We are NOT talking about Siri or Alexa…

…although you may feel like they are always watching you in a techy creepy kind of way.

We ARE talking about people watching you – and your behavior – in the ordinary course of life.

In some cases, you may be aware someone is watching you…you may even do things to encourage people to watch you (posting on social media for example).  In other cases, people may be watching you and you aren’t even aware they are doing it!

We have always talked to our kids about how they should assume others are always watching them.  It may be their peers, their toddler cousins, our neighbors or kids in younger grades.  We have tried to help them understand someone is ALWAYS watching their behavior and decisions, both good and bad!

People learn by watching others!

You may not even realize it, but many of YOU are influencing, inspiring, and teaching others.

We have seen it first-hand!

We see it in your comments and feedback from our various live events and online programs, where many of you are sharing your successes, challenges and some amazing photos of all the REAL FOOD recipes you are making.

Whether you realize it or not, your simple act of sharing is helping someone else because now you have them thinking, “that looks so much easier than I thought!”

“Our eating habits have changed so much, for the better!  We are even eating a vegetarian meal every day.”

“I am eating so many more vegetables, and have gotten into a routine of roasting vegetables!”

“We are doing more meal planning and eating healthier breakfasts — we love to make overnight oatmeal!”

“Doing more cooking has helped me feel more purposeful and helpful to myself and our family.  Our kids are eating healthier snacks, without knowing all the good ingredients in them!”

Plus, we hear from so many of you about how genuinely excited you are about the changes you are seeing…different cravings, clothes fitting better, ability to reduce and eliminate medications, just to name a few!  Whether you realize it or not, others are watching.  As they see your excitement and the changes you are experiencing, rest assured they are asking questions like, “do you think it is really as simple as eating REAL food?” and “do you think we should give that a try?”

We had an inspiring and humbling moment on Saturday at the farmers’ market.

For the past few weeks, we have been posting videos to try to inspire and give people ideas on what to do with ingredients they can find right now at the farmers’ markets.

Here are links to a few of our “From the Farm to Your Fork” videos on leeks, asparagus, Swiss chard, lamb, rhubarb, and fennel and radishes.

This past week, we shared how to roast fennel and radishes and use them in the Sweet Orange Roasted Fennel & Radish Salad.  We always wonder whether these videos make a difference, but then we always come back to what we tell our kids – “assume someone is watching everything we do, whether good or bad.”  At our local market on Saturday, our friend and local producer, Karen, told us how quickly her fennel sold out and how some customers were so excited about the Roasted Fennel & Radish Salad they were going to make!

Rodney Atkins sums it up well in his song Watching You, about our kids:

Cause I’ve been watching you dad, ain’t that cool.
I’m your buckaroo, I wanna be like you.
And eat all my food and grow as tall as you are.
By then I’ll be as strong as superman
We’ll be just alike, hey won’t we dad
When I can do everything you do
Cause I’ve been watching you.

(We apologize if this song is now stuck in your head the rest of the day!)

If someone is watching you (hint: THEY ARE!), what are they seeing and learning?

Are they seeing how REAL FOOD is bringing health, joy, energy and vitality into your life?  Or, are they seeing some not-so-great habits that they may be tempted to imitate?

Never underestimate how much of an impact your actions, behaviors and decisions can have on those around you!

And, thank you for all you do to improve your own lives, and make a positive difference in the lives of others!