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.
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- - 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?!?
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Please share any new-found "real food" that you now love in the comments below!
Rebecca says
Why only whole milk?
Assistant to 100 Days (Jill) says
Hi Rebecca. These 2 posts should help answer your questions...https://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2012/06/07/milk-101-whole-raw-organic-low-fat-etc/ and https://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2011/04/15/mini-pledge-week-6-no-low-fat-lite-or-nonfat-food-products/. Jill
Dree says
This list shocks me. I always say I grew up on canned and boxed crap, but nearly this whole list is stuff my mother had and served. Though our green of choice was swiss chard (and it still is, though collards are yummy, but I grow swiss chard and I seems to be bug-proof). Honey? Pinto Beans? OATS?
This list is just pantry staples.
We don't drink milk, we drink water, coffee, and homebrewed beer. I keep a gallon of whole milk for cooking and coffee, but sometimes I have to bake something extra to finish a gallon before it goes bad!
Assistant to 100 Days (Jill) says
Hi Dree. I think the point is that, before switching to real foods, many families are not eating things like oats or pinto beans or using items such as honey to sweeten their foods as opposed to white sugar. So, yes, while now they are staples to anyone who has switched their diet, they may not have been prior to that and that is why they may have been items not previously purchased. Jill
Jen says
Pure bars are even better than Lara bars! Pure bars are basically organic Lara bars. Anytime I eat Lara bars my mouth get itchy and swollen. When I eat Pure bars that does not happen.
Stacie says
I love Lara bars. However my oldest is allergic to cashews so she cant have them which makes her sad :(
Emily says
http://www.cdc.gov/foodsafety/rawmilk/raw-milk-questions-and-answers.html#benefits
I realize I will never change anyone's mind based on their own personal experience, but I am a scientist and this speaks to me.
Jadah {Simple Green Smoothies} says
Coconut oil is a new one on my list now too. I cook with it, add it to my smoothies, and even use it to make homemade deodorant. Check out this recipe here: http://simplegreensmoothies.com/coconut-oil/homemade-deodorant-that-really-works
amanda says
i too was a bit suprised to see the resistance to raw milk as well. i live in raleigh & i have a local source for goat milk & a non local source for cow ( not nearly as much as i would like though ) i detest any other kind. i can only describe pasturized milk as tasting "dead". kind if like drinking tap city water after having fresh spring water. of course, as with any food, you should trust your source. i would not drink from somewhere i hadnt seen the animals & conditions of milk storage. any time i have regular milk now it upsets my stomach. i think this is due to the ezymes being destroyed by such temps. . just my thoughts. thanks for the awesome blog postings! :>
nadine says
Hey, I realize your blog isn't about avoiding GMO's and all of that... but for me, a lot of 'avoiding processed foods' is about avoiding GMO ingredients. When CA had a prop on the ballot to make labeling GMO foods mandatory, Larabar sunk a lot of money into blocking legislation. So, I stopped buying them. Anyway... here is a simple recipe for how to make them instead:
http://www.naturalnews.com/036975_larabar_recipes_boycott.html
love your blog, keep up the good work!
Melissa @ My Whole Food Life says
Coconut oil is something I never bought before switching to a whole food diet. Flax meal is another. Now they are staples in our house!
Kristen Feighery says
So glad I found your blog!!! What a find! I'm so enjoying the recipes and tips. Your blog is now on my daily read list!
Sarah says
We drink raw milk because my husband grew up on a dairy farm. Most of his family still have cows. The Amish are known to sell raw milk, but they label it as "pet milk" to keep inside the law.
Tina Solar says
Raw milk (unpasturized) is only illegal to sell in our state. It is perfectly legal to have a goat and make your own though. Just a thought.
I don't buy the honey in the grocery stores. I buy it from local honey farms. It is not processed, and can help build immunity to local allergens.
Anytime I want to incorporate something that I cannot get my kids to eat enough of, like green veggies, it goes into our smoothies! They are aware of it, and all for it! Thanks for the great blog.
Lori says
I switched to whole milk a few years ago after hearing that it was much better and more nutritious. A lot of people think I'm weird and gross for it! LOL. I think it tastes delicious. I'm so excited to try whole wheat flour. You're recipes look amazing! Thanks for all the educating posts. They are awesome!
kmb says
Sorry, hit enter to soon. It is amazing how much it can change energy levels by stabilizing blood sugar. Also, one thing to note about your whole grains... unless you are sprouting your whole grains you are not absorbing any of the nutrients in them. They are locked up in phytic acid and our bodies cannot break it down therefore we are getting no benefits from eating whole grains except for the fiber. For many whole grains have been very detrimental bc they are extremely irritating to the gut. Soaking your grains is key to make them valuable nutritionally and easier on the gut. The rise in irritable bowel syndromes ie ulcerative colitis, chrone's disease since the onset of "whole grains" becoming a staple in many people's diet cannot be ignored. It is not the only reason but it certainly can't be ignored. As stated, I highly recommend Sally Fallon's book, Nourishing Traditions, the cookbook that challenges politically correct nutrition and the diet dictocrats.
