We invite you to read along and hopefully join in as our family seeks out the real food in a processed food world. Our hope is since our family (that does not live on a farm, has two young children, and a husband that travels frequently) went 100 days without eating a single ounce of processed food or refined ingredients that you will consider taking our 10 Days of Real Food pledge. To make the boundaries clear we set some ground rules. If we did it for 100 days, then I am absolutely convinced that anyone can do it for only 10 days! And in case you need some more convincing, check out our list of 10 reasons to cut out processed food. If you would like to make some changes without going “cold turkey” also check out our 100 Days of Real Food Mini-Pledges, a 14-week guide for slowly cutting out processed food.
Our original 100 Days of Real Food pledge ended September 4, 2010 and boy was it a wild journey. You can start reading the blog from the beginning on “Day 1” if you’d like. During that pledge, one piece of feedback we heard often was…isn’t real food expensive? And the honest answer? Yes. So we decided to set out on yet another real food journey by taking a 100 Days of Real Food on a Budget pledge. This one began on October 4, 2010 and allowed us to spend only $125/week on food for the four of us. That is less money than a family would have on full food stamp benefits! You can read more about the rules for this second pledge by starting on “Budget Day 1.” Thanks for stopping by!
A little more about our family and why we are doing this…
At the beginning of 2010 our eating habits were just like those of any other average family. We thought we were making fairly healthy food choices, although we certainly weren’t following any special rules. Then came along the Oprah show “Food 101 with Michael Pollan”. After the show, Jason and I (Lisa) both decided to read Pollan’s book “In Defense of Food” which ended up being life changing for us. As it turned out, a lot of what we thought were “healthy” food choices were actually just highly processed and what the food industry was labeling as “healthy.”
Jason’s background is fairly different from mine. As a young child he lived with his parents and aunts and uncles on a hippie commune in Oregon. They grew and raised all of their own food. Jason and his parents have since become more industrialized when it comes to eating, but that doesn’t change their basic understanding of where our food comes from. On the other hand, as a child I had both Doritos and Kraft macaroni & cheese as staples in my diet, and I barely stepped foot on a farm. This shaped my views as an adult. As most other wives and moms can relate, I do most of the meal planning and food shopping, therefore I was (and still am) the biggest influence on our family’s food choices. And after reading “In Defense of Food” I decided it was time to make some big changes to those food choices.
So it wasn’t easy at first, but we slowly revamped everything from what we bought, to where we shopped, to how we cooked. It’s been such an eye opening experience for us that we didn’t want to keep all this exciting information to ourselves. So soon after we started making changes I launched a blog called The Food Illusion (which has now been moved over to this site) and began to build an audience. After a few months of blogging I decided it was time to do something big, something bold, and something that would get as many other people as we can to not only read about eating real foods, but to also make a commitment to this important change. Which is when the original 100 Days of Real Food pledge was born. You see, every time we food shop or eat a meal we are voting for either processed food-like substances or real food. If all of us make the right choices together then we can make a big impact, which will help change our country’s food system for the better.
_____________________
Jason Leake, Lisa Leake, and their two daughters (ages 8 and almost 6) reside in Matthews, NC outside of Charlotte. Visit their first blog post if you would like to start at the beginning! To contact the 100 Days of Real Food Team email info@100daysofrealfood.com.
Disclaimer: Lisa Leake is not a trained dietician, nutritionist, chef, or medical professional. The information on this blog is based on facts, research, and personal experiences. This information is not intended to diagnose, prevent, treat or cure any disease. Never dismiss any advice your health physician gives. The author shall in no event be held liable for any loss or other damages including but not limited to special, incidental, consequential, or any other damages.
I was looking at the ingredients on vanilla pudding and I was surprised to see that it listed yellow no. 5 coloring so I looked at the chocolate pudding and sure enough, that too has yellow no. 5 added to it. Do you know of any instant pudding that doesn’t contain this and is this ingredient required to make pudding? Thank you and have a good day.
Maybe pudding just isn’t made to be instant? I recently made pudding myself, from scratch, for the first time. It was fun and easy, and no yellow no. 5. Try this simple recipe here:
http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Homemade-Vanilla-Pudding/Detail.aspx
I am moving my family toward real food and have gotten my kids to start reading labels. The other day, my 10 year old said, yellow dye #5 must be my favorite food, because it’s in all the stuff I like. He then looked at me and laughed — so i know he is starting to understand why we are trying to move to real food.
In shock at the number of people leaving such nasty comments, my goodness. I’m very thankful for a site that is educating us, and empowering us to take better care of ourselves and our families. I’ve fallen into too much convenience food, and over the past two months have cut out processed foods for myself, and greatly limited it for my children. In a household with a number of chronic health conditions, I am looking for all ways possible to improve our health, and healthy eating is at the top of the list.
