I used to think we were fairly adventurous eaters and cooks. And even though I didn’t actually learn to cook until after college, once I did I quickly dabbled in everything from homemade egg rolls to pasta from scratch to my grandmother’s crepes. Nothing could have prepared me though for all the “new foods” that I had to learn about – and now can’t live without – once we made the switch to “real food.” I am constantly amazed at all the items on my regular shopping list that I had never purchased before we decided to cut out processed food…
- Whole-wheat flour
Other real food newbies likely “flirted” with whole-wheat flour on occasion, but no no…not me. I promise you that I had never before purchased or cooked with whole-wheat flour (because I hated anything made with it!) until the start of all this 2 years ago.
– - Oats
We used to eat boxed granola cereal, but it never occurred to me that you could actually make it yourself (and that it would be soooo much better)! The main ingredient in homemade granola is oats and the first time I made it I found myself saying… “Are plain ‘oats’ just oatmeal?” I’ve never been an oatmeal fan myself (and I’m still not, although I’ve since learned that my kids love it) therefore I never bought oats for any reason, but now I buy pounds of it every week and get worried if our supply is low!
– - Honey
Somebody must have bought at least one bottle of honey before our switch to real food because I remember a tiny bear shaped container of it in our pantry that was all crusted over and crystallized from lack of use (LOL). Now I buy this stuff in big jars and use it in everything from the granola we love so much to our sandwich bread. I’ll be the first to admit that “sugar is sugar” (even if it contains trace nutrients like honey) so we still aim to use it in moderation, but it’s quite a change from my white sugar days. And trust me I used to use A LOT of sugar…brown, white, and powdered. :)
– - Kale / Collards
I could not have picked Kale or Collards out of a line-up to save my life. And even a year into our real food journey I still couldn’t say that I had truly adopted these as part of our regular menu. But, today I finally feel like I am figuring out how to not only incorporate, but also enjoy these nutrient-rich leafy greens (and occasionally even get my kids to eat them, too)!
– - “Raw” nuts and seeds
To me nuts were greasy, salty and packaged in a blue “Planters” container. I admit I didn’t even know what it meant for them to be “raw” so I can completely relate when readers ask me where in the world to find such a product. (Answer: The bulk bins at health food stores!)
– - Pinto Beans
I wouldn’t have been caught dead buying – much less eating – pinto beans and now my homemade slow cooker refried bean recipe (made from dried pinto beans) is one of my most favorite lunches! This might just be the strangest transition of them all…because it’s so ingrained in my brain that I don’t “like” beans.
– - Whole Milk
Okay, I shouldn’t say that I NEVER bought whole milk because my kids actually drank it for a short period of time when they were babies, but it is most certainly a beverage I didn’t drink myself (probably since I was a baby). I was a skim milk girl all the way, and I admit that I was a little “scared” to make the switch, but I am so glad I did! Now I know what “real” milk tastes like, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. (Note to the raw milk advocates…it’s illegal here in N.C., although I am not sure I’d drink it anyway.)
– - Coconut Oil and Ghee (a.k.a. Clarified Butter)
These are both unrefined “cooking fats” that I didn’t even purchase until long after completing our 100-day pledge, and to be honest I had no idea what to do with either one! I am finding that ghee is nice to have around because you can use it like butter, but it has a much higher smoke point so it doesn’t burn as easily. Also, there’s apparently not much you CANNOT do with coconut oil…just check out the reader comments in my post about it!
– - Lara Bars
I still call these “granola bars” out of habit even though I know there’s no granola in there, but that’s because they replaced my very regular consumption of “Quaker Chewy Granola Bars” (in the old days of course). My favorite Quaker bars were the peanut butter chocolate chip, but sometimes I would go for the variety pack to switch it up. J Now I instead have a stash of Lara Bars (the cashew cookie only has 2 ingredients!!) as the “just in case” snacks in my purse.
– - Kiwi
This might be a little random, but the point here is that it is never too late to try and “like” new foods. I am not sure why, but I never ate kiwi before last year (that I can recall) and one day my 4-year-old asked if we could buy one. I certainly wanted to embrace her little adventurous food streak (and set a good example about trying new stuff) so I said “yes.” And I am so glad I did because now that I’ve figured out that soft = ripe…I absolutely love kiwis! Who knew?!?
–
Please share any new-found “real food” that you now love in the comments below!
