Cut processed food out of your life by signing up for our free 10 Days of Real Food pledge! For a week and a half you'll follow the same real food rules we followed during our 100-day pledge in 2010. If our family of four did it for 100 days, I am convinced anyone can do it for only 10 days! And what harm is there in trying?
Thousands of people all the way from Austin to Australia have signed up - to see how much the 10-day pledge has impacted their lives you can read some of their feedback here.
So get ready for a true wake up call on just how pervasive processed foods are in everyday life! We promise your new-found perspective will be worth the effort.
Benefits of Taking the 10-Day Pledge
Upon completing your goal we predict you will gain the following:
- A first-hand, eye opening experience of how to identify the real food in our processed food world.
- At least one improved health benefit such as having more energy, losing weight, improving regularity, or just feeling healthier overall.
- The realization that some of those pre-packaged processed "food-like substances" don’t even taste that good compared to real food.
- The opportunity to teach your children (if you have them), by example, the healthiest way to eat and enjoy the food mother nature has given us.
- The ability to continue on with your life however you chose, but with the new knowledge of how and why to avoid processed foods. Hopefully your 10-day experience will convince you to consider making at least a few changes for life.
How to Take the 10-Day Pledge
- Review the rules that you must follow for the full 10 days. In case you need some more convincing you may also want to review 10 reasons to cut out processed food.
- Take note of the important resources on our Start Here page.
- Complete the form below including your start date. We recommend that you take at least a few days or longer to plan and prepare your kitchen with whole foods so you have enough to eat once your mission starts. Also, consider boxing away the stuff that might tempt you to break the rules - we want you to succeed!
- We also recommend that you spend a few moments reviewing our concise list of real food meal ideas on the Recipes and Resources page to help you plan what you'll eat during your pledge.
- Don’t forget to update your facebook or twitter status to let your friends know that you are starting the 10 Days of Real Food pledge so they can provide you with support and accountability!
- Once you have completed your 10-day pledge visit the Real Food Graduates page to tell us about your experience. We want to know how it went and keep track of how many people have come this far.
Deb Wilder says
I for one am very excited about taking this challenge. I am convinced that processed sugars and foods are not healthy for any of us. I have already decreased the sugars in my grandson's diet and have seen a huge change in his hyperness and his ability to focus. I will be implementing this diet with the whole family starting on the 12th. Thank You for your blogs and recipes!
Jody Behrensprung says
Am I the only person who finds it ironic and is offended by the fact that this "real foods" pledge is giving away non-biodegradable hunks of silicone bracelets? That is asinine!
Lisa says
Jody - Yes I believe you are the only person who has left such a comment. While we certainly care about the earth that is clearly not our main focus here (hence the title of the blog...it's about real food). The wristbands are not biodegradable, but they are recyclable.
Lis says
ok.......here I go
B says
I am in preparation mode now....I am preparing my family husband and kids for what's to come. Today I made granola bars, ww banana bread, ww tortillas, and smoothies. After a week to ease them into it we hope to take the 10 day pledge.
It's going to be hard with picky eaters and kids who scream for candy and treats but that's how I know we need it,
does anyone have advice on what to do with kids hooked on sugar and are not taking the transition well?
thanks for all your advice and great recipes
Assistant to 100 Days (Jill) says
Hi B. Check out some of these posts on kids adapting which you may find helpful...https://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2012/06/04/why-are-kids-so-picky/, https://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2011/09/09/real-food-tips-12-ways-to-deal-with-a-picky-eater/, https://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2010/08/19/winning-over-your-picky-eater/. Best of luck. Jill
Jennifer Texter says
Started this last Thursday and I feel really good about it but have to admit I did not follow 100%- I am going to keep trying but some things I could not find the time to make on my own...(mayo) and with all the nut butter recalls the only one i had was no stir..I feel like I am a better consumer and have been following 90% and will continue to make better choices. Thanksso much for this site!!!!
Becky says
I've been reading and readying myself on this site for a few weeks now. I'm starting my 10-day pledge tomorrow and am looking forward to experiencing positive results! I've been almost all processed-food-free for the last week and tomorrow is when it goes to 100%! Thanks to you Lisa and your blog family for all your hard work on this site!!
