Carving out 'Me' Time

When you become a parent suddenly time is no longer your your own. It starts from day one when you are desperate for that long soak in the tub but junior or princess has other ideas so end up taking them into the bathroom with you so you can at least not smell.  Going to the toilet becomes a joint adventure! You brush your teeth in 30 secs instead of the 3 minutes you are supposed to take. You brush your hands through your hair or end up putting your hair in braids so you don't look like a mad monster. Of course time in the bathroom to make ourselves look half decent increases as the kids get older and we get into the parenthood stride. But we still don't take time for ourselves just to recharge.

Why don't we do this? Its a guilt thing! Well definitely a guilt thing for me. I do the washing, the cleaning, the dusting, the clearing out, the grouting of the bathroom in order to avoid the guilt of actually taking some time for myself. You probably do the same or know someone that does the same.

Its a strange concept for us parents 'me' time. For some people 'me' time is a full blown weekend away or an entire day away from the pressures of life. But actually if we re-frame the way we think about 'me' time, it can be that 1hr journey into or from work with a good book or a journal; that 10 minutes with a warming drink before we have to pick up the kids; that 20 minute walk to the school gate on a nice day where we just take time to look around us and try to notice something different; that 5 minutes in the bathroom when you are doing your make up. Just taking a moment to stop and take a few deep breaths, that can be 'me' time.

Basically 'me' time can be anything you want it to be. So maybe we should all start to treasure the 15 minute, 10 minute or even 5 minute break that you might get in the day to just 'breathe'. We could think of it as stepping stone to getting that afternoon off or that weekend away. Perhaps practicing with smaller bits of time will lead to greater satisfaction when we do get those bigger bits of time.

Practice makes perfect right? 

Am off the practice some 'me' time. 

Thanks for sharing your 'me' time with me...

Can my street food obsession make my kids fat?

Can my street food obsession make my kids fat?

I love street food. The different tastes and smells all in one place is heaven. Maybe it's something to do with the fact that I did not have to slave over the cooker to make this wonderful food that is passing through my lips. Really can't put that down to being a mum but it is a big factor!

So you can imagine my shock to read an article recently proposing the idea that our love street food and street 'junk' food in particular is actually making us fat. The article pointed fingers at that organic hotdog on brioche bread with lashings of onion,chillies and sauce (A favourite for my kids!); the double lamb burger again with brioche buns and slaw (that only seems to taste amazing outside of the house); the sweet potato fries with garlic mayo on the side or 'homemade' ketchup.
Yes these are all favourite street food, farmer's market, and food festival favourites not just for adults for also for kids.

Large Chocolate Churro

Deluxe Hotdog made with Bratwurst Sausages in French Bread

The article made the point that unless food is made from scratch at home, we have no control over the salt, sugar or fat that is used to make that hotdog, burger or pork bun. Therefore, we could and are in most cases eating twice if not three times the amount of calories in one meal than for the same thing made at home. It does concede that the quality of the street/festival/farmer's market 'junk' food is probably excellent. Which is why a lot of us enjoy eating it so much. The main thing to remember I guess is that a treat is a treat and therefore if you have a treat, it should be just that. A once in a few weeks event and not a regular habit. I guess we all need to be conscious of what and how much we eat.

I still maintain that going to farmer's markets/street food festivals is a great way to introduce kids to different food tastes. But I suppose the trick with kids and to a certain extent with ourselves when attending these events is timing. It is probably better to go around lunch time or late afternoon so that the hotdog becomes lunch or that burger becomes an early dinner instead of the snack in between lunch and dinner. That's one way to keep down the calorie count!

In the meantime we can practice that new habit with these upcoming Festivals
Star of Bethnal Green Party Street Party 2017

londonfoodmonth.co.uk

Lunch anyone?