Okay, so I know the title here is rather harsh. Let's be honest - I totally expected my 8-year-old daughter to eat junk food while away at her very first overnight camp last week. Both of my children (and my husband for that matter) have what I call a "stomach of steel." They can eat and do just about anything with no ill effects…
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The Problem with Refined Oils
The other day I saw a “real food” blogger giving away a tub of “organic ghee” to one lucky reader. I said to my husband, “What in the heck is ghee and why would anyone want it?” I thought that blogger sounded a lot more “hard core” than me about eating naturally…admittedly because I didn’t …
The Problem with Refined Sweeteners
As I’ve said before, it is not necessarily the sugar itself (yes, white sugar is technically “natural” albeit highly refined), but it is the quantity in which our society consumes sugar that concerns me. What have things come to if we can’t even have a cracker or a bowl of cereal or a beverage unless …
The Truth About Nitrites and Nitrates
Long before I'd even given processed food or real food a thought, I'd heard about the supposed dangers of nitrites and nitrates. But really, how many of us actually know what a nitrate or nitrite is and exactly why it's something we should avoid in the first place?
Guest Post: Clean Cuisine Cottage Pie (A British Food Makeover)
Today I wanted to share one of Blake’s favorite “Clean Cuisine” recipes and show you how I go about giving a British food favorite, Cottage Pie, an anti-inflammatory real food makeover. The three things I did to my Cottage Pie recipe to boost flavor, improve nutrition, and reduce inflammation were really rather simple.
Guest Post: Clean Cuisine Cottage Pie (A British Food Makeover)Continue Reading →
Mango Salsa (+ How to Cut a Mango)
Just in time for Cinco de Mayo, I am excited to share a super simple and delicious mango salsa recipe inspired by my daughter! But, before we get into how to make this dish, let's discuss how exactly to cut a mango in the first place.
Real Food Tips: Advice and Recipes from Our Team
Aside from all the blog work our team members do to keep this site going round, each person has their own special real food talents and knowledge as well. After all, that's what brought us all together in the first place (well, except for me and my husband of course. That was actually a fraternity party in college and a story for another day!).…
Real Food Tips: Advice and Recipes from Our TeamContinue Reading →
What Food to Prep for the Week (+ Food Storage)
If you've just gone to the grocery store and it still looks like there's no food in your house but instead only ingredients, then you're doing something right! If you're avoiding factory-made food, it's up to you to turn those ingredients into something edible, and today I'm sharing an easy way to do just that with food prep suggestions and storage information.
What Food to Prep for the Week (+ Food Storage)Continue Reading →
Real Food Tips: 10 Unique Hostess Gifts
As you hop from party to party this month I do think it's nice to bring along a little something extra for the party host - entertaining is a lot of work after all!
Other “Real Food” Blogs
There are millions of blogs out there so last month I asked my facebook fans what other “real food” blogs they follow (and possibly even write themselves). Some of these blogs aren’t solely about real food, but they’re obviously doing something right to be inspiring others. So without further ado…here’s the list! And feel free …
Why We Avoid Artificial Ingredients
One quote from Michael Pollan’s In Defense of Food pretty much says it all when it comes to artificial sweeteners, flavors and colors: One of the problems with the products of food science is that, as Joan Gussow has pointed out, they lie to your body; their artificial colors and flavors and synthetic sweeteners and …
2 Easy Ways to Make Pumpkin Puree
I am really glad that I tried cooking a pumpkin! I tested out two different ways to make pumpkin puree, and I have results to share.
Guest Post: How to Get Healthier Team Snacks on the Sidelines
I've learned a lot about what works and what doesn't when it comes to making changes on kids' sports teams. Here's my best advice so you can do the same.
Guest Post: How to Get Healthier Team Snacks on the SidelinesContinue Reading →
Giveaway: Plant Therapy (+ Top Uses for Essential Oils)
Before starting this blog, I had never heard of essential oils. (Have you?) And what I've learned is that they are completely natural and have more uses than I can even count. I love the way they smell, and I love knowing I can try them first for any ailments we may be experiencing before having to resort to pharmaceuticals. They serve many household…
Giveaway: Plant Therapy (+ Top Uses for Essential Oils)Continue Reading →
Real Food for Halloween Parties! (+ Pumpkin Energy Balls)
Today I want to share one way to deal with all the candy you end up with this time of year as well as some real food for Halloween or fall-themed parties (new recipe included!).
Real Food for Halloween Parties! (+ Pumpkin Energy Balls)Continue Reading →
My Daughter’s Food Journal
My daughter was recently tasked with keeping a food journal for her science class. She really got into recording all her meals, and it made me realize this could be a good exercise for any elementary aged child—no matter what kind of diet they're eating!
Stop Eating When You Feel Full
Some of you may think you already stop eating when you feel full, but unless you are French – think again. Based on research, Michael Pollan says instead of using our internal cues to know when to stop eating most of us “allow external, and usually visual, cues to determine how much we [should] eat.” …
Why Fruit Snacks Aren’t a Healthy Snack by Sally
Packets of fruit snacks seem to be everywhere, from birthday party goody bags to pee-wee soccer sidelines. But here’s the thing: They are neither fruit nor a healthy snack.
Why Fruit Snacks Aren’t a Healthy Snack by SallyContinue Reading →
Giveaway: $95 BlenderBottle® Gift Pack
This contest is now closed. Here are the four BlenderBottle winners…if you are one of the lucky winners check your email for details! BlenderBottle of Choice Winner 1: Donna Porter “I would LOVE to try the Purple Sports Blender! I drink a lot of “green monster” smoothies and this would be the perfect match for …
Giveaway: Organic Cotton “My Green” Mattress!
I am excited to announce the second prize in our big giveaway series as we count down to the release of my cookbook on Tuesday!
