Two Genius Takeaways From Italy
And announcing a FREE masterclass!
I was smugly patting myself on the back over the fact that our family made it through a 20-day trip to Europe without getting sick.
Then, on the way home from the airport, one of my daughters vomited all over the car.
The next day, I got my first UTI.
Today, Bobby is sick.
Traveling with kids is never butterflies and rainbows, so I’m not surprised that our bodies caught up, but I’m not psyched about it either.
But really, the crash landing was worth every second of our incredible trip and family reunions in Scotland and Italy. There is so much I want to tell you about!
For now, I want to share two of my favorite food-related takeaways from Italy, that you can apply to family life right now…
1. The Merenda
In Italy, kids (and grown-ups) don’t snack all day.
But they do have an afternoon merenda to carry them through from lunch to dinner.
As a new mom, I was trained to keep snacks on hand for any sign of meltdown, which got our family in the habit of snacking throughout the day. As a result, my children would sit down to lunch or dinner and declare that they weren’t hungry.
While we were in Italy, we ate like Italians, and I noticed that my - and my siblings’ kids - enjoyed full meals at the table. Here’s what our daily eating habits looked like:
Breakfast
Occasional small, mid-morning snack depending on the level of play
Lunch
Merenda: A hearty and filling snack or mini-meal, like a panino with prosciutto and cheese, yogurt with jam and berries, or gelato
Dinner
The merenda takes place about 2 hours before dinner, and it kept the kids fueled to play happily until the next meal.
So, when your kids come home from school, plan to have an afternoon merenda ready for them! If you need inspiration, check out my 10 Yummy Healthy Snack Hacks.
2. The Bread Crumb Catcher
The video quality is horrendous because it was filmed in the dimly lit buffet room at our hotel, shortly after I woke up. I was also trying to keep my voice down so I didn’t seem like a total weirdo…
BUT CHECK OUT THIS CUTTING BOARD!!!
For my OCD self, this was a hit! A cutting board, where the crumbs fall THROUGH, instead of collecting on the board and making a never-ending mess?!
Yes please!
Are you as excited about this as I am!?!?
I couldn’t find one with a grid available in the U.S., but this one looks like it’d do the trick and doubles as a tray - dare I say, for a merenda spread?!
By the way, you can save those bread crumbs for cooking. Let them dry out on a baking sheet for a day or two, and then lightly toast them. After cooling, transfer them to a Ziplock bag or jar and pop it in the freezer until ready to use. You can also check out this recipe for Fish Cutlets (a.k.a. fish nuggets) where I have a section on making homemade bread crumbs.
FREE Masterclass
MARK YOUR CALENDARS: October 2 at 2:30 pm EST / 8:30 pm CET
You’re the first to hear about a FREE masterclass I’ll be offering with renowned dietician Sofie De Niet, wellness expert Emily Gold, and myself. We are also mothers.
We’ll be guiding you through our tried-and-true process for tuning your food compass, reclaiming joy and connection in the kitchen and at the dinner table, and preparing delicious, stress-free family meals you can feel proud of!
If you resonate with any of the following, this workshop is for you:
You’re a mother and the primary home cook.
Feeding your family feels like a daily struggle. Sometimes, you dread dinnertime. Maybe always.
You feel like you never know what to cook, or what your children will eat.
Getting your children to make “healthy” choices is a constant battle. Maybe you’re not even sure what “healthy” eating looks like.
You’re never exactly sure how to talk to your kids about food, especially “healthy” food. (If you’ve experienced an eating disorder in your life, this may feel even more tender.)
You loved to cook before having kids, but now you lack time and inspiration.
Cooking was never your thing, but now you feel pressure to feed your family nutritious meals.
You struggle with food allergies and dietary restrictions, and how to feed people with different needs.
You lose your patience if your child makes a mess trying to “help,” your dish doesn’t turn out “right,” or your family doesn’t eat it.
You want your children to develop an interest in cooking, but you’re not sure where to start.
We’ll be sharing more details in the coming weeks - look out for a registration link!
A live recording will be available to all participants.
If you already know you want to sign up, you can reply to this email or leave a comment below. I really hope you’ll join us!
Alright my loves, I’m off to chug water and cranberry juice, and rest while the kids watch cartoons. That’s where we’re at!
Sending you all huge hugs!
With cricket song and goldenrod blooming,
♡ Emma