It’s tough to find the balance.
I’m here to help.
God gave us everything we have and asks only that we take good care of it.
I’m Katie Kimball, chief mess-maker and work-in-progress mom of 4 from Michigan.
I’ve spent 10 years on the real food and natural living journey, at first encountering frustration after frustration as time and budget pressures competed with my health goals for my family – I know you know how hard that is. I’m still learning, but I’ve discovered a myriad of tips and strategies along the way to keep my sanity and make a real food lifestyle possible, and even enjoyable!
Here at Kitchen Stewardship, I serve people who struggle to juggle it all. It’s my joy to bring my experience to the virtual table to help other women (and men) achieve balance. I’ll give you the tools to have more real food in your kitchen and tips for sustainable living, while sprinkling in time for fun.
I’m not perfect – but I believe with baby steps we can achieve more than we thought possible.
I’ve got:
- A background as a teacher – so I know how to explain things in ways that make sense…
- Four thriving children…who eat their vegetables!
- Over 1000 packed lunches to my name…
- An “entrefamily” where my husband and I can both work from home…and eat well, together.
- 11 years and thousands of meals of experience in family cooking…
- 7 cookbooks packed with our family’s favorite recipes…
…and a heart for serving my community (you, dear readers!)
You’ll find a heavy dose of grace in the moment here at KS, and readers tell me it’s a little like a chat over a backyard fence – knowing that someone else is in the same place you are and getting encouragement and strategies to swim upstream instead of being washed away by overwhelm.
And when I’m not in the kitchen cooking up a new recipe or at the computer adding another late-night post to the blog, you can find me playing with the kids or out for a walk in the fresh air.
I’ve come a long way in the past decade…
- We used to have 40 boxes of cheap cereal in the basement and had Hamburger Helper weekly. (Now we make it from scratch!)
- My husband thought it would be a pipe dream when I started looking into raw milk…and then we owned part of a cow before he knew it.
- It wasn’t long before I was making homemade yogurt and sourdough bread, and it wasn’t long before we found the need to explore a gluten-free and occasional grain-free diet to help my husband through some health issues.
- I cleaned up our cleaning and personal products, too, including personally testing over 60 natural sunscreens (and we add more each year!).
- And now that my kids are getting older, I’m determined to teach them to cook too, so they don’t get stuck in our fast food culture. In fact, we’re teaching thousands of other kids around the world to cook! (and if you’re interested in teaching your own kids, make sure you don’t miss out the next time I offer my Kids Cook Real Food eCourse! Sign up now to be notified and I’ll send you some super helpful information on getting your kiddos involved in the kitchen!)
Welcome aboard!
I’d love to connect with you and hear about your journey, too. Buckle your seat belt and let’s roll into real food and natural living together – I’ve got email options to fit your inbox style and am always happy to find a reply from you in my own inbox.
How it All Began
As a former teacher and avid lifelong learner, I was appalled by the state of food in our country when I finally started “getting healthy” during my first pregnancy, and even more overwhelmed trying to feed that little baby nourishing food once he was born. My questions about what to eat and struggle to balance it all led me to discover strategies that really worked: to be frugal, environmentally-friendly, and eat real food, all without losing my sanity.
I realized I had to share my techniques with others so that they too could achieve some balance while being good stewards of the gifts they’ve been given. My journey to real food and natural living has become the dialogue at Kitchen Stewardship for over 7 years now as I encourage other moms to take baby steps to better nutrition for their families.
It’s been all about the baby steps ever since then, and I still stand behind my top 10 baby steps – the changes to make for the biggest impact on your health and environment with the least impact on time and budget.
The 4 Pillars of Kitchen Stewardship
The foundation of Kitchen Stewardship is simple: God gave us everything we have and asks only that we take good care of it. God gave us our health, our earth, our time and our money.
For those of us who spend a lot of time in the kitchen, we are met with challenges in all four areas a daily basis. It can be daunting to try to do our best to be good stewards of them all, especially as science finds out more about how we harm our bodies and environment with chemicals and the world tempts us to live beyond our means in many ways.
Kitchen Stewardship is about finding the balance, doing the right thing to give glory and honor to God, becoming more prayerful in the kitchen, and rejoicing in the accomplishment of baby steps on the road to perfect stewardship.
Readers Say…
I have to tell you, I’ve been blessed and inspired by everything I’ve read that you’ve written. You seem to be writing from MY heart.
–DonnaLee, a reader
–Celeste, a recipe tester for an eBook (check out all my e-cookbooks and guides HERE)
Can I simply say that we are LOVING your course? My kids are ages 2-13, and they are so excited when I tell them it is cooking class day! The 13yo (son) and 11yo (daughter) ASK without any prompting from me if they can start making lunch/dinner. It has also been SO helpful that I can count on my ‘littles’ to wash, peel and cut soft stuff as well as butter their bread and on the ‘bigs’ to cut the harder veggies.
Thank you for listening to God’s call for using your talents. You are a blessing!
