In the interest of transparency: My new affiliations

Well, I do say on my ‘About Me’ page that I’m an over-thinker, and I’m sure this is no exception. But in the interest of transparency and honesty…

I’m very happy to say that I am now officially affiliated with two online businesses that have had a strong influence on my own health ‘journey’ over the last two years: I Quit Sugar, and Well Nourished. It’s an odd coincidence that this has happened in the same week! Being an ‘affiliate’ means that I will now receive a small commission from IQS and Well Nourished sales purchased via this website. I’m hoping this will help to cover (some of) the costs of maintaining this blog – which is a labour of love, but at times, an expensive one!

I am occasionally invited by companies to promote their products and services, in return for payment. Early on into my blogging, I decided that I wouldn’t do this – unless it was for a product that I already used, loved, and felt strongly about. While I was at the Eat Drink Blog conference last year, one speaker said:

“Don’t do it if it gives you that ‘icky’ feeling in your stomach.”

Sound advice, which has guided me well. Although it wasn’t a hard decision to turn down the offer to promote take-away pizza.

Regular readers will know that I have written often about both IQS and Georgia from Well Nourished over the last two years, both here and on Instagram and Facebook, sharing my experiences of the I Quit Sugar 8 Week Program, as a participant and then an Ambassador (an unpaid support role); and my favourite recipes and articles from Georgia, particularly those on raising healthy kids. Both IQS and Well Nourished have influenced the way I eat and feed my family, my understanding and appreciation of real food, and subsequent experience of improved health.

I deliberated over whether I should become an affiliate for I Quit Sugar, while I am still partway through my Simplicious Challenge – my challenge to cook all 306 recipes from Sarah Wilson’s book Simplicious; a challenge I will likely not finish until next year. But to be honest? I already love the book. The challenge is a personal one, rather than a ‘book review’ – to explore the impact it has on the way I buy, cook, consume and waste food (while making a bunch of delicious recipes along the way!).

If you do choose to purchase your IQS or Well Nourished products via this website (simply by using the links to their website from this blog), I thank you VERY much for your support.

Erin xx

 

Down the rabbit hole

The problem with healthy food, is that once you know, the deeper you go. The deeper you go, the more you know, and then there’s no going back.

My mother was recently diagnosed with diabetes. This resulted in a huge lifestyle change for her, a foodie, now facing life without chocolate, white bread, fried foods, potato chips, and soft cheese. She underwent this change completely and wholeheartedly.

As a fellow foodie, I felt gutted for her. So commenced my mission to source and create delicious diabetes-friendly treats. This was initially about replacing refined sugar, high-fructose foods and white flour with healthier alternatives. As I have also had issues stabilising my blood sugar, I started to incorporate some of these changes into the family diet.

As I spent more time googling and reading, into the wholefood rabbit-hole I went: Fructose, sucrose, glucose; gluten, grains and simple carbohydrates; protein and nourishing fats. Onwards to coconuts, (bad) vegetable oils, fermented foods, real butter (yay!), activating nuts and seeds, salt minerals, and bone broth. The importance of buying organic. Inevitably, ethics and the environment appeared: the obliteration of rainforests and wildlife in the name of palm oil; the food labelling industry and advertising; the treatment of animals and sustainability of seafood.

Once learned, it could not be un-learned. Consuming became all-consuming. It has also been rewarding. I am like one of those people who gets fit for the first time and then wants everyone to exercise. Or who gets into a relationship and then starts trying to set up all their friends. Dare I say, I feel nourished; and eating well has been a saving grace in these first sleep-deprived months of having a newborn son.

I am Freaking Out.

It was getting ridiculous, the amount of time I spent ‘setting up’ my blog, without actually posting anything.

“Oh, I might just look at another ‘how-to’ guide before I publish anything.”

“Maybe the heading would look better blue…”

“What’s a widget?”

Eventually I had to acknowledge I was Freaking Out about posting, and just dive in and do it. Here I am! Resurfacing from my dive and glancing furtively around, hoping no one saw my belly-flop.

I’ve never been one to even take selfies, and yet here I am with a blog. I suppose I have a lot to say, about a lot of things – so much in fact that most of it escapes me. It feels terribly narcissistic, to have a blog (sorry, fellow bloggers). Actually, I hugely admire people who share their thoughts and lives through blogs. Obviously I’m afraid that no one will be interested in what I have to say. But I’ve decided that’s okay, because it feels better to say it anyway. So I will go forth and say things!

Plus I’ve paid my $99 annual fee now, so I can’t chicken out.

I am Erin, a happy person who is often angry. I get angry about Very Important Worldly and Social Issues, and also when someone turns up at my house unannounced. I am an eater, an over-thinker, and a mother twice over. I am fortunate to live in Canberra, Australia, with my man and two little boys.

The primary reason I created this blog (which of course, being an over-thinker, I have been pondering for WEEKS) was to document my family’s food journey. I do intend to do that. I love food. But, I also know that I can’t help but speak write my mind on many other issues too, and so I give this warning now (and I give myself permission).

It’s times like these you need someone to come along and just press ‘publish’.