Pressure Cooker

This episode is full of good ideas and recipes. I have usually hosted Thanksgiving but we will go to my parents' this year. I will roast the turkey breast Wednesday and reheat at their house. Started a shared Notes app to keep track of what everyone is making. I am going to try Ina Garten's mushroom leek bread pudding and the Bon Appetit cranberry lime pie.

I like this podcast. I’m a mom of two young ones- age 5 and 2. I’m taking off one star because they backtracked on their V Sole-smith episode without seemingly asking her for comment. Not that they need to- they’re not journalists, they are podcasters. And while they had good points in their Intuitive Eating Part 2 episode, I just get very defensive about the topic and whole heartedly agree with Virginia. I say all this as a a survivor of a terrible eating disorder and someone who grew up in an extremely toxic and anti-fat household. Yes, Virginia can seem extreme- but she is combating an extremely body/diet obsessed culture. I raise my kids with the methods she suggests, and it’s been true that sometimes when they have the choice of marshmallows or cucumbers they chose cucumbers. Not every time, sometimes they want chips for breakfast but usually they also want peanut butter toast on wheat bread. I never question or shame them for wanting chips or ice-cream. I trust them. My five year old has gotten sick from too much candy but will now be like, yea- I don’t wanna get sick, I’ll just have one. I trust her ability to eat and offer lots of options AND I trust my own as well after years of obsessive restricting/ bingeing cycles as a teen/college student. Anyway- from what I’ve researched and experienced, letting kids have autonomy and CONTROL over what they put in there bodies significantly lowers the likelihood of eating disorders, and for me this is worth it. I agree there needs to be more research, but just because there is a lack of research doesn’t mean it’s not a good method or wrong. I think that’s what bothered me- there was a conclusion that Virginias take was WRONG because of the lack of research. I would’ve appreciated what the conversation could have been if you presented the issues on hand to Virginia and let her comment. I still am unlearning years of anti-fat bias that was drilled into me from a young age. Diet Coke, skim milk and “I can’t believe it’s not butter”, ect. type vibes. Highly recommend Maintenance Phase if you want to learn more. They do their research. Anyway, I still appreciate and listen to Pressure Cooker podcast and have learned a lot and like the concept.

Practical, positive, no-guilt advice for Thanksgiving and all sorts of life situations. Numerous ideas that I can use now. I’m only sorry that I didn’t find this podcast when I was 50 years younger, but better late than never. Thank you!

Perfection