Amy
January 17, 2013 at 7:18 amI promise, if you could get raw milk you wouldn’t go back. I used to despise milk. Would only drink it if it came out of those little cartons at school. However, now that we have raw milk, the other stuff just isn’t the same and I love milk. :)
Susie
January 17, 2013 at 7:57 pmI agree with Amy! Raw milk is so much better and healthier for you. Stronger teeth, stronger immune system, and many, many more benefits. Check realmilk.com for resources. Where there is a will, there is a way! I hope that you have ditched that microwave! :)
Tina at September
January 17, 2013 at 7:51 amThanks for sharing this, real food while sorting out some tummy troubles here for two of our kids is one of this New Years goals… I’m excited to try some of the recipes here- have been thinking about making granola all week but hadn’t searched out a recipe as yet! Also- are the Quaker brand of rice cakes not considered real food? I didn’t see them on your cheat sheet- which I printed out and take grocery shopping now. Cheers.
Assistant to 100 Days (Jill)
February 2, 2013 at 8:44 pmHi Tina. Good luck with the tummy issues. I would need to see the ingredients on the quaker rice cakes to comment…I’m not familiar enough with that product. Jill
Gretchen
January 17, 2013 at 7:54 amLove this post! I’ve already begun to buy some of these things on my quest to eating all whole foods. Like you though I never would have imagined eating these things before! What kind of whole milk do you buy?
Thanks so much for this lovely post!
Assistant to 100 Days (Jill)
February 2, 2013 at 8:51 pmHi Gretchen. We use the Homestead Creamery milk. You can get it delivered through Lakeview Farms (http://www.lakeviewfarmshomedelivery.com/) or at Earthfare and Whole Foods. Jill
Jaime
March 24, 2013 at 11:09 pmIf you are a little further up the Eastern coat (I’m 45min West of DC). You can try Holy Cow Delivery for milk and other farm goods. They have a list on their website of places they deliver. They also deliver meats, cheeses, granola and a whole host of other fresh products. I love that we’ve made the switch to healthier milk and meats. And I love supporting local businesses! http://www.holycowdelivery.com/
Ginger Perkins
January 17, 2013 at 8:22 amWe drink the Homestead Gold Cap too! The creamery is just a half hour south of our house. I used to take the kids when they were little and the loved seeing where their milk came from. Keep up the good work.
Susan
January 17, 2013 at 8:31 amWe use Coconut Milk (Unsweetened shelf stable cartons) for almost everything that calls for milk. Cereal and all recipes. Our 5 year old has really never had any other “milk”. Our teen doesn’t like Coconut Milk on her cereal, so I buy unsweetened almond milk for her.
MaryBeth
January 17, 2013 at 9:29 amThrow some raisins, oatmeal, vanilla extract, and salt in a food processor and viola you have a clump of lara bar “dough” to shape however you’d please!!
Julie
March 24, 2014 at 5:41 pmI have all these things in my pantry but it never would have occurred to me to mix them together. Is it really good? Can I use quick oats or are the real ones better? Do you have to let them “sit” to absorb the moisture? I bet my kids would love these. Do they harden enough to hold cookie cutter shapes? Thanks! Think I could use just a little hand mixture? How long do you mix for? Thanks in advance!
Courtney
March 24, 2014 at 6:55 pmFollowing up on Julie’s comment, I would love to know more about this recipe. Do you mean raw oatmeal or cooked oatmeal? What proportions do you use? Thanks!!!
Virginie M
January 17, 2013 at 9:41 amHi
Where do you find/buy the unsweetened coconut milk? I have only seen in in the ethnic food section in a can and it is quite expensive and sweet. (I live in the Northeast)
Thanks
Virginie
Gina
January 17, 2013 at 12:10 pmVirginie,
I get our unsweetened coconut milk at our local grocery stores. In one store (Shaw’s) it is in with the “health food/vegetarian food” section. In the other grocery store, it is near the coffee, alongside the almond milk and (if you can believe it) canned goat’s milk… and we live in NH. It comes in a hermetic carton (like shelf-stable cow’s milk.) Try Shaw’s. They are all over New England.
Assistant to 100 Days (Jill)
February 2, 2013 at 9:01 pmHi Virginie. I buy it at Whole Foods or Earthfare. Native Forest has a good one that is unsweetened. Jill
Chris
January 17, 2013 at 9:53 amAnother excellent post. You are helping lots of people and that’s a wonderful thing. I am concerned about the milk. I think pasteurization is big time processing and destroys the benefits of an otherwise healhty food. When I drank milk I drank raw goats milk and it was delicious and very very health promoting. Sometimes even drank it straight from the pale. Have you been to the website “notmilk”? It is worth checking out. IMHO–drinking pasteurized milk is JUNK FOOD, might as well eat at McDonalds.
