Real food basically means anything not highly processed (like artificial additives) and containing only five or fewer whole ingredients. It means mostly avoiding ingredients you would not cook with at home.
Here are the seven rules we followed during our original 100 Days of Real Food pledge:
- No refined grains (such as white flour or white rice); only 100 percent whole grain. Items containing wheat must say WHOLE wheat...not just "wheat" by itself.
- No refined or artificial sweeteners (such as sugar, any form of corn syrup, cane juice, or the artificial stuff like Splenda); only honey and pure maple syrup in moderation.
- Nothing out of a package that contains more than five ingredients.
- No factory-farmed meat; only locally raised meat products.
- No deep-fried foods.
- No fast food.
- Beverages to include only water, milk, occasional all-natural juices, naturally sweetened coffee and tea, and (to help the adults keep their sanity) wine and beer in moderation!
I promise, there's still food left after eliminating everything mentioned in our rules!
What you CAN eat:
- Whole foods that are more a product of nature than a product of industry
- Lots of fruits and vegetables (we recommend that you shop for these at your local farmers' market)
- Dairy products like milk, unsweetened yogurt, eggs, and cheese
- 100% whole-wheat and whole-grains (find a local bakery for approved sandwich bread and check the Understanding Grains post for more info)
- Seafood (wild-caught is the optimal choice over farm-raised)
- Only locally raised meats such as pork, beef, and chicken (preferably in moderation)
- Snacks like dried fruit, seeds, nuts and popcorn
- Also, check out the Recipes & Resources page for a more detailed list of meal options including links to recipes
Danielle says
I am just running across this from a pin on pinterest. i am very intrigued and exploring this...i just wanted to say THANK YOU for keeping the beer and wine in there! :-) that made me smile!
Happy Eating!!
D.
Tanya says
How is fried unprocessed if you do it yourself?
heartlandroad says
Well, really, anything home cooked is "processed" in the sense that you put it through a process to make it into something. I think what the article writer means by "processed" is processed in an overly complex way in an industrial setting which is more sensitive to the needs of storage and the supply chain than it is to the needs of the person eating it, not to mention the farmer, animals, or environment.
It's an interesting point you make, though. "Processed" is not a black-and-white thing. We all process our food. It's a question, surely, of working out what you yourself are comfortable eating. Sites like this are valuable because they make us think about it.
Jason says
Great reply!
Assistant to 100 Days (Jill) says
Hi Tanya. The answer is somewhat dependent on whether or not you are completing the 10 day challenge. If you are following the 10 day pledge, then, no deep fried food is allowed. But, if you're asking beyond that, then, you'll have to make that call and decide what's right for you. At a minimum, I would use one of the "acceptable" oils. You can see the post on oils here...https://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2011/05/14/mini-pledge-week-10-no-refined-oils/. Jill
Danielle says
What about using erythritol as an alternate sweetener? It is a sugar alcohol that comes from the fermentation of certain plants (fruits and even fungi) but I'm not sure if it is more "processed" than wine. I've just heard about it recently, can you tell me your opinion?
Assistant to 100 Days (Jill) says
Hi Danielle. I am not readily familiar with erythritol. The little bit of research I read suggests that it is made by fermenting the natural sugar found in corn. Like other sugar alcohols, it's biggest side effect is said to be intestinal issues (bloating for example). I would personally choose to avoid it and, on the occasion that I need sweetener, choose to use something less processed such as honey, maple syrup or even a little bit of sugar. I always tell people, however, to make the decision that is best for them. Good luck. Jill
Jason says
Try to avoid having more than 14g of erythritol (or any sugar alcohol) per day. They have laxative effects which can be quite vexing.
Some people find that they also seem to cause migraines.
Anne says
Would you have a good web site for gluten free? My granddaughter has celiac disease. Everything seems to have soya or wheat in it. I was buying garlic powder and the really cheap stuff has silcon in it! and, the soya, wheat, possibly nuts etc.
Assistant to 100 Days (Jill) says
Hi Anne. I would take a look at Elana's Pantry (www.elanaspantry.com) as well as Deliciously Organic (www.deliciouslyorganic.net).
Shannon says
http://livingglutenandgrainfree.com/
Anne says
I'd liked to know what twin, splenda etc. does too the body.
