I’ve been working on my relationship with food and cooking for some time now. Lots to say on this topic but one thing I’ve focussed on is fun. My relationship with my kitchen was at ‘functional dread’ and I’d now say it’s more ‘experimental joy’. We are very good at focussing on goals such as making things faster, easier, more productive, but rarely set about making changes with fun at the centre. For me this has been the key to getting out of drudgery and into a more creative mindset. So allow me to share a few things that I’ve spotted and/or purchased to give you an idea of how I’ve been transforming my kitchen into a playground.
I haven’t done this yet but I’m working up to it. Now I’ve learned how to use spices (and have just started actually running out of some for the first time which felt good) I am getting into spice organisation. I really liked this one but ideally would love to have them out and accessible rather than in the cupboard but this might be a good in between until I inevitably insist on knocking down the whole kitchen to rebuld it around it my spaces. haha.
I don’t really know what to say other than you can pick your food up with cat paws. No further comments.
Bought these on a whim at the start of my make fun more fun journey and they were a surprising little nudge that spring boarded me into other things. I use them for the kids snacks and they do help me turn resentment and feelings of slavery into a moment of play.
If you’ve been on social media and not had these shoved under your nose, well, congrats. I folded and have no regrets. They make smile and will last a lifetime, quality is great. Also love the flat pan cooking especially the one with the fitted sieve, love that.
Slow cooking
Aside from being highly convenient the main thing I’m enjoying is leaning into the smugness. If I’ve done a workout and put the slowcooker I turn into a character and strut around the rest of the day like I’m the smugest bitch in town. Lol. Just makes me laugh and do it more. p.s I don’t think it really matters which one you buy they seem pretty similar!
Energy ball making
So easy to make, can live in the fridge for a few days, delicious, keep me on the straight and narrow when I’m getting cravings, I love making these! I found this recipe but I tend to freestyle and add things like dark choc chips, different seeds, nuts, protein powder, flaxseed and so on. It’s a bit of a potion experience!
I got one of these and like it a lot. Mostly I like it as I can get all this stuff into the kids I feel great about like collagen, protein, nuts, fruit. They love them and I like making them. I am looking for a good recipe book to get some ideas as when I’ve been travelling I’ve had some amazing ones with mint and all sorts and feel like I’m still in ‘basic smoothie bitch’ zone and looking to level up!
Finding more environmentally friendly products does effect my mood. I replaced all the plastic sponges with these and I prefer them and like chopping them up for the composter which is unexpectedly satisfying.
My younger kids aren’t always up for a sit down family meal but do respond will to more of a buffet in a box vibe. I love these lunch boxes to let them have more snacky but healthy meal like food. I’ll do raw or cooked veg, some meat, some fruits and also use them for trying out new things too.
Somewhere Co picnic everything
I’m low key obsessed with this brand and they’ve just opened a Europe store. The picnic range is literally what I would design if I made picnic bags, but I don’t so instead I will kick myself I didn’t ask for one for mother’s day and then buy it for myself. Totally normal healthy habits over here guys. Bahaha.
Such an amazing brand and product, love, love! I always keep these in the freezer so when I’ve got nothing planned I can easily make a healthier pizza. The kids love rolling them out and adding the topics, taste is great and so happy I found them! (I get them from sainsbury’s FYI)
I’m not 100% not drinking but it’s certainly not something that’s in my life at the moment. I’ve never been a regular drinker and been fortunate to never use alcohol in stressful times. I’m very much a social, drink for fun casual kind of drinker, but even so there’s no getting around it, I feel every drink these days. There are loads of new functional drinks and non alcoholic drinks popping up. I’ve never drank sugary drinks so most of them also tend to give me hangover like symptoms too which honestly feels really unfair, but I do really like Hip Pop - my favourite is the elderflower.
That’s it for this month! Let me know if you have any edit requests for next month!
Emma x
I have not managed to make cooking fun yet - but maybe this will help. I also hate buying cleaning products, partly because it’s so dull, and partly because I hate the feeling of putting yet more chemicals/plastic into the world - but https://smolproducts.com has really improved how I feel about it!
Oh and spinach