressing out over trying to make everything from scratch or doing everything organic, etc.
Jennifer M.. says
Very good article! You are right for some people they say the make “everything from scratch”, but one can only do so much. So do what fits right for your family, do what you can to stay healthy by your means. We try to eat things from scratch but also eat some processed foods. There is no way with five children under 7 and homeschooling that I would have the time to even think about making everything from scratch. We eat homemade pancakes, waffles, muffins because I must cook gluten free. But as for gluten free bread I buy it for my son (the one with the allergies) though all our baked goods are gluten free. We get other regular bread for practically free. I use canned soup, though I’ve made it once or twice when stuck. We have bought pizzas before and eaten other food from restaurants, just not that often will all the kids we have. We do what we can. We grow a garden and plan to have chickens, and try to go organic when we can or afford it. We have an account with Azure Standard for things we really need like gluten free flours, etc., but we always buy in bulk and usually our orders are never more than 100 dollars even at that. Very good points. Life goes by too fast and there just isn’t enough time in the day to do everything from “scratch”. We have to have time to spend time with family and our children which is more important than anything!
Jennifer says
Great post! If those people are so anxious about cooking from scratch there are hundreds of blogs out there that cater to that. We try to eat as naturally as we can in our house, but I have a 7 month old and I’m expecting again. It’s just not realistic to cook from scratch for everything. I also do a lot of freezer cooking, I fix huge crockpot meals that we’ll eat off of for a few days, and one pot meals have become a staple. Also they make all natural versions of most processed foods now, so we buy some of those, but we also keep frozen pizzas on hand and canned soups for a quick casserole. Like you said it’s all in moderation and finding what matters most for your family. There’s a season for everything, and it’s great those people have time to fix everything from scratch but not everyone can do that. I’d rather spend the time with my family!
Sara says
Some people, especially on-line, need find fault with everything. There is nothing wrong with you or what you post. I enjoy your blog and recipes just the way they are. Yup, sometimes I don’t like the ingredients I see in a recipe (mushrooms – gross!). That is then my choice if I want to substitute something else or not make the recipe at all. I wouldn’t dream of complaining to you about the recipes that you were nice enough to share.
Cammy@TippyToeDiet says
I eat mostly whole foods just because that’s what I like. (I’m a meat-and-salad person. And cookies.) That said, I’m not out making my own ketchup, mayo, pudding mix, etc. My compromise is reading the ingredient labels and buying the “best” version of whatever processed food I’m considering. As long as most of my diet is made up of natural foods, I figure a little bit of the shelf stuff won’t kill me. 🙂
Debbie says
Your recipes are so simple to make yet tasty. My husband is somewhat picky and he has liked everything except the banana chocolate chip pancakes. He still would rather have the flour type, but I love it! I wish I could make everything from scratch but I think I would also go crazy like you. I have a hard enough time trying to plan our meals as it is while also working full time. I like to eat healthy so I just make sure to eat veges and limit the days I eat starchy foods. My husband on the other hand eats a sandwich everyday for lunch which he makes himself out of turkey or chicken lunch meats without any condiments. That tells you how picky he is. I do admire those who make things from scratch and really eats healthy by having home cooked meals 90% of the time. Believe it or not I know a family who does, now with grown and married children. She and her husband still eat the same way and have instilled some of their good eating habits to their children.
Jen says
My thing is, I DO make almost everything from scratch–bread, breakfasts, some cheese, all yogurt, sometimes pasta, all pie crusts, dried beans, etc. I do it for several reasons–cost, I think it is healthier for my family, and because I love eating locally and seasonally from foods I have preserved all year long. I ENJOY cooking and eating this way and when I get tired or bored with it, I know lots of easy scratch or almost scratch foods to draw from without eating out. But, I don’t feel obsessed with eating this way (I frequently eat at friends/families houses and enjoy whatever they serve) and I certainly don’t feel the need to judge others for how they have decided to feed their families within their time, budget, and ethical priorities.
But because I don’t eat a lot like you, your recipes don’t really work for me. That being said, I don’t expect other people’s blogs to cater to how I want to eat. You share what is working for you, and I enjoy seeing how some of those things might or might not work for me!
Kim {Pinspired Home} says
Andrea, it’s a shame to hear that people are being nasty or critical about your recipes! We all have to make the choices that are best for us, and I know that’s exactly what you’re doing. Even though I personally try to make as much as I can from scratch, I will certainly eat a meal made with processed ingredients if it’s served to me. And if I see a recipe using ingredients I prefer not to use, I can either modify it or simply not make it! There are plenty of real food resources for
And I have thank you, because your freezer cooking tips – especially making multiple meals at a time and baking in bulk – has really helped me stay on track with our real food goals! We try not to eat out or get takeout more than 2-3 times a month, so on the weeks I’m feeling particularly burnt out, I’ll pull out a casserole, a crock pot kit, frozen meatballs, etc.
Running a business, keeping a clean house, raising a toddler and a newborn, and feeding your family can surely be overwhelming. You’re doing great!
Kim {Pinspired Home} says
Whoops! I realized that I didn’t finish a sentence above!