kmb says
We are raw milk drinkers around here. I was raised on it bc my family got it from friends who lived on the farm but I have been able to get it from a local farmer here. It is a 10 min drive to the farm. I also have my own kefir grains and make our own kefir to add to smoothies. It is unfortunate raw milk is illegal...bc if you think you know what real milk tastes like, I assure you until you drink raw milk, you really don't know. There is a distinct difference especially with the stuff that has been lightly pasteurized. The key to drinking raw milk safely is to know your source. I would not drink raw milk that had to be transported. I have lived in California, Florida and Arkansas and it has been relatively easy to find it. Also, I highly recommend Sally Fallon's book " Nourishing Traditions" I have adopted her diet plan for about 3 years now and it has changed my life. Highly recommend, taking 1tablespoon of organic coconut oil before each meal. It is ama
melissa says
Do you drink whole milk or whole organic milk? Just curious if it is organic? Thanks!
Assistant to 100 Days (Jill) says
Hi Melissa. Lisa and her family drink whole milk. Here is the post on milk you might find helpful. https://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2012/06/07/milk-101-whole-raw-organic-low-fat-etc/. Jill
Tessa says
Have you ever made your own lara bars? SO easy!! You just need a food processor and they taste even better because they taste fresh! Yum :)
Assistant to 100 Days (Jill) says
Hi Tessa. Here is our recipe...https://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2012/07/01/recipe-homemade-larabars-4-ways-including-nut-free/. Jill
Ashley says
On the part about raw milk in NC, just wanted to share a note of caution- Last year we switched to raw milk, and we live in NC. We purchased it from a well-meaning gentleman who bought it across the line in Fort Mill area and drove it up to North Charlotte and sold it to quite a few of us. Last June, I contracted Campylobacter from consuming contaminated milk, which after an extensive review by the CDC and FDA, was found to be contaminated in the transporting of it (probably not kept cold enough). I was in the hospital for 10 days and literally almost died. So, please be aware of drinking/purchasing/transporting raw milk!
Christy says
I'm ashamed to admit, but I had never bought or even eaten brown rice!! I'm in love with it now and my insanely picky eater husband loves it too. We are working on it with the kids, but white rice has lost all of it's appeal! :) Also, natural peanut butters are like a dream come true for me. I try to avoid soy and had no idea how it was in EVERYTHING. This transition is going slowly for us, but my husband and I are loving it!!! :-) Thanks for your blog. It's been a huge help!
Amanda says
I was wondering out of curiosity if Lara Bars were actually ok? I know they use very similar ingredient (which is surprising in itself) but the Sugar content can be very high because of the dried fruit pieces that are dominant in each bar. I'm a little wary to consume 20-28g of Sugar in one sitting, especially when the Fiber content isn't that high to begin with (its only around 4g?).
100 Days of Real Food says
We keep an eye on our "added sugar" consumption, which does not include the natural sugars you get when eating the whole fruit but even so I wouldn't recommend filling up on a bunch of Lara Bars in one sitting...variety is key!
Rose says
I'm surprised at your resistance to raw milk. I have never tried it, but am very interested in switching. Milk that is pasteurized from the factory farming industry HAS to be pasteurized in order to kill the bacteria from manure and pus that is in it. If they didn't pasteurize, they would have to put much more money and time into producing milk that is raw--they would have to be more sanitary like those who make raw milk; they, of course don't want to do that--time is money.
Rose says
I am excited to have found your blog and excited to implement some of your ideas into our family!
Carolyn says
I enjoyed reading about what you have learned and want to read and learn more.
Joy says
I have a Blueberry Lara Bar in my purse as we speak! YUMM!
Liz says
I am surpised to read this. Perhaps I need to blog about my kitchen pantry contents at some point. It truly surpises me that people have had NO exposure to basic foodstuffs.
Heather @ House of Woyaks says
I never made anything with whole wheat flour either until about a year ago. it is awesome stuff. I have a question though -
why the switch to whole milk? we but the organic 1 or 2% depending on which is available. my boys and husband drink it like crazy, so i would be worried about the high fat content. just curious
100 Days of Real Food says
This post shares the reason we don't buy low-fat anything anymore (including dairy): https://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2011/04/15/mini-pledge-week-6-no-low-fat-lite-or-nonfat-food-products/
Jenny says
KIND bars are a favorite around here. They use honey and other sugars to hold stuff together, but never the awful forms of sugar. Plus, it's quite literally just nuts and fruit. A great source of protein and the perfect snack.
cara says
Why the conversion from skim to whole milk? I have been getting our milk from a local dairy farm, but still getting skim. Thanks!