Assistant to 100 Days (Jill) says
Hi Anne. I don't know that I can comment on what they specifically do to the body, but, I know that Splenda, for example, is 600 times sweeter than sugar and, in some cases, artificial sweeteners have been shown to trigger overeating and hunger. Jill
Erin says
I suddenly started getting migraines out of the blue. To three four a week. I tried to figure out what was causing them. Previously my only trigger was codeine. I had cleaned up my diet (so I thought) so I couldn't figure it out. One morning I was making my protein shake asnt saw on the front Contains Sucralose. I had no idea what it was. I googled it, without going into a single website, saw from the brief blurbs, Sucralose (Splenda) and the word Migraine showed up a lot. Quit the shakes and the headaches stopped. I was getting it at the local vitamin and health food store.
The other day I bought a So Delicious Coffee creamer at the recommendation of the clerk at the HFS. After using it for a few days I got the container and looked for ingredients. I thought it was just Coconut. I was shocked to see Titanium Dioxide which is a whitener that everything I've read says is carcinogenic. Except the So Delivious site which says it is naturally occurring and is not a carcinogen. I can't remember the other chemical that was in it...I poured it down the sink.
Bottom line, be vigilant. Trust nothing and no one where your food is concerned, read the labels.
Shannon says
I started using splenda as an alternative to aspartame. I quit splenda and moved to stevia years ago. I found as of recently that organic stevia is better as the more popular stevia adds multidextrine which is just another sugar.
Here's some info on what I found about splenda just before I quit:
http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/15287390802328630
http://www.holisticmed.com/splenda/bowen.html
http://www.holisticmed.com/splenda/
http://www.womentowomen.com/healthyweight/splenda.aspx
I googled splenda with various terms to find this info; there is more out there...
And reasons to stay organic:
http://justlabelit.org/about-ge-foods/
http://www.organicitsworthit.org/learn
http://www.nongmoproject.org/learn-more/what-is-gmo/
http://www.organicconsumers.org/aboutus.cfm
This is great site to find local farmers and their websites generally state whether they are organic or not:
http://www.localharvest.org/
Hope this is helpful to all,
Wendi says
Also, Splenda and all the other un-natural sweeteners are a chemical. They are made in chemical plants. Your liver processes these chemicals. The job of your liver is not only to rid itself of chemicals but to rid itself of excess fat. If your body is too busy trying to rid itself of all the chemicals that go in, there is less energy for the liver to get rid of the excess fat.
Jim says
What are the names of the chemicals?
Jason says
Wendi,
Everything is chemicals. Rocks, your tongue, the air you breath, distilled water.
The job of your liver is to filter out chemicals that enter the blood, and to store fats. Sucralose (the component of splenda that is different from other things you might find in your food) is absorbed only 40% by the body, which means 60% gets excreted (the term for this is non-nutritive). Sucralose mostly acts by binding to your neurons (in this case your taste buds).
http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/15287390802328630#preview
There's a link for you if you like, it includes the only study of Sucralose that has been published in which negative side effects have been found. Notably, there were no liver problems.
Lesley says
Why does the meat have to be local but the seafood and vegetables don't? What's more "real" about local meat? I'd rather eat a chicken trucked over from Arkansas than asparagus flown in from Chile.
Paula says
Where does it say to not buy local fruits and vegetables but only local meats. Doesn't it say local farms for everything ? And local grassfed meats? Maybe I missed something? Have a wonderful day!
Lesley says
#s 2, 3, and 5 above (under what you can eat) re. veg and fruit, dairy/eggs, and seafood don't specify local. #4 suggest finding a local bakery, but #6 specifies only locally raised meat.
If you are buying milk and cheese and eggs from non-local cows, what's the difference between that and eating meat from said cows? I'd just like to understand the reasoning behind that.
heartlandroad says
Um... cows don't lay eggs.
