About

It was the week leading up to Christmas over ten years ago and we had been dealing with my son’s and my husband’s food intolerances for a while.  However, we had been starting to realise just how badly my husband was reacting  to sulphites and we’d also discovered more and more foods that sulphites could be hidden in.  This meant that all pre-packaged gluten free flours were off limits as most (if not all) would contain hidden sulphites.  Unless corn flour (starch) & tapioca flour was organic, it would no doubt contain sulphites as these are both softened in sulphur dioxide before grinding into flour.  I actually broke down as I didn’t know what I could feed my husband anymore without hurting him.  What was I going to bake him?  My gluten free shortbread was off limits as I couldn’t find corn flour that was safe for my husband, or work out a substitute.  Needless to say we did get through that Christmas & somehow I still managed to make some Christmas treats for my husband.

My name is Jillian and I’ve been married to my husband for almost 30 years.  We have 2 young adult children. Our daughter moved interstate a few years ago but our son still lives at home. They are both definitely making their own way in the world.  I’m a trained Early Childhood Teacher and enjoy supporting Mum’s and children.  I’ve had a couple of ministry roles in the children’s, family and intergenerational space. A few years ago I completed a Graduate Certificate in Children and Families Ministry. More recently I completed a Coach Mastery Certificate.

I originally started this blog as both my son and then my husband were diagnosed with multiple food intolerances.  To read more of their stories go here.  My original posts were all about recipes and substitutions and other things related to trying to feed my family with so many food intolerances.

In time I began adding posts related to parenting and then changed the tagline to “Body, Mind, Heart & Soul” as I started adding posts that related to feeding my family in body, mind, heart and soul.  It is important for everyone to develop in all these areas to be a well rounded person.

Our bodies are fueled by what we feed them and we need to exercise to help keep our bodies in shape as well.  You will still find plenty of posts here about how I continue to feed my family in body.

It is also important to develop the mind.  How we think and what we know impacts on how we act.  I have always loved reading and we’ve tried to pass a love of reading onto our children.  Both of my children still read a lot. My daughter & I like similar fiction. My son usually reads at least 10 pages a day of non-fiction books to improve himself.  At one stage I was keeping a record of the books I’d been reading and shared them in monthly posts.  From time to time I also share other ways that help feed the mind.

My family is important to me.  Relationships are important to me and we’ve tried to pass on the importance of relationships to our children.  You’ll find posts that show how we feed my family’s heart.

And last but not least I believe that it is important to feed the soul.  For me, my Christian faith is extremely important.  To read a little of my soul journey go here.  Whether intentional about it or not you are passing your faith and values onto your children, whatever you believe.  We have definitely tried to pass on our faith to our children.  Here you’ll find posts that talk about feeding the soul.  I’ve recently added a shop to this site.  At the moment it mainly contains resources for supporting faith at home.

Over the years I’ve spoken on various parenting topics at a number of MOPS groups.  I’ve led workshops for ministry leaders, parents, families or grandparents; on being an intergenerational church or faith at home.  I’ve even started leading family faith workshops with parents and children together.  Perhaps I can assist you with a parenting or faith based session, in person or online.

Coaching is the newest edition to the services I offer. I come along parents to support them as they nurture their children in body, mind, heart & soul. I also come alongside church leaders to support them as they grow thriving intergenerational churches.

Thanks for stopping by.  I hope you find something that helps you feed your family in body, mind heart or soul.