De-stressor: I have five kids, so my nerves are fully activated and engaged at all times. But the one thing I am almost religious about is getting up at 4 a.m. most mornings to read my papers, journal for 10 minutes, and sit quietly. This daily practice helped me to stay grounded in the busy years when I was raising babies, writing three books, and attending graduate school. No one takes that time away from me ever—because they are smart and still sleeping!

Quick energizer: Dark chocolate Goji berries. I don’t what it is about these things—they’re crazy addictive and good.

Time saver: The best thing I have learned to do is to teach my kids to be responsible for “their stuff”: make their own lunches, put away laundry, unload the dishwasher, and so on. Even my 6-year-old does this. Delegating responsibilities back to my kids not only frees up valuable time for me but also teaches them how to be self-sufficient.

Form of exercise: Running outside in the fresh air is my favorite. I get lost in my head for the hour, crank music on my iPod, and empty every thought possible.

Organic ingredient: Earth Balance Vegan Buttery Sticks. It’s genius. I can cook and bake with it and no one even knows its dairy-free.

Quick family dinner: Breakfast for dinner —it’s fast, easy, and comforting all at once.

Thing to do with her kids: I love sitting at my dining room table with them for dinner as we recap our day, talking about this or that. It’s loud, fun, and crazy, and I wouldn’t trade it for anything.

Advice for balancing work and family: Give up on the idea that you will be perfect in the balance. None of us are. It’s a fallacy. Once you release control and expectation, the whole world of possibility just opens right up. Book she’s read lately: The Giving Tree. I read it at least once a week. Unlike the boy or the tree, the story never gets old—and never stops teaching about unconditional love.

Words to live by: “Be the heroine of your life”—Nora Ephron

Kelly Rudnicki’s books, The Food Allergy Mama’s Easy, Fast Family Meals, The Food Allergy Mama’s Baking Book, and Vegan Baking Classics, are available in bookstores and online.]]>