:D
Lisa says
Certainly local everything would be great! I guess we were just prioritizing, but local/organic/wild caught/etc. would be ideal for everything if possible (it's just unfortunately not necessarily realistic for most).
djp says
There are many reasons for locally raised meat from a strictly nutritional standpoint. This article does not explicitly state it, but I imagine the reasoning is based on the difference in diet and living conditions between industrial raised animals in feedlots and animals in farms, and how this goes on toe effect the nutrient content of their meat. For example, industrial beef cattle are primarily fed on corn and soybeans (as well as some animal by products) while local farms are more likely to raise their cattle on pasture/grass. Pasture raised beef will have less fat, but more importantly (as fat is not inherently bad) the particular fat content of grass fed beef (what's called the "fatty acid profile" meaning the individual fatty acids which comprise the total fat content of the item in question) contains healthy fats while grain fed beef contains unhealthy fats. Grass fed beef contains a greater concentration of Omega-3 fatty acids (the same omega-3's you find in fish), conjugated linoleic acid (a hard to find fatty acid that's been suggested to reduce the risk of cancer and has shown to improve body composition) and less omega-6 fatty acids (these fats work against omega-3's, so to speak). In addition, one of the health concerns of beef is that carcinogenic compounds, called nitrosamines, can form during the cooking process. One way to protect against nitrosamines is the body is with antioxidants (vegetables also contain nitrosamines, but they are not a problem due to their high antioxidant content). Pasture raised beef has around seven times as much Vitamin A and three times more Vitamin E than it's grain fed counterpart. These vitamins function as antioxidants and will reduce the effects of the nitrosamines. Industrial raised beef is also less safe, as the living conditions (many cattle confined in their own manure) provide a breeding ground for bacteria (fun fact, there is 10,000,000 more e. coli 0157:H7, which is the one that kills you really quickly, The chicken from arkansas may have traveled less distance than the asparagus from chile, but the conditions in which animals are raised have, in my opinion, a greater measurable effect on the nutrient content. Oh ya, and the growth hormones too, I forgot about that.
As for fish, the specification is wild over farm raised, which could include local fish provided it is wild. The reasons for this are similar. The aquaculture system resembles the picture of beef cattle, corn and soy fed fish changing the nutrient content of the meat, such as resulting in a greater ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fats, which is not desirable.
Both of these situations also require, due to the unnatural diet, the use of antibiotics, and antibiotic resistant bacteria are never a good thing.
As for everything else, such as the fruit/dairy/eggs, it's generally better to buy local.
Assistant to 100 Days (Jill) says
Hi Lesley. I think where you can get local for any of it; the meat, fruit, vegetables and fish, is better. Buying local obviously has its' advantages in that it is in season and more recently harvested. The vegetables suggest shopping at your local farmer's market, so, hopefully you will be able to get local produce there. As for the fish, that will depend on where you live as to if you can get it local. But, wild is preferable to farm raised. Hope that helps to clarify things. Jill
Sarah says
My husband and I have been very interested in a "real foods" diet for quite some time now. I know we shouldn't be eating lots of sugary foods...However, we would like to be able to have a treat (like cookies or pie) every once in awhile substituting the processed items in the recipe with non-processed alternatives. What would you suggest as an alternative to sugar or brown sugar in recipes such as cookies or pie? This has been on my mind a lot, and I'm really not sure what the best alternative would be. Any help you can give would be great!
Assistant to 100 Days (Jill) says
Hi Sarah. I would typically suggest maple syrup or honey. But, it's not necessarily a 1:1 substitution so you need to be prepared to play around with the recipe a bit. I might suggest you check out some of our recipes here where the work has already been done for you. Here is a link to our desserts (https://www.100daysofrealfood.com/category/recipes/treats_desserts/), but, we hope you'll take the time to check out all of our recipes. Thanks for reading. Jill
Greta says
I was wondering if you had any lists, or knew of any websites that have lists, of big brands found in regular grocery stores that fall within the real food category. I like to coupon but I am realizing most of the brands that offer coupons have a zillion artificial ingredients in them. Are there any companies that make honest food that aren't necessarily "organic"?
Assistant to 100 Days (Jill) says
Hi Greta. These two posts might be helpful: https://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2010/07/04/for-convenience-the-best-store-bought-snacks/ and https://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2011/04/21/for-convenience-the-best-store-bought-snacks-ii/. Jill
RejoicedOver says
I'm wondering how I can tell/know when something is a GMO? I've been hearing a lot about GMOs and wonder how I can make wise choices. Any help/direction you can offer would be great!
