Good-Bye, and Thank You!
Today is my last post on A Better Bag of Groceries. It is so hard to believe. I’ve been here writing five days a week for 3 1/2 years. And I’ve been working for NuVal for almost 4 1/2 years. However, I have decided (after very thoughtful consideration) to move on and I’ve accepted a position with NuVal’s sister company, TopSource LLC.
Working for NuVal has been a once-in-a-lifetime experience for me. It is so rare to be able to combine your personal passions with your professional life. NuVal gave me that opportunity. And when I went to NuVal leadership in 2009 and said, “How ’bout if I start a Mom blog?” – they said, “Go for it!” At first I had to email my posts out to my friends, my mother, my high school friends, and my sorority sisters to get some readership. Now, A Better Bag of Groceries now has 20,000 readers per month.
Time goes by and your professional goals don’t sync up as perfectly with your personal passions as they once did. I can remember the very day I decided it was time to leave Big Consulting Firm (and Big Supermarket Company and Small Family Business). For me, it’s like an epiphany, the day that it hits me. It’s time for a change. Do you find that you can remember that exact decision point when you’ve made big changes in your life?
The day I decided that I might just belong on a team other than NuVal was the day I went and volunteered at the Greater Boston Food Bank with my friends from TopSource.
I truly enjoyed the camaraderie of this smart group of people – and felt that I could fit in on their team. When a position opened up, I applied for it and after interviewing, I was offered the position.
So, what does Topsource do? Strategic sourcing for retailers. They help (mostly) supermarkets buy the things they need in their stores that they do not re-sell. Things like bags, electricity, advertising, benefits, shelving, etc. It’s not as exciting to consumers as NuVal, but for supermarket geeks like me, it’s pretty cool.
SO, WHAT ABOUT THE BLOG?
That has been the number one question asked of me when I’ve told people my news. We’ve been busy re-assigning all of the things that I do at NuVal (work with supermarkets, work with schools, work in education) – and that has gone OK. But figuring out what we do with the blog has been a bit more challenging. You’ll need to come back tomorrow for the big announcement!
My Last Words of Wisdom
As I’ve said from the beginning, I’m not a dietitian, I’m not a nurse, I’m not a doctor. I’m just a Mom who is trying to make the best nutrition decisions for my family – and for myself. Somehow, this blog came to be a place where readers like you visited for a recipe, a new workout, or just a healthy living tip. If I had to sum up this blog in Seven Steps for Healthy Living, it would be these:
- Don’t be fooled by the labels. You know the ones. They are all over the packages of food in the supermarket and they trick you. This weekend my husband went shopping and brought home a healthy-looking Pop-Tart-like pastry that my son conned him into buying. We looked it up. It had a NuVal score of 2. If NuVal is in your area, use it. If not, tell your local grocery store that you want it.
- Make a plan. Without a plan, you end up with too much to do and no time to make dinner or lunch or breakfast. So, you end up ordering take-out or buying lunch again. Healthy eating starts with a good plan. You’ll be so glad you spent the time.
- Cook. Cook with your kids. The more you cook with your kids, the better they get at it. Then, they truly become helpful in the kitchen. You can give them little tasks while you clean up. It’s brilliant. Cook – and try new recipes.
- Eat together. Sitting down.
- Exercise together – as a couple or as a family. Exercise with your friends.
- Shake up your workout routine. Little changes will show big results.
- Always be learning something new. Just because we’re no longer children doesn’t mean we can’t take lessons. What do you love? To dance? A sport? Learn it (or re-learn it) and watch yourself get better at it. It’s so satisfying.
I Want to Thank My Mom…
I really do have to thank my Mom (Barbara) because she visited and commented here just about every day. She even did a guest-recipe post once. There were so many other every-single-day readers – and I’m afraid I will forget someone. So, I will just thank my Mom by name. I appreciate all of you who have commented, guest-posted, tweeted, followed NuVal on Facebook and helped to spread the NuVal word in so many ways. Most of all, however, I must thank my husband and my children. Writing a 5-day-a-week blog is a big commitment and it became as much a part of their life as it was mine.