Assistant to 100 Days (Jill)
February 2, 2013 at 9:02 pmHi Chris. Here is a little more information about Lisa and her family’s choice of milk…https://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2012/06/07/milk-101-whole-raw-organic-low-fat-etc/. Jill
Jen
January 17, 2013 at 10:02 amIt’s on my New Year “goals” list. (recently started a 30 day green smoothie challenge to help!)
Kale is on my list too! As well as Almond Butter and Chia Seeds. Never thought I would have bough them before I started my smoothie challenge, but now I love them!!
Robin
January 17, 2013 at 10:18 amHomestead Creamery Milk! YUM-O!
Esther
January 17, 2013 at 10:43 amThanks for sharing that article with me about milk. I am surprised that even though we are buying organic milk from a local dairy it still isn’t good.
So I am wondering even if I make the change for my family I am lactose intolerant and can not drink milk. I usually drink rice or almond milk. I don’t even know if these are considered whole foods or not. They are organic and original flavor. Is this my best option or is there a better option?
I have one more question about it. Is it better to get the homogenized milk or the cream on top kind? We can get either option but I don’t know if it makes a difference.
Assistant to 100 Days (Jill)
February 3, 2013 at 6:50 amHi Esther. Lisa and her family drink the non-homogenized. It’s one less thing that has to be done to the milk. In terms of non-dairy, I realize there are only so many options out there (my husband is dairy free). When selecting the almond and rice milks, just be sure to use the unsweetened, original flavors. We also use coconut milk for baking, etc. Native Forest makes a good unsweetened one that is a good substitute for things like yogurt and heavy creams. Here is a recipe for almond milk if you’d like to make your own…https://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2012/08/31/food-allergies-dairy/. Best of luck. Jill
Jen
January 17, 2013 at 11:46 amMy fave new “real” food is sorghum flour, closely followed by quinoa flakes, chia seeds, and all sorts of dried beans. Oh, and buckwheat groats are a huge staple now, instead of barley (we follow a whole foods diet with 22 food allergies and celiac disease).
Mandy
January 17, 2013 at 12:44 pmThis might seem like a silly question, but I have been “flirting” with Whole Wheat Flour for a few months but haven’t made the jump because I was unsure of how to use it. Is it the same as white flour? Do you just use it in it’s place? I wasn’t sure if you had to add anything to make it rise or whatnot.
Assistant to 100 Days (Jill)
February 3, 2013 at 7:08 amHi Mandy. No, it’s not a silly question :-). Whole wheat flour will be more dense than all-purpose, so, it’s not as easy as a 1:1 substitution. You should probably take a look online at the many suggestions that are out there, but, you will likely have to reduce the amount of whole wheat flour in your recipes that call for all purpose. You will probably also have to adjust the amount of liquids in your recipe. There are a lot of recipes on this blog that Lisa has already adapted if you have not had a chance to take a look…https://www.100daysofrealfood.com/real-food-resources/recipe-index/. Good luck. Jill
Bonnie
January 17, 2013 at 5:40 pmI have not yet tried the coconut oil and ghee myself, though I’m eager to see how you use them! I’ll have to search your site for some ideas there. Thanks for sharing this list again!
rachel
January 27, 2013 at 11:28 pmI love all of your posts and thanks partly to you (and other sites you recommend) I have switched to almost all unprocessed food! I am still learning though, but am so much closer to eating all ‘clean’ than ever before! thank you for that! One thing I have a question about is nutritional yeast.. Anyone use this? How does it work? What does it compare to?
Assistant to 100 Days (Jill)
February 11, 2013 at 12:55 pmHi Rachel. It is often used in vegan cooking. Here is an article about it and how it’s made…http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/12/nutrional-yeast-not-just-for-vegans_n_1420734.html. Although it’s natural, I suppose reading this it does take a little bit of processing to get it to the form it is sold in the stores. Jill
Patricia
February 1, 2013 at 5:44 pmbefore starting with the process of eating real food, I already bought 7 of the above products. Good news that made ​​me happy
Lisa
February 3, 2013 at 6:45 pmMy new found real food is yogurt. I have never liked any brand of yogurt. I have a real sweet tooth and I don’t care what they called it cheesecake, or boston cream whatever it was a texture thing. Then one day reading a favorite homesteading magazine I found out I can make it at home in my oven!!! Yipee! Its easy and fresh and with a small drizzle of honey its perfect. If I run through a cheese cloth I have the “best greek yogurt” Who knew it was processing problem all along.