–Traci W., WI
That last one is about the Kids Cook Real Food eCourse, a real labor of love that my kids and I put together. It’s a massive online eCourse for kids ages 2-teen that teaches the basics of cooking via video and kid-friendly recipes. We have members from literally all over the world (every continent but Antarctica) and are so excited to spread the joy of real food cooking!
Interested in teaching your kids to cook? If you don’t want to miss out the next time I offer my eCourse, then just let me know and we’ll write to you as soon as it’s available. You’ll also receive a PDF of skills your child can perform at their current age. Don’t miss out!
The KS Community Rocks!
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- Follow on Pinterest
- See daily life on Instagram
As always, you’re welcome to contact me with any questions or future topics I can address.
Meet The Team
In order to keep my sanity (or, uh, most of it…) I’ve got an exceptional team of work-at-home ladies that help out behind the scenes. Get to know them over here.
Cool idea Katie! I’m loving every minute of making Ellis’s baby food and look forward to the opportunity to plan and cook meals for the fam! I’d love to swap info.
Great idea Katie! I definately think your blog has some potential becoming a book! I will pass this on too others.
Good luck and God bless.
your friend,
Casey
Wow, Katie! This blog is impressive. I am very excited to talk to you on Friday. I have totally been into nutrition for years now and have fantasized about writing a book. Kudos to you to starting. Can’t wait to hear ALL that you know.
Missy
Hi Katie, I just found you through my site and can’t wait to read more here. I look forward to your book one of these days, too. 🙂
Kelly
Katie: GOOD LUCK with your blog.
Fran
Katie,
Looks like you have some great things in store for your blog. Welcome to the blogosphere. 🙂 I will be sure to check back in!
Awesome – I’m looking forward to reading more! I’m stuck in one place working at the computer with Thomas on my lap (he’ll wake up if I move), but I’ll try to get you my current favorite meatless recipe asap – I’m having fun working out vegan stuff for our Eastern Lent. We’re going to be back home visiting with Thomas soon – I hope we’ll get to see you to introduce and re-introduce the little ones.
Katie,
You’re in inspiration! This is amazing!
This is a terrific site — I’ll be telling my friends about it. Well done!
Just found your blog. Very nice! I’ll be back!
Katie,
Very thoughtfully organized site. I’m planning to check it out regularly.
I wanted to let you know that I enjoy reading your blog. The information you have is wonderful and you have a nice, breezy writing style. Thanks for sharing your knowledge.
This is amazing, Katie! I am going to pass this on to all the mothers at my church. Everything has simplistic, but tasteful approach. I can’t wait to try some of your recipes, and share some of our southern recipes. I have actually had time to plant my own garden this year…already eating squash, zucchini, cucumbers, cabbage, tomatoes, and green beans (both green and burgundy). And, waiting on the bell peppers, jalapenos and cantaloupe. We are able to plant a summer and fall garden here.
Keep up the wonderful work. Have a blessed day!
Amanda
Yay, I’m salivating thinking about your garden. Looking forward to the Southern touch! Welcome, old friend! 🙂
I am a new reader as of today (I stumbled across this site from a zillion other clicks). I can’t wait to see what you have to offer here. I am VERY excited about what I have seen already (I can’t wait to try making my own yogurt!), and I’m lookign forward to your new ideas as they come.
Hi! A good friend of mine sent this blog my way and I just wanted to tell you how much I’ve enjoyed it the past few days. You do a great job with it. It’s nicely laid out and organized — oh boy, is it organized!!
Your title pretty much sums it up for me: nutrition, environment, faith, money and time. What a juggle. I look forward to reading your blog! Keep up the good work!
Corrie
Hi!
I was feeling burdened today by my resistance to cooking and kitchen work and not serving my husband and children because my cooking and cleaning are lacking… I long to turn my kitchen time into prayer time and release the negative thoughts and feelings that come up there. I searched for “kitchen work as prayer” and up came your site! And all of your other website elements are in line with my my ideas. Thanks for putting this site up. I’ll be a regular visitor.
It’s such a blessing to hear that my thoughts are connecting with other people. I DO know how you feel! I’m happy to have you along for the ride, Melissa!
Katie,
I’m just reading your blog for the first time- but I loved looking at this! You have really put a lot of work into this! I hope you are able to eventually write your book!
I just came across your blog through a link in Tropical Traditions. Glad to be here and I am subscribing to your Kitchen Stewardship. I too am Catholic and am happy to find the many interesting posts and links.
Kind regards,
Martha G.
Martha,
Welcome!! Glad to have you on board; thank you for introducing yourself!
🙂 Katie
hi Katie
Greetings from India!
i read your guest post on problogger and that’s how i got to know about your blog…and my…am I impressed? This is damn neat work…congratulations! I am RSSing it right away!
I too started a food blog site few months ago…www.akshayapatram.com
am looking fwd to associating with your blog…when are you coming up with your next carnival?
good luck for your book
cheers
priya
Thanks Priya! Best of luck with your own blog!
🙂 Katie
Hi Katie- I’m so excited that I found your blog. I am desperate to connect with Christians who care about healthy, nutrient-dense food and non-toxic, environmentally-friendly living and parenting. I feel really isolated because most people I have met at my church are not remotely interested in these issues and most of my friends who are interested in them are not Christians. I wish I lived near you, but at least I can read your blog! Thanks for the inspiration!