Melanie K. says
Hello, I was reasearching recipies online last night and I came across your website. I'm so glad I did! I've been experimenting for a couple of months with whole foods and have eliminated some processed foods already. My trouble with whole foods is that I'm not very creative in the kitchen and I get bored. I started the 10 day challenge today (Wed). I'm hoping this will jump start me into a more healthful lifestyle. I'll be lurking around on your website later to see what goodies I can take with me in my kitchen.
Heather Coss says
I just signed up to start the 10-Day pledge on Tuesday. Excited to give it a try!
Terri says
So excited to start the 10 day real food challenge!
Lisa M says
Been reading the blog all week and definitely going to be making some food choice changes. I don't have cable, so of course housesitting this week I was excited to catch up on some mind-rotting shows :) With Netflix I'm so use to not seeing commercials, but within the span of an hour program I saw ads for Totinos Pizza Rolls, Quaker 'yogurt flavored' granola bars, and kids begging for a 'treat' and getting Fruit Roll-ups, made with 'REAL FRUIT FLAVORS'. I am now considering the extra step for myself and taking the ten day challenge (and really considering never having cable again when I have kids!).
Katherine says
I'm on day two and i'm loving it. i'm thinking of just going right into my 100 days, we will see how it goes :)
Erin says
Hello. I signed up to take the 10-day pledge. I "liked" your page on Facebook and tried to print the free menus, but they only show up as small thumbnails and I can't read them. When I try to enlarge them, they are so blurry I still can't read them. The free menu I received in my email looks delicious, but it's for fall ingredients. I live in Phoenix and it's still so blasted hot here that I can't make my taste buds want those foods yet. :) Could you possibly email me a larger-size file for the menus? Thank you!
Bekeh says
My Family and I already eat a very whole foods diet. It's nice to be part of a community that undersatnds what real nutrition is and how we should be eating and feeding our children. I look forward to trying all the tasty recipes! :) And glad to have a place we can go to for support and guidance for dining out or at a family or friends house :)
Jessica says
So excited to start our pledge next week! I've already severely limited fast and processed foods and have moved all ingredients not allowed into our other fridge so they're not in our eye sight.
Can't wait to see changes in our bodies and lives :)
Megan says
So excited to start this on Monday!! Hopeing we make it through 10 days then move on to the 100 day pledge!
Carin says
My family and I finished the 10 days yesterday. Can't believe we made it through a hurricane, but still ate REAL food. My husband says that it definitely has changed his perspective, but not being able to "cheat" was a struggle for him. What he really missed was his Blue Bell Birthday Cake ice cream. I promised him that if he buys me an ice cream maker, I will make him ice cream that tastes much better. He had been anti-whole wheat bread his entire life, but now, thanks to your recipes, he has enjoyed fresh whole wheat pancakes, waffles, tortillas and bread and he has changed.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!
How do we officially become 10 day graduates?
Assistant to 100 Days (Jill) says
Hi Carin. You can fill out this form found here...https://www.100daysofrealfood.com/take-the-10-day-pledge/real-food-graduates/. Jill
Liz says
I am so excited to find your site. Last fall my husband and I did 30days of no processed foods or inflammatory foods and it was tough!!! Of course I was in my last month of pregnancy and struggled a bit with cravings (got WAY easier by the end) and with having no energy to make meals (my husband picked up the slack!) I ended up loosing 7 lbs and felt great (OB was not worried at all.) Unfortunately, after the birth of our son, we ate the frozen meals we made previously that used a lot of processed foods but at least used healthier options of whole wheat. When they got used up we ended up eating even more unhealthy options.
I recently decided that we needed to get back into clean eating... I am continuing no processed foods, but including inflammatory foods this time. I have already used your site to make a menu for this next week! I am excited to start the 10 day challenge. I am also excited to read your real food tips! I hope it will aid us in continuing it as a life style.
Nikki says
I have become more and more interested in the past month with eating healthy and cutting out processed food from my diet. I haven't removed it completely, but I have cut down a tremendous amount - and with no intentions of losing weight, I have slimmed down 6 pounds already. After following this blog, I'm ready to start the 10 day challenge :) Good luck to all, and I'm excited to share my experience!
Julie Endl says
Hi,
This is exactly what I have been looking for. I need a little guidance and step by step approach to taking all of the processed food out of our diet. Being a Wildtree Representative and using the product is really helpful. Wildtree is all natural and preservative free. But I'm ready for the challenge to work on the rest of the food I buy.
