Author: Mary | Just Take A Bite

November 28, 2017

What is Herd Immunity…and Does it Exist?

Many people use the Theory of Herd Immunity as a reason to mandate vaccines. So exactly what is herd immunity? And does it really exist? Let’s find out!

Before I begin I want to state that this post does not deal with vaccine safety. It is not pro or anti vaccines. It is simply discussing vaccine efficacy and the theory of herd immunity.

Vaccinating vs. not vaccinating is a very personal choice – a choice every parent should have.

Vaccination is a medical procedure and the government should never be allowed to make that decision for us. If our freedom to choose whether or not to vaccinate is taken away or prohibits us from education or a career, then we no longer live in a democracy, in the land of the free. We live in a dictatorship.

I am passionate about children’s health. And parents should be able to make decisions in the best interest of their children’s health. Always. This includes making decisions about vaccines.

People have different beliefs on safety, religion, morality, etc. The right to choose must be maintained.

But some people feel it’s ok to take away that individual right “for the good of the group.” The theory used to back up this claim is called the Herd Immunity Theory.

Note the word theory.

The theory of Herd Immunity is not a proven fact. And it’s NOT a valid reason to mandate vaccination.

So just what is a theory?

According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, a theory is: “an ideal or hypothetical set of facts, principles, or circumstances” or “a plausible or scientifically acceptable general principle or body of principles offered to explain phenomena.”

A theory is not proven. It is hypothetical. It is a possible solution given to explain things.

What is the Herd Immunity Theory?

According to vaccines.gov:

When a critical portion of a community is immunized against a contagious disease, most members of the community are protected against that disease because there is little opportunity for an outbreak. Even those who are not eligible for certain vaccines—such as infants, pregnant women, or immunocompromised individuals—get some protection because the spread of contagious disease is contained. This is known as “community immunity.”The principle of community immunity applies to control of a variety of contagious diseases, including influenza, measles, mumps, rotavirus, and pneumococcal disease.

In simpler terms – if enough people are vaccinated, the disease can no longer spread.

The theory of Herd Immunity seems like it makes sense. It is a “plausible general principle.” But let’s take a closer look.

Join me over at Kitchen Stewardship where I’m digging in deep to find out more about the this idea of herd immunity. Check it out HERE.

NOTE: Please read the full article before making any comments.

November 27, 2017

My Top Picks for Little Foodie Gifts

Real foodies love cookbooks and kitchen gadgets. But don’t forget about the little ones. Here are my top picks for little foodie gifts.

If you want your kids to grow up knowing about real food, you have to teach them. What better way than with some Christmas gifts that promote real food and natural health?!

My kids love all things related to food – cooking food, eating food, learning about food and nutrition. So it’s no surprise that my gift list for little foodies isn’t that different than my list for adults. Just a little more age appropriate.

My kids have or want everything on this list. So it really is little foodie approved!

Desiccaated Liver

Now you might think I’ve really lost it. I put liver at the top of my gift list and now on my kids’ gift list! I really truly believe it is that important. Although my kids would not want a jar wrapped up under the tree, they do understand how nutritious it is and request to add it all sorts of foods.

Soon I’ll be sharing my son’s secret taco seasoning recipe – which includes lots of desiccated liver. My youngest likes to put liver on her salads.

While this may not be a stocking stuffer, using liver in your cooking will give your kids the gift of good health. And it doesn’t get much better than that.

You can always get an extra 10% off using my code TAKE10. I already stocked up for the year. Merry Christmas to all my kiddos! Grab yours HERE.

Kids Cook Real Food eCourse

Making nutritious food for your kids is a wonderful gift. The next best thing…teaching them to cook good food! It’s the gift that won’t take up space and will benefit them for a lifetime.

My six year old loves to cook dinner with me. By the time he is college age he’ll practically be a chef. I keep saying he is going to make an amazing husband someday.

My girls beg to help in the kitchen too. That’s why we’ve been doing the Kids Cook Real Food eCourse for two years now! Even as early as age two kids can learn to use knives, proper measuring skills and how to follow a recipe.

