Dear Mrs. XXX and Mrs. XXX,

It has come to my understanding that my daughter and her classmates receive candy and sweets as rewards for things at school.  I have to request that my daughter be excused from this practice.  I believe very strongly that this only hurts her mental and physical health. This might not be the case for other kids otherwise other parents probably would be complaining. We try very hard to only give our children healthy, wholesome, traditional unprocessed foods. By doing so we understand this goes against the norm and this has been a challenge we have had to overcome.

I haven’t wanted my daughter be considered “different” than her peers so I have been ignoring this since the first time she came home with it, but I can no longer allow the candy eating.  Since when is it okay to give food rewards in the first place?  Isn’t that a well known “no no” with today’s rising child obesity? I am not worried about obesity with my daughter but I see it all around me and it is horrifying.  I would be more then happy to donate trinket toys and stickers etc…. to serve as replacement for the candy rewards if that would be of use to you.

Please call or email me any time for any reason about this or any concerns you might have. #XXX-XXXX

Thank you for your dedication and all you do to inspire and teach my little girl, teaching is such a noble calling and must be rewarding.

Sincerely,

Jill XXX

Photo Credit: NPS/Michael Liang

Except that it begs other questions such as:  Whose science?  Who paid for the research? Problem is, I don’t have the answers.

I read voraciously all things health-related so I can’t always recall where I read or heard something groundbreaking.  As one ages, knowledge is filtered through many years of skepticism and experience.  I think the most needed tool or talent is being able to sort through all the claims, most of which are designed to sell some product.  And so I have become pretty darn shrewd at discriminating the difference.

Once the family has had time to adjust to the new normal of “What?? No more fast food ever again?” in baby steps, then the real work begins.  Not just the work in the kitchen, but the work in the mind.  Getting one’s head around becoming foodie outcasts in your family and friends’ circle takes time and patience.  And forgiveness.

Along the way many stages must be overcome: Anger at the lies we are told about how to achieve vibrant health. Impatience over why everyone doesn’t share our urgent angst that we are facing a health crisis in our nation. Frustration at being labeled fanatic because we say we know why people are getting so sick at younger and younger ages. Food that I prepare being eyed suspiciously at the table by my family and friends  who wonder what “healthy” foods I am trying to sneak into them this time.

I am finally at the point of realizing that none of these obstacles are as important as the threat of ill health facing my children, my grandchildren, and our nation.  Arriving at this conviction took time for me.  So my message is to please forgive yourself for the past and just look forward.  Fortify yourself and renew your conviction by reading uplifting stories of health regained.  Remember that once you have been given the knowledge, you are now responsible to keep it safe.  And whatever you do, use the strength that you are gaining to keep those oars firmly planted in the water!

~Cassie

My life was changed forever as I started down the path of educating myself in healthy living as a responsible parent.  What my friends call “obsession with healthy food,” I call today’s necessary reality.

My goal is to personally honor the Creator’s plan for every single living, breathing human being: To share the joy of vibrant health as our ancestors did, enabling us to live productive and full lives unbeset by illness.

The movement toward healthier living is gaining steam worldwide, albeit too slowly for this impatient ol’ gramma.  But by telling our stories here, and by sharing what we have learned along the way, we three hope to make the path easier for all.  And if we can even make it fun, that’s just gravy (especially the yummy, full fat kind)!  So let’s get rockin’ & rollin’ (out the dough that is)!

Our combined recipe knowledge of what works for us and our families, through years of trial and error creating delicious but still healthy meals (from pleasing toddlers to preparing large holiday meals), could probably fill volumes.  It is a continual learning process, and we hope to share some of our experiences and recipes so that others can glean ideas, and maybe even share some of their own!

Eating real food is a topic that has also led to so many other topics…from attachment parenting to using natural hair and skin products, from raising chickens in our backyard to attempting to be waste/plastic-free.  Who knew?

Lots of great things to come!