Real Food Matters - Karen Toews

Real food matters is my brand new baby whose birth has been a long time coming.

Back to the beginning.

I grew up in a family where our eating norm was the goodness of home-prepared food from home grown products off our family farm. The gift of healthy eating, an active lifestyle (my parents didn't buy in to the line "everyone else has a TV!") and a spiritual foundation of knowing and loving God, was the blend of what I believe to be a rich heritage. Life wasn't (and still isn't) perfect but is one that feels rooted and real. That's the nutshell edition; the longer version elaborates.

Life scrolled by.

The chapters of my food story included the daily-ness of feeding me and my family, with the addition of a couple foodie business ventures, and the pleasure of cooking for guests around my table. A passion developed while experimenting and enjoying many of the raw products available through the hand of our creative God. As I searched out recipes and researched nutrition, I was fascinated to learn how food may help towards healing our bodies and protecting us from disease.

And so began my study in natural nutrition, via a distance learning nutrition program, one with a holistic approach towards healthy living. Originally, for reasons probably related to my traditional Christian upbringing, I had vague reservations about using the term holistic. Maybe it was a feeling that had to do with attaining holiness on one's own - I don't really know. But in reality, this approach addresses the whole person, which really does bode well with my core values and faith. A belief that we are a living soul: created body, mind and spirit - each part needing to be be nourished and cherished.

The present.

Making healthy food choices, being physically active, using godly principles how to feed your mind and spirit - these are all things I want to apply personally and to share with others. A large proportion of our population - the people in the communities where we live - suffer from obesity, disease, or just a nagging condition of feeling unwell. This fuels my passion to help by being a coach for better health. We will not attain perfect health this side of eternity but there are ways we can make positive healthy changes - intentional actions that reflect responsibility, respect and thanksgiving for the body God has given us.

As realfoodmatters "grows up" I trust people will be encouraged and challenged.

Do stop by and visit.

Summer (Home) School - Karen Toews

My daughter home schools her three children. Traditionally school's out during the summer but they took a long break during April and May while the family packed up to move. During the transition of relocating, they're living with us - now it's catch-up time, school's back in. No sleeping in late - and after breakfast and morning chores, the school files come out, spelling programs appear on the computer monitor, and math sheets and artwork share space on the kitchen table.

Being privy to all this learning activity I now understand why my grandkids are so brilliant (smile) and I appreciate in spades the level of effort and time my daughter puts into their education. I have been challenged to be diligent also in sitting down with books and keyboard to work toward my own learning goals.

Last fall I graduated from the Canadian School of Natural Nutrition, receiving a diploma as a Registered Holistic Nutritionist. Finishing this course was a test in my commitment to study as a distance learning student and I was over the moon when I got the phone call with the message that I had passed.

But that was just the beginning.

Natural nutrition has grabbed my interest so that research and study will continue. And during this life-long process, that knowledge is information I want to share. In order to do that well, I have a lot to learn.

My daughter, as friend, brings out the best in me: encouraging me to know and act upon the desires that God has put within me. As an in-house teacher, her practical organizational skills and support as I move towards developing my nutrition business is what people go to workshops (and pay money) for!

Another qualified contributor to my summer education is my computer techie son-in-law. Blessed with the patience of Job, he is walking me through the steps of building a blog that, God-willing, I will be able to manage with his long-distance help once they've moved away.

The teacher is focused, us four students are dedicated, but being a summer (home) school student does have its advantages when attention spans lapse, there's deer walking past the window or your body and brain needs a break. Without the pressure of getting something finished before the bell, the teacher can grant a break to go jump on the trampoline, take a spin on your bike, or go for a run.

This summer of 2011 will hold special teacher-student-mentor memories for my daughter and I - and that will be reward enough regardless of my final mark on this summer (home) school session.