Thank you for your work.
~ Anita
http://losingaustin.blogspot.com/
HI Lisa, were you in the Matthews farmers market this morning? I just started following your website and think I might have seen you!!!! It was a rainy morning… I saw a lady with two girls with their cute umbrellas that reminded me of your pic here at the website. Just curious. I did not find much at my first time visit at the market…
I would love to provide you a picture of my daughters reaction to food dyes when she was younger. Through a food elimination diet we were shocked to find out dye is what was causing her face to break out. We were further shocked to find out it was causing hyper activity. After we removed her from dye she could concentrate easier and went to bed so much easier. Thank you so much for your work in this area.
[...] mom, Lisa Leake was on a journey to eat real food and she is now inspiring hundreds of thousands to do the same. [...]
I keep reading about your Kraft Mac n Cheese fight … I personally don’t eat it as I don’t eat wheat. However, I have seen this in stores and I am surprised you haven’t. SMART Kraft Dinner has no added colors, flavours or preservatives. Here is a link to it on their website …. http://www.kraftcanada.com/en/products/j-l/kraftdinnersmart.aspx
I should add that I am from Canada where these products are sold. If there are no changes to Kraft in the USA, you should consider contacting the FDA. Food companies go by the guidelines set out from the FDA. It appears to me that the USA has the most unhealthy guidelines. Instead of attacking a food company that makes healthier options for other countries, attack your countries FDA if you want to make a real impact. In the meantime, if you email me, I will be happy to send you a few boxes of the SMART KD to try out for your family.
Hi Lisa –
Thank you for your blog. I wanted to let you know among the great offers you have here I always have a great all natural website that can offer amazing fruit and veggie supplement which can be used daily to help aid in the receiving your 8 required servings of fruits and veggies. Please check out my website when you have some time and let me know if you have any questions. It’s called the GREENS.
Thanks
Sandra
Hi,
I had seen your segment on Charlotte Today a while back and I also signed the petition to Kraft Foods regarding the artificial dyes. Keep doing what you are doing to promote health and the awareness of the benefits of eating whole foods. I am working on my Masters in Holistic Nutrition and apprecaite all that you are doing to educate and help people. It is time we got back to our Grandparents way of eating and also to realize the harmful impact that processed foods have on our health.
Karen E.
Hi Lisa,
I recently started to follow your blog, I have become a big fan of your website and mainly of real food. Thank you for clarifying so many issues, I love the topics of today’s blog. When my children were born I decided to make some major changes to the way we eat in my family. However, it seemed like I always lacked some guidelines and I was always short for recipes. Your website has been a big help, I love the recipe index and I love to follow your blog. Keep up the good work!
Thank you for bringing the food dye issue to our attention!!! I am now becoming an avid label reader and can’t believe how many foods have the yellow 5 and 6 in it. I put back the Eggo waffles I buy each week and have switched to organic ones now. Pricier, but safer, right?
Hi Rita. Absolutely, and kudos to you! If you can find organic 100% whole grain…even better! ~Amy
A lot of budget meal plans rely heavily on grains. I need to do gluten free real food, which for us means avoiding the grains rather than buying a super expensive “replacement” gluten free product. Do you have a post/series of posts on anything like that?
Thanks!
Hi Jenn. Here is a post that might interest you: http://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2012/06/28/food-allergies/. Also, try Deliciously Organic as she has many gluten/grain free recipes: http://deliciouslyorganic.net/. ~Amy
Thanks!!
[...] About [...]
Hi. I have really enjoyed your website and have changed how we are eating as a result. My kids lunches are now healthy, yummy, and fun, I’ve used many of your recipes and all have been so good. I have one question… Some of the recipes I’ve used have called for heavy whipping cream ( chx Marsala and tom bisque) or high amounts of honey (granola bars/cereal). I love the idea of eating real foods, but the heavy whipping cream concerns me bc of the high fat content (or sugar in bars). Thoughts?. Not complaining… Just an “I want to learn more post”. Thanks!
Hi Dana. These posts should help answer your questions: http://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2013/01/04/healthy-eating-defined/, http://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2011/04/29/mini-pledge-week-8-stop-eating-when-you-feel-full/, and http://www.100daysofrealfood.com/10-reasons-to-cut-out-processed-food/. ~Amy
Handmade soap and body products.
I read with interest your switch to healthy makeup, etc. I am a soapmaker-only vegetable oils. Also make lip balm and hard lotion. Sure hope that is found in your bathroom, too.
Grandma Jean’s Soaps and Lotions