And – as I told David and Catherine Katz last week, I may be changing careers, but I will be cheering on all of their efforts in the fight against obesity, especially NuVal!
My best to all of you!
Posted by: Melissa 33 comments
Posted in: Good-Bye
Tags: Good-Bye, Greater Boston Food, NuVal, Thank You, TopSource
on Jan 31st, 2013 at 8:58 am
All the best to you and your family as you start this new job! Thanks for all you’ve done to help educate and empower us to be savy shoppers and make healthier decisions in the grocery store! We’ll miss you!
on Jan 31st, 2013 at 9:08 am
Best of luck Melissa! I’ve enjoyed reading your blog every day and have learned so much! As a full time working mom, it’s often difficult to make healthy choices when I lead such a buzy life. I always look to your blog for tips and it has improved the way I manage some of the eating aspects for my family. Thank you!
on Jan 31st, 2013 at 9:09 am
Thank you for all of the years you have educated us! I will check the blog tomorrow to see if it will continue (I hope so). Good luck at Top Source !
on Jan 31st, 2013 at 9:12 am
I’m so sad to see you leave. I have enjoyed reading your blog every morning! Best of luck to you! Thank you for all the great ideas!
on Jan 31st, 2013 at 9:32 am
Good Luck! I have so enjoyed this blog…
on Jan 31st, 2013 at 9:33 am
Congrats Melissa! Welcome to the Topco/TopSource team. I will miss my morning cheery pick-me-up email from you. You will be a great program manager. Look forward to working more closely with you!!
on Jan 31st, 2013 at 9:45 am
Best of luck Melissa!! The recipes have been extremely helpful and your advice is sound and realistic-Not easy trying to keep my family on track with healthy choices when there are all kinds of “other” choices out there. Thank you!!
on Jan 31st, 2013 at 9:53 am
Oh Melissa, what will I do without your daily posts every morning with my cup of coffee?? I am so sad to you are leaving but I am excited for you and the new adventure you are about embark on. I wish you all the best. Please stay in touch.
on Jan 31st, 2013 at 9:57 am
This blog has become a part of my life and my families lives as well. You are well known to my family as the “Nuval Lady”. Thank you for all your advice and wisdom as we navigated through the nutrition puzzle. You have provided us life long lessons and my kids and family are so much better for it. Good luck! Top Source doesn’t yet know how lucky they are.
on Jan 31st, 2013 at 10:05 am
Best of luck Melissa! I’ll miss your posts!
on Jan 31st, 2013 at 10:06 am
Meliss, good luck on your venture. I have looked forward to reading your blog ever since I have had my children. You will be missed. You have been an inspiration to me and my family. Again, Good Luck!
on Jan 31st, 2013 at 10:13 am
I am so sad!! I’ve gotten so much out of your blog…lucky for me, you aren’t too far away
Best of luck on your new endeavor…I’m sure you’ll knock it out of the park.
on Jan 31st, 2013 at 10:18 am
We’ll miss you on the blog! I always looked forward to your posts. Best of luck.
on Jan 31st, 2013 at 10:35 am
Nooooooooo!!!!!!!!!
Melissa, you will be greatly missed.
on Jan 31st, 2013 at 11:02 am
OMG!You’ve done a wonderful job with this blog. NuVal should be incredibly proud of your work and contribution to their success.
Good luck with your new position. BTW-I made that Mediterranean Chicken Quinoa-Excellent!!Goes well with white wine
on Jan 31st, 2013 at 11:05 am
Melissa…thank you for all the great blog posts. Our family has benefitted from your post.
Your last words of wisdom were wonderful.