Cathy
February 13, 2013 at 4:00 pmI’ve made the switch back to whole milk recently due to my 20 month old switching to milk after turning a year old. Buying the 2% and whole was just a hassle, so we just made the switch. It tastes so much better, and with the added bonus of Vitamin D! I forgot that whole milk is fortified with D and it’s so good for us!
Vicky
February 16, 2013 at 4:41 pmTry raw unpasteurized honey. No, for those who are worried, it’s not dangerous, and it does not need to be regrigerated. It’s actually got antibiotic properties. It has tons of nutrients and raw enzymes that are very good for you. Do a search, you can find lots of information. I buy it all the time now and our kids love it.
June
April 21, 2013 at 2:45 pmJust don’t feed honey to those under 1 year, their immune systems can’t process things that older people can.
Debi Hartzell
April 3, 2013 at 4:36 pmThank goodness I live in Pennsylvania where raw organic milk is legal. I grew up on a farm and love raw organic foods.
In my teens – 30’s I ate lots of processed foods and always felt awful, not knowing why. Since I have gone raw organic, my joint pain has been relieved, I feel refreshed and invigorated in the morning and lost my belly fat.
I am 55 and feeling great!
Lily
July 7, 2013 at 11:28 pmHi there! I’ve just been introduced to this blog, and I absolutely love it! I was wondering- have you seen any physical changes in your body since cutting out processed foods? I’ve been considering that as one option to healthier eating along with becoming vegan, so I’m very curious to hear about the changes your body has undergone. Thank you!
Assistant to 100 Days (Amy)
August 12, 2013 at 10:01 pmHi Lily. This post should answer your questions: https://www.100daysofrealfood.com/real-food-resources/#healthbenefits. ~Amy
Jon
January 7, 2014 at 7:26 pmLoving the site but I’m gonna say is nay on the larabar. I can’t support a company who rubs elbows with Monsanto! Great information though!
Kat
January 30, 2014 at 4:17 pmOur family has tried pear melon since moving to England and LOVE it! Another favorite is Dragon fruit. Both are fabulous tasting and can be served in the shell for added fun. :)
Karen
March 24, 2014 at 5:32 pmI have been making an effort to eat whole foods but haven’t been able to find a decent whole grain bread without a bunch of unnatural ingredients so I decided to get out my bread maker and try it out. It is amazing how easy it is and how much more satisfying the bread is and the best part is my family loves it!
Christina
March 24, 2014 at 5:44 pmWouldn’t you just make clarified butter?! I didn’t know you could buy it!
DENEICE HOLBERT
March 24, 2014 at 6:21 pmYou can buy it in Indian markets and some places like Whole Foods, Trader Joes and Molly Stone
Ruth
March 24, 2014 at 5:56 pmGreat list :-) I’m a lover of full fat anything as fat keeps me full. Something I never thought I’d buy every week is a kilo of full fat organic plain yoghurt. It’s great! Can go in baking, be used instead of sour cream plus we all have it at breakfast or even a few spoons as a snack. Spelt flour is the other one. Easier to digest :-)
Ana
March 24, 2014 at 5:59 pmThanks for posting this – it’s a good feeling to know that we all started somewhere and not all are born health nuts :) I actually never even tasted spinach, kale or even sweet potatoes until I was about 24 years old, so it’s definitely never too late :)
Susan
March 24, 2014 at 7:09 pmYour list is great with the exception of one item: milk. Besides being loaded with sugar (that’s what lactose is), unless milk is certified organic, it may be contaminated with growth hormones and anitbiotics. If you’re looking for a healthy dairy choice, plain yogurt and kefir are products which are actually good for you. And you can mix in your honey if you want to sweeten them! Enjoy your adventure with real food!
chey
March 24, 2014 at 8:05 pmI love these fun little posts you make from time to time! Although many of these items are already regulars I’ve been recently considering making the switch to whole wheat flour (haven’t yet because of concerns about nut contact). Thanks for your continual inspiration!
Annmarie
March 24, 2014 at 9:38 pmIt’s a shame you don’t have access to raw milk. It’s incredibly good for you and safe though the media leads people to believe otherwise. I wouldn’t even bother drinking pasteurized milk…very few if any health benefits. All the good pre and probiotics are killed off.
April
March 24, 2014 at 11:12 pmI’m with Annmarie about the raw milk. I seriously am done drinking milk unless it’s raw. I’m curious as to why you would not drink it. Do you mind sharing? As long as the cow is very well taken care of there’s nothing dangerous about it. Actually, the milk you can buy in stores would make you extremely ill (because the cows are not carefully taken care of) if it weren’t heated to such high temps(also kills all the good stuff in the milk). There’s really not much benefit to drinking milk unless it’s raw. We just made the switch and know many people who have been drinking it for a long time with no ill effects.
