Mentor Mom Edition with Sara-Jane Classen

Dr. Jenna Arts's picture
Posted by Dr. Jenna Arts
on December 18, 2013 - 8:17am
Eat By Design

On behalf of Eat By Design Coaching I have started interviewing Mothers in our communities that are leading their family towards health while remaining true to the Eat By Design principles they have learned along the way.

The second edition features Sara-Jane Classen, wife of Gary, and Mother of Jewel (age 15), Emmy (age 13), and Ivy (age 5).

What are your best strategies for feeding your family By Design?

Every Saturday morning our family goes to The Western Fair Market. Often, Gary or myself are busy, but one of us takes some or all of the girls. This is a must.

Every Friday evening or Saturday morning, Gary and I plan our week. There are staples on our list; roasted chicken, meatloaf or cabbage and sausages but our family is very flexible.

I recently bought chalkboard stickers and now write what is for dinner on the fridge. If I need help peeling potatoes, I leave a note.

Every Sunday I prepare three dishes. Sunday used to be a stressful day for me because I would cook by myself, but now everyone enjoys helping and we get to spend this time together. 

Ivy is the peeler – even the garlic! Jewel loves cutting the sausages with scissors. And Emmy helps with breakfast.

What does breakfast and lunch routine look like?

Lunches are packed every morning. Jewel grabs her own food, which is either cabbage and sausage or snacks. Emmy comes home for lunch and loves leftovers, usually meatloaf. Emmy helps Ivy pack her lunch before she goes to school – a banana, two pumpkin pancakes, ham wrapped around cheese, roasted chicken, grapes in the summer or apples in the winter. Gary and I both take leftovers. 

I cook Ivy’s pancakes in the morning and also make myself breakfast, which I take to work but wait to eat until I am hungry. The girls all love sautéed apples in cinnamon and almond flour for breakfast. 

What are staples?

Bacon, leftover bacon fat, coconut oil and sautéed kale for breakfast. Roasted chicken and pumpkin pancakes are staples in Ivy’s lunch. Our family goes through two or three flats of eggs every week. And bananas! I make sure there are is always cut up fruit in the fridge.

Are the girls picky eaters?

No, they love food. Ivy does not like to try new things, but I encourage her to. She tries everything once, and then chooses if she likes it. Jewel does not like chicken and Emmy is getting sick of eggs.

What has been most challenging?

The girls being around other people’s food. At school, Ivy’s class regularly has pizza and treat days. At first she would eat it. Then, I began giving her choices. At first, I would tell her to have one or two treats instead of five or six. But over time the choices have become less drastic. Now, she can either have fruit or I can make a grain-free treat to share with her friend. She is more accepting and agreeable about bringing snacks for herself and her friends now.

How long has your family been eating By Design?

I went to my first Eat By Design seminar in May 2013 after finishing On Ramp. I jumped right into the 30-Day Challenge and felt awesome! I got my family on board for the challenge too.

Emmy and Jewel were both excited to participate. They were both irritable, tired, had acne, headaches and would fight often. Ivy was more challenging to get to participate. At the beginning of the 30-Day Challenge she missed her favourite foods. She would often say “I hate eating like a dinosaur!” but she does not put up a fight very often anymore. 

One of the best things that has happened throughout this journey was after we went to The Mandarin for dinner a few months ago to celebrate a birthday. We all left regretting that decision. When I asked the girls if they would ever go back to eating how we used to eat, they all said no!

What have you noticed?

They do not have headaches or joint pain anymore, their acne cleared up, they are leaner, sleep better, do not fight, look vibrant and full of life and have not had a flu, cold or ear infection yet this year (something that would happen frequently in our home). They all experienced a growth spurt since eating By Design. Even their hair grows faster.

In the rare event that the girls do eat off-track Emmy and Jewel feel bloated, get headaches, experience swollen and painful joints and their skin breaks out. Ivy gets very hyper, disagreeable and unfocused for three days.

What is your message to other Mothers?

Always give your children choices and be patient. It takes time for children to change their mind and get on board with eating By Design. It can be overwhelming at first, but it is worth it.

Support your children. This gives them the best possible chance to be healthy, happy and successful.

For more simple By Design recipes why not pick up your copy of the Eat By Design Cookbook. I’ve created it in the form of a 28-day meal plan (plus grocery lists!) so you don’t need to think about what’s for breakfast, lunch or dinner for the next month. Or you can grab the first 7 days FREE by clicking here.

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