It should say “There are plenty of real food resources for people who want to eat ‘100% from scratch'”
Have a great week! 🙂
DeeDee Moore says
Simple, practical, healthy, semi-homemade recipes are what we faithful readers expect and love about your blog. Keep up the great work and delicious recipes, Andrea!
Erin says
I have a very similar “everything in moderation” philosophy. I have three boys (6, 4 and 1) and my husband is a 6’5″ former football player. We go through a lot of food and that’s just going to continue. I focus my homemade efforts on things we eat in bulk. My boys absolutely love pancakes, but I didn’t like making the just-add-water variety four times a week, so I found a healthy mix I can make. Ten minutes of work making the mix and we can eat healthy pancakes for a few weeks. Healthy pancakes that my boys douse in fake syrup. Moderation.
Jen says
This is basically my philosophy, too. I carefully choose what products and meals MUST be organic or homemade, and I fill in the rest with all that nice, easy stuff from the center aisles at the grocery store. And I do not apologize for it. It makes my life easier and my budget goals more attainable.
For us, organic milk and produce are top priorities. Sometimes I do cheese, too, but organic cheese is VERY expensive, so I’ve given myself some grace on that. There are a few other items I am particular about it, and some I’ve gone back and forth with, but at the end of the day I know what is going into our bodies because I am preparing almost all our meals at home and I feel good about it. Folgers coffee and Betty Crocker FTW! Okay, maybe not the “win,” but at least my budget and sanity. 😉
Kaitlin says
I totally agree. We try to eat as healthy as possible, but I’m not going to lie, we picked up a little Caesars pizza on the way home from church the other night. I use cream soups, buy the cheapest milk and eggs possible,and make stuffing from a box (because stove top is just so much better than homemade stuffing!) I do make many things from a scratch, but most definitely not everything.
We have found the same situation with friends of ours who spend much more money at the grocery store than we do, just to buy organic everything. However, they order out pizza every week and frequently go out to dinner throughout the week as well. Whereas, we might go out once every month or two. Not only is their grocery budget higher because of all the organic food they eat, but they also spend soooo much more gong out eat! It seems like such a waste!
I’m all about simple, practical meals! Especially ones I can throw in the crock pot. Thank you for your post! So many people anymore are posting about their all natural, organic lifestyle where they spend more than a house payment on groceries each month. I can’t read those posts because they just make me feel bad about how I feed my family. You are always so real, which is why I always read your blog, and most of the time, your blog alone every day!
Denise L says
Your stated philosophy is exactly why I love your blog. Ideal world, meet the real world. Society and our fast paced world place enough stress on our family lives, we certainly don’t need to contribute to that pressure by insisting we try to live up some martha stewart like “ideal”. If I did, I would never have extra time to spend with my kids. And I believe frozen pizza is a wonderful trade off for quality time with my kids.
Amy B says
Thanks for this post! I feel like there’s a lot of pressure to cook “100% from scratch”, but for me that’s not always possible! (plus, I love boxed brownies…is that weird?) 🙂
Laura says
I love reading and trying your recipes and because I’m in the uk I have to change some of your store bought mixes for the ones available here which can be tricky but the recipes always turn out great.
Noelle says
I know you have said before that your family does not deal with allergies. I used to cook the way you do until I got really sick. Turns out I have Celiac. I can attest to the fact that making every thing at home is exhausting. I do it. I am following a gut healing diet that is similar to Paleo. Oh how I miss the days of balanced meals with *some* processed sides. So, I wish to you all good health and easy cooking!
Marie says
Well said. So many people have this all or nothing attitude when it comes to food. “clean eating” seems to be the latest craze and I think it’s a wonderful idea in theory and one I do my best to strive for. But it’s not always realistic. With today’s busy society and high cost of food prices, we really just have to do the best with what we have while still living within our means.
Angela says
Bravo Andrea! Totally agree. I for one am grateful for “processed” food and don’t feel bad about feeding my family cold cereal, store bought cheese, canned beans, bagged lettuce, store bought yogurt. As Americans almost everything we eat is processed by someone else and it is a huge time saver and in our family a much more well balanced and diverse diet
Carrie says
I so agree with your post. I’d love to make all my food from scratch. But I’m a single working mom of 5. And some nights, I am just too tired. I don’t feel bad stopping and getting take out pizza once a week. The boys love it. Clean up is a breeze. And I end up saving time that night. You are right…all things in moderation.
KiwiKat says
Absolutely! I totally agree with you – besides, if someone wants to make something by scratch, they can do what I do when you use an ingredient or item in one of your recipes that isn’t available here – GOOGLE IT!!
I think (particularly amongst women) we are so precious and judgmental about each other and if someone does something that isn’t as ‘pure’ as someone else thinks it should be, we get all sniffy and huffy at each other, which is completely ridiculous.
And it’s not like someone HAS to make anything you suggest – there are millions of other options out there if they want to try something else. I find your recipes interesting (and have pinned a few of them to use as inspiration in the future), but I don’t feel I have to make them.
Be true to yourself and let the finicky people find something else to make.
Dawn H says
Well Said!!!
Kim says
My husband and I (3 year old is a VERY picky eater) have tried quite a few of your recipes now and we love them! I think you are totally right about everything in moderation…and with our super busy schedules and my long commute time from work, there is no way I could do everything from scratch! I totally find your blog helpful on so many levels!!!