Sarah Matheny - Author of Peas and Thank You
When I started Peas and Thank You, we were a newly vegetarian family.
I was tucking a very tiny Gigi into bed and and listening to an even tinier Lulu holler from her room, when it hit me. Just as it is my responsibility as a parent to teach my children to say “please” and “thank you” when asking for their nightly glass of water in the most transparent stall tactic ever, it is also a crucial role I play to teach them about nutrition.
To teach them to love their veggies.
To teach them that bacon had a mom and we don’t have to eat her.
Peas and Thank You quickly turned from being a food journal of a mom into a blog about family. My family.
My mission went from trying to lose baby weight and keep my sanity to trying to feed my family a plant-based diet that had all the comfort of home. I wanted to make meals that my husband would look forward to, even without meat. I wanted to bake up cookies and memories with my girls just like my mom did with me, even without dairy. I wanted to share a little bit of the every day that I am so blessed to enjoy, much not having a thing to do with food.
We released our first cookbook in the summer of 2011 and we’re hard at work on a second installment to be released in spring of 2013.
But in the meantime, I’m still doing what I do here each week. Writing recipeas. Sharing stories. Passing the peas.
It’s not so much about sharing what we don’t eat and why, it’s more about showing that beautiful place where food and family intertwine.
Our comments section on each post has become a community of friends from all walks of life and eating styles. It’s my pleasure to hear your stories, memories and what recipes you want to see made into a little bit healthier version. That didn’t have a mom.
I’m so happy to have you along for the ride.
(excerpt from Sarah's blog www.peasandthankyou.com)
Why is Sarah..aka Mama Pea..one of my Top 10 Most Inspiring People? I love that she is focused on taking care of her children's health with nutrition. It's inspiring to see a parent teaching her children about how to take care of themselves while being kind to animals and the planet. She is leading by example which is also inspiring. It's the most loving way to raise a child - it just is. The fact that she is showing them how to be healthy while they are so young - it's pretty fabulous. Can you imagine your mother making you green juice and Roasted Chickpea tacos? Gosh, if only all parents did this!
I admire not only her wit via her blog but the fact that she & her family became healthy as a team. It makes me smile! The book is wonderful, colorful & well, funny (Sarah is hilarious) - with a chalk full of delicious recipes that are not only healthy but, remind you of growing up. She managed to turn her favorite comfort foods into organic healthy goodness for her kids.
I also admire that she turned an 'idea' into a book which climbed to the top of the New York Times best seller list - Peas and Thank You.
She makes me think publishing a book is possible. As far as nutrition is concerned, if I am ever blessed with a family of my own, I will lead by her example.
Sarah, I think you are fabulous and you, your recipes and your family, inspire me to no end!!!!!!!! THANK YOU!!!!!!
Girl Gone Vegan,
Kelly
