It’s hard to live the farm values I love: of slow mealtimes, local produce, and eating seasonally. That’s why I created the Peas and Hoppy Meal Guides app. Here is my story…
It’s becoming a tradition to go back to my hometown of Sterling, Kansas to visit my parents and the farm.
Every time I go back, a piece of me wishes we could stay forever.
The land where golden oceans of wheat wave in the hot June winds. Where you have to plan your grocery trips because the nearest store is 15 miles away.
A place where you can’t help but live seasonally, resting during the winter because workdays during harvest start at dawn and end after dusk.
And so I thought I would pause from my normal posts to share the story of how the Peas and Hoppy Meal Guides app was grown from Kansas roots.
Peas and Hoppiness was Born in a City, but Started on the Farm
I was just over a year old when my grandmother employed me to help cook for the harvest crew (see photo evidence).
That was where my love of food was born: in the kitchen with my grandmother and mom who were responsible for making sure everyone on the farm was fed.
I learned how to use a paring knife by practicing slicing apples for the guys’ lunches. My mom taught me to pick out a ripe cantaloupe by smelling it, and to find the most hollow-sounding watermelon to take home from the store.
Many of the recipes on the Peas and Hoppy Meal Guides app came from my childhood, too.
I’ve recreated these dishes to balance them nutritionally and make sure the instructions are easy to follow – so even if you didn’t grow up on a farm, you can make them, too.
These are the Memories I’m Sharing with My Kids
Sometimes I wish my kids could grow up on the farm, too.
But somewhere in my grieving process of deciding not to return to the farm as an adult, I realized that I could pass on to my children the things I love about the farm, instead.
We could have slow mealtimes where we made memories and inside jokes.
We could buy local produce from other farmers and grow our own veggies in the back yard.
We could live and eat seasonally, even if our workdays were all on the same schedule.
The values of hard work, honesty, and resilience aren’t exclusive to farm life. I’ve decided to bring them into our home, too.
Through the Peas and Hoppy Meal Guides App, I Share Those Farm Life Values with You, Too
It’s rare that I meet someone who grew up on a farm.
In fact, when I worked as a diabetes educator in the clinic, I learned it’s not very common for someone to grow up with a mom who cooked everything from scratch.
And now, as a mom myself, I understand how hard it is to live those farm values I love: of slow mealtimes, of local produce, of living and eating seasonally.
That’s why I created the Peas and Hoppy Meal Guides app.
I know it’s hard to even find time to eat dinner at the table – let alone spend hours searching for a recipe your kids may (or may not) like.
So I’ve done that for you.
I’ve created quick and healthy recipes that make vegetables taste good.
I’ve planned menus seasonally so you can get in touch with where your food comes from.
I’ve written the recipes so they’re easy to follow – even if you’ve never cooked a meal before in your life.
I’m so grateful to have this platform to share the love of good food. Not just the nutrients, but the connection, the joy, and the memories.
This year we’re celebrating the 5-year birthday of the Peas and Hoppy Meal Guides app. If you’d like to join us, now is the perfect time – we’re offering 50% off all subscriptions now through July 26.
You can click here to sign up.
I couldn’t be happier or more grateful for all of your support.
Thank you for joining me at the table.
Happy Meal Planning,
Dietitian Ann
More Variety,
Fewer Decisions
Tired of doing it all yourself? Download the Peas and Hoppy Meal Guides app and we’ll meal plan so you don’t have to!
Enjoy more variety at the dinner table with a fresh new healthy meal plan each week and over 800 recipes in the app. Subscriptions start at $14.99/month. Click here to try it out free!
“I just love having the meal ideas and recipes. I’m the only one who cooks in the house and you get into a real rut. I love that I don’t have to go look for recipes online – the app makes it so much easier for me!”
-Kathy Colaiacovo, premium subscriber of the Peas & Hoppy Meal Guides
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