Thanks for doing this!
Blessings, Julie Endl
Runa Kuru says
Hi there, I am trying to sign up for the 10 day pledge but it only gives me an option for "state" not country and I am living in New Zealand. I am so excited about this, thanks for a great website!! :)
Cheryl says
Thank you for your blog, Lisa! You have motivated me to get back to eating right. I am starting the 10- day pledge Monday, although am not including my husband or boys (ages 8 & 16) yet. Baby steps for them ;) I anticipate the biggest challenge will be a camping trip we have planned next weekend which involves a 5-6 hour drive there and back. I have been reading your insights into traveling though and will follow your lead there.
Rachael Reed says
We were supposed to start Tuesday, and we did... sort of! Most of the foods we have eaten the last two days were whole foods. However, I too jumped the gun a little and didn't give myself enough time to prepare! But here we are, Thursday, all set to go and starting off GREAT! So very excited! My sister and I have been struggling to lose weight, I lost 30 pounds by the end of 2011, the smallest I have been since a young teenager, and I have already let 8 creep back on! We are so obsessed with food and I know it is from the processed foods... I am really looking forward to learning how to eat to live rather than living to eat!
Morgan says
I am celiac with a peptic ulcer and I am so sick of "convenience food". It certainly isn't convenient to be ill from something I never should have eaten in the first place. My husband and son are both somewhat victims of our environments as well. My son has ADD like symptoms and my husband has bloating issues with food and asthma.
As an answer to these issues, I have started growing my own veggies and fruit (seasonally permitting) with great successes on both crop yields and feeling better after we eat. However, Calgary Alberta summers can be rather short and full of hail.
I want my family to survive these poisons and we thank you so much for your legwork and research for much better alternatives (the RIGHT ones!) to the crap we consume daily.
Amber says
I am signing up for the pledge today, even though we are not starting until July 1st, to make sure that I hold us accountable. Doing this pledge while our whole family is traveling (separately I might add) was just a bit too much. I have been thinking about doing this for quite some time and finally have my husband on board. Our son just turned 1 and I want to make some radical changes to our lifestyle before he becomes so ingrained in the American diet that it is a battle to change things. Not to mention that my husband and I both need I make som major changes for health reasons.
I do have a question though. We are currently on SNAP benefits while my husband finishes school, and finding a source that takes these benefits for locally raised meats and produce is impossible in our area. Since we cannot afford to eat Local at this time is it sufficient for us to purchase organic grass-fed and free-range meats and organic vegetables that are from further away? Once my husband graduates and is employed we will be switching to primarily local, but until December we don't have the option.
Assistant to 100 Days (Jill) says
Hi Amber. Yes, I think the organic, grass fed and free range are all great options. If you haven't already checked into your local options, you may be surprised to find that it could actually be cheaper. I know at least for vegetables, going to the farmer's market is usually much cheaper than buying them at the grocery store. And the local meat I have found has been about the same if not a little less too. Just something you may want to look into. Best of luck to you. Jill
Ashley says
I am starting the 10 pledge on this thursday; a friend told me about this and I am really excited to get my family into a better eating plan. Wish me luck :)
Sandra Medina says
Hi,
Am new here. First found out about this blog completely by chance and am so grateful I came across it. I just signed up for the first 10 day pledge. I like how the pledge is broken down into small steps. Over the past few years I have been an all or nothing kinda girl when attempting to change my diet, and I usually end up feeling disappointed. I hope to complete all of theses pledges and it would be great to speak to others who are doing the pledges too! Congratulations on the television spot!
Becca says
I watched a Tv segment on The Doctors earlier this week. It was on what "crap" is in our food. I was so disgusted watching that ; that I literally threw my lunch away!!! I have never been a terrible eater and I exercise regularly. But I definitely need to make healthier choices. It was amazing to me after reading your blot and going to the store how much processed foods there are!!! Gross!! I also have been trying to get pregnant since December but my body isn't doing what I want...troubles with starting a period after being on birth control for 9 years :( so I am taming this 10 day pledge to see how my body responds to all natural foods!!! Hope I can make the 10 days and change my lifestyle of eating forever!!' Starting today!!!' Wish me luck :)
Meagan says
I am very excited to start our 10 day pledge. My husband had watched a documentary on high fructose corn syrup that scared him, and I have been suffering the effects of a poor diet while traveling for work. I'm hoping we can do longer than 10 days, but it's at least a start.