This really is a gift for you too. Wouldn’t you love for your kids to be able to get up in the morning and make breakfast? With the KCRF eCourse they will!

Grab a spot today in the Kids Cook Real Food course! This is a great gift for Grandpa and Grandma to get the kids.

Kitchen Tools

If you teach your kids to cook…they’re going to want some kitchen tools. Trust me on this one. My kids LOVE having their own set of measuring spoons and cups, knives and other little gadgets like crinkle cutters.

This can be a great way to encourage a child that is hesitant to help in the kitchen. It also teaches your child responsibility by needing to take care of their own equipment.

Last year my oldest got a set of knives for Christmas. Now every time she helps with chopping she HAS to use her knives. Maybe this year I’ll get a set for my son. Yes, a six-year old can safely use sharp knives! They learn how in the Kids Cook Real Food eCourse.

Chef Coat/Hat/Apron

Of course when your kids start working in the kitchen with their new skills and new tools they will have to look the part. Last winter my oldest and I made super cute aprons for each child. They grab them whenever they help me cook. Or even just to set the table. My son likes to fill the pockets with silverware and pretend he works at a restaurant.

This year I think we might go a step up and get the older kids chef coats (like these)! My daughter wants to be a baker some day. And my son really loves to cook. They will be thrilled to look like a real baker and chef with the proper attire.

Again, it’s one more way to encourage kids to learn about food, nutrition and how to cook. It’s a win for everyone.

Cookbooks

My oldest is an avid reader. She has been since she was a few months old. I could read book after book to her when she was literally three months old. It was crazy.

Now at age nine she still devours books. One of her favorite things to read is a cookbook! It’s actually a great way to teach younger kids to read too. Get one with lots of pictures to help those younger readers (and for those that just love to see good food). Then you can look through it together or they can read on their own.

Choose some recipes to make together. Or for older kids challenge them to try a new recipe on their own for dinner some time!

Here are a few good ones:

Nourishing Meals

The Nourishing Traditions Cookbook For Children

The Nourishing Homestead

Nutrition Books

I may be getting a bit nerdy here. But this is how important nutrition is to me. I really want my kids to understand why we eat the way we do. I want them to understand how to care for animals, how to grow our own food and how it helps our bodies. Not to mention how we eat is important for taking care of God’s holy temple.

This year for science we chose to study human anatomy and physiology. My kids LOVE it! They beg to do science every day. We just finished learning about the digestive system and are now learning about nutrition. Perfect! This is the curriculum we are using.

I know not everyone homeschools. But that doesn’t mean you can’t study nutrition! Find age appropriate books (or even “study” some cookbooks) and make time to read them often.

We love these books about eating the rainbow that are simple yet show what each color of the rainbow does for our bodies.

Play Kitchen

Hands down the toy all of my kids play with the most is our play kitchen and food/dishes. We started with just a small bucket of play food when my oldest was about two. It has evolved now into a full bin of dishes and food. They make elaborate feasts and love to play restaurant.

This is the kitchen my youngest just got for her birthday. It is the perfect size for little hands. And all of this pretend play helps develop a love for working with food.

The sets that allow kids to practice cutting are great leads into real kitchen skills!

Mini Trampoline

Little foodies need to focus on health in addition to real food. A mini trampoline (like this one) is a great way to get out energy. But more than that it is wonderful for the lymphatic system. Every bounce or tap helps drain the lymph nodes.

When I did Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis for my girls one of the action items on their plan was to rebound for ten minutes every day! Kids think it’s fun. But it’s more than that. It is so good for them!

Time to Shop!

It’s so fun to shop for little foodies! I love encouraging my kids to understand where their food comes from and why it’s important. Let’s raise a new generation of good stewards, taking care of God’s creation. Start small with some fun Christmas gifts!

November 20, 2017

My Top Picks for Real Foodie Gifts

Christmas is just around the corner. What should you get for the real foodie in your life? Here are my top picks for the perfect real foodie gifts that will help promote natural health and well-being.

