There may be no other mom in the city who’s as qualified to answer the question “What’s for dinner?” Alicia Sokol’s master’s degree in public health, and her love of photography, work in her favor on her blog, Weekly Greens, which she’s filled with more than 450 healthy recipes and tips to help moms-on-the-go avoid an endless parade of freezer-aisle meals. “We all want to feed our kids fresh, nutritious food, but most of us have neither the time, nor the desire, to spend hours in the kitchen,” says Sokol, 41.
Along with the good cooking habits, Sokol tries to make fitness routines part of life for her two boys, Matthew, nine, and Gabriel, six. Neither have much interest in organized sports—Matthew would rather spend his time memorizing the periodic table, while Gabriel loves to write and draw. But Sokol, who is a certified barre3 instructor and plans on opening her own studio later this year, trusts her sons will find an activity that they love, too.
Even as she’s guiding her family—and other local moms—to live healthfully, Sokol knows that no one can do it all. “Some things just aren’t worth the stress. I used to stay up late making homemade birthday treats for my sons’ classmates, but after a while I realized that the kids really didn’t care whether I baked or bought,” she says. “And I write about food!”
Another priority is reserving time for her husband, Andy. The pair have a longstanding agreement to save Saturday evenings for date night, even if it’s just getting out of the house and chatting over drinks. “It makes such a big difference for us,” says Sokol. “It’s important for the kids to see that we take time for each other.”
Above all, Sokol relies on the adage “This too shall pass.” “My mother used to say that to me when I was little,” says Sokol. “I think of it at low times, but I also remember it during times I want to savor. Right now, I’m savoring the fact they still want to snuggle, they still think I’m cool, and they actually still want to eat dinner with us every night.”
Mom Code
Signature Scent:
Lime Basil Mandarin by Jo Malone. It’s the scent I discovered when I met my husband 15 years ago.
Date-Night Restaurant:
The Tabard Inn.
Local Family Activity:
Renting kayaks under Key Bridge and paddling to Roosevelt Island for a hike and picnic.
Night on the town or quiet dinner at home:
Night on the town.
My friends would say I’m:
Outnumbered.
Family Traditions:
Choosing a new book and an ice-cream cone as rewards for good report cards.
Last book you read:
Crazy Is a Compliment,by Linda Rottenberg.
App you rely on:
ParkMobile.
Celebrity crush:
Misty Copeland, the American Ballet Theatre soloist.
Dream vacation:
I’ve always wanted to go to Fiji.