Giveaway: Organic Cotton “My Green” Mattress!Continue Reading →
Cleaning Without Chemicals
This blog is obviously about eating real food, but as I’ve mentioned before I also get a lot of questions about “clean” beauty and household products as well. It seems like once you get “back to the basics” in one area of your house you just want to move right on to the next! And …
Giveaway: Bosch Universal Plus Mixer + Nutrimill Grain Mill!
I am excited to announce the next prize in our big giveaway series as we count down to the release of my cookbook on Tuesday! Today, I am giving away over $600 in appliances that I know you'll love ...
Giveaway: Bosch Universal Plus Mixer + Nutrimill Grain Mill!Continue Reading →
Eating to Heal: FREE Webinar
I just recently learned about a concept called “Ayurveda,” the ancient holistic healing system that’s considered to be the sister science of yoga. Through Ayurveda you can examine why WHAT, WHEN and HOW you eat is extremely important. I would love to invite you to join me as I learn more about this approach in …
Giveaway: Gift Cards to Wild Mint for a Toxin Free Kitchen!
Before you head out with your shopping list, we'd love to touch on what can be lurking in some of today's kitchen and toy products. Hannah Helsabeck of Wild Mint has partnered up with us to share some of her knowledge on toxins and what to avoid. (And a special hint—read on down below for a great giveaway!)
Giveaway: Gift Cards to Wild Mint for a Toxin Free Kitchen!Continue Reading →
Essential Oils for Emotional Support + a Giveaway!
It's easy to get into an emotional rut this time of year since staying cooped up inside can often leave us not feeling our best. We already know how a real food diet can positively impact our overall health, and today our sponsor Stacy Paulsen with DiscoverNaturalSolutions.com is going to share how she believes essential oils can provide a quick and easy pick-me-up as…
Essential Oils for Emotional Support + a Giveaway!Continue Reading →
Real Food Deserves Real Containers + $500 Giveaway!
I'm thrilled to share some great information with you today about food storage from our sponsor, MightyNest. With their focus on providing safe and durable products, MightyNest is a perfect complement to our real food mission. When all of us put so much care into preparing our food, our kitchen gear - including storage and containers - should live up to the same standards!…
Real Food Deserves Real Containers + $500 Giveaway!Continue Reading →
Spring Clean Your Family’s Diet (with these healthier food swaps!)
Spring cleaning doesn’t just have to be for your house … it can be for your body, too! This is the perfect time of year to make some clean and simple healthier food swaps because, remember, any small change is better than none. :) – Healthier Food Swaps DITCH INSTEAD GET RECIPE Deep-fried potato chips …
Spring Clean Your Family’s Diet (with these healthier food swaps!)Continue Reading →
The importance of junk food
Slowly but surely I am learning the importance of junk food. Yes, you heard that right…the real food blogger said that junk food (in moderation of course) is important! Figuring out when and where to fit junk food into our lives though has honestly been as challenging as cutting it out in the first place. …
How Knowing the 6 Stages of Hunger Can Help You Avoid Overeating
Obviously what you eat matters quite a bit, but so does how much you eat. Today I'm going to share the 6 stages of hunger along with my thoughts about each and what to do as you experience each one.
How Knowing the 6 Stages of Hunger Can Help You Avoid OvereatingContinue Reading →
Giveaway: One of Our Favorite Real Food Bars!
Founded by Lara Merriken, LÄRABAR was created to make real food more accessible in a convenient, on-the-go package made with only simple ingredients. Be sure to enter the giveaway!
Giveaway: One of Our Favorite Real Food Bars!Continue Reading →
Giveaway: Unconventional Kitchen Membership and $500 Blendtec Blender!
You guys are going to love today’s giveaway! We are partnering with Desiree at UnconventionalKitchen.com to give one lucky winner a free membership to her online “Real Foods Made Easy Program” (details below) as well as a high-end Blendtec blender! Meet Desiree in this video below and watch her demonstrate how to make 4 different easy “real food” blender recipes including a green smoothie,…
Giveaway: Unconventional Kitchen Membership and $500 Blendtec Blender!Continue Reading →
Giveaway: Paleo Cookbooks from The Food Lovers Primal Palate!
Chances are you’ve heard of the Paleo lifestyle/diet. It is no secret that it’s a growing trend, which many around us are embracing. The Paleo lifestyle means eating real food with an emphasis on humanely raised meat, organic vegetables, and good quality fats like organic coconut oil, fats from pasture-raised animals, and grass-fed butter/ghee. That means no grains! And in some cases, depending on…
Giveaway: Paleo Cookbooks from The Food Lovers Primal Palate!Continue Reading →
The French approach to food
When it comes to food I think I can learn a lot from the French. And I am not just talking about French cuisine. Their whole approach to food is quite different than ours here in America, and I first became intrigued when I read “Eat more like the French” in Michael Pollan’s book In …
The “Healthy Child and Earth” Committee at our School
If you’ve been following along on Facebook you may know that I recently helped start a “Healthy Child and Earth” committee at my daughters’ elementary school. Some readers have expressed interest in understanding how the committee works and also what initiatives we are planning to tackle, which is what I want to share with you …
The “Healthy Child and Earth” Committee at our SchoolContinue Reading →
Announcement: Website Redesign (+ signed cookbook giveaway)!
I am so excited to FINALLY be sharing our brand new website design with you! Believe it or not, my husband and I started this process over a year and a half ago.
Announcement: Website Redesign (+ signed cookbook giveaway)!Continue Reading →
Eat Local Foods: Why
I confess that just a little over a year ago I had never even stepped foot in a farmers’ market, and now here I am looking forward to it every Saturday morning and even setting my alarm for it. I don’t think it is realistic for anyone to eat locally 100% of the time, but …
