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First of all, what Joe at Balance and Beam did with my kitchen was amazing. It's so much easier to cook now and putting away the dishes is a snap. It seems so obvious, but with just a few small changes I'm not overwhelmed with the thought of cooking a meal on a busy day. I've even had 3 dinner guests in the last week cause I have all this great food now!
Going to the store with Joe was also incredibly helpful. It reminded me of what healthy choices there are out there. Going through Whole Foods Market mindfully with him helped me to realize what I'm grabbing on those busy weeks and what I might choose instead. And how much money I would save if I stopped buying those "healthy" processed fast food products. Broccoli is just as fast and better for you. I've had a fresh veggie every day this week, what a concept! It was fun to cook all those vegetables and have them taste so good without any major sauces or additives. It didn't take that long either! The resources Joe pointed me toward were great. The books he provided were full of fun recipes. I never knew macro could be so varied and interesting.
Thanks Joe and Thanks B&BE.
Rene Pfister of Stow, Massachusetts
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I have to admit that I resisted changing the way that I eat and the way that I prepare food, but after fighting colds all winter long, feeling exhausted all the time, and realizing that I was just not making the best choices for my family, I decided to give it a try. Joe at Balance and Beam started out by helping me to reorganize my kitchen and get rid of the unhealthy food that I had in my cabinets. Then he took me shopping and taught me how to identify the types of food that I wanted to avoid and the types of food that I should always have on hand. His enthusiasm for nutrition was incredibly catching, especially when he took the time to show me how to prepare different kinds of food. He understood my concern about being able to put together a healthy meal on-the-go and made a point of sharing time-saving tips as well as providing recipe suggestions (including creative, healthy substitutions for my favorites).
The lessons that I learned from B&BE were immensely valuable, especially now that our family has moved overseas from Vermont. The knowledge I gained about grains and vegetables as well as the simple, reliable techniques for food preparation has made my transition into a different culture (both literally and figuratively) so much easier. I consulted B&BE with the expectation that I would learn to "eat better"; I came away with a deeper understanding of how my choices affect my life and my health. What I learned, and what I am practicing is simply that, no matter what environment you are living in, you can still eat healthy, eat well and, equally important, feel confident in the kitchen.
Lisa Bell of Guangzhou, China.
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I have never liked cooking. My idea of home cooking used to be adding my own water. I didn't realize how much of my problem was related to not having an organized kitchen. Oh I had plenty of kitchen supplies, but mismatched pieces and hand-me down-pots and pans only served to make cooking a chore.
Having the right tools in my kitchen and learning how to use them correctly was only half the battle. Equally important to learning how to cook was learning what to eat. Going to the grocery store is no longer a mystery. I not only cook my own food and eat better, I have learned to enjoy the process.
For me one of the greatest benefits has been the ongoing support. I travel a lot for work. There are times when I can't cook because I am living out of a hotel; sometimes for months on end. Having someone to get advice from has allowed me to make the best food choices I can while I am away from home, and has helped me get back on track once I am back to my normal routine.
Jim Ziemke of Belleville, Michigan
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