We’re at the six-week mark of my health coaching program and I still love it.
A few things that have really stuck out to me in the last few weeks:
- The USDA’s purpose is to promote agricultural interests and protect consumers — in that order.
- Statins reduce the number of heart attacks by about 25%; lifestyle and diet can reduce them over 80%.
- Diets are simply a way of eating, not a way to lose weight, a method of punishment, or a moral battle of “good” willpower versus “bad” food.
- Often when people think they are hungry, they are just thirsty. Some early signs of dehydration are fatigue and headache. Try a glass of water instead of a trip to the vending machine in the afternoon.
- “Relationships are never 50/50, they are 100%/100%.”
- Supermarkets are not social service agencies, they are businesses who want to sell as much as possible.
Some of the information is disheartening (really, a $24 million annual marketing budget just for Cheez-Its?), but so much is encouraging and positive (the amazing growth of farmers markets and grassroots food movements). This weekend ten current students in the area met up for brunch and it was great to connect with other similar-minded local people. Each student is assigned their own health coach/mentor and I had my second session with mine yesterday and am really pleased with where I am right now.
Which leads me to my dilemma. I didn’t start this blog as a health blog. I’m not sure I want it to be a “health blog.” I’m not going to stop posting dessert recipes no matter what, but I’m not sure how much health information I want to add. I don’t know how much health information you want to read.
Option 1: Posting more health and health coaching information. This would include links to articles, possibly some of my own writing, and most likely health information rolled into recipe posts.
Option 2: Keeping my health coaching separate from my food blogging. This would likely include a separate domain in the future.
Either way I will still be doing health coaching, it’s really just a matter of what I include on Little Blue Hen. Because the only thing I love nearly as much as lists are polls, let’s do that:
Sorry, there are no polls available at the moment.If you have additional thoughts or questions — leave me a comment, say something on Facebook, or send me an email. I really value reader feedback since that’s the only way I know what you want to see! If you have any requests for recipes (dairy-free, vegan, lunch ideas, specific ingredients) let me know those, too. It helps inspire me.
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{ 12 comments… read them below or add one }
I don’t think that a health blog and a food blog (even one that features lots of desserts) need to be separate entities. For me, eating a healthy diet is eating well balanced with primarily whole foods, with the inclusion of occasional sweets or desserts (also made with whole foods, when you can). I think that you do a really good job of balancing veggie meals and sweet stuff, and never with processed foods. The addition of some health related commentary would only make it better. Just my two cents
That is just what I needed to hear. Thank you!
Food and health are hand-in-hand. I voted to include both!! =) Keep the cookie recipes coming!
Thank you, Annette. =)
I’d propose a compromise – more health stuff here, then another poll. I’m interested in seeing your health information, but I don’t know if I’m interested enough to follow another blog.
Good idea. I think it would be a slightly different format if I was to break them up entirely whereas I think I want to integrate the information if I keep it here. We’ll see how it goes!
I’m kind of torn. You know I am interested in the health info, but Little Blue Hen has always been about Stacey and her life. If you are going to need a blog that is part of the business, I think it might be appropriate to start a second blog… but Stacey is a health coach now. So that is why I am torn.
If you can successfully do it all in one blog then do it for sure. You have a loyal readership so it makes sense. Just be careful to do it in such a way that you don’t turn people off (make them feel like you are selling something. Does that make sense?). What I am trying to say, is I run away when I sense a blog is there for the sole purpose of making money off of me, I stay when the blogger successfully blogs and sells something in the background and gives me the choice to go look at the sales pitch. There has to be a balance or else you may alienate readers.
Good point! I never intended inclusion of health-related info to be for specific marketing purposes. I think it’s more about incorporating a new part of my life into a blog that’s really about my life, so it feels weird to leave it out now. A trial run if nothing else may be in order. To be fair, there are posts I skim past on every blog I read — maybe it’s a meaty mcmeat recipe or something I don’t really like or whatever. So perhaps some people will skip over the health posts to get to the cookies — and that’s fine. =)
I really appreciate your thoughts, though. I knew a poll was a good idea. You guys are so smart.
I agree with above, health and food are inseparable. There’s a way to talk about both health and food together, and I am sure you can find that balance between information and tasty yumminess – I for one am really excited to know what you have been learning!!
Thank you, it’s really helpful to hear all this. =)
I think you do a great job incorporating information with recipes. As long as everything ties together (and includes cookies), I think it will work.
Thanks, lovely. And really, considering how many cookie recipes I have posted (and I don’t even like cookies that much! I’m a pie girl!) I think that’s just how it’s gonna have to be.
P.S. Baking date in July chez mom’s house with AC and fields of counter space and convection oven? Yes? <3
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