The Food Nanny

When I first heard about The Food Nanny in our Relief Society announcements at church, I thought, what the heck is The Food Nanny? I figured, okay..this must be about food storage and all that stuff that I'm totally not in to (even though I really REALLY should be...I'm trying.) I didn't give it a second thought until I found a little flyer stuck to our door yesterday that one of the members must have been passing out. Well, I figured since we were in a new ward and we actually really love our new ward (yay!), that I really wanted to participate and be active in all of the activities so... I decided I was going to go! Luckily my cousin Lynne (who is moving into our new ward too...yay!) decided she wanted to go too! Well we went to hear The Food Nanny speak and what an awesome speaker!! The Food Nanny had SO many incredible motivational stories and her whole focus was on...DINNER! I know...it seems so simple, but eating dinner as a family consistently and at least 5 times a week has profound effects on the strength and love of a family. We learn these things from our church leaders today but The Food Nanny has made this her focus and passion and she has written a book and even has her own show on BYUtv! She has really great resources on her website (www.thefoodnanny.org) that will help families-and it's never too late to start! She even focuses on being budget friendly and healthy! I'm so impressed by the things I learned tonight and was so glad that she demonstrated her easy homemade pizza crust (because I never thought it was that easy!). We sat and listened to her for an hour and a half...and I could have easily listened to her speak for another 5 hours. Ü I'm definitely motivated and I plan to start on the path she's laid out next week! I love cooking at home and I have been, but I know that consistency is definitely something we can work on (besides, eating out really does get expensive..yeesh!) Anything that will improve the love and bond we already have as a family is worth making a change for. :)

Here is some info from her website as well as the BYUtv website. All of this content is directly from www.thefoodnanny.org and www.byutv.org/foodnanny

Everyone across this vast world has one thing in common and that is dinnertime. I want to bring more families home for dinner!

When my husband and I were raising our children, our consistent family dinnertime was the glue that kept our family close. By sharing this meal together each night, we were able to form a united family that was loyal toward one another, that was aware of one another's needs, and that shared each other's joys and tears.

Through the years, I have been able to help neighbors and friends find their way to a consistent family dinnertime. Teaching others how to prepare a meaningful dinner meal became a passion for me and now, with my upcoming book, The Food Nanny Rescues Dinner, that help will be available to everyone!

Each person deserves a meaninful dinnertime - even if you're cooking only for yourself, the aromas of dinner coming from your kitchen can permeate your home every night. I believe this is the most important thing you can do for yourself and your family each day.

Nothing can replace family dinner. The Food Nanny philosophy is built around the idea that the most important thing you will do each day is cook dinner for your family and sit down together to eat. The smells and chemistry that permeate the home throughout the dinner hour are without substitute. Research has shown that kids who eat dinner with their parents are healthier, more advanced in literacy, and less likely to get involved in drugs and alcohol. You can make a more unified, happier family in just one hour a day.

The key to a successful family dinner all comes down to planning. My famous Nanny Plan liberates you from the hassle of last-minute meal planning. Never again will you be faced with inventing a meal at 5pm! Using my Theme Night system each week is the best method for success. Your family will have something to look forward to if you choose consistent weekly themes. My Nanny Plan will also simplify your shopping efforts and reduce trips to the store.

The proof is in the pudding. Or in the cinnamon rolls. Or in the pot roast. Whatever foods your family loves, I’ve got the recipes to put smiles on the faces of even the pickiest eaters. My recipes are easy to make and delicious to boot. You’ll get a sampling of them in the online Nanny Plan, but for a complete list of mouthwatering recipes, my book The Food Nanny Rescues Dinner is your best bet.