If you’re like my kids you want to listen to Christmas year round. If you’re like me you don’t mind the music, but you kind of dread all the hustle and bustle of buying gifts and all the other to-do’s for the holidays. And you tell yourself every year you are going to start early…and then Thanksgiving rolls around and you haven’t even started.

Don’t panic! (I’m saying that for my own benefit.) Today I’m sharing my top picks for gifts that any real foodie would love. Don’t forget that Black Friday is coming up in a few days. There will be great deals on pretty much all of these!

Desiccated Liver

Yes, liver tops my list!! Maybe I’m crazy. But that’s how much I love it. I use the Perfect Supplements brand desiccated liver. And I am so thrilled that they now carry it in powder form instead of just capsules.

I put liver in literally everything we eat because it is so nutrient dense and has more Vitamin A than just about anything else you can eat. I add it to meatballs, tacos (my son has his own taco seasoning recipe with liver), salads, smoothies and even caramel!

Whether you are a fellow liver lover or you’ve never tried it, now is a great time to stock up. Get 10% off using the code TAKE10. I might just try to stock our pantry with desiccated liver for the year! No, I’m not even joking. With little kids and trying to focus on prenatal nutrition we go through a LOT of liver. I’d gladly take it as a present. It’s like getting the nutritional equivalent of gold.

Grab your liver and other Perfect Supplements products here.

Slow Cooker

The tool I use most often in my kitchen is my slow cooker (a.k.a. Crockpot). I know everyone is crazy about the Instant Pot these days, but I’m still a slow cooker fan. I like to do my meal prep in the morning and be done for the day. Especially on the days where we are gone in the afternoon and don’t get home until dinner time. Or on Sunday mornings when everyone is starving as soon as we get home from church. It’s a life saver.

Some of my favorite slow cooker recipes are sweet and sour meatballs, meatloaf, split pea soup, mashed potatoes, sausage and lentil chili and pork and beans. And you can never go wrong with a roast, whole chicken or ribs in the slow cooker.

I use my slow cooker so often that it never actually gets put away. It has a permanent place on my counter top.

This is the kind I have been using for years. Though a larger one like this would be nice!

Tea Strainer

This may be a small, simple kitchen tool, but it’s another one I use daily. I love herbal teas for helping all sorts of things like supporting your liver, adding minerals and balancing hormones. I buy loose leaf teas in bulk and then make my own mixes depending on what my body needs.

Right now I’m drinking a lot of nettle dandelion tea. I also love to make infusions for myself and for my kids. Add some fresh or frozen fruit to a jar and let the tea steep over night. Such a refreshing and nourishing drink! Nettle is my go-to for just about everything, especially seasonal allergies.

I’m thinking about putting a tea strainer on my list again this year so I have a second one. Then I can make multiple infusions at once!

This is the one I love.

Crunchy Balm

Winter in our house brings about DRY skin. My husband and two oldest kids especially are prone to super dry, itchy skin. Our favorite remedy is Crunchy Balm. It’s made with whipped tallow and essential oils. It is so soft and creamy and really works.

Crunchy Organics has plenty of other amazing products too, like their face cream made with frankincense and a whole line of natural makeup.

I’m not sure how many jars of Crunchy Balm we have laying around the house. I just like knowing there is always plenty on hand. If you deal with eczema or any kind of skin irritation I highly recommend Crunchy Balm.

We do also love Cheshire Fields products. And the creator, Michelle, is so nice. She even made custom products for us to work around allergies! It’s hard to find natural products without coconut!!

Immersion Blender

I’m not really sure how I survived before I had an immersion blender. It is my go-to tool for a lot of food preservation during the summer and fall. I use it to puree applesauce, pearsauce and squash.

Making homemade mayo or Miracle Whip is a cinch with an immersion blender. It literally takes five minutes, including the time it takes to get the ingredients out.

Needing foods pureed for a little one? The immersion blender makes it so easy. Cook some veggies, add broth and puree.

