As I sit here watching my kid eat the 875th Vegemite sandwich for the week (no strawberry or mandarine on the side thanks mum), I’m excited to have Ruth on the blog today as she’s helped me no end with the thought of getting good food into unwilling children.
Ruth is a mum of 5 boys, and is an absolute machine in the kitchen. She blogs at Gourmet Girlfriend where she shares recipes, music, and family tales. Every post is like sitting at her kitchen bench with a cup of coffee and a good piece of cake while having a chat – which I’ve literally done, so I can say so with authority!
Those of you who know her will be nodding your head – especially those of you with small children who eat like birds. Ruth is so warm and reassuring, quirky and colourful, and it brightens up my world just knowing she’s in it. She’s been there, done that, and told us all not to worry about it!
As much as I always wanted a large family, I feel good with my two girls. But Ruth is one of the only people who will really make me stop and think… can I add a few more? 😉
Who are you?Â
What do you do?
I blog at Gourmet Girlfriend where I share recipes and thoughts on my world as a mum of five boys.  I run my own small business –  teaching cooking classes , making Gourmet Goodie bags, and I have some other things to add to the mix in 2015!
Why do you do it?
I do it because it is important for me to be ‘me’. Whilst my job as mum always comes first- I see one of the very most important jobs I can do as a Mum is to teach my children how important it is to invest in yourself.
Why is good food so important to you?
Good food is important to me because I believe in people and our planet – Â and by eating good food we are doing both of those things a very big favour. Â The health of ourselves is tightly meshed with the health of our planet. The two are inseparable & I think they deserve our attention for the sake our children.
Are there times where you think you’ve bitten off more than you can chew?
Every. Single. Day.
What was it like when your kids were small and you wanted to get nourishing food on the table? Â
It was stressful – like it is for every single parent out there. Â Only a couple of days ago a good friend was asking for advice about her picky toddler and how to handle her fussy eating. I sent to to a post I wrote right back at the start of my blogging days. It is still my most visited & referred to post. Essentially it is about letting go of the stress & focussing on the time together at the table.
(Ps here is the post! and this post “What Really Happens at Our Dinner Table” is the one I love and I know it’s helped a few of you. Weet-Bix for dinner FTW!)
Have there been rough patches where you doubted yourself? What did you do?
I doubt myself every day. I wear the Crown of Self doubt. Well maybe it is more like a PomPom garland of self doubt……. Â It is always people around me that I admire (like you!) that make me feel better by telling me it is normal and to keep on keeping on.
How do you make creating good food work with your family and your lifestyle? Â
For me it is a way of life. Â It is my life. We shop together as a family- mostly at Farmers Markets. It is an unquestionably delightful way to gather the sustenance that gives us so much joy.
What does a typical day look like for you?
I get up at 5.30 to exercise and shower before waking my biggest kids at 6.30 to get them off to high school. We sit and eat breakfast together before they head off. Round two starts after they have left with the littlies getting up at about 7.30 to get ready for school at 8.45.
I work from my home office from 10-2 every day- sometimes longer. During that time I may be writing recipes, designing recipe cards, packaging orders, writing blog posts, designing or delivering classes. Then I pick up the littles at school at 3 and bring them home. I often have to travel across town to manage the high school lives of the big kids. I am often not home until 7pm. Then we have dinner. Then bed time for the littles and organisational stuff for the bigs before they go to bed about 9. Â Somewhere in amongst all of this I cook and clean and do the laundry (sort of!) . Then I collapse in a heap in my bed & read for a while before I go to sleep. I’m tired just writing this schedule!
Would you recommend having five kids to others?
ABSOLUTELY.
What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?
No kid ever grew up and looked back on their childhood saying  “My childhood was so happy because I grew up in a clean house”.
Vegemite or peanut butter?
Vegemite – I’m a Salt hound.
Thanks Ruth!
YOU CAN READ ABOUT OTHER KICKASS CHICKS HERE:
Mo Wyse and Shannon Martinez of Smith & Daughters and Smith & Deli
Cath Young of My Bearded Pigeon
Lorraine Elliott of Not Quite Nigella
Cate Bolt of Foundation 18 and Pretty Fkn Embroidery
Kelley Sheenan of Peppermint Magazine
Pea Fritters says
The list of awesome blogs to read just keeps growing! Plus she has an awesome name 🙂
Veggie Mama says
She’s awesome all round!
Lisa Mckenzie says
Ruth is awesome and so are you Stacey Xx
Veggie Mama says
Thank you Lisa! xo
Reannon @shewhorambles says
My love for Ruth knows no end. She has been a voice of reason & wisdom when I’ve really needed it. She be wise that one.
Veggie Mama says
I love how you love her!
Shannon @ Oh Creative Day says
I love everything about this interview. From the sentiment of showing your kids the importance of investing in yourself to the daily questioning of whether you’ve bitten off more than you can chew. Ruth has eloquently expressed many of the ramblings thoughts of my mind. Xx
Veggie Mama says
She has a wonderful talent for that 😉
Hugzilla says
Fist-bump! Another Vegemite kid here!
Veggie Mama says
There is no other way but Vegemite.
sammie@theannoyedthyroid.com says
I love everything about Ruth and this interview! She is totally kick-ass-in-clogs!
Veggie Mama says
Isn’t she!
Emily @ Have A Laugh On Me says
This is great, I needed to read the clean house part today as I look around and have heart palpitations! x
Veggie Mama says
haha yeah there’s saladas crushed into my carpet…
Lisa says
What a fantastic interview. I agree with Ruth on the clean house thing. I have pretty much given up on that with 3 boys.
Veggie Mama says
I think that’s wise!
Sia Aristidou says
I really enjoyed reading this interview! Off to go and follow Ruth on her blog now. Thanks for sharing 🙂
Veggie Mama says
you’re going to love her 🙂
Jenny Tiffen @ Love Wednesday says
Great read. Her day is my day. The schedule does look exhausting when reading it like that. I want to sit at Ruth’s kitchen bench too; because she seems awesome with yummy eats!
Veggie Mama says
she has the best food!
Shari from GoodFoodWeek says
Five beautiful boys. My husband said that we would have four children and if we had four boys then we would try for a fifth child. I think it would be my luck that we would end up with twin boys on that final go. As long as babies are healthy I am happy and feel truly blessed. Good to know that Ruth loves having five boys!
Veggie Mama says
I have another friend with five boys who loves it also. I think it’s wonderful!