Kara says
Starting tomorrow we are starting our 30 day "Story Family Food Revolution". My hope is that my family will embrace this revolution and that it goes far beyond the 30 day commitment:) My goal is for my children to WANT to eat better foods on their own!!
Cara says
I am so excited to start this! I feel like I normally eat this way, with a few exceptions, but have gotten off track recently. This sounds like an awesome thing to keep me motivated and burst those bad cravings again! Only question, as a vegan, I sometimes substitute with soy based products. I try not to eat too many since they are processed but: what are your thoughts on soy cheese and other soy replacements?
100 Days of Real Food says
Welcome to the blog! My opinion in regards to eating vegan is just to stick to whole foods like fruits, vegetables, grains, etc. as opposed to eating imitation animal products (if you can!). If you do find yourself needing a substitute just be sure to read the ingredients in order to make the best choice.
Amy-Beth says
I have started today with the challenge and I am looking forward to this. The meal plans and the recipe look great and easy to follow. I am single and cooking for myself is hard. I would rather make tea and call it a night. But that is not healthy and I really want to get healthy.. I am up for the challenge...
Brenda Hamlin says
I can't wait to start this challenge next weekend. I eat very little meat and I am currently trying to take out all dairy products also. I love tofu and soy milk, rice milk, and almond milk. The one thing I have a problem with is the sugar. I am going to try to get rid of all meat products out of my house by the end of summer. I know what I have to do, it is a matter of getting my husband and my sister on board.
Wendy says
a few years ago, we started to really look at what we eat, and what does what we eat, eat. we were raising a lot of our own food, but what were we feeding them? so we have been slowly going no processed. we/ve had some set backs, and now are in the process of starting to raise some of our own food again. we have 2 acres in southern colorado. we raise an organic garden, and just found organic food to raise our pigs and chickens with. i have a husband and a 13 year old son who both know that eating all the box food is not healthy. i do not buy bread anymore, i make it. but we do still eat white flour and sugar. i am interested in trying your 10 day challenge, i think you are on the right track.
Shelly says
Today we start the 10 day challenge. Started the morning with WW Banana Pancakes (your recipe), strawberries, walnuts and some maple syrup. Yum! Ready for the challenge!!!
Julie says
My boyfriend and I cut out any food (including ALL fast food) out that had MSG in it, in November 2011. Then, in February we decided to make the effort to remove all processed foods from our diet. We were over halfway there since MSG is in almost all processed foods. Then it morphed into buying our eggs from a local farmer, buying our produce from a co-op and getting our meat from free range, grass fed ranches. I've lost 60 lbs as a result and feel SO MUCH better. We are so happy that we made this change.
But I have one question and wonder if anyone else has experienced this. Why do people get so offended when you start talking about eating this way? I had one lady tell me it's something you talk about, lik religion and politics. WHAT?!?!
Kate says
I just registered for the 10 day pledge, although we are actually planning to do 100 days as well. I'm very excited. We've done a month of whole foods the past two januarys but it's been too easy to fall back into old habits. So I am hoping 100 days changes our habits a bit more!
Laura says
We've been eating pretty much unprocessed food recently, but I want to be more strict about it so I guess officially signing up for the pledge is the way to do it!
Kelly says
I'm excited to start the 10 day challenge, and bring my family along for the ride! Thank you so much for what you do... We've been slowly eliminating processed foods from our diet, but I never thought it was possible to give them up entirely (especially with two daughters age 3 & 4). I like to think I'm pretty knowledgeable on this subject, but just cleaning out our cupboards in preparation for the challenge has already been a learning experience. In addition to following your challenge rules, we're also going to try to follow the Eat at a table rule. Might as well change all our bad eating habits at once! This will be good. Thanks again!
Karla says
I'm doing the challenge!! I made a blog post about it here: http://herhomemadelife.blogspot.com/2012/04/100-days-of-real-food-challenge-okay.htm
l am going to try to keep an updated record of my progress. Here we go!! Thanks!!
Bria says
Just signed up! I actually started yesterday, but my boyfriend and roommate had not started yet. So today is our first official day for the whole household. I'm very excited, and if this goes well (I'm confident that it will) we will probably just roll these 10 days into the 100 day challenge! I'm ready for the 100 days, but the boys may need a little convincing. Wish me luck!