We also love to make pureed soups like our favorite squash and sausage soup. I eat it for breakfast lunch and dinner!

There are so many neat brands now. It’s hard to choose which one to get!!

Young Living Essential Oils

Are you new to a natural lifestyle? Essential oils are a great way to help boost your family’s health. I started using essential oils about three years ago. I started with the Young Living Starter Kit. And I’ve been using them ever since.

My favorite oil is Pan Away. I have battled hormone headaches for many years. The only way to ease them was with OTC medicine. But now it’s so rare that I have to take any medicine. I use Pan Away at the first sign of a headache and it usually subsides shortly after.

Essential oils support your health and work well for cleaning your house safely. I love diffusing oils both during the day and at night. Interested in getting started? Grab your starter kit here!

Vitamix

The Vitamix is definitely one of my favorite kitchen tools. Sometimes I use it three or four times a day. It makes perfect smoothies (like the ones you will find in my book Easy Nourishment for Picky Eaters), even when most of your ingredients are frozen solid!

Hummus only takes minutes in the Vitamix for a quick snack or lunch.

I even use it to grind flour and make homemade powdered sugar. Some years I use it to puree our applesauce, peels and all! It makes such an amazingly smooth sauce. My kids would say that homemade ice cream is the best thing that comes from the blender. The batter is ready in under five minutes. There really isn’t much the Vitamix can’t do.

Probably one of the things I love most is how easy it is to clean. That only takes seconds too. Talk about fast work in the kitchen.

Grassfed Collagen/Gelatin

Need a powerhouse ingredient to add to those delicious smoothies? Grassfed collagen is a great source of protein. I never make a smoothie without it.

I also use grassfed gelatin to make homemade fruit snacks and all sorts of real food jello salads. You can find all of my recipes using gelatin here.

I love both Perfect Supplements and Vital Proteins brands. Don’t forget to stock up on your Perfect Supplements products 11/24 – 11/27 at 45% off using code TAKE10! You can also get some FREE collagen from Vital Proteins 11/24 – 11/27. Use the code PEACELOVECOLLAGEN at checkout for a 5 oz. canister of collagen when you spend $75.

Cast Iron Skillet

Want a juicy burger, a perfectly cooked steak or the best scrambled eggs you’ve ever tasted? You need a cast iron skillet! A kitchen tools that has been around for centuries is definitely a keeper.

I was nervous when I got my first one. I thought they were hard to use and care for. WRONG. How to use – get it HOT. How to clean – wipe it down when you’re done and wipe a little oil on. That’s it.

You may want to get a few in different sizes. I love my small skillet for making a batch of scrambled eggs for the kids in the morning. My large skillet is great for steaks, burgers and even taco meat.

Still on my list is a cast iron griddle. That would make some awesome pancakes and bacon!

Grab your favorite size cast iron tools here.

Real Food and Natural Health Books

Last on the list, but definitely very important – you need knowledge to know how to use your kitchen tools and natural health products. That’s where books come in. Whether ebooks or hard copies these are some of the best around. Some are part of my personal library. Some I’m still hoping for! You might notice a theme…nourishing yourself and your family.

Family Table (by Shaye Elliott)

Easy Nourishment for Picky Eaters (by Mary Voogt)

Nourished Beginnings (by Renee Kohley)

The Nourished Metabolism (by Elizabeth Walling)

Why Won’t My Child Eat?! (by Mary Voogt)

Healthy Snacks To Go (by Katie Kimball)

The Paleo Approach (by Sarah Ballantyne)

Nourishing Traditions (by Sally Fallon) (this is the book that started my real food journey and completely changed the way I looked at food)

Keep it Simple

I could probably add about thirty more items to the list. There really are so many good ones. But these top my list.

Remember, some nice tea, a cute apron, a night off from cooking, a back rub or a few hours of quiet also make perfect real foodie gifts. And won’t break the bank.

You can also keep it simple with homemade hot cocoa or a big bag of kettle corn granola.

What’s on your real foodie wish list this year?

