Heart and Soul by Taryn

11/06/2026

Well… that escalated quickly. 😂

3.4 MILLION views later, and apparently my toddler eating steak as a snack has brought a whole lot of new faces here.

So I figured I should probably introduce myself.

I’m Taryn. Mom of three, homeschooling mama, label reader, and a big believer that childhood should be full of real food, messy kitchens, curiosity, and learning how to do things for yourself.

Around here, we care about ingredients, but we don’t do perfection.

We cook together, learn together, spend time outside, and try to make the ordinary moments count.

And yes, sometimes my toddler eats steak for a snack. Apparently that’s a whole thing now. 😂

If you’re new here, I’d love to know: did you find me through the steak video, or have you been here for a while? 🤎

11/05/2026

We spend so much time thinking about what our kids need to learn.

Reading. Writing. Math. Technology.
But what about the skills they’ll actually use every single day?

Knowing how to cook. Understanding ingredients. Preparing a meal. Taking care of themselves.

I don’t expect my kids to be little chefs. 😂
But I do want them growing up comfortable in the kitchen, confident trying new things, and knowing how to feed themselves.

It starts with the little things. Measuring, mixing, making a mess, and letting them try. 🤎

What’s one life skill you think every child should learn before adulthood?

11/04/2026

I really thought my toddler had expensive taste until I started reading your comments. 😂

Apparently, there are little humans everywhere requesting crab legs, lobster, oysters, steak, and everything in between.

But beyond the laughs, something about those comments made me smile.

So many of you are raising kids who are curious about food. Kids who aren’t afraid to try something different. Kids who see real food as just food.

And I think that’s pretty special. 🤎

I’ve never wanted my kids to have a perfect diet. I just want them to grow up knowing where their food comes from, feeling comfortable trying new things, and understanding that nourishing themselves doesn’t have to be complicated.

Sometimes that looks like steak. Sometimes it’s sardines. And sometimes it’s a healthy swap Goldfish in the car because, well, life. 😂

It’s not about perfection. It’s about the little habits and experiences we’re giving them along the way.

So here’s to raising curious little eaters, messy kitchens, and apparently very expensive grocery bills. 🤎

Tell me, what’s the most unexpected food your child genuinely LOVES?

11/03/2026

The goal was never just to get my kids to eat better. 🤎

It was to help them understand what’s in their food, get comfortable in the kitchen, and eventually feel confident making things themselves.

Reading ingredient labels, measuring, mixing, experimenting, making a mess… it’s all part of learning.

And now I get to watch moments like this. 🥹
Not because we eat perfectly (we definitely don’t), but because I want them growing up knowing that making their own food is just a normal part of life.

And if you’re wanting to make a few simple ingredient swaps in your own kitchen, I’ve put together a Healthy Swaps Guide to help you get started. It’s linked in my bio. 🤎

11/01/2026

Who you gonna call?! 👻

We’re ready to bust some ghosts. 👻
Well, most of us. I came ready to be toasted. 😂🔥

Happy Halloween from our little Ghostbusters crew! 🚫👻

10/31/2026

“I can do this all by myself.” 🥹

Seven little words that somehow make me so proud and break my heart at the same time.
Because isn’t that the whole point?

We spend their childhood teaching them how to do things without us.

How to pour. Measure. Cook. Make decisions. Figure things out.

We celebrate every little milestone, every new skill, every moment they become a little more independent.

And then one day, they won’t need us standing beside them in the kitchen.

They’ll know how to do it themselves.

And while that’s exactly what I want for my kids, there’s a part of me that wishes I could freeze these little moments just a bit longer.
The messy counters. The spilled ingredients. The tiny voice proudly announcing she doesn’t need my help.

Because one day, I’ll miss being needed for the little things.

So for now, I’ll stand beside her, let her pour, and soak up every second. 🤍

10/30/2026

10/28/2026

When did we start needing cartoon characters, bright colors, and catchy slogans to convince kids to eat? 😂

Think about how much money, research, and creativity goes into marketing food specifically to children.

Meanwhile, here’s my daughter, perfectly happy pouring ingredients into a blender and helping make something from scratch.

No cartoon characters. No flashy packaging. No marketing campaign.

Just a kid who loves being involved in making her own food.

And I think that’s something we overlook.
Sometimes getting kids excited about food isn’t about making it look more exciting.

It’s about letting them be part of the process.
Let them pour. Measure. Stir. Taste. Make a mess.

Let them see where their food comes from and how it’s made.

I’m not saying my kids never want the colorful box at the grocery store. Of course they do. 😂

But I want them to know that food can be exciting without someone having to sell it to them.

Sometimes all it takes is a blender, a few ingredients, and a little independence. 🤍

10/28/2026

He’s just making muffins.
But what I see is so much more than that. 🤍

He’s reading a recipe. Measuring ingredients. Following directions. Doing math. Problem-solving when something doesn’t go quite right.

And most importantly? He’s learning that he’s capable of figuring things out for himself.

I think sometimes we get so focused on what our kids need to know academically that we forget how much learning happens in everyday life.

In the kitchen. In the garden. At the grocery store. While helping around the house.

And no, I’m not saying academics don’t matter. Of course they do.

But knowing how to take care of yourself, prepare food, make decisions, and work through challenges matters too.

I don’t want to raise kids who just know the answers.

I want to raise kids who have the confidence to figure things out.

And sometimes that starts with something as simple as a batch of muffins. 🧁🤍