Yo-Getter Spotlight: Tales from the Crib’s Melanie Myatt

Over the years, we’ve connected with so many amazing blogger moms.  Many of these women wanted to know more about the food they feed their families and we wanted a way to empower them with information and continue the dialogue on healthy eating.  We are all trying to communicate the same message:  We’re invested in feeding our families in a healthy way, and in order to do so, we need to know what’s in the food we’re eating.  As a result, the Yo-Getters ambassador group was born!

We wanted to get to know this passionate group of moms better so what better way than to highlight a new Yo-Getter each month!  Our latest Yo-Getter under the spotlight is Melanie Myatt from tales from the crib.

Melanie is still trying to decide what she wants to be when she grows up, but in the meantime, she spends her days pondering life and looking for the humor in raising and caring for her four children.  Since she and her husband are both tall, she knows her kids have a lot of growing ahead of them, which means keeping them well supplied with healthy food choices!  She and her kids especially love Stonyfield’s Organic Oikos in the caramel flavor.  It makes a special treat for everyone at the end of a long, hard day.

Chandra Carson:  Thanks for joining me Melanie!  Can you tell me a little about yourself and your family?

Melanie Myatt:  Sure!  Well I was born and raised in Michigan, which makes me one of those people who can show you where she grew up by holding up the palm of her hand.  I met my husband while attending school in Chicago.  After a brief stint in Omaha, Nebraska, we find ourselves back in Chicago trying to manage our four kids in the big city.

CC:  Can you also describe your blog and what inspires your posts?

MM:  I started my blog as a way to record the funny little things that happen when you live with kids.  Since then, i have used it as a place to reflect on my life as a wife, mom, woman and child at heart.  Some of my favorite posts now spring from the latest books I have read, but I still find opportunities to post about the funny things my kids do and say.

CC:  And what do you like to do when you’re not blogging?

MM:  I have started to think of myself as someone who dabbles:  I dabble a little in crafting, a little in knitting or crocheting, a little in cooking and a little in writing.  I always have a book or four next to my bed for those rare moments when I can get a little time to myself.  Otherwise, you’ll find me doing laundry, cleaning,  changing diapers or getting ready to start the whole process all over again.

CC:  Can you share any tips or secrets from the Myatt kitchen?

MM:  Planning my meals for the week ahead has truly revolutionized my cooking ability.  I love the browse the recipes from my favorite magazines, make a shopping list for the next seven meals and buy accordingly.  I have found myself trying new vegetables, dishes or cooking methods, all because I take a little time to plan ahead and buy everything that I need in one trip.  Thankfully, my kids have been quite willing to try a variety of new dishes.  I enjoy trying something new as well as not feeling panicky all day about what we will have that night.

CC:  If you could only eat one food for the rest of your life, what would it be and why?

MM:  I would have to say apples.  They satisfy my craving for sweets, they are crispy like chips, and they fill up your tummy in a healthy way.

CC:  Can you share any tips for getting your kids to eat healthy?

MM:  I feel very, very thankful that my kids are willing to eat the foods that I prepare for them each night.  They don’t like everything on their plates, but they eat what they are served.  While the majority of our day is spent focused on healthy foods, they get to pick a “treat” each night from the candy drawer.  This “reward” encourages them to eat what we have for supper, whether they like it or not, and I think they are learning that certain foods (like sweets) are best in moderation.

CC:  Why is organic food important to you?

MM:  We are doing our best to incorporate more and more organic food into our diets.  It is simply too hard to ignore the fact that chemicals and pesticides do more harm than good to farmers, the land, farm workers, our kids and our bodies.  I really wish the government would realize that we are in a vicious cycle where they are paying out more for healthcare for low income people because low income people can’t afford the foods that would make them healthier.  Why can’t we do something to encourage and support farmers who are adopting healthier practices for the environment and for our health?

CC:  So what is your favorite Stonyfield product/flavor?

MM:  I am completely devoted to the Stonyfield Oikos yogurt with caramel.  I have to hide this flavor from the kids whenever I buy it or they will eat it all up before I even get a chance to have some for myself!

CC:  Amen sister!  Ok, now name 5 items you never leave home without.

MM:  My keys, my wallet, my phone, my mittens (during the winter), and  a diaper.  (This last one is after a shopping trip where I didn’t have one with me.  She blew out her diaper so I cleaned her up, pulled her pants back on and spent the next hour saying, “don’t go potty in your pants, okay?”  Miraculously, she made it home completely dry but still won’t go potty in the potty chair!)

CC:  Thanks so much Melanie!  And where can our readers follow you?

MM:  You can follow my “deep thoughts” and humorous musings at my blog, tales from the crib and reviews of healthy and useful products at reviews from the crib.  You can also connect with me on Twitter.