Shoko is one of the amazing moms in our Life By Design community that is leading her family towards health while remaining true to the Eat By Design principles she has learned along the way.
Most people think that meal prepping, grocery shopping and staying on track are easy because I do not have kids. So, listen to Shoko instead, a mother of three active and healthy boys; Akira (age thirteen), Sasuke (age nine) and Sena (age five).
How long has your family been eating By Design?
My family started incorporating recipes from Primal Blueprint in 2011 and started eating By Design in 2012 after my husband Brent and I completed a Thirty Day Life By Design Challenge. Once we started, our entire family got on board!
I am Japanese and all three of our boys were born in Japan, so traditional Japanese food has always had a place in our home. We continue to eat lots of eggs, meat and vegetables but now replace ingredients like soy sauce with tamari instead.
What are your best strategies for feeding your family By Design?
Planning! Brent and I prioritize two family meetings a week. On Sunday we schedule our family’s entire week and on Wednesday we plan our meals for the next week. We look at what activities we have going on and what recipe will be best on that day, based on how much time Brent or I will spend at home. And we make our shopping list as we go. On days that Brent and I are both working and the boys are at karate, I will throw dinner in the slow cooker.
We make a shopping list of everything we need from the Western Fair Farmer’s Market and what we need from the grocery store.
On Saturday morning Brent and Sena go to the market and buy all our meat, vegetables and fruit. It is their time together, just the two of them. At first, Sena was overwhelmed because the market is very busy. But now, he strolls in confidently because he knows his way around.
On Monday morning I go to the grocery store and pick up things like tomato paste or coconut milk.
We do not have a food prep day. I cook every single day; I enjoy it. What I do not enjoy is grocery shopping, and go as little as possible (and try to leave the kids at home because they slow me down!)
What are staples in your home?
Our favourite meal right now is Eat By Design Coaching’s terra cotta beef stew. Except we have made it our own, adding in celery and peppers.
Bacon, eggs, sausages, pepperettes and chicken wings are staples. Barbecued ribs are also a must have in the summer.
Are your kids picky eaters?
Akira will eat anything and everything. Sena can be tricky to please. But Sasuke…oh man, where do I start? I will make dinner and Sasuke will say, “I love this!” and then the next time I make it he says, “Mom, I don’t like this anymore.”
My biggest challenge is that all three boys have different favourites and preferences. But, luckily they all absolutely love bacon wrapped anything. If it is wrapped in bacon, they will eat it. Sometimes they eat the bacon and leave whatever is inside.
What has been the most challenging part of eating By Design?
Seeing my boys after they eat sugar at birthday parties or at family’s house and how cranky and aggressive they are afterwards. They still get excited every time they have an opportunity to eat a slice of pizza or cookie or pancakes. I allow my boys to occasionally eat these things and continue to teach them each the connection between what they eat and how they feel, but it is still difficult when they get an upset stomach and wet the bed after eating wheat or sugar.
I have always acknowledged this as a process and not strived for perfection. My goal is to always teach them what eating non By Design food does to their body and support their decision. Akira fully understands the relationship between what he eats and how he feels. Sasuke understands the consequences of eating non By Design food but struggles to make a good decision when in the moment. He spends lots of time at friend’s houses. And Sena is the easiest because he is still so little and mostly eats at home.
What has been the best part?
That my boys are sick less often, and when they do start to process something they recover really quickly. My boys have not had a sick day in a long time.
My younger boys also do not wet the bed as often anymore.
They are getting taller faster and their hair is growing quicker too.
They are more calm and focused (but I think this also has a lot to do with me becoming more patient since eating By Design too.)
What would you like to tell other moms and parents?
The best piece of advice I was ever given was “your kids will not starve if they go without lunch.” I took this to heart and make sure that when my boys do eat, that bite of food better be By Design, or they can wait until we get home for food. I now understand that my boys are better off missing a meal than eating something that does not move them towards health.
And do not worry about how much your kids eat. They will eat when they are hungry and stop when they are full. Trust me, I am the lone wolf in a home of all boys!
Want more? Click HERE for your free video series, designed to offer a proven solution to unsuccessful diets and planning strategies. This video series was designed to help you start living the life you deserve. Click HERE to get started.