Assistant to 100 Days (Jill) says
RejoicedOver - I think your question sums up the problem with GMO's...you don't really know. Many companies now label stuff "non-GMO", but, the best way to avoid them is to educate yourself on brands and who doesn't use them (for example, I believe Trader Joe's does not use them in any of their store brands, same for the Whole Foods brand I believe). Best of luck as you continue to navigate your way through this. Jill
Amber says
Hi,
A group of us are taking the 10 Day Pledge but I have a few questions first.
1) Are Kashi products okay to eat? They have more than 5 ingridents but they are natural ingridents?
2) Can we eat deli meat that has no preservatives and is low in sodium, like Boars Head?
Thanks!
Assistant to 100 Days (Jill) says
Hi Amber. We're glad to hear you're taking the pledge. Kashi products are not completely free of GMO's to my knowledge (I remember reading an article a while back about how they are trying to get there), so, I would avoid them. As for deli meat, I would find a brand that is free of nitrates (I know Applegate Farms is one). In that case, it's fine to have it. Good luck. Jill
alison says
I'm psyched to start the 10 day pledge--three questions...
1) can I drink seltzer water? how about flavored unsweetened?
2) If I don't have coconut or avocado oil--what oil is best to bake with?
3) How about non -cow milk..like almond--is that ok
Assistant to 100 Days (Jill) says
Hi Alison. Yes, seltzer water would be fine, just no other added ingredients. I would probably use butter for baking in the absence of coconut oil (organic, unsalted butter). Almond milk is fine as well, but, again, unsweetened and unflavored. Good luck. Jill
Karen says
Im curious..when you say milk & cheese are ok..you mean whole milk & cheese, since low-fat/non-fat is very processed, correct?
Assistant to 100 Days (Jill) says
Correct. Check out this post on dairy...https://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2011/04/15/mini-pledge-week-6-no-low-fat-lite-or-nonfat-food-products/. Jill
woodsy says
A bit disappointed, that you limit stuff that the kids like but you think they shouldn't have, and then allow alcohol, to keep the adults sane (?) double standards it seems.
mommadbh says
I absolutely picked up on a light hearted tone when I read that line about the alcohol. If you don't want to keep the alcohol, fine, don't. Our children are not wise enough to be trusted with everything they eat without any guidance from us. Let alone that they are not capable of earning the living that provides the food in front of them. It is our responsibility to make the best possible choices for them. So what if they miss fruit snacks, ritz crackers and twizzlers. They'll get over it. And they'll thank you for raising them to care about themselves. And if you happen to have an occasional glass of wine or a beer, just as I'm sure the kids will have a cupcake or lolli at a birthday now and again, I highly doubt your children will grown up and cry about the double standard you set. Come on.
Lisa says
Woodsy - We mainly limit factory-made, artificially/chemically-filled, highly refined sweets for the kids (while still allowing homemade goodies that follow our real food rules). And yes this is while we consume wine in moderation, which has been consumed by our ancestors for centuries and actually shows some health benefits in small quantities. I am sorry if the reason for this decision is not clear...but it makes sense to us!
Tara says
I am planning to take the 10 day pledge and I’m in the process of convincing my dear husband. He is on board but he is an ex smoker and chews nicotine gum and also drink 2 beers per day. I’ve asked him to give up both of these for the 10 days and he seems adamant that he isn’t willing to do so. Will this be a deal breaker in completing the 10 day pledge?
Thanks!
Assistant to 100 Days (Jill) says
Hi Tara. Yes, I would expect the gum would not fit the rules. Beer and wine are actually ok, in moderation. Have you checked out this post that might help you in convincing your husband? https://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2011/07/07/convincing-a-reluctant-spouse-to-eat-real-food/. Best of luck. Jill
Cathy says
How would a diabetic follow this challenge? Specifically, with sweetners?
Assistant to 100 Days (Jill) says
Hi Cathy. I am not familiar enough with diabetes to comment or advise you on this. I would suggest you check with your doctor. Best of luck. Jill
Lynn says
I am a 3rd generation whoe food eater, and a grandma. Ye, in 1935 my grandfather abruptly went frm swilling whiskey and eating roast beef toa raw fruit and vegetable and nut diet with occasional whole wheat bread, home made wine, and banana bread. he lived to be 96, and i am healthy and vigorous at 75.
