Who knows what’s true or false any more when it comes to health related information. No one agrees on anything, and everyone is validated in their beliefs because there is a study out there that “proves” everything they believe. Take the chart below for example. •Plastic utensils are toxic it says, but silicone is great •Aluminum foil is no good, but parchment paper is fair game. I hope you’re ready for this. Buckle up… I actually lifted this picture off a Facebook post. You should’ve seen the comments. Hundreds of comments arguing back and forth how aluminum foil is toxic, and so is parchment paper, but not if it’s a natural type of parchment paper that hasn’t been bleached. And even then it’s hard to tell if it’s good because it’s still going to off gas at high temperatures. Those plastic utensils you have in your kitchen, throw them out and swap them for some silicone ones. But don’t do any type of cooking with the silicone, because it’s highly toxic at high temps and will leech loads of chemicals into your food if you do. Oh, and that state of the art bamboo cutting hoard you got…throw it away—unless it’s extra virgin, organic, vegan, non-bleached, non child labor harvested, and only grown in climates that don’t get above 82°F…okay some of that was made up, but that’s basically the premise of what I took away from that post. You can’t even trust the very hands you cook with because those same hands might leech chemicals into your all wooden organic vegan oak utensils, and then bam…it’s basically like cooking with plastic. This is why I try to make things simple and not stress people out over stupid stuff like this. I do recommend you stop using non stick pans. I do recommend not using a plastic cutting board. BUT…more than anything…before you even get to worrying about silicone vs. plastic utensils…make sure you meal isn’t coming from a box most nights of the week. Make sure you’re cooking with ingredients and not microwaving a tv dinner or eating McD’s 3-5 nights a week. Make sure you’re sitting down at the table with people you care about and conversing with them about meaningful stuff.

Just wanted to let you know that anyone is allowed to post in here. I know it takes a bit to warm up and feel things out, though. There are a few categories that are view only, but most of them are fair game to post inside of. Y’all have any questions so far?

“I only wish my kids would eat the food I make…” “You’re so lucky that your kids eat what you feed them.” “Must be nice that your kids eat so well.” This is just a small sampling of the comments I’ve received over the years when sharing my food and including my kids who’re happy to eat what I’m serving them for dinner in the video. I’m not here to tell you that my way is the right way…or the only way. But it has worked well for my wife and I. First things…the answers to those statements above. You don’t have to “WISH”. I’m not “LUCKY”. And it’s not “NICE”. To go a step further…my kids eat what my wife and I make them for dinner because I didn’t wish…I don’t rely on luck, and I certainly don’t try to be nice to get them to eat like big kids, rather than spoiled turds who can only tolerate chicken nuggets and French fries drowned on ketchup. I don’t know why, but so often people want some big flashy fancy answer to how and why things work. But so often what works isn’t complicated…or fancy…or exciting And because it isn’t any of those things, people choose not to do it. Put another way…people lose all excitement to do something impactful that changes their lives for the better because the path itself isn’t exciting. It’s boring—requiring mostly…a great amount of discipline.” So, no…wishing and luck aren’t tools in toolbox. Instead, and here’s the great big ‘secret’ you’ve been waiting for. We make XYZ for dinner and that’s what our kids will be eating. You know…kinda like how you likely grew up. Your mom wasn’t catering to little ol’ you like you were some prestigious king or queen deserving of an a la carte menu and the finest of china with genuine silverware. No, you sat down and shoveled into your mouth whatever was served. And the only thing I hope and pray for is that you actually have some idea of how to turn ingredients into a good meal that your family not only enjoys, but nourishes their bodies as well. But somehow it’s “rude” and “cruel” to make our kids do the same exact thing. Yes, I’ve actually been called rude and cruel for forcing my kids to eat what I make for dinner…and get this…having them go to bed hungry if they want to throw a fit that they’re not going to eat what I made, especially if they haven’t even tried it yet.

Yeah...yeah...I know, every group or class, or community, or event you go to asks you to introduce yourself to the people around you. But there's good reason for it...we're here to get to know one another and help each other learn, grow into better, more capable people, and maybe...build something impactful. So...say hi below and let's make it fun...share two truths and one lie. Reply in the comments after a few people have responded with the correct answers! Feel free to share a picture of your family or your pet(s). ☺️

I put a lot of effort into making sure that my content is NOT super polished. I make food/meals that anyone can make, and therefore I make videos that, for the most part, look like anyone can make. It’s why I still do, and likely always will, shoot my videos on my iPhone. I could whip out my wife’s professional Canon camera and set up all the lighting and have some very high quality looking videos posted on social media, but that’s not what I’m going for. I was, after all, a wedding videographer for a handful of years. When someone comes across my page I want them to realize that the meal is easy enough to make that they could do it too! That’s why I share stuff like the below picture. Life happens, and yesterday life happened. I started making some hoagie rolls for tonight’s steak sandwiches, and I was also doing some projects in the house all day. I ended up letting these rolls over proof, so they ended up flat. However, they still taste amazing. And they’re made with real, quality whole food ingredients, unlike that which we find in grocery stores. So let this be a lesson. It doesn’t have to be perfect. You just have to put in the effort to get it done and that’ll take you 95% of the way there. And when it comes to feeding your family…95% of the way there is pretty darn good! Cheers! Jake