Category: Food allergies

Does one (or all!) of your children have food allergies? Sadly this is no longer a rare thing. More and more kids struggle with food allergies now than ever before.

I’ve been there too. Skin testing, blood work, epi-pens…the works. It can be challenging or down right scary.

But you don’t have to live in fear. And you don’t have to just accept food allergies as a life sentence. There is help!

My son went from over twenty food allergies and an epi-pen to being able to eat just about anything. Even nuts!

There are ways to heal the gut and nourish the body so your child can get back to a normal life. Food allergies have so many underlying causes. Once you figure out the root problem and treat it the body will begin to heal.

Don’t let food allergies define your life. I’m here to help you and your child heal.

May 3, 2015

Allergen Friendly Meal Plans Week of 5-3-15

Welcome to May! Are you enjoying beautiful spring weather like we are? Well, it’s actually more like summer weather. My kids wanted to run through the sprinkler yesterday…and it was snowing two weeks ago.

This week is another birthday week! I can’t believe my son will be four years old. I’ll be working on cake stuff all week. My farmer-in-training wants a cow spotted cake. I’ve already got the decorations done. I also got the flour soaking this morning for the cake. I still have to bake the cake, make powdered sugar, make frosting, frost the cake and decorate it.

I also need to make a batch of ice cream this week. I would love to make cookies and cream, but I don’t think I have time to bake cookies…though my son has been begging for “Oreos.” I might just have to do vanilla or chocolate chip. He said he wouldn’t mind mint either.

On that topic – my son got to eat dairy ice cream last week! What excitement. We are still moving along with the raw milk/cream trial. It seems to be going well. I sure am enjoying not having to make him dairy free food! Hopefully it won’t be long before I am the only one that needs separate foods.

And on that topic – my diet/my little one’s diet just got more restricted. We are finally realizing that one of the biggest issues for her is reflux or possibly GERD. And it is caused by all palm products…even coconut oil. Last week I mistakenly ate dates (I had no idea they grew on palm trees!!) and we had some screaming sessions again. I’m finally taking the last step and eliminating coconut oil to see how it goes. This will not be easy by any means as that was my main source of fat and energy (I typically eat 4-6 Tbsp. of coconut oil a day…that’s about 720 calories and 84g of fat…I have to make up for it now). It is also what I use for all of my cooking and baking.

Now it’s time to restock the house with lard and tallow and get creative again. It will sure make recipe creating/baking challenging if I can’t taste anything I make anymore.

My little one cut THREE teeth last week. We are all happy about that. Yes, there are still more coming. But hopefully we get a little break from the intense teething.

This will be a week of experimenting with new diet. Hopefully last night’s ease of nursing is an indication that things are already improving. My poor baby has been in pain for months…and I didn’t even realize it. She is so good natured she hardly ever fusses about anything. Hopefully nursing will really improve with these changes.

We had another incident of red spots all over her cheek yesterday too. So I think it’s time to finally get her tested for allergies so we know if there are any severe ones.

On my kitchen agenda for the week so far: birthday cake, powdered sugar, ice cream, frosting, pizza crackers and sourdough bread. I might make more fruit snacks. If time allows I’ll do some baking for myself so I have something to eat! I’m considering making a pie for Mother’s Day…that I can eat.

Last week I posted some staple recipes for tortillas and bagels. They are both great things to keep on hand. Check back tomorrow for another great all purpose recipe. Then Tuesday I’ve got a really exciting recipe that will be posted on Super Healthy Kids.

I finally made it the meat market yesterday, so meal planning was much more fun this week. I’m also glad that I can finally make more broth! Our freezer stash is running very low. Here is what’s on the menu. What are you eating this week?

Sunday
B – cereal, banana
L – grilled brats, peas, french fries
D – chicken meatballs, rice, roasted cauliflower
*soak flour for cake, make powdered sugar for frosting, make sd bread

Monday
B – yogurt, granola, fruit
D – cp roast chicken, baked potatoes, carrots
*bake cake, make broth

Tuesday
B – donuts, yogurt
D (prep ahead) – bacon chicken salad sandwiches on sd bread, carrots and cucumbers with dip, fruit salad
*skim cream, strain/freeze broth

Wednesday
B – yogurt, granola with milk
D (prep ahead) – creamy broccoli soup with chicken and bacon, sd garlic toast
*make ice cream, make “Oreos”

Thursday
B – muffins, fruit
D – sloppy joes, chips, beans
*make fruit snacks, make pizza crackers

Friday
B – yogurt, granola, fruit
D – pan seared salmon, seasoned rice, broccoli
*soak flour for muffins, soak flour for pancakes, soak pie crust?

Saturday
B (birthday breakfast) – blueberry muffins, fruit, yogurt
D (birthday dinner) – blueberry pancakes, sausage, asparagus
*make frosting, frost cake, decorate cake

April 27, 2015

Soaked Gluten Free Tortillas {dairy free, nut free, egg free, corn free}

When you have to eat gluten, corn and rice free there isn’t much convenience food you can buy at the store. So a simple meal like tacos gets pretty boring when you have no shell or chips for your meat – especially for a kid!

But no need to cross taco night off your menu – you can make your own tortillas! My son inspires me to create homemade versions of things you just can’t get at the store without his allergens. So when we had tacos recently I decided to make homemade tortillas.

This tortilla is soaked and free of gluten, corn, rice, eggs, dairy and nuts. Simply mix the dough, roll the tortillas, let them sit and then cook for about a minute when you are ready to eat. If you have a tortilla press (that will be on my next gift list!) they would be even easier to make.