I have just decided to stop using canned food, never had much canned beverages, don;t like that orange juice, so acidic, comes in plastic bottles. Fifteen years ago I realized that frozen peas with a touch of butter were a deliciou breakfast or addition to my usual fresh papaya with cottage cheese, or an avocado, tomato, onion, spike, and lemon juice on crunchy whole grain bread sandwich.
Anyway, keep up the blog--lots of people are getting to eat healthy these days, and I only am dismayed by the tripling of the cost of raw nuts as a result! That shorthand clue about "if it has more than 5 ingredients, don't buy it" is so good. And true. My dad died at 87---it may bebeause he loved tricuits and what thins and didn't know they were loaded with transfats back in the 1990's......he was eating fresh home grown oranges and papayas and avocados, and almost no meat, no milk, few eggs.
Andrey says
Please no meat, dairy, oils!
engine2diet.com
andrea null says
Is cane sugar allowed on this real food plan? If not, what options do you have to sweeten tea or coffee? Last question, what other options do you have to drink other than water and fruit juice? Just want to make sure we do this right :)
Assistant to 100 Days (Jill) says
Hi Andrea. Honey and maple syrup are the sweeteners that were used during the strict 100 day pledge. As for drinks, water and milk are pretty much it. Coffee, tea and wine are also allowed. Jill
Laura says
If you do a web search for home made cream of mushroom soup, there are several quick, whole food versions. If you make them with a little less liquid than called for, you can substitute it for the "can of-" in recipes
erica says
Is it better to buy non organic fruits and veggies at a farmers market or to buy organic fruits and veggies at the store ?
Assistant to 100 Days (Jill) says
Hi Erica. I ask myself this same question often. I would say if you can talk to your farmers at your local market and get comfortable with how they grow their crops in terms of seeds, pesticides, etc., buying local is always preferable. Hope that helps. Jill
Becky says
Have you guys ever used or researched the Wildtree products? I'm curious how they stack up in terms of non-processed food products. They tout grapeseed oil, but I believe it is not processed with chemicals. Interested in your take or if you've ever heard of them?
Assistant to 100 Days (Jill) says
Hi Becky. Yes, others have written to us about Wildtree products in the past. Looking quickly at some of their products and the ingredients list, they wouldn't fall within "our rules" in terms of some of the ingredients used as well as the number of ingredients. Thanks for checking in though. Jill
Carol Friendly says
I read the book: No Grain Diet by Dr Joseph Mercola. I have been following for about a month. In the book, he states the science behind the diet. Essentially, i have not eaten grains, starchy vegetables or anything with sugar in it. I have been diagnosed with diabetes type 2, and my goal is to get off drugs and lose 125 pounds. if you are interested go to: http://www.nograindiet.com
So i guess i have been on the 100 day challenge already.
Eileen Loughman says
You said that making your own bread could be considered processed because of the cooking? I'm confused...was that a joke? No, seriously? Because bread from the bakery is cooked and so is a good deal of other foods unless you go raw, so is bread okay or should it be avoided... or maybe just reduced? Also, I'm not a big fan of the "quick" family recipes which generally involve opening several cans of something cooked as a casserole, but I have seen a lot of recipes that would be fine if they didn't include a can of condensed cream of fill in the blank... it seems like it's in everything... is there a way to substitute that type of thing or should it just be avoided entirely? For instance there is a chicken enchillada recipe I wanted to make. I made my own whole wheat tortillas, and have free range local chicken and veggies from the farmers market (It's taken me forever to get to this point :) ) then I get to the bottom and it says... a can of cream of chicken soup... DOH!
P Dudley says
Make your own white sauce instead of using canned soup, you can probably find a recipe on-line that is made using acceptable ingredients.
Assistant to 100 Days (Jill) says
Hi Eileen. Sorry if that was confusing. I think bread is fine if you either make it yourself or buy one with as few ingredients as possible (like Great Harvest's honey whole wheat which only contains 5 ingredients). Changing food from its "natural" state can always be looked at as a form of processing so that's why I made that comment, but, you have to decide what's right for you. As for the soup, I would try omitting it or see if you can find a recipe to make a version yourself that you can use in it's place. Jill
Julie says
When discussing processed foods, breads are always brought up. If I were to make homemade bread, is that considered processed? Is there a site with recipes that you could recommend? I've been buying frozen vegetables instead of canned since there is a lot less processing done to those, at least I think so. And, I haven't had a chance to start a garden and learn to can yet. It's on my list.