Katie
March 24, 2014 at 11:59 pmFor those new to brown rice, check out Alton Brown’s recipe. It bakes in the oven, freeing up your stovetop for the rest of your dinner prep.
Since we started the transition to real food, we have joined a csa and tried lots of new veggies. We also buy meat from a local farmer and are buying much less processed food. After several months of stepping down, we made the switch to plain Greek yogurt. Never thought I’d be eating that!
Tiana
March 25, 2014 at 10:08 amSince I hate any type of cooked greens (cabbage, spinach, bok choy, kale, swiss chard, etc.), my quest was to find ways to eat it raw. Only kale had stumped me until now. My local farmer’s market has both the kale with the curly leaves and the dinosaur kale with the dark blueish green long leaves that look pebbly. The secret to eating it raw without it tasting bitter is massage! I add equal parts lemon juice and olive oil and add a pinch of sea or kosher salt along with some red pepper flakes and massage the kale. It ends up being half the size after about 10 minutes. This thoroughly breaks down the bitterness and brings on fresh, green tasting goodness that is great either alone or mixed with your regular salad greens. I found the recipe in various forms on the internet. If you haven’t taken a chance on kale, try it this way!
Amy
March 25, 2014 at 10:43 amOne thing I’ve done is switch from soy sauce to Bragg’s Liquid Amminos. You can get it in the bulk section at whole foods. You can’t tell the difference from soy sauce but it has so many more nutrients and it isn’t made with wheat like cheap soy sauce.
Amy
March 25, 2014 at 10:47 amI switched from soy sauce to Bragg’s Liquid Aminos! What a great alternative that has nutrition and is not made with wheat. You can purchase it in the bulk section at Whole Foods.
Jessica
March 25, 2014 at 12:25 pmMushrooms (I used to have a dislike of their texture), quinoa and flaxseed! I have been adding flaxseed to everything I can, including green smoothies in the am and to a quinoa meal in the pm. So good for you!
Alice J.
August 6, 2014 at 6:40 pmApril said, There’s really not much benefit to drinking milk unless it’s raw.” I was told that so often during the past year, that I just gave up milk. (I only drank skim milk with chocolate or coffee added, or on dry cereal. I no longer eat dry cereal.) I drank raw milk (our family had its own milk cow) until I was taken off the bottle at age 3. I think I just don’t like the taste of cream, plus the fact that I was forced to drink milk at school in those cute little bottles where the cream could be seen at the top and it was the first thing I tasted despite shaking the bottle in which case the cream was all mixed in the milk so each sip had a cream taste. I didn’t even use butter until a few years ago when we got off margarine. I’m 68. I don’t plan on changing this part of my diet anytime soon. :)
Kelly
August 28, 2014 at 1:57 pmWhere do you buy your oats from? I’m new to this whole journey and just have the old Quaker oats in the cabinet now, but I’m guessing there is something better out there I should be buying. Thanks!
Assistant to 100 Days (Amy)
August 31, 2014 at 9:17 amHi Kelly. Just plain Quaker Oats are fine but not the flavored packets. You can also find organic oats at larger conventional groceries as well as stores like Whole Foods or Trader Joe’s. ~Amy
Teresa
April 7, 2015 at 1:19 pmI’d recommend staying away from the quick-cooking kinds, though – “old-fashioned” or steel-cut are the best tasting and best for you!
Laura
October 13, 2014 at 9:12 amQuinoa, avocados, maple syrup, and real lemons and limes (instead of lemon/lime juice that comes in those plastic squeezable containers that LOOK like actual fruit).
Michelle
October 13, 2014 at 9:12 amI’m with you on raw milk. Not for a million dollars would I go near that stuff, especially after knowing kids who were super sick from cows living in the perfect setting. Not worth the risk and my kid (also illegal here for good reason) and I reap plenty of benefits from organic grass fed whole milk. Also a fan of coconut aminos if avoiding soy — so delicious! My husband puts coconut aminos on everything. We also roast a ton of sweet potatoes, which I never did before switching to less processed food. And farm eggs. Whoa. Yummy.
Lissa
October 13, 2014 at 9:16 amDrinking whole milk and using raw local honey are two I didn’t think I’d be doing. I’ve been drinking skim or at most 2% for most of my life. I had heard that eating a tbs of raw local honey a day starting in about Feb would reduce your upcoming allergies and it has! I like the taste better as well. Kids were a hard sell on it but now like it too. Rarely a day goes by we don’t have some honey in some form.
