I feel sorry for the delivery man!

I’m sure most parents say this at some point, but I actually think my child will never be toilet trained.

I bought Lightning McQueen underwear for my 3-year-old son as an incentive to move from his pull-up nappies. He didn’t seem particularly thrilled with his ‘present’.

Twice today while I was stuck in an armchair breastfeeding the new baby, my eldest son weed on the floor. I told him to stand still, but he stepped in the smelly puddle in his socks, and then proceeded to stamp smelly little footprints all over the house. The second time this happened, a young delivery man turned up with my groceries. He looked a little scared. I felt like I was in one of those twenty minute sitcoms where everything keeps going wrong!

However, in between the bedlam, I managed to make these lovely Rhubarb and Cashew Muffins, recipe by Janella Purcell, the previous ‘Good Chef’ on Australian TV show Good Chef Bad Chef. It was the first time I had cooked with rhubarb, and I liked it. Sort of like celery with flavour!

Rhubarb and Cashew Muffins from Janella Purcell

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’.