Assistant to 100 Days (Jill) says
Hi Julie. There are lots of recipes on the blog that you should check out, including one for bread (https://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2011/08/17/recipe-honey-whole-wheat-sandwich-bread-for-bread-machine/). To answer your question on homemade bread being processed, you could say it is since cooking is technically a form of processing. In regards to the vegetables, I agree frozen is much better than canned, but, of course, fresh is best (although frozen is a great option). Finally, check out this post on gardening(https://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2011/07/14/growing-food-lessons-learned/)...you may find it helpful. We hope you'll check out the rest of the blog - I think you will find a lot of useful and informative information. Jill
Melissa says
I am planning to start the 100 day challenge and trying to plan meals prior to shopping. I'm a little concerned about all of the whole wheat options for most of the bread or grain recipes. I am gluten intolerant so I can feed all of the wheat in the world to my family, but not to myself! Are there many gluten free options? I am also new to the GF world and have not liked most of what i have tried so far (but I admit most of it was not home made)
Assistant to 100 Days (Jill) says
Hi Melissa. I actually substitute gluten free oats in a lot of the breakfast recipes (just mix it in the blender so it chops up find). I don't know that this would work for the baked goods. You should check out http://www.elanaspantry.com for some gluten free options as well. Best of luck. Jill
Sue R. says
Hi Melissa,
I have a lot of experience with gf eating and baking. You won't find very good whole grain options for gluten free because they use starch as wheat replacements. Starch is the opposite of "whole"-no fiber and no nutrients. It is easier and much healthier to just not eat gf breads or gf bread products. You can eat brown rice, sweet potatoes, squash, and beans. There are many countries and cultures that don't eat "breakfast" food, they eat "dinner food" and are much healthier for it. I try to eat vegetables with every meal, even breakfast and it makes all the difference in my energy levels for the day.
Kristi says
Hi, I am getting ready to start on October 1st. Going shopping over the weekend. I know that we can have Lara bars, but I already have several boxes of the new Perfectly Simple Zone bars in my pantry. They have 8 ingredients, each one containing these three ingredients: Invert Evaporated Cane Juice, Soy Protein Isolate, Date Paste. Would these work as a substitute so that we dont waste them?
Assistant to 100 Days (Jill) says
Hi Kristi. Technically, no. All of the ingredients you mentioned would not fall under "the rules". Sorry. Jill
Alise says
What are your thoughts on Xylitol?
Assistant to 100 Days (Jill) says
Alise - According to Wikipedia, Xylitol is found naturally in the fibers of many fruits and vegetables. However, the production of what we use as a sweetener is much different according to this same source. It states that production starts from xylan, extracted from hardwoods or corncobs, which is hydrolyzed into xylose and then hydrogenated into xylitol. Based on this, it sounds to be highly processed. Hope that helps. Jill
J Shields says
I am deeply considering taking this challenge but I have 3 questions. can we eat grits (not the instant kind)? Is Deli sliced turkey/chicken allowed? Is smoked turkey neck/wings allowed? I normally use smoked turkey to season dried beans.
Assistant to 100 Days (Jill) says
Hi J Shields. Grits are actually not allowed. Deli meat would be fine as long as it is nitrate free (Applegate Organics makes one). Finally, the turkey wings would be fine, I would just try and find something local. Hope that helps...and hope you decide to take the challenge. Good luck. Jill
heather's whole new life says
your blog is inspiring! I am still at the beginning of my whole food adventure. thanks for all the great info!!
Amanda says
My husband is an avid outdoorsman and hunts deer a lot. what about deer that is processed into sausage, hamburger etc in a local facility? is that considered to be healthy and recommended as a good source of meat?
Assistant to 100 Days (Jill) says
Hi Amanda. I think it's fine...it would definitely be local :-). I would just make sure the facility that processes it does it in the most minimal way and with nothing added that you wouldn't want in your food. Jill
Kelly says
What about oils and butters? Is real butter OK for cooking since it is a diary product? What about oils? I know that a lot of oils are highly processed but am not sure what to substitute for cooking?