October 17, 2017

Inviting You Into My (Blessed) Mess

Sometimes life can get a bit chaotic. Today I’m inviting you into my (blessed) mess.

Let’s get REAL.

I don’t mean real as in real food. I don’t mean real as in natural health. I mean real and as in honest, real life with all of it’s mess and chaos.

Like my sweet, little girl that has turned into a threenager over night. Or my son that has returned to daily stomach aches. Reality.

If you follow my blog you may have noticed that it’s been pretty quiet around here lately. No fun, kid-friendly recipes. No meal plans. Silence.

Well, life has been messy. Literally one big mess. Let me show you what I mean.

My house.

This is the current status of our school room. As you can imagine, not much schooling is happening here. Don’t worry, we’re still doing plenty of school work. It has just moved to the living room and dining room.

And this…this is my kitchen floor. My children have decided it’s a place to throw whatever they like. I can barely walk through without tripping on shoes (even though the kitchen is right next to the mud room…where shoes belong).

This is my daughter’s craft area – that has been very unsupervised for a while now apparently. I keep telling myself I’m letting her be creative.

The Living Room…

Now we come to the living room. A messy coffee table is not that abnormal, right? This one is unique in that it’s been my table, my desk, my everything for the last two months. I’ve been parked on the couch with severe “morning” sickness.

Yes, all of this mess has been for one very good reason. God has blessed us with another miracle!! Next April we will welcome baby four into our family.

I am so grateful for all of the people that brought meals and helped take care of my kids. I am thankful for my family giving me grace in the midst of this chaos.

True humility.

Sometimes it’s in this chaos that God has to humble us too. You know I’m a big fan of real food and nourishing your body. I’m the lady that eats stir fry, roasted veggies and avocado for breakfast (normally). I’ve been gluten free for years. I avoid all things processed. And yet for the last two months I’ve lived on cereal, frozen pizza and canned ravioli. It’s hard to even say that out loud.

I’ve had to give myself grace and just eat whatever I could keep down. Any attempt of fruit and vegetables was met with a trip to the bathroom (or if that was too far I always had a bucket by my side). I couldn’t even think about meat without gagging. I tried every natural remedy out there. None of them made any impact. I have even been on anti-nausea medication. But I still was barely functional. Carbs and cheese. That’s about all I’ve been eating for months.

I managed to only lose one pound during the first trimester. So I call that a win. And I am rejoicing that I am finally starting to feel a little better and able to eat some real food again. I can keep squash, beef and Brussels sprouts down! What a blessing.

As much as I love a natural lifestyle, there are times when life gets messy and you have to just let go. Real food is great. But so is being real. This is our reality right now.

My time on the couch has taught me a few lessons.

Being sick is lonely!

I was still with my kids every day. I still talked with my husband every day. But it was different. Until a few days ago I couldn’t sit at the table to eat a meal. I felt like an outsider to my own family meal times. Most of the time my husband had to put the kids to bed (something I usually do). I missed out on those precious bedtime chats. I even missed taking care of my house. I just had to sit back and watch life happen. And watch the mess pile higher and higher.

Mess = Stress

I’ve realized just how much the mess in our house is the source of a lot of stress. For the whole family. Just a few days ago my oldest asked me, “Why am I so angry all the time lately?” I told her we all are..because our house is so chaotic.

The first item on my to-do list when I’ve regained my strength and energy is organizing and de-cluttering. I recently read an article about highly sensitive people. And it really resonated with me. I feel so much more peaceful when my house is simple. I honestly don’t even like many decorations on the walls. Having kids with sensory processing disorder I know it will help them as well.

I’m ready to do away with the nightly meltdowns about picking up toys because my kids don’t even know where to put anything. I’m ready for a clean, clear space to do our school work so my kids can truly focus. I’m ready for a play area that encourages my kids to read and explore without overwhelming them with options.

I’ll have to take it one room at a time. But I’ll get there. Simplify is the plan. More peace in our house is the goal.

I know life will be messy again when the new baby arrives. In the mean time I’m hoping to eliminate a lot of the mess in the house.

Kids are capable.