100 Days of Real Food says
Here is the post that explains why we stopped using all low-fat products (including dairy): https://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2011/04/15/mini-pledge-week-6-no-low-fat-lite-or-nonfat-food-products/
Missy says
I realize selling raw milk is illegal in some states, however, I ended up buying a couple of goats and milking them to get my raw milk. This was wonderful for all the live enzymes! We were foster parents and had some babies who had terrible reflux, which magically went away within 24 hours of beginning the raw goats milk instead of canned formula. Every baby we had that came to us with reflux was "cured" with raw goats milk. I can not say it would work for everyone, but it sure helped the little ones in our care. I washed the teats, milked in a double pan, ice between, stainless steel pot and strained twice in a mesh coffee filter, refrigerated immediately and milked fresh daily.
Annemarie says
I love Larabars too. Since you used to eat the Quaker chewy oat bars, you might like my recipe for chewy blueberry banana oat bars: http://realfoodrealdeals.com/2012/04/06/chewy-blueberry-banana-oat-bars/. These cost $.28 each to make, which is much easier on the wallet than the $1.25 price tag for a Larabar. It's amazing how much money you can save by making things from scratch!
Christie says
Annemarie, Thank you so much for posting this link. It is wonderful! Christie
Annemarie says
Thanks Christie! It's great to find healthy and affordable real food snack options. I would love to hear other people's favorite homemade snack recipes.
Alison Egnoski says
Saw this recipe and it sounded so good. They are in the oven as we speak. Hopefully, they are good.
Robin says
Love your blog. I know Raw milk is illegal in your state (as well as many). But before you shy away from it or discourage others, check out this documentary
http://programs.webseed.com/Got_the_Facts_on_Milk__NN.htm#
Laura says
is gelatin, plain/unflavored okto use? i'm working my way through my pantry getting rid of all the junk!Thanks for all the help!
100 Days of Real Food says
The plain/unflavored gelatin is the best kind to use if you are going to use it! Once I found out how they make it I was personally a little turned off. :)
Sally says
What about drinks? My family want some variety. I am a water drinker and they are to a point. Any suggestions?
100 Days of Real Food says
You can make your own flavored water with a couple splashes of organic 1-ingredient juice or a squeeze of lemon/lime/grapefruit. You could start with either regular or sparkling water. I hope that helps!
teresa says
I love flavoring water with not only the usual squeeze of lemon, but some shavings of cucumber, or sprigs of rose geranium or lemon verbena! They delicately flavor the water and it tastes divine! You might want to muddle it a bit to release the flavor and you could also mix a few together for more variation.
Christina says
Lisa, regarding oatmeal, I frequently eat my rolled oats uncooked. I add nuts, seeds and fruit to a bowl, add plant milk of choice and it's a lot faster than cooking and still as tasty and has the health benefits. A boat load of fibre in a bowl of oatmeal!
100 Days of Real Food says
My girls do that sometimes too...so easy and quick when you are pressed for time!
Tia says
Chia seeds & ground flax for smoothies. Also, coconut oil is a very new find for me & I love it!!
megan says
I make my own lara bars. My girls love the peanut butter cookie one, but it wss over $5 for a box. I just add dates and peanuts to a food processor and then form them into balls. So yummy!
Heather says
I live right down the road from Homestead Creamery so it makes me really happy to see an HC bottle on your blog :)
Joyce Jenkins says
ILove your blog. I am a child of the 50's and grew up in a pecan orchard. Was raised on lots of pinto beans and from our garden and chicken house. Read lots of health food books in the 70's . Great to see younger people enjoying real food! The only things I haven't tried are ghee and coconut oil . Got some recently just because you praised it. Thanks!
Colleen Grossner says
Larabars we love!! We also make them at home as balls -- laraballs! Maybe you'll like some of these recipes, Lisa! http://fresh-you.blogspot.com/2002/01/learn-about-laraballs.html
All of your coconut oil tips, plus all those in the comments, are awesome!!!
kippy p. says
Lisa,
I can not tell you how completely ecstatic I was to find your blog.
Ecstatic. Exactly the help I was looking for in going to a whole based, real food diet, for myself and my family.
I have written a small piece about in on my lifestyle blog, http://www.kippypdesigns.com hoping to spread the word.
Truly, thank you for taking the time to write this blog.
-k
kelly patterson
co-owner, working mother & party diva
Polka Dots, Inc. | kippy p. designs
type | tweet | facebook | shop | design
Stephanie says
I am so happy to report most of the items on your list are a staple in our kitchen...yeah I am doing something right. I have been trying to figure out what to do with coconut oil, so, I can't wait to read your post!
Within the last 2 months, I introduced my family to Kale. I still can't get my boys (the big one or small ones) to eat it on their own, but I put a bunch in their morning smoothie. No one complains...first battle won! lol!