I am so excited about what we have coming up next. And part of my excitement could very well be because I am not challenging my family this time, but instead challenging you! It is no secret that we are pretty hard-core about eating real food at our house. Even though our first pledge is over we still mostly live by the same “real food rules” except for the occasional treat at a birthday
party, school celebration, dinner out, or yes, even at home. And even though we’ve had almost 900 people from across the globe sign up for the “10 Days of Real Food” pledge (following our same rules for a shorter period of time) we recognize that an “all” or “nothing” challenge is not for everyone. Which is exactly why we created this next real food challenge…100 Days of Real Food “Mini” Pledges!
So here’s how it is going to work. Rather than asking you to cut out all of your sugar, refined grains, and other junk food at the same time, we will tackle a different area each week. Every Friday I will announce the real food pledge for the following week, and depending on where you are coming from you can join in for only one meal, one day, or hopefully, the entire week. Each pledge will start the Monday after it is announced so everyone will have time over the weekend to food shop and meal plan. The whole point is to get you reading ingredient labels, thinking, and feeling comfortable with the “real food” alternatives. We will tackle everything from sweeteners to whole grains to beverages…and don’t you worry because I will not leave anyone hanging. Along with the weekly pledge announcement I will be sure to provide plenty of meal ideas and easy recipes to help you along the way.
To sign up for these challenges you will simply pledge to join us by leaving a comment at the bottom of each new weekly post. And don’t do this just for yourself. If you have kids, spouses, partners, or roommates…please bring them along for the ride! There is no better motivation than accountability from a friend or family member. So starting this Friday be on the lookout for the first weekly pledge announcement, and then on Monday (a week from today) the games will begin!
awesome idea! we have been making great strides as a family in the last year or so and it seems like every time i clean out the pantry or go through the refrigerator i purge a few more items that i know are not the healthiest. we are big label readers now and steer clear of almost anything processed when we grocery shop. having said that, i know there is still room for improvement so i love this idea of taking baby steps and seeing just where we are with the progress we have made!
This is soooo exciting!!!!!!!! I can’t wait to participate!!!
I’m in! I have been working on doing this more and more over the past year and a half or so, ever since seeing “Food, Inc.” I’ve buy as much organic as I can find, but that can improve. I have a husband and 4 kids, two in high school, so it’s impossible for me to get them to eat healthy when they are at school, but at least I can control it at home. I’m always reading your blog for new ideas. Keep them coming!
I’m in. I tried the 10 days of real food and while I found my family is already eating mostly whole foods, I wasn’t prepared with whole foods “snacks”. Also, I found it hard to give up some flavoring/seasonings. So I need some good tips! looking forward to it.
count me in
I’ve been transitioning our diets for the past couple months, and I’m ready to step it up! I do shop in 4 week cycles so it will be a bit challenging, but I’m going to try and make it work 
I have been reading your blog and gleaming bits and pieces of information here and there, as well as making small changes for my family of 5 (3 boys). Looking forward to the challenge! Thank you for your ideas!
Great idea! I think we do most of this already although I still use refined sugar (turbinado or otherwise organic) and white (albeit organic) flours. I occasonally use WW flour and sometimes 1/2 and 1/2, but I bake alot and can’t get the taste right otherwise.). Look forward to help in this area and it’s been gun to watch your family transformation over the past year!
Cool! I am in!
I am so excited about this. I have been trying to make the switch to real food and the mini pledges are just what I need to finally get my family there. Can’t wait!
I. AM SO. EXCITED!!! Ever since I started reading your blog (when it was still thefoodillusion!) I have been doing more and more to try and eat mainly real foods. I haven’t had the guts to cut everything out all at once yet and this is the perfect opportunity to do just that but more gradually! Thank you so much and I can’t WAIT for the new recipes and meal ideas!
This a FANTASTIC idea. I have just recently become interested in eating “real foods” (in no small part thanks to this blog!) but was hesitant to do the 10-day pledge because it felt really drastic. Looking forward to the first challenge!
SO exciting! My husband and I just finished up the 10 day challenge. Our goal is to be living a 100% real food life by the time we have kids so we don’t have to ween them off sugar and HFCS and sugar! Love the new weekly challenge. This is a great idea… learning how to focus on one area each week, building on the others and making it more sustainable! Love it! Can’t wait! Thanks for your fabulous website and passion for REAL food!
This is a really great idea. I’ve already been eating and cooking real food whenever possible, but I know I still have work to do. Focusing on one small thing each week with help on how to do it right will be a huge help. Now I can’t wait for Friday to get here! lol
I’m in! I would love to move my family away from processed foods (and I am working on it!), and I think that a challenge a week will definitely help lessen the blow for us. Can’t wait!
Looking forward to the first ‘Mini Pledge’!
coun me in, we have been doing this a bit but not enough..up for the challenge!
Fun!!
we just bought a share for organic veggies and fruits this summer, so we are really trying..
Oh, this makes it seem so much more manageable! Especially if you include recipes & meal ideas.
We’re in!
Looking forward to participating!
i am excited, I am just starting to look into cutting out processed foods so I think this will be a great tool to get my family going.
I love this idea. Patrick and I are in!
Sounds awesome
My husband and I are in!!
Wahoo! I think I can do this!
I’m already pretty good about purchasing real food at the grocery store, but I know some of it needs work! Like cereal and bread (I’m ordering a huge bag of hard red winter wheat berries from my local rancher/meat supplier this month!)! And the biggest issue for us isn’t what we buy at the grocery store, but what we eat when we eat out, or buying an impulse drink at the checkout counter somewhere. We have a very limited supply of restaurants in my town, so that’s where the real challenge will be!
What a great way to encourage people to be more mindful of their eating habits! Buy Fresh, Buy Local!!