I’ve also learned how much my kids are capable of doing. How much they can work together and learn from each other. My oldest has been my backup teacher and mother lately. And she’s so good at it!! I think the kids listen to her better than they listen to me. She even took care of me when I was at my worst, making me food and helping around the house.

It’s a mess.

Real life is messy and chaotic at times. But it’s also full of joy and lessons learned. I’m thankful for our mess. I’m thankful for a little more energy to deal with the mess.

And most of all I’m thankful for my whole family, including our newest member on the way!!

All glory and honor go to God for this miracle. He is the author and creator of life. And we praise Him for his goodness to our family.

August 27, 2017

Real Food Meal Plan for Picky Eaters August 27, 2017

This week’s real food meal plan for picky eaters includes mac ‘n’ cheese, spaghetti and lots of eggs. Our hens are really starting to lay.

We made it through the final birthday week of the year. It was a lot of fun celebrating my daughter’s third birthday with family. But now I’m ready to get back to normal life after travel and celebrations. I’m anxious to get into our regular school routine.

In the Kitchen

There is never a lull in kitchen work. Our tomatoes are coming fast and furious. That means it’s time for spaghetti sauce. I also have sauerkraut to can. I’ll be happy to get that out of the fridge and free up some space.

After all of last week’s work to get ready for the party I’m taking the day off today. We’re just eating leftovers. And a long nap is in order too!

Just a reminder that you have a few more days to help a family in need. If you sign up for the Kids Cook Real Food ecourse in August, a membership will be donated to a family in need. It’s a win-win!

Here is our real food meal plan for picky eaters for the week. What’s on your menu?

Sunday
B – yogurt, granola, toast with peanut butter, fruit
L – leftovers
D – leftovers
prep:
notes:

Monday
B – yogurt, granola bars
D – beef stroganoff, beans
prep:
notes:

Tuesday
B – toast with sunbutter, fruit
D – mac ‘n’ cheese, peas
prep: can sauerkraut
notes:

Wednesday
B – hard boiled eggs, toast
D – spaghetti, broccoli
prep: make/can spaghetti sauce
notes:

Thursday
B – oat cups
D – tomato soup, grilled cheese
prep: make granola
notes:

Friday
B – yogurt, granola
D – fried eggs, toast, fruit, roasted zucchini
prep:
notes:

Saturday
B – eggs, toast
D – homemade pizza
prep:
notes:

August 20, 2017

Real Food Meal Plan for Picky Eaters August 20, 2017

This week’s real food meal plan for picky eaters includes fresh corn, eggs and a very special third birthday!

It’s hard to believe summer is winding down. When you live on a farm, this is when everything is in full swing! So there is no slowing down.

Our garden is still producing about twice as much as we need every day. I’m doing my best to preserve, cook and give away. Last week we canned peaches and salsa and froze corn.

This week we shift focus a bit to party prep. I can’t believe my baby turns three tomorrow! We will celebrate as a family today and then have a party with extended family on Saturday.

Things are exciting on the farm. My husband has been working hard adding on to our swing set…that didn’t have swings! The kids are so excited.

Our chickens are also getting into full swing with egg production. We get three or four a day right now. We may have to start selling some soon. I’ve been enjoying all the double yolks!

Now it’s time to worship, celebrate and then get busy! Here is our real food meal plan for picky eaters. What’s on your menu?

Sunday
B – cereal, fruit
D (birthday girl request) – sunbutter sandwiches, roasted cauliflower, grilled corn on the cob
prep: boil eggs
notes:

Monday
B – yogurt, granola bars
D – hot taco rice, broccoli
prep: bake cupcakes, make smoothies
notes:

Tuesday
B – toast with sunbutter, smoothies
D – crockpot chili, crackers with cheese or zucchini muffins
prep: freeze corn
notes:

Wednesday
B – hard boiled eggs, toast
D – crockpot meatballs, french fries, peas
prep: bake bread
notes:

Thursday
B – oat and chia cups
D – crockpot hobo dinners
prep: make popsicles, clean
notes:

