A THOUGHT FOR YOUR SUMMER MEAL SANITY {part 2: the contradiction}

Here’s the thing about what I told you yesterday. It was 100% accurate when I wrote it a week ago. But in the past week, I have wanted bacon and eggs for breakfast daily. I have no early idea why. No, I am not pregnant. I have been craving big, slow, hearty breakfasts. Butter slathered on the toast and all.

And here’s the thing: for some of you, summer doesn’t need to be simplified. Your kids are older and when school starts in the fall, along with the clubs and sports and afternoon chaos, you won’t have the time to sit down for long breakfasts or venture out at dinner time with a new recipe. Your instant pot will be your best friend. Breakfast will be a race to eat, get dressed, and get out the door.

If you are in this group, then by all means, let summer bring you all the creativity and slowness around the table you can squeeze out of it. Make a mess in the kitchen. Make cookies from scratch. Bake biscuits at breakfast. Take your time in the kitchen and eat later. The sun is up till 8 anyways!

One way I have decided to savor the season that is now summer is by making slow breakfasts. I know it won’t happen everyday but I am going to make a point to allow it to happen often. The meal I will streamline is lunch: the kids will either have turkey cheese wraps or PB&J with some sort of side. End of story.

All that to say, I really enjoy life more when I think of it in seasons: winter, summer, postpartum, season with toddlers, newlywed season… it helps me be OK with the parts that are hard and enjoy the parts that are special and fun. So think about summer this way: it’s a SEASON. Maybe you need simplicity and streamlined plans, maybe you need to slow down and take some time to actually breathe. And if you’re anything like me, you need a little of both. I have a routine chart hanging on the wall and I’m frying bacon ??‍ Whatever it looks like for you this summer, I do hope you find some rhythms that help you embrace this short, hot, crazy, sweaty, slow, busy summer for all that it is ☀️