I made this sandwich for myself recently. I bought all the ingredients at the store. I toasted the bread, tossed the arugula in vinegar and oil, sliced the pear and blue cheese, and layered on proscuitto. All the while knowing that nobody else in the family would want one of these delicious sandwiches too.
That felt strangely decadent.
Then I remembered that this is what I used to call “grocery shopping” and “making food”. How long had it been since I shopped for and made a meal with only myself in mind?
And of course, that’s completely understandable. I have a family, and I cook for three other people now. But it made me realize how little I think about myself when it comes to eating. How often I take care to make my kids a snack and then scarf down a handful of peanut butter pretzels over my computer keyboard. How I buy the pricey red raspberries and give them all to my kids. How I order dishes at restaurants that my family doesn’t like instead of making those foods at home for myself.
I suspect I’m not the only mom who does these sorts of things.
I need these moments to remember self-care and how important it is, how it really does feed the soul (and in this case, the belly too). So I’m going to make some sandwiches that only I like. I’m going to take time to mix up overnight oats so I have a special breakfast waiting for me. I’m going to cook myself a lovely plate of scallops.
Because my kids may just discover a new food they didn’t think they liked.
And because I’m worth it. And so are you.
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Mer says
This is SO true. Ever since my babe has been eating solids, I find myself ordering at restaurants stuff she can share with me, rather than picking something just for me. It DOES feel somehow decadent to think only of myself when preparing a meal these days. I actually did a batch of overnight oats for myself this week from Real Simple, and toasting up the coconut flake topping in the morning has been a real treat. 🙂 Thanks for this post.
Sally says
Thanks Mer. Order something YOU love next time–maybe your daughter will end up loving it too. 🙂
Meagan says
Love it! I do the same thing – also with proscuitto, on a croissant because that feels decadent to me too! 🙂 We ARE worth it. THanks for the reminder.
Sally says
Thanks Meagan!
Maria says
Thank you for this post! True. I smiled reading about pricey raspberries. That’s how I feel. And I have to correct myself. And sometimes I just eat all the berries myself (ha-ha!) Rarely though. I’ve been struggling a lot with cooking somthing that I like for dinner. I want to eat more vegetables. I just crave that. But what do you do, if neither a husband, nor kids are happy about it? I cook something once in a while having myself in mind. And then nobody quite eats it. I’ve enjoyed your notes about picky eaters, that come into my inbox. They help! And with food preferences I decided, that we take turns. Today I cook something my daughter likes and everybody eats that. Tomorrow I cook something my husband likes and everybody eats it. And every now and then I cook something that I like. It doesn’t always work out, but at least it is a way. I also wanted to look into a book “Vegan Vegetarian Omnivore: Dinner for Everyone at the Table”. Your sandwich looks delicious! I should make one for myself too 🙂
Sally says
Thanks Maria! I think it’s great that you’re rotating favorite meals. It teaches kids that every night can’t be their favorite–and teaches them how to “make do” with a meal they may not love but that is just okay to them. That’s what I emphasize in our house too. Glad you’re enjoying the Picky Eater Problem Solver too. 🙂
Adriane says
So glad I read this! This is totally me.
And I too loved that you shared a Raising Healthy Eaters post, I’m big proponent of the Division of Responsibility.
And thank you Maria for the book suggestion! I’m a vegetarian and have been getting around that with eating some on my own with my non-vegetarian family but one son seems to be leaning toward it and I was just thinking how much more difficult that will be.
Thanks!
Solange says
Thank you very much! it’s soooo true and well said! I’m from Belgium and just discovered your blog…an amazing source of inspiration for me and my family and also a way to discover an another (food) culture 🙂
Susannah says
Hit the nail on the head about the berries! (But it’s gratifying when I say, “These are for you, these are for you. And none for Mommy,” that kids ALSO find that a grave travesty of justice and give me some of theirs 🙂 ) I generally get my fair share of treats one way or the other!
I also cook up huge quantities of veggies I like whenever I’m cooking other food, so I have plenty of Brussels sprouts, squash, or whatever whether or not anyone else adds them to their plate. Once in awhile someone’s curious enough to ask for a bite!
Thanks for a great post!