Friday
B – yogurt, granola bars
D – meatloaf, roasted potatoes and carrots, beans, corn on the cob
prep: boil eggs, make layer salad, chop veggies, make hummus, make veggie dip, make frosting
notes:

Saturday
B – egg & spinach casserole, toast, fruit
L – chicken salad sandwiches, split pea soup, peaches
D (birthday party) – grilled burgers, roasted cauliflower, layer salad, fresh fruit, veggies with dip, chips with dip, potato salad
prep: chop fruit, decorate cupcakes, make lemonade, clean
notes:

August 13, 2017

Real Food Meal Plan for Picky Eaters August 13, 2017

This week’s real food meal plan for picky eaters includes sloppy joes, tacos and fresh corn on the cob!

We’re back from another family trip. We had a lot of fun, but it sure is good to be home again. Now it’s time to get focused on the farm and school work again…and something I’ve been dreading. My little one’s THIRD birthday!

Let’s Party!

It’s party time next week. So this week I’ll be baking and cleaning to get ready. Though I’m still not sure how it’s possible that she’s turning three. She is so independent, witty and even got her first staple in her head last week! At least she still likes to snuggle. And she won’t eat cake with frosting on it. I have to get creative for her birthday dessert.

In the kitchen, I’m switching gears from beans and zucchini (though those are still coming) to tomatoes, peppers and corn. That means it’s time to start canning spaghetti sauce, chili sauce and salsa and freezing corn. Plus peaches are in season!

Are you gearing up for packing lunches? Check out The Healthy Lunch Box eBook. It’s 35% off using coupon code BTS2017LUNCH. Grab your copy here!

Here is our real food meal plan for picky eaters. What’s on your menu?

Sunday
B – hard boiled eggs, toast
L – packed/on the road
D – brats, roasted cabbage, corn on the cob
prep:
notes:

Monday
B – yogurt, granola bars
D – sloppy joes, peas, roasted potatoes
prep:
notes:

Tuesday
B – toast with sunbutter, grapes
D – tacos, corn on the cob
prep: freeze corn, boil eggs
notes:

Wednesday
B – hard boiled eggs, toast
D – crockpot beef roast, beans, roasted potatoes or corn on the cob
prep: bake cupcakes
notes:

Thursday
B – blueberry oat cups
D – stuffed peppers. rice and beans
prep:
notes:

Friday
B – yogurt, granola bars
D – zucchini coffee cake, sausage, roasted zucchini
prep: make/can salsa, bake coffee cake
notes:

Saturday
B – coffee cake, fried eggs
D – BLT’s, corn on the cob, broccoli, peaches
prep: can peaches
notes:

August 6, 2017

Real Food Meal Plan for Picky Eaters August 6, 2017

This week’s real food meal plan for picky eaters includes zucchini boats, taco bowls and meatballs. Plus all the produce you could ever want.

I had to wave the white flag. I was doing ok with the flow of produce until the second half of last week. But I couldn’t keep up with the steady stream of cucumbers, zucchini and beans. My fridge couldn’t hold any more…and I had to go grocery shopping!

So I did what a good steward does – I gave it away! We had family over last night, and we gifted them with lots of delicious veggies. We might bring some to church today to share too. For a few days I get to enjoy a cleaned out fridge.

Teaching Moment

It’s a good lesson for my kids – to share with others and not hoard things. We’re trying to to do the same with toys. Our house is just getting too full of “stuff.” I think we would all benefit from purging a bit (this article really helped spur this on!). Now I just need to find the time to actually do it! I want our house to be functional and to be a calm place for creativity. Not a place to always feel overwhelmed by our things. The daily crying and nagging about clean up has got to go!

I’m doing my best to balance rest and healing with keeping up with homeschooling and kitchen work. Some days I push myself a bit too hard. And that’s followed by a day of taking a lot of time to rest. But overall I’m seeing steady progress!

Here is our real food meal plan for picky eaters. Have a wonderful week. Enjoy some delicious real food.

