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Juggling Real Food and Real Life

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Real Food Real Food Experience Challenges

Starting Fresh: My Real Food Comeback

Why am I taking the Real Food Experience Challenge again, years later, and inviting you to come along?  Well, that’s quite a story, and to put it simply, it all has to do with our favorite subject around here, which is obviously real life.   


Life is hard.  It just is.  While I was raising my 4 active kids and working full-time in an office where I was in charge of almost everything, there wasn’t much time at the end of the day to shop and plan for healthy meals. Throw in a pandemic and family illness, and it is quite easy to lose the motivation for real food that was once so important to me and my family.  For years and years, I juggled it all, but at some point, I let go of how important it is to eat healthy foods regularly.  

How far did I slip?  I’m not sure that I want to admit to all of this, but since you are my besties, here goes.  I still don’t eat at McDonald’s. It’s been so long that I don’t even know what they serve there anymore. Ummm………except for Shamrock Shakes. I know about them. Starbucks is still a treat, but I have needed more treats to cope with life. I still try to include vegetables with every meal, but it is often an afterthought and a small portion. Meatless meals, which used to be at least once a week, usually only happen by accident. Highly processed foods have come into my house to a greater extent than the ingredients to prepare healthy meals. Sweets are definitely my Achilles heel. We are back to not planning enough of our meals and grabbing take-out consistently.         

Why start fresh now? If you have known me since my early “Juggling” days, you are not going to believe how my family has grown. My baby just graduated from high school, and my oldest son has made me a grandmother. I now have an amazing daughter-in-law and two spunky granddaughters. Time has passed, and I’m feeling older. Frankly, I liked how my body felt when I was eating real food. Processed foods make me feel sluggish, bloated, achy, and tired all of the time. I may be older, but I’m too young for that nonsense.   

I’m excited to get started again with an all-new Real Food Experience Challenge.  I really miss the real food community and can’t wait to get back to sharing ideas, recipes, and friendship. If you are interested in making long-term healthy change for your family, please follow along as I provide lots of tips, motivation, recipes, and helpful products that will truly help you to Juggle Real Food and Real Life. Take a look around this site and all of its resources.  There are recipes and tips to get you started and to keep you motivated each day.  It’s a juggling act for sure, but it is possible to eat real food even with a busy family. You just have to keep your eye on the prize.  Want to look at the original Real Food Experience Challenges? You can check them out here.  

Leave me a comment and let’s get the conversation going. I’m looking forward to talking with all of my old real food friends and making lots of new friends. Let’s do this!

 

Click here for the next article in the Real Food Experience Comeback Challenge series.

 

 


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Goodbye September. Welcome October!! How are you e Goodbye September. Welcome October!! How are you enjoying all of cozy vibes this season?  #fall #cozy #cozyvibesonly #fallvibes🍁
What’s harder: figuring out what’s for dinner What’s harder: figuring out what’s for dinner OR packing school lunches?
What’s one meal you are planning this week that What’s one meal you are planning this week that your family will actually eat?
“When you are reluctant to change, think of the “When you are reluctant to change, think of the beauty of autumn.”
🍂 Homemade Whole Wheat Pumpkin Spice Waffles 🍂
Nothing says cozy fall mornings like waffles fresh off the griddle! These whole wheat pumpkin spice waffles were the perfect, delicious start to our Sunday morning. 🧇✨

🎃 Recipe coming soon – you’re going to love how simple, wholesome, and perfectly spiced they are. Stay tuned!

#PumpkinSpiceSeason #RealFoodBreakfast #SundayMorningVibes #HealthyWaffles #FallFavorites
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🍁✨ Fall is Here – and So is the Fun! ✨🍁

If you’re looking for inspiration to make this season extra special, you are in the right place. ❤️ Juggling Real Food and Real Life is the place to be for cozy fall vibes, real food recipes, and ideas to make everyday life feel like a celebration.

Here’s what’s new on the blog:
🎉 What to Celebrate in September – Fun little holidays + everyday ideas to make this month memorable.
☕ Homemade Pumpkin Spice Latte – Skip the coffee shop, make your favorite fall drink at home with real ingredients.
👵👶 Fall Fun with Grandkids – Sweet and simple ideas to connect across generations and make the most of autumn together.

Grab your favorite blanket, pour a cozy drink, and come hang out with us. 🧡 Fall only comes once a year — let’s make it count!

➡️ Check out all the new content here: https://jugglingrealfoodandreallife.com/

What’s your favorite thing about fall? 🍎🍂 Tell us below! 👇
🎉 Juggling Real Food and Real Life is officiall 🎉 Juggling Real Food and Real Life is officially a teenager! 🎉

13 years ago, I hit publish on my very first blog post. Back then, my kids were still young, and I was deep in the “mom life” of packing lunches, rushing to practices, and trying to figure out how to keep real food on the table without losing my mind. 🍎🥦

Fast forward to today, and here I am—a grandmother! 👵💖 Life looks a little different now, but the heart of this community hasn’t changed. It’s still about juggling the busyness of life, making space for the people we love, and finding joy in real food (and real moments).

I never imagined that this little corner of the internet would become such a special part of my life for over a decade. Thank you for being here—whether you’ve been with me since the beginning or just found me recently. You are the reason this space is still going strong. 💕

Here’s to 13 years of memories, lessons, recipes, and laughter… and to many more ahead! 🥂

Drop me a comment and tell me how long you’ve been hanging out here—I’d love to know!
Just a little reminder for your day… you really Just a little reminder for your day… you really are amazing! 💚 Keep juggling life, real food, and all the little moments that make you, YOU.
✨Long rehearsals = lots of energy!✨ Young danc ✨Long rehearsals = lots of energy!✨
Young dancers need more than sparkly costumes and strong muscles—they need the right fuel to stay focused and energized all class long. 💃🥗

Balanced meals with carbs + protein + healthy fats are the secret to avoiding mid-class crashes and powering through those long practices. And don’t forget water—hydration is just as important as the food they eat! 💧

👉 In Part 1 of my new series on Fueling Young Dancers with Real Food, I’m sharing simple tips and snack ideas to help dancers shine at the studio.

What’s your dancer’s favorite pre-class snack? 🍎🥜

#FuelingYoungDancers #DanceMomLife #DanceNutrition #HealthySnacksForDancers #RealFoodForKids #BalancedEnergy
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