Remembering Summer

Last updated on: November 13, 2011 at 5:00 am By Rachel Marie Stone

I’m taking Sundays off from writing, instead posting photos. This one–taken this past summer just a 5 minute walk from our house–has me meditating on peace and warmth and stillness. May your Sunday be full of those things, dear readers! Read more

Picky Eater Rehab

Last updated on: November 12, 2011 at 5:00 am By Rachel Marie Stone

I once knew of a boy who ate only yogurt, toast, and spaghetti–and nothing else. His family couldn’t go to other people’s houses during mealtimes unless they brought his food with them, but this was embarrassing, so they mostly stayed home. My kids can be unreasonably picky sometimes, but well within normal range for kids, I think–especially after reading this news story about Erin Graham, a 9 year old girl so picky–so very afraid of trying new foods–that she had... Read more

A Monster That Has Eaten A Person

Last updated on: November 11, 2011 at 5:00 am By Rachel Marie Stone

As I type this, my two rambunctious boys are running around, screaming, playing, fighting… {real time quote} “I’m the sheriff…I mean, I’m the judge…I mean..” It’s been a rainy day, and while it’s been mostly a peaceful one, sometimes the running in the house and the toilet jokes and the general little-boy-ness of it all just gets to me and my mind runs involuntarily to images of my American Girl doll packed lovingly away, waiting for my daughter to play... Read more

Christ Kitchen = Christ’s Kitchen?

Last updated on: November 10, 2011 at 5:00 am By Rachel Marie Stone

The other day I was inspired and encouraged I read about Christ Kitchen–a Spokane-based work and empowerment program for low-income women, founded by Jan Martinez–here. {this video is only a bit over a minute long} In an interview, Jan Martinez said this: “When I began researching Christian traditions dealing with poverty, hospitality was bringing to the table people who could never repay you and in every other setting would never sit at the same table with the wealthy. The Christians put them... Read more

Whose Eating Disorder Is This?

Last updated on: November 9, 2011 at 5:00 am By Rachel Marie Stone

When I say ‘person with eating disorder’ do you imagine someone who looks like this? Or someone who looks more like this:Anorexia and bulimia aren’t the only eating disorders out there. There’s also binge eating disorder–defined as having at least one episode per month of overeating with “a sense of loss of control.” And while it’s broadly assumed that this is mainly a “women’s problem,” a new study shows that men are almost as likely as women to have binge... Read more

How to Use Food to Comfort Others

Last updated on: November 8, 2011 at 5:00 am By Rachel Marie Stone

Americans receive a lot of criticism for our eating habits and food culture, but to give credit where credit is due, there are aspects of our food culture that–while not wholly unique, are particularly American, and, in my view, lovely and worth encouraging and emphasizing. So without further ado, here are 6 ways to connect with and comfort others through food and drink in the Spirit of the Living Bread: 6. Participate in Potluck Meals Many of us may not... Read more

Are You Willing to Try This?

Last updated on: November 7, 2011 at 5:00 am By Rachel Marie Stone

So this is kind of embarrassing to admit, but when I was very small I somehow thought that being a missionary meant that you had to go to another country and eat weird stuff so that people would really know that you really love them and so that they would really know that God loved them, too. The “weird stuff” I was imagining: Crispy bugs. Juicy grubs.Stew with recognizable animal part (i.e., face, included.) And I had it in my... Read more

The Good, The Bad, and the Adorable

Last updated on: November 6, 2011 at 5:00 am By Rachel Marie Stone

I take Sundays off from writing and post meaningful and contemplative gratuitously adorable photos instead. Hope you’re enjoying the weekend! Read more

100 Posts!

Last updated on: November 5, 2011 at 5:00 am By Rachel Marie Stone

Yesterday’s post on Plumpy’nut marked 100 posts here on Eat With Joy. I thought of doing some version of the ‘100 things about whatever’ meme, but I think I’m too lazy and/or busy for that. Besides, I thought it might be more fun to highlight the top 10 posts from Eat With Joy‘s brief Internet life. And so without further ado… (Click on each title to read the full post; italicized text represents excerpts) #10 Film Review: “The Help” and... Read more

Plumpy-Nut: the paste that fights starvation?

Last updated on: November 4, 2011 at 5:00 am By Rachel Marie Stone

Have you heard of Plumpy’nut? It’s a brownish goo made from peanut paste, vegetable oil, powdered milk, powdered sugar, vitamins, and minerals known as a Ready-to-use therapeutic food (RUTF). A month of Plumpy’nut can bring back from the brink of death to starvation to a place of stability and health. It’s saving lives in Somalia as we speak. One of the things that makes Plumpy’nut so highly effective is the fact that it can be administered at home with no... Read more