I need to be a bit more adventurous in the fruits and veggies dept as well but am working on that.I grew up on standard American fast food with french fries or onion rings as the primary veggie. I have texture issues with food so it’s a slow process.
Judy
October 13, 2014 at 9:18 amwe can’t get raw milk here in NC, unless you own you own a cow. It is illegal to buy it, or share it. Trust me, we have looked Into it. So no raw milk…. I NEVER used to buy whole milk, because for years doctors had told me there was too much fat in it. But we switched, and guess what? No one blew up like a balloon! ;)
We buy a lot more quinoa than we used to, and hot cereal. We do use less red meat and eat more meatless dishes, but that is personal choice. Red meats tend to give me heartburn, so once a month is normally it for us, since I do all the shopping! Lol!
We buy a lot of kale. Why? Because my 8 year old LOVES baby kale, raw. Weird, yes, but awesome, all at the same time. Because I love kale, and because I donate blood 3-4 times a year, I need those dark leafy veggies to keep my levels up!
Molly
October 13, 2014 at 9:31 amIt is SO easy to make your own Lara bars and so much affordable. I can make up 3 or 4 batches and have them packaged up in less than an hour. After making my own and then buying them again from the store I prefer the homemade ones. I am able to use organic dried fruits and adjust everything to what I prefer. I was surprised to find that they consist mostly of dried dates. I feel about dates how you felt about beans. I thought I hated them…but I discovered I don’t! I found my recipes on Pinterest. Check it out.
Karen
October 13, 2014 at 9:40 amI think switching to whole fat dairy products has been the hardest, but best change for me. I’ve spent years dieting. The low or non-fat dairy is one of the things that are pushed by almost any plan. It was hard for me to switch my mind set. However, the taste and texture is so much better I can’t imagine ever going back and my kids didn’t even blink an eye when I switched to whole milk.
Jennifer Salahi
October 13, 2014 at 9:58 amDefinitely local non homogenized whole milk and whole grain flours such as spelt, oat, quinoa, etc. we go through a lot of healthy flours with all the breads and muffins I make!
Karen
October 13, 2014 at 10:07 amI too, was a skim-milk girl for 20 years. Once you drink raw milk, you will NEVER go back to ultra-pasturized milk. Get to know your farmers and trust them. The health benefits are tremendous and the taste is incredible. One gallon costs less than 1/2 gallon of Oberweis whole milk, plus Oberweis adds $3.50 bottle deposit to each purchase! I love my local farmers!!!
Tracy
October 13, 2014 at 10:40 amBack when all the rage about low-fat,non-fat came about I pleaded with my husband to just try it, it’s better for you. Well he finally did, now I can’t get him to go back the other way for anything!!! :(
Stephanie
October 13, 2014 at 11:11 amAll of the above. YES!!! Tracy, I did the same with my husband and the milk. If he runs out of skim he won’t even consider the stinkin 1% we have for the kids. Now have to work the kids up to whole milk. They haven’t had it since babies. Lara bars are a must. I grab one at 5 a.m. on my way out the door to the gym.
Stefanie Kushner
October 13, 2014 at 11:31 amI learned that i love brussel sprouts. I can’t convert my family but I love them!
Sue
October 13, 2014 at 11:44 amPonegranate, kale, coconut oil and chia. Now I eat these regularly and love them!
Jenny
October 13, 2014 at 1:36 pmI hated all nuts and had never tried kale or leeks. I think the biggest change for me was that
Growing up I had a hard time eating chicken off a bone.
Eventually it got easier and now I make whole chickens for my
Family. I just have to tell myself that I am doing it for our health and saving money.
I even make bone broth. Love your website and I tell friends and family about it.
Marina
October 13, 2014 at 2:41 pmHi!! I love your bog, read it all the time for inspiration. Just laughed aloud at the last point, I’m Canadian and married to a New Zealander, and the first time I said, I love eating kiwis, in Nz, I was laughed out if the room!! Over there it’s callled kiwi fruit as just kiwi can refer to the cut little birds and also to people native to New Zealand :)
kiwi
June 6, 2015 at 10:22 pmHaha I laughed at the last point too, being a ‘kiwi’ myself!
Kristi
October 13, 2014 at 3:06 pmI buy all of these, except the first one. I buy the wheat berries and grind my own. They are not strange things to buy. Is that why people call me a health food fanatic?
