I am a list maker. Whether it’s my grocery list, my to-do list, or the list of areas in our house that I need to “declutter” (my New Year’s Resolution!) let’s face it I like lists. So when I applied my list-making skill to my real food blog I ended up with a bunch of “Real Food Tips” and here they are…
May 2015 update: Since I keep posting tips and this page was getting so long, we’ve set up the blog so you can click here to browse through ALL my Real Food Tips posts.
Real Food Tips for Cutting out Processed Food
1. 10 Reasons to Cut Out Processed Food
2. 14 Steps to Cut Out Processed Food
3. 10 Highly Processed Foods to Avoid
4. 8 Ways to Avoid Processed Food
6. 8 (More) Common Misconceptions
7. 10 Items I Never Purchased Before Cutting Processed Food
8. 6 Ways to Ease the Switch to Whole Grain
Real Food Tips for Meal Ideas
9. 22 On-the-Go Breakfast Ideas
10. 4 Super Quick Wholesome Dinners
11. 10 Recipes to Cook with Your Kids
14. 5 Ways to (Easily) Eat More Kale
Real Food Tips for School Lunches
14. 10 Ways to Switch Up Your Kids Lunch
15. Nut-Free School Lunch Ideas
16. 21 Ways to Plan Ahead for School Lunches
17. School Lunch FAQ
Real Food Tips for Shopping and Meal Planning
18. 10 Pointers for Farmers’ Market Shopping
22. Buying “Real Food” from a Mainstream Supermarket
23. 21 Essentials for Freezer, Pantry & Fridge
Miscellaneous Real Food Tips
24. 12 Ways to Deal with a Picky Eater
25. 34 Random Food & Cooking Tricks
26. My Favorite Kitchen Tools and Appliances
27. 7 Reasons I Hate Artificial Food Dyes
28. 5 Easy Changes for the New Year
29. 10 Ways to Be Less Wasteful
30. How to Use Freezie Pop Molds
31. How to Pack a Cooler (Safely)
Real Food Tips for the Holidays
32. 7 Healthy Holiday Parties (for kids!)
34. 20 Ways to do Halloween without candy!
35. The Only Halloween Candy I’ll Ever Buy plus Alternatives
36. 5 Uses for Leftover Turkey
37. Advent Calendars (without candy!)
38. 12 Homemade Holiday Gifts (that aren’t cookies!)
39. Kitchen Tool Holiday Gift Guide
Also, check out:
- Our original “100 Days of Real Food” pledge
- Our “100 Days of Real Food on a Budget” pledge where we spent only $125/week
- Our “10 Days of Real Food” pledge sign-up page where we challenge readers to follow our same real food rules for a shorter period of time
- My list of real food “Kitchen Essentials“
Is stevia in liquid form less processed and is insulin a 0 calorie, 0 carb sweetener?
Hi. I can’t answer your question about insulin but 100% pure stevia liquid, at least, has no additives.
Insulin is something your body produces in your pancreas. I think you are talking about innulin (if I am spelling it right). I don’t know what that is but I see it listed as an ingredient in food.
Hi I am just starting out with this and wondered about pork consumption. I noticed very little recipes using pork or beef
I subscribed to your website after just hearing your interview on Charlotte Talks this morning. I love your story and I share your priority of using whole foods at home. It’s definitely been a challenge though and I’ve really not held the same standards for us when we eat out or at friend’s homes. I’m looking forward to reading your tips and recipes!
I just discovered your wonderful site and have taken the 10 day pledge. It’s time we stopped eating chemicals. Many of my friends have health problems that I consider related to their less than healthy diet. I’m fortunate to live in a small town with a wonderful food co-op that carried local organic produce, bulk grains and local pastured meat and eggs. They do persist in carrying canola however. You have lots of great recipes too.
I am curious if you have any tips on how to handle dinners and holidays with extended family. Sadly, mine does not eat any whole foods and I don’t anticipate them being very supportive of our decision to change. Thanks!