All the best to you in your new position.
on Jan 31st, 2013 at 11:39 am
I found your blog and NuVal thru Tina at Carrots ‘n Cake. She does not blog for NuVal anymore, and now you are leaving, and I will miss your posts so much! Our local supermarkets do not have NuVal, but I have been a regular reader for about a year and have used the info from your blog and from the site to make better food choices. Good luck with your new job! You have done a great job here and have truly made a difference!
on Jan 31st, 2013 at 11:51 am
You have been such an asset for Nuval – hopefully we can all enjoy another blog that has the professional markings of what you initiated and was so fascinating and interesting. Best to you.
on Jan 31st, 2013 at 12:07 pm
Melissa! Such a sad day for me and all your readers, such a wonderful blog you write! I truly looked forward to my morning e-mail notification, if I was too busy to read then, I saved it for later. I benefited from all your wonderful recipes and all healthy tips. First our gym closes then your blog closes, so many changes. I’m sure ALL for the best though!
Best of luck to you and your family! It’s been a great time!
Love
Patty XXOO
on Jan 31st, 2013 at 12:50 pm
Melissa,
I remember like it was yesterday during those fun and productive days at NuVal when we all came together to come up with the name of this brain child blog of yours! What a superb job you did in connecting with so many great folks along the way .As your former boss, I know how hard you worked on this blog and your passion for making it the best came through in every post , truly . I’m so proud of you!TopSource is gaining a gem and good for you for recognizing your worth and having such a great next career opportunity to shine!!
on Jan 31st, 2013 at 1:14 pm
Melissa- You are such an amazing writer and blogger- I think there will be blogs in your future.
You will be missed!
on Jan 31st, 2013 at 1:46 pm
You have truly made us all better shoppers! I, like others, have tried many of the recipes and have traded up to more nutritional offerings. My teens newest favorite are the Whonu 2x stuffed chocolate cookies. We recently sent some to our son,who is away at college, and he reported eating a lot of them before he even left his college post office! I wish you the best in your new position at TopSource, but will miss all the great information you have shared with us all.
on Jan 31st, 2013 at 2:48 pm
My heart broke when I heard you were moving on. You have been a true inspiration to me (and so many others). Thank you for being my mentor!
Best wishes.
on Jan 31st, 2013 at 2:51 pm
Hi Melissa,
Best wishes! You are an inspiration to so many. I’m so happy for you and thank you for all the times you mentioned Dream Dinners and the importance of eating together as a family. Any chance you might start another blog?
on Jan 31st, 2013 at 3:13 pm
Good luck with your new career. Unfortunately for me, I discovered your blog too late to get the full benefit of your knowledge. I will continue to spread the NuVal ideal to all my friends and family.
on Jan 31st, 2013 at 3:28 pm
Melissa best of luck!i am fairly new of your blog but have loved it and its recipes .
That was so nice to hear you thank your Mom!
Good luck!be well
on Jan 31st, 2013 at 3:53 pm
Wishing you all the best, Melissa. TopSource is very fortunate to have you onboard!
on Jan 31st, 2013 at 4:21 pm
Melissa,
What a great last blog! Love the part about your mom. I am one of the lucky ones to be working with you at TopSource. We’ll all continue to support NuVal but welcome to TopSource!
on Jan 31st, 2013 at 6:12 pm
Melissa, You may not be a dietitian but you deserve recognition for the great work you’ve done in the field of nutrition. Congratulations on your new job and thank you for the difference you’ve made. Janice
on Jan 31st, 2013 at 7:42 pm
I’m saddened for us and happy for you. Because of your blogs I’ve found many healthy foods that I thought were healthy truly weren’t, attempted to purchase better choices for my husband and I and now grandson, and most of all paid better attention to the TRUE numbers and not the gimmicks. I’ve also tried many items I would have never tried, I’m sure. Thank you so much for all you’ve done for every one of us as readers, mothers, wives, women… and the few men who may be smart enough to take the time to learn the quick way! hehehehehe. Best of luck.
on Jan 31st, 2013 at 7:42 pm
Good Luck Melissa, I read your blog every day. I hope your replacement is good, he or she has BIG shoes to fill..
Daniel KK
on Feb 1st, 2013 at 9:42 am
We will miss you Melissa!!!! Best of luck.
on Feb 3rd, 2013 at 4:12 pm
This is a sad day! Melissa – I wish you all the best! I have learned so much from you. You have certainly been a bright spot in my day. Now, I need to quickly print off all my favorite recipes….