Ruth Lynn
October 14, 2014 at 2:10 pmFunny about the oats! They are kind of a “go to” when I need to make something sweet to fulfill a craving. So versatile too – from flour to energy bites! I am realizing how much of a “go to” they are – now that we are trying to cut grains from our diet to see if that helps with some health issues.
amy shatila
May 3, 2015 at 3:49 pmRadishes! We love them in everything. And tahini so that we can make our own hummus.
Karen - St. Louis
May 3, 2015 at 8:33 pmI love the fact that you are so honest about what you ate before 100 days of real food. I too, ate what I thought was best for me, according to government standards and gained so much weight and felt so awful for 20 years or so! Now I do everything the total opposite of standards and research everything I am interested in eating, cleaning with, and sleeping on! (Organic sheets rule!) Thank you, Lisa.
Maggie MacGregor
June 6, 2015 at 9:26 pmI thought kiwi fruit were Chinese Gooseberries in New Zealand.
Jane Hope
June 7, 2015 at 1:43 amSeaweed. Fresh ginger and garlic. Leeks. Fennel. We ate plenty of beans, growing up (folks from southern Missouri), especially pintos, my favorite.
Lori
June 7, 2015 at 2:26 amReal Food Tips: 10 Items I Stopped Purchasing Since Cutting Processed Food
1. Vegetable/Canola Oil
2. Canned Anything
3. Boxed Cereals
4. Hot dogs
5. Pre-packaged sliced meats-turkey, beef, chicken, ham.
6. Frozen meals
7. Frozen Pizza
8. Packaged cookies
9. Microwave Popcorn
10. Fat Free anything
Wanda
June 11, 2015 at 11:22 amIn our quest to eat better, I have been so happy to see all the organic foods at our local Aldi, and Walmart. And the Kettle brand chips are great! Not to be confused with kettle cooked chips. There is a brand called Kettle, and they are Non-GMO verified, and oh so crunchy, and not near as greasy as the ‘regular’ chips. Anyway — I know you had mentioned you probably wouldn’t drink raw milk even if it WAS legal in your state … I can tell you that raw milk is the best ever! You just have to know your dairy farmer and how he/she takes care of their cows. Since the milk isn’t pasteurized yet, it doesn’t destroy all the extra goodies that does a body good. The only downside to raw milk is you have to shake it before you pour a glass, because the fat will separate from the milk, and you have to mix it back up again =) So believe me, if I could get my hands on raw milk again, oh yeah! <3
Megan
June 30, 2015 at 9:07 pmLove this! These are all things I started buying in the last two years when I started being more aware of processed foods too. I also use raw honey. Just got it for the first time. Love it! Great for smoothies, oatmeal etc. Also something i read in your blog about pop-corn yes my home made white corn popped on the stove taste way better and healthier then bagged microwave. Love it! Kale is new thing for me within the last year or two also but now I love it. Especially homemade Kale chips. Avocado is another good fat I like.
April
January 20, 2016 at 8:50 pmI love that you added that you had not tried kiwi before last year. Around a year ago I had decided I was going to make a strawberry kiwi smoothie but I had never tried kiwi before so I decided to eat a bite to see if I liked it so I knew whether to put it in my smoothie or not. Well, I ended up in the emergency room because I had an allergic reaction to it. The point of my post is that anytime I would tell someone about my allergy they would be shocked that I was 40 years old and had never eaten kiwi before.
Sharon
April 1, 2016 at 11:03 pmThe funny thing about allergies is that you can get them at any time of your life, to any thing. I was never allergic to beestings or wasp stings, for the 40+ years of my life, and one day, I was stung and had a severe allergic reaction. Now I carry benadryl with me wherever I go in the summer months, and avoid wasps!!
Mitzi Geesaman
January 20, 2016 at 9:21 pmThanks for the tip on the Lara Bars. My favorite is the cashew cookie!
Amy W.
January 21, 2016 at 8:39 pmI’ve been making a majority of our dinners from scratch including sauces and flavor mixes that you would normally get from a packet. I’d like to rid our house of sugar in our tea and occasional desserts but not sure how. I tried raw stevia but I don’t think it agreed with me. What are my options?
Amy Taylor (comment moderator)
February 3, 2016 at 8:48 amHi. Lisa uses maple syrup and honey for sweetening: https://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2010/06/14/sweeteners-101/.
Laura
May 3, 2016 at 9:52 pmDates are a good option too!
Terry
June 29, 2016 at 8:31 pmIf you are drinking black tea hot or iced, honey is great. Just put it in the hot iced tea brew to blend. I was a sugar fiend in tea, and now after slowly reducing and replacing, I drink iced tea straight and only use honey at home…
Beth
April 1, 2016 at 10:19 pmwhy whole milk and not skimmed? Do you use Almond or Cashew Milk?