Hi Lindsey. That is likely to be an ongoing struggle until the rest of the world wakes up. This post may help…even though it is more about Lisa’s kids, it applies to so many situations: https://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2012/07/24/being-polite-vs-honoring-your-values/. ~Amy
I’m really curious: how to you handle holidays like Halloween and valentines with your kids like when they bring home buckets of candy? What about other extended family members (like grandparents…) who may not agree with your lifestyle change and want to “spoil” the kids when you aren’t around? I’ve got little kids- both of whom are extremely picky. I’m trying to cut out processed foods but these are potential issues I will encounter. Just curious what you do. You may have addressed this already. I looked around your site but couldn’t see anything. Thanks! Excited to try some of your recipes!
Hi Brittany. These posts address those issues: https://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2011/10/07/real-food-tips-20-ways-to-do-halloween-without-candy/, https://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2013/10/15/halloween-candy-alternatives/, and https://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2013/10/15/halloween-candy-alternatives/. You will also find readers sharing their own struggles in the comments that follow. ~Amy
Is cottage cheese processed or natural?
Hi Katie. This will help: https://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2012/06/18/cheese-and-other-dairy-products-are-they-processed/. ~Amy
Hello,
My husband and I are interested in the 100 day challenge because he suffered a heart attack a few months ago at 41 years old. He was not overweight, relatively healthy, and had no family history. He has changed his eating habits drastically and the differences in his cholesterol numbers are shocking! We couldn’t believe how much diet affects our health. One of the things that is holding us back is that one of our children has life threatening food allergies. He cannot have any nut products or dairy or eggs. One of the treats that he can have is oreo cookies because they’re all chemicals. I found a cake recipe that i can make for him that doesn’t taste gross but it includes 4 cups of sugar! He puts ketchup on EVERYTHING! do you have any tips or advice? He is also a severe asthmatic and i really do feel that if he weren’t ingesting so many chemicals and dyes it might help his asthma.
Thanks,
Jenn
Hi Jennifer. When dealing with food allergies, you have to make whatever adjustments are necessary to make the challenge work for your family maintaining an effort to keep choices as real as possible. You might consider trying the mini pledges which will give you an opportunity to address changes one at a time: https://www.100daysofrealfood.com/100-days-of-mini-pledges/. Also, this post is from a husband’s perspective: https://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2012/02/29/a_guest_post_-from_my_husband/ and might lend some useful insight. ~Amy
I Love this website, there are so many helpful tips for me. My cooking teacher asked the entire class to go on your website, and i glad she did.
To accept the view that the Cali drug traffickers shoould be confronted head-on, despite a pledge by President Gaviria to treat all
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your security and safety.
Hi! I’m curious what you recommend about eating potatoes? White or sweet potatoes? Thanks!
Hi there, Joyce. Potatoes, in general, are fine. Lisa uses a lot of sweet potatoes. ~Amy
Love this! Ended up at your blog for the first time today when trying to to find new ideas for school lunches..ended up at this page right after I was talking about myself being a little list crazy! Haha I lam always making a list for something!
Hi,
I am wondering if you have a recipe for pudding- preferably vanilla and chocolate?! My son has been begging me for chocolate pudding, but I will not buy the store bought chemical filled stuff, and I can’t find a recipe anywhere that doesn’t include sugar or other junk… :/
Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thank you! :)
Hi Kara. We do not but Deliciously Organic has several. Here is one: http://deliciouslyorganic.net/chocolate-pudding/. :) ~Amy
I am trying to eat real foods, but my taste buds are starting to revolt. I confess that I am a fairly picky eater and when it comes to eating things that I do not like, I would prefer to go hungry than eat.
Last night I sauteed mushrooms and onions in olive oil. I made quinoa with chicken stock. I tossed those together with broccoli and carrots. I baked a chicken breast seasoned with lemon pepper and sliced it and added it to the mix. I served it with cooked spinach.
I know that the dish was healthy and filling but I never want it again. It was just boring. I can’t say exactly what I missed in it. (I know it was not salt because we do not use it or like it )
Am I doing something wrong? Do you have any suggestions? I like to use spices and condiments (specifically oriental sauces which are not a good food) and the food without it just doesn’t tast good.
Hi Kimberly. It can take some trial and error to find the right spice and flavor combinations that work for you without reverting to pouring on unhealthy sauces and such. Don’t give up! This might help: http://greatist.com/health/healthy-condiments-pantry-staples. I’m not claiming that these follow the 100 Days rules but it may help you get from point A to B. :) Plus, it gives you homemade versions of each which can be tweaked to better fit the rules. ~Amy