Sunday
B – cereal, smoothies
L – roast beef, mashed potatoes, peas
D – cheeseburger zucchini boats, peaches
prep: make granola bars, make zucchini bread jam?
notes:

Monday
B – yogurt, granola bars
D – meatloaf, beans, roasted potatoes
prep:
notes:

Tuesday
B – toast with sunbutter, bananas
D – crockpot hobo dinners
prep:
notes:

Wednesday
B – fried eggs, toast
D – hamburgers, peas, chips
prep:
notes:

Thursday
B – hard boiled eggs, toast, avocado
D – taco bowls
prep:
notes:

Friday
B – muffins with sunbutter, fruit
D – meatballs, beans, buttered noodles
prep:
notes:

Saturday
B – yogurt, granola bar
D – out to eat
prep:
notes:

July 30, 2017

Real Food Meal Plan for Picky Eaters July 30, 2017

This week’s real food meal plan for picky eaters includes more garden produce and our agenda includes lots of preservation work and preparation work for our next trip.

It’s Monday night. And I’m finally getting my menu up. We’ve been out of town visiting family…and working on one of my goals of resting and relaxing and healing. Mission accomplished!

Back to Work

Now it’s back to life as usual with the garden overflowing. Lots of preservation this week combined with school work, a trip to the library, grocery shopping, a playdate and Spanish camp. And I can’t forget about starting to prepare for another family trip. Never a dull moment.

But I’m doing my best to take time out to relax each day and making myself sleep in a little. It’s working. I’m seeing more and more signs of healing! God is good.

Have a great week. I hope you’re enjoying lots of delicious fresh food.

Sunday
B – out of town
L – out of town
D – out of town
prep:
notes:

Monday
B – out of town
D – grilled cheese, beans, salad
prep:
notes:

Tuesday
B – strawberry oat cups, smoothies, fried eggs
D – zucchini noodles with tomato sauce and meatballs, garlic bread
prep: bake bread, freeze beans, can pickles
notes:

Wednesday
B – hard boiled eggs, toast, fruit
D – pork meatballs, rice, broccoli with cheese sauce
prep: can beans
notes:

Thursday
B – toast with sunbutter, smoothies
D – crockpot pork roast, roasted Brussels sprouts and cauliflower, roasted potatoes
prep:
notes:

Friday
B – yogurt, granola, fruit
D – pancakes, bacon, roasted purple cabbage
prep: can sauerkraut
notes:

Saturday
B – pancakes, bacon
D – crockpot beef roast, baked potatoes, beans
prep: make lunch meat, make beef jerky
notes:

July 23, 2017

Real Food Meal Plan for Picky Eaters July 23, 2017

This week’s real food meal plan for picky eaters includes lots of zucchini, cabbage and beans! The garden is overflowing.

If you’re on facebook you saw my message recently about needing to really take a step back from work and take care of my body. So I’m trying. I still need to plan meals. So I’m still sharing them with you. But my writing is going to be pretty short for a while so I can rest and recover.

With that said, here is this week’s meal plan! I hope you are enjoying lots of delicious produce too!! Need any zucchini? We’ve got plenty!

Sunday
B – cereal, chocolate banana smoothies
L – crockpot roast chicken, rice, peas
D – egg muffins, zucchini muffins, roasted purple cabbage
prep: bake granola bars, freeze beans, boil eggs, roast beets
notes:

Monday
B – yogurt, granola bars
D – crockpot meatballs, noodles, sauteed beans
prep: make zucchini jam?
notes:

Tuesday
B – muffins, sunbutter, fruit
D – chicken noodle soup, zucchini muffins, salad
prep: bake muffins, freeze beans
notes:

Wednesday
B – hard boiled eggs, toast
D – chicken, broccoli, rice skillet, sauteed zucchini
prep:
notes:

Thursday
B – bagel with cream cheese
D – crockpot hobo dinners, beans
prep:
notes:

Friday
B – yogurt, muffins
D – with family
prep:
notes:

Saturday
B – with family
D – with family
prep:
notes: