copping to feeling insecure at the coop, again...

I was just at the coop and they were sampling what turned out to be a really yummy frozen bean and beef chili and a chicken stew. I normally don't like frozen packaged meals (wish I did), so this was exciting. A woman passed by and the man said, "Would you like to try our chili and southwest chicken soup?" and she shouted as she walked past, "No way! I make mine from scratch!" without making eye contact or slowing down. I immediately felt sheepish for enjoying the sample. Was she judging? Was I judging myself? Feeling scolded for buying, or even thinking of buying a convenience food? Was it my insecurity? Did I imagine it? Why haven't I checked out the "slow-food" movement yet? (Would the slow-food movement gain more converts if it wasn't called, "slow?" I have to say I haven't been too intrigued to learn about "slow" food since I have in my mind that I would have to be brining or soaking, or macerating, or stewing a dish for twelve hours, and I can cook plenty of fast, yummy and healthy meals thank you very much, and even THAT feels like a burden some days...)(My post about coop cops from  last year got some good comments.)It made me think of all the judgment around food and moms and breastfeeding, or the guilt over not making home-made organic baby food, or oh, no, not baby food, it has to be baby led weaning, or only organic milk, or, no, it must be soy, or who has the most elaborate bento box at lunch...I was just interviewing a mom for my book who said she felt like a "bad mom" when she let her then-foster son eat chicken nuggets (he has extreme sensory issues and came to them eating chicken nuggets.) Did I mention this "bad mom" has three lovely grown biological children and two teens she adopted with severe fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, and she cooks most food from scratch, following gluten and casein free for the last year, which has happened to help her teens? This mom who lovingly worried more about building a relationship with her son than what he was eating (beyond meeting his basic nutritional needs) and making him feel safe, who as another adoptive mom put it, "took care of the heart needs first?" She's a bad mom?There is so much scrutiny and judgment about food these days, and it's so not helpful. So, let's realize we do the best we can, or if not, let's not beat ourselves up over it, and think honestly about how we could do better, because that's what we do as mothers.Do I try to cook from scratch as much as I can? Yes, mostly because it tastes so darn good and is cheaper,  but also because I can support good variety and nutrition that way. Do I use convenience foods? When they taste good, aren't too pricey and can fit in with a balanced meal- a frozen pizza with a cucumber salad and left-over squash soup maybe. Do I eat fast food? Occasionally. I had an In-n-Out Burger yesterday as a matter of fact, and it tasted great, and M had her first one, and she liked it too.All the judgment from others, and perhaps the harshest, from ourselves, doesn't help us get down to the business of feeding our families well.Do you beat yourself up over food choices? Does the guilt help motivate you or make you feel more paralyzed and defeated? Where is your favorite fast-food burger (had to lighten this up...) #1 for me is Smash burger, #2 is In-N-OutLet go of the guilt, use convenience foods if it helps you get to the family table, and happy eating!