Pamela
Pamela,
You will surely find a community of like-minded women here – feel free to comment and check out what other people say, and in no time you’ll feel like you’re chatting with friends. 🙂 Glad to have you with us! Katie
I love the concept of this blog and am so glad I “met” you today on the conference call. I’m a former health writer and a big believer in fueling our bodies with whole foods. I’m definitely adding you blog to my reader. God bless!
Kate,
Right back at ya! I love your style as well – looking forward to working more together. 🙂 Katie
I’ve been hearing about your blog and your journey to real food. I’m just starting to catch up on your post. And Thanks for your very helpful posts.
An answer to prayer!!!
I am so excited to find so many like-minded folks.I plan to start reading (and doing) everything I can find on your site!!
Thank you..Thank you..Thank you…
Ellen,
Welcome! It is good to be among folks who understand motivations and intentions….enjoy!
🙂 Katie
Hello!
I have Crohn’s Disease, so I know how important it is to eat healthy. Currently I am on the Specific Carbohydrate Diet, which does not allow any wheat, gluten, sugars, or starches. I have never felt better, Praise the Lord! He has given me the strength to remain on this diet for over three years now and has blessed me with amazing health.
My blog is about my experiences with the Specific Carbohydrate Diet, and I also plan to share recipes and encouragements to fellow sufferers of gastrointestinal disorders. And, like you, I plan on writing a book someday (hopefully this year), a cookbook.
I will definitely subscribe to your site. Would it be too much to ask if you would link me to your site so I can spread the word about my blog? It’s brand new, and I would like to try and build a following. Thanks!
God bless you!
Denise,
Thank you for writing! Your comment caught my eye because my husband has Crohn’s Disease too, although he’s been in remission/symptom-free since surgery almost 7 years ago. Your experiences are just heart-wrenching (I read your whole blog). I will definitely link to you in tomorrow’s Monday Mission. See your email for more…
🙂 Katie
Thank you so much!
I am so glad to hear that your husband is doing so well. My doctors advised against surgery because of the severity of my case. I sometimes wish I had just decided to do it, but then I might have missed out on all the lessons God has taught me in the meantime. 🙂
Thank you for all the info you’ve provided here. God is truly working through you.
This is amazing, Katie! I am going to pass this on to all the mothers at my church. Everything has simplistic, but tasteful approach. I can’t wait to try some of your recipes, and share some of our southern recipes. I have actually had time to plant my own garden this year;already eating squash, zucchini, cucumbers, cabbage, tomatoes, and green beans (both green and burgundy). And, waiting on the bell peppers, jalapenos and cantaloupe. We are able to plant a summer and fall garden here.
Thanks for this awesome site! I love how you come from a common-sense perspective with the goal of serving God with our bodies, our health, and all our resources, which is what matters most to me concerning healthy living! So refreshing. 🙂
Thanks, LeAna! It’s nice to hear from other balanced, like-minded individuals. 🙂 Katie
Hi Katie,
I’m impressed with all that you’re doing on/thru your website!
And in response to your ” why you want to win Healthy Snacks to Go”…first, it’s d/t our very tight budget, & sometimes lack of it…but, I love health & nutrition, plus I love the kitchen (cooking & baking). I need new ideas to bring nourishment to my kids; I home-school my kids and it seems as if my brain has gone on vacation, & coming up w/new ideas seems impossible most of the time, lol.
Thanks for your consideration, and keep up the good work in encouraging people to eat healthy and the how to’s!
Sincerely,
Cindra
Cindra,
Thanks for visiting! Did you mean to leave this comment at Stephanie/Keeper of the Home? I don’t have a giveaway going for my ebook at the moment here.
Thanks! 🙂 Katie
I love your tag line! I am taking some baby steps of my own.. for my daughter, 17 months old with food allergies to milk and soy and for my family’s overall health…
we began our journey about 11 months ago when I went on an elimination diet for nursing her and we have just continued from there….
JoLynn (eat local philly andmusings of a housewife) sent me your way!
Looking forward to learning from your successes!
I have been eyeing dehydrators for WEEKS, wondering if I could fit one in the budget…
I would love to win one- off to go read how to enter! 🙂
Thanks-
Kristi
Kristi,
Welcome aboard! I love Jo-Lynne;glad she sent you my way. It’s all about the baby steps, for sure…
🙂 Katie
I stumbled across your blog today from a link at Heavenly Homemakers. I love it! BTW, are you in Michigan? We moved to MI just under two years ago and I couldn’t help but notice your Meijer and Spartan brand containers on the broth and full fat dairy posts 🙂
Looking forward to keeping up with your writings!
Blessings,
Lindsay
Lindsay,
Welcome aboard! Yes, I’m in West Michigan. Glad to have you around – 🙂 Katie
I love this idea!
I’ve been thinking about this since last night. Why is this so hard for me?
Hi, Your introduction on “About” got my attention. So I am following for more.
Katie, good stuff here, I’m coming back for more! Wish everybody knew they could live this well. : )