Food Blogging, In Perspective

I share recipes and gorgeous photos from food blogs often - at least weekly, now that I'm doing Menu Idea Mondays. But lately I've felt the need to put a disclaimer up here, because reading the comments on some of the food blogs I follow has made me very aware of some misconceptions floating around the community of amateur real-foodies. So here for your consideration are three crucial truths we lose sight of at our peril:

(1)  Food is a bio-individual situation and geography counts - a lot. (I.e: what works for someone else won't necessarily work for you).

While there are a handful of concrete truths in the food world, there are vast differences in what individual people and families need from their diets. Access to real food also varies wildly from place to place, impacting everything from what can be grown and what can be legally purchased to how much you'll have to pay to get it!

Comparing yourself to someone else's patterns and standards is pointless and potentially very damaging. Do what's best for you with what is available to you. Give yourself credit for the effort, celebrate the successes, and accept that things that are simply out of reach for you right now.
 
(2) Real food is always a journey, not a destination. 

Everyone is working on something - even the people who look like they've got it all under control. A little energy invested in solid progress where you are is one hundred times better than energy wasted on despair, frustration or self-doubt.

(3) Relationships are always paramount.

The people you love are always more important than your food goals. Sometimes, a little tough love is necessary - like when cutting allergens out of a child's diet against their will for their own safety.  But other times, we let ourselves make battles out of things we shouldn't or let our anxiety over feeding our families spill over into other areas of life.

Fight hard to keep your relationships strong, and take time to step back and reorient yourself when you need to. A healthy approach to real food will make your family stronger and happier - and that's what it's really all about.

Keep these simple truths in mind while navigating the world of food blogs and you'll be happier, less stressed and more successful in your real food journey!