Amy Taylor (comment moderator)
April 8, 2016 at 10:11 amHi. These will explain: https://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2011/04/15/mini-pledge-week-6-no-low-fat-lite-or-nonfat-food-products/ and https://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2012/06/07/milk-101-whole-raw-organic-low-fat-etc/. And you can find our almond milk recipe here: https://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2012/08/31/food-allergies-dairy/.
Lindsey
April 1, 2016 at 10:24 pmCan I ask why you switched to whole milk? Is it healthier for you?
Amy Taylor (comment moderator)
April 8, 2016 at 10:12 amHi. These will explain: https://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2011/04/15/mini-pledge-week-6-no-low-fat-lite-or-nonfat-food-products/ and https://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2012/06/07/milk-101-whole-raw-organic-low-fat-etc/.
Lisa
May 4, 2016 at 7:49 amBeets and Radishes. I have been getting produce baskets from a local farm every week and they give you whatever is growing right now. It has forced me to try beets (baked/roasted, served with other veggies) and radishes (in my salads), both of which I barely ate before but now love.
Also chard is great mixed in with scrambled eggs!
Tracey
May 4, 2016 at 2:12 pmLove me some raw milk. (I live in NC too but I still am lucky enough to be in the know) :)
Crystal
June 29, 2016 at 11:33 pmI gotta admit that when I read “not sure if try it anyhow” in regards to the raw milk, I had to double check the website. I never knew that crunchy,real food eating people were still ignorant about the benefits of raw milk. I mean that in the nicest way possible of course! Sorry!
It’s just that pasteurized milk is known to be garbage to us real food peeps lol!
Anyhow, Love the recipes of the website here (gluten free ones at least) thanks! Great ideas on this page!
And Good to see another raw milk advocate on here! Go Tracey!!
Mia
June 29, 2016 at 8:40 pmI read one of your posts about the milk delivery service had local, grass fed milk cows. I called them up, but they don’t deliver to Huntersville. BUMMER! I see the illustration in this post is the Homestead Creamery brand. I picked some up recently as an trial alternative, but I haven’t done research on the brand yet. Do you use HC brand whole milk? I noticed their buttermilk was labeled grass fed, but I didn’t see that in the whole milk, so it had me wondering about it. So far I love it.
Also, thank you so much for the granola recipe and idea. Cereal has always been my comfort food. If I came home stressed from work, my husband would get the cereal out and ready for me knowing I would want that over any dinner food. So, when I read your cookbook/ blog about how processed cereal was, I was so scared to give it up to start on the unprocessed journey. I am beyond thankful to find that the granola has satisfied my cereal addiction and I haven’t had a box of cereal in my home for over 6 months! Step by step, we’re cutting more out. Thank you!!
Amy Taylor (comment moderator)
July 4, 2016 at 8:25 amYep, Lisa often drinks Homestead Creamery’s milk. :)
Chloe
November 6, 2016 at 9:47 pmIt’s crazy to me to realize that it has now been almost 5 years since I started following your blog and eating real food. So much has changed since then! My family still thinks I’m crazy and that I am depriving my daughter (who is now two and eats like a champ!) I eat so many foods I used t9 be intimidated by and it is awesome!
Kristy
November 7, 2016 at 8:14 amLaughed when I read the Kiwi story. I had same experience one year when I decided to make Southern Living recipe (roasted root vegetables) for Thanksgiving dinner. Recipe called for rutabaga. I bought it and tried it for the first time in my life at the ripe old age of 50. Now I know I like rutabaga. :-) You’re right…it’s never too late to find and try something new.
Fern
May 29, 2017 at 7:59 amMay I ask why whole milk as compared to 2 percent?
Amy Taylor (comment moderator)
June 2, 2017 at 9:23 amHi. this explains: https://www.100daysofrealfood.com/milk-101-whole-raw-organic-low-fat-etc/.
Tracy Teague
March 29, 2018 at 9:04 pmRaw milk is not illegal in NC. It must be labeled for pet consumption. I buy certified organic raw (pet) milk weekly from a farm in NC. The key to buying raw milk is to make friends with your farmer. Visit the farm and do your homework. You have access to amazing raw milk at the regional farmer’s market in your area. If you’re buying milk in the grocery store, you’re consuming a processed food.
Linda from Getting Real In Your Kitchen
July 12, 2018 at 1:25 pmKefir. I never thought I would like plain kefir, but now I love to use it to make salad dressings, in smoothies, and to make my own sour cream. So good!!