Assistant to 100 Days (Jill) says
HI Kelly. Check out this post on oils that should be helpful in answering your questions. https://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2011/05/14/mini-pledge-week-10-no-refined-oils/. Jill
Angela says
Here is a shocking and informative article on the effects of white sugar....a bit lengthy but well worth the read. Love this blog! Thanks~
Taylor says
I looove Trader Joe's brand kettle corn. It only has four ingredients, but one of them is sugar. Is that allowed?
Assistant to 100 Days (Jill) says
Hi Taylor. No, the kettle corn would not be allowed. But, beyond the challenge you could always view it as a special treat. Jill
Julissa says
Greek Yogurt?
Laura says
The reason sugar is listed as a "no go" is because even though it comes from sugar cane, calcium hydroxide is added to the cane juice while it boils to remove impurities and kill enzymes. They are then bleached by sulfur dioxide and filtered through charred bones.
Agave Nectar isn't any better. They use the bulb of the agave plant and run it through a similar process that they do to corn to make HFCS.
Best bets for real food sweeteners are raw local honey, piloncillo, sucanat, pure maple syrup, coconut sugar, stevia (but not truvia brand) or if you must then use organic raw sugar.
Julie says
Hi, I just found your blog. What a great resource that I can give to people when they say, "So what *can* your kids eat?" When I have time, I like to say, "We eat anything you can grow or produce yourself in your backyard in some climate somewhere in the world without a bunch of Roundup to grow it or chemicals to preserve it." Then if they look at me like I have two heads, I say, "No food coloring, no msg, stick to stuff with ingredients you can pronounce, labels with 5 ingredients or less are best." Now next time I'll say, "Check out 100daysofrealfood.com. She's got it all on there!" Thanks. :-)
Kathy says
Question regarding sugar - my husband has one violent food allergy: honey. As in, anaphlylactic shock/hospital allergic. We live in Madrid, Spain, and maple syrup is not readily available (when it is, it's well beyond our food budget). I've been using dark brown sugar from the natural foods store, and don't use much unless I'm baking (no, I won't give up baking, don't even say it). Any suggestions for substitutes?
Kathy says
Incidentally, we don't buy processed food. We're both huge fans of cooking from scratch, real food tastes better and is far cheaper in Spain than out of a bottle.
Assistant to 100 Days (Jill) says
Hi Kathy. Have you tried muscovado sugar...it's a little less processed than brown sugar. Do you know if you are able to order the maple syrup online perhaps? Not sure how pricey that would be. Obviously you need to stick with what is safe for your husband. Best of luck. Jill
Rex says
Question: pasteurization is considered a "process" by some folks—what's your opinion? Has your family ever tried raw milk/yogurt/etc., and if so, what's your motivation?
Assistant to 100 Days (Jill) says
Hi Rex. Yes, I'd agree, pasteurization is a process, but, raw milk is illegal in NC. We have not tried raw milk. Jill
Ella says
Dear Lisa,
I was absolutely inspired by your family's challenge. Our family is doing the challenge together now. It has been wonderful doing it as a family. We made a couple of modifications like having a "free" day and cutting out meat. My husband wouldn't commit unless he could have one day a week for cookies and ice cream. So far he hasn't needed a free day for that because he loves homemade ice cream and real food cookies!
Anyway I want to do other challenges with my family and blog about them. I want to use your site as the model and inspiration for what I am planning. I do not however want to cross any lines that would offend or bother you in any way. I see this is a business for you and I don't want to mess with that.
My plan is to do 4 ninety day challenges a year with mini challenges along the way. These would be about food, exercise, education and family relationships. The first one I want to do is Honoring, Loving and Obeying grandparents (who we live with). This wouldn't have anything to do with eating real food but other challenges along the way would.
Please let me know if you can foresee any conflicts.
Thanks for blogging about your family and food. I absolutely appreciate what the information has done for me and my family.
Ella Ludwig
Ella says
Whoops! I meant for this to be a private message!
Amanda Hamilton says
So excited to have found this website. We eat really healthy but I kept getting stumped on lunches and stuff for the kids.