Clean Eating is all about developing a healthy lifestyle. It is not about eating perfectly 100% of the time.
This blog has become a way of me sharing the clean eating recipes that I make for my family, but that is actually just a very small part of my life.
In the hopes that I can offer a little support and a fun dose of reality I wanted to share with you a little insight into another side of my imperfect but beautiful life behind the scenes and screens of The Kitchen Shed.
- I wish my kids would eat school dinners. I love my kids and I love it when they eat healthy foods but I hate making packed lunches with a passion and I’d honestly rather pay for them to eat fish and chips on a Friday lunchtime then pack up lunch boxes every evening before I go to bed.
- I really do not like cooking for other people. It makes me anxious. On the very rare occasion that we invite people over for dinner, or have to take a meal over to someone else’s house I’ll usually make lasagne and it more often than not won’t be clean. (Unless I know that they like curry and then I’ll make them this).
- If I REALLY wanted to eat some cake, I would NEVER make a Clean Eating Butterfly Cake, nor would I ever waste precious calories on some pre packaged cake from the supermarket with a shelf life of forever. No, no. I would drive miles out of my way to the best bakery or cafe to get a slice of proper, homemade cake.
- Whenever I go out to eat, it is possible that I will order a superfood salad. It is also possible that I will order a loaded cheeseburger with extra fries followed by sticky toffee pudding and a mocktail. Either option is ok with me.
- Please don’t be surprised when you ask my children what exciting thing they had for dinner and they tell you Tuna Pasta for the fifth time in a month. It’s my go to meal when I can’t be bothered to cook (which is quite regularly).
- I put on around half a stone every Christmas. I also lose that half a stone by the end of January doing the Clean Eating 30 Day Challenge that I dread every.single.year.
- I have more pictures of food on my phone than I do of my children. It is something I’m working on fixing.
- Sometimes my dinners are such a disaster, my husband will go out and buy himself a takeaway once the kids have gone to bed.
- Please do not be concerned about me if you happen to see me in KFC with my mum at lunchtime. We go there often.
- I am an Introvert, so blogging is actually the best career path for me to follow. Except the part where I have to actually think of something remotely interesting to say about the 10th bolognese recipe that I’ve made. Oh, and posting anything on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest. I hate that too.
These confessions are not my way of telling you that I don’t believe in Clean Eating. I do, and this blog has most definitely improved my life. Creating new and exciting healthy recipes and feeling motivated to always be improving my health is something I am really passionate about. But it’s not my only passion and I am not superwoman. I have good days and bad days, stresses and anxieties. I am a mum and a wife, a daughter and a sister. I have responsibilities in my church and in the community and other passions that I enjoy following. I have goals and dreams and all of these things are what make up a massive amount of my life that isn’t seen here on The Kitchen Shed. I really do love to eat healthy food, I love to do all the right things that I know will make me feel my very best and I love sharing them with you. I just don’t live like that every second of every day. So if you ever thought that I somehow lived a magical life of constant health and happiness, think again. I am just like you, trying my best. And that is good enough.
Oh Charlie, I absolutely LOVED this post – made me nod along and chuckle all the way through – as a fellow mummy, wife, daughter, sister, blogger, etc who loves to eat and cook healthy, clean meals I totally get it – there’s no way I could do it 100% of the time too, I couldn’t even do it 80 or 90% of the time, honestly – it’s probably 60-75% of the time in my house. Clean Eating with an added dose of real life! 🙂 XXX
Ahhh! I’m so glad you enjoyed it Lucy! Thanks so much for taking the time to comment and let me know ❤️ It’s nice to know that I’m not alone in the continual persuit of health, happiness and balance! xxx
loved this!! No one can be perfect 100% of the time. And anyone that thinks they are or can be are truly mad! I see your wonderful website as a go to place for lovely recipes when I am being good, and they are great recipes I also go to KFC, macdonalds and seek out cafes that sell good homemade cakes!! And I love prosecco I still like to try and be healthy and it’s something I will keep trying at. And I will keep coming back to your website even though I know you eat cake
Hahaha! Thanks Rebecca! I’m glad to know that my love of cake won’t take away the credibility of the clean recipes I share! Thank you so much for your lovely comment and for all of your support. I really do appreciate it. Here’s to keeping it real xx
I love this. I can relate to so much of this too! Tell me more about this bakery…
Haha! I’ll have to take you there one day xx
Awesome post. We have an amazing bakery cafe nearby; this post reminds me I should visit it again soon!
Thanks Sarah! Everyone needs a real good bakery!
Best. Post. Yet.
Haha! Thanks Jackie!!
Well, honestly I’m glad you are “normal” like the rest of us! For a little while there I was getting anxious that you were so disciplined with all the exercise etc that I started to feel inadequate as unfortunately I can’t ” be it all”, despite loving exercise as a single mother i can’t always get out ( I do a lot of home workouts too!) and fit it ALL in!! I feel guilty at times when I have an off day and am trying to accept that I’ll never be “what I want to look like” because I too love food and prosecco! I have used your site more than any other due to simplicity and being healthy! Keep it going please! Plus I loved the January 30 day plan! Didn’t see it as a chore at all!
You need never feel inadequate! We are all just doing the best we can and unfortunately, it’s a lot easier for us to share the highs and not the lows. I’m glad I shared this post so that you can see that I am very normal! xxx
I love all your entries Charlie but this might be my favourite! It did make me giggle!
You are amazing to do all you do and a little cake on occasion is perfectly okay!
PS Is the bakery near me?
Ahh Thanks Jo! All of my favourite cafes and bakeries are near you! (I might have to move in). Xx
It’s so lovely to remind ourselves that even though being healthy is important being real & moderation are key to maintaining balance and keeping the whole family happy.
Love your blog, as a single mum I make myself and my toddler these recipes daily!
So true Danielle! Its all about that balance. So happy to hear that you and your toddler enjoy the recipes! Thanks so much for the comment!