You can also make a double or triple batch and stock your freezer so you have some on hand at all times. They thaw in minutes.

My son loved these!!! He was so happy to be able to eat a regular taco like everyone else (I was pretty happy that I could have one too!).

You can also use them for any sandwich creation – chicken salad, salmon salad, ham and cheese or even peanut butter and honey. Homemade tortillas make a fun substitute for a hot dog bun too! They are perfect for fun lunch foods.

I personally liked them to snack on – simply spread butter or coconut oil and dash of salt on top for the perfect energy booster.

I use gelatin to bind the flour and give some flexibility to the tortilla. Plus it boosts the nutritional value!

If you need a homemade tortilla because you are allergic to the store bought versions or you simply don’t like all the unhealthy ingredients in them this is the perfect recipe! Get your flour soaking for delicious tortillas. Taco night just got a little healthier.

Soaked Gluten Free Tortillas {dairy free, nut free, corn free}

2015-04-14 05:29:57

Yields 8

A simple homemade tortilla that is very allergen friendly.

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Ingredients

1/2 cup tapioca flour
1 cup amaranth flour
1/4 cup warm water
1 Tbsp. lemon juice
2 tsp. gelatin dissolved in 1/4 cup hot water
1 1/2 tsp. unrefined sea salt
2 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil

Instructions

In a medium bowl, combine all of the ingredients. Mix until a ball of dough forms.
Split the dough into 8 balls.
Roll each ball of dough between two pieces of parchment paper until about 1/8" thick/desired tortilla thickness
Layer tortillas between pieces of parchment paper. Place under a towel or in a bag and let sit 7-24 hours.

When ready to serve

Cook the tortillas on a hot, ungreased skillet - about 20 seconds per side.
Place the warm tortillas in a bag or under a towel until ready to serve to keep them soft and pliable.

To reheat

Place the tortillas in a wet paper towel and warm in the oven/toaster oven for a minute or two. This will also help soften them.

By Mary - homemadedutchapplepie.com

Just Take A Bite https://justtakeabite.com/

In order for me to support my blogging activities, I may receive monetary compensation or other types of remuneration for my endorsement, recommendation, testimonial and/or link to any products or services from this blog.

April 26, 2015

Allergen Friendly Meal Plans Week of 4-26-19

April is coming to a close this week. Hopefully that means May flowers (tulips!) and lots of sun! I’m ready for ice cream weather…even if I can’t actually eat ice cream right now.

We’re back to our usual busy routine this week, including an orthodontic appointment, grocery shopping and my mom’s group meeting.

Since my son’s birthday is less than two weeks away it’s time to get started planning/preparing cake stuff. I’ll be making cake decorations this week.

Growing like a weed…hopefully drinking a lot more milk!

Also on the kitchen agenda (so far) – quinoa bars, cereal, sourdough bread, muffins, noodles (recipe coming soon!), pizza dough, fruit snacks and possibly granola bars.

I spent the last week catching up on some of my writing. That means now it’s time to brainstorm new recipes. Hit me with your ideas/requests!!

We let my son try milk last week. It’s still TBD if he’s tolerating it or not. There are no major reactions so far. But we are watching for subtle things too. I really hope he can continue with the raw milk. What a blessing that would be. He is definitely growing and eating more these days, which is wonderful too.

The teething monster that chews on everything.

We’ve had another rough week of sleeping and nursing for my little one. This time it’s because of teething. She is trying to cut about six teeth right now and is in pain. Hopefully they will come through soon. But if she is anything like her big sister we have a long road ahead of us.

Last week I shared a recipe for sourdough bagels with strawberry cream cheese. This week I’ve got some new gluten free recipes for you that you won’t want to miss!

Here is the week’s menu. I’m trying my best to stretch our meat since we go through it so quickly…and it’s so expensive! So I’m only cooking three cuts of meat this week. For the other four dinners I’ll be repurposing leftovers. What are you eating this week?

Sunday
B – banana bread, yogurt parfaits
L – cp roast beef, roasted potatoes, beans
D – taco dip, refried beans, chips, peaches
*grind flour, soak quinoa for quinoa bars, soak oats

Monday
B – oatmeal
D – beef and vegetable stir fry over rice
*make quinoa bars, boil eggs

Tuesday
B – hard boiled egg, toast
D (prep ahead) – ~~cp roast chicken,~~ cp pork chops, baked potatoes, carrots
*~~make noodles~~, soak flour for muffins, feed sd starter

Wednesday
B – quinoa bars, yogurt
D (prep ahead) – ~~chicken noodle soup~~, meatball soup, muffins
*bake muffins, soak flour for cereal, make sd bread

Thursday
B – cereal, fruit
D – cp ham, baked sweet potatoes, beans
*make cereal, prep oat cups

Friday
B – oat cups
D – ham and cheese omelettes, toast, broccoli
*feed sd starter, make fruit snacks

Saturday
B – kids’ choice
D – sourdough pizza with ham and olives, roasted vegetables
*make pizza dough, make cake decorations

April 21, 2015

Ecocentric Mom – Mom Box Review

**I am working with Ecocentric Mom to blog about this Mom box. I have been compensated for my time commitment to review this product. However, my opinions are entirely my own and I have not been paid to publish positive comments.**

I’m so excited to share with you another box from ecocentric Mom! I’ve reviewed a Mom + Baby box before. Now I get to tell you about a Mom box!

Ecocentric Mom does the hard work for you – finding great products that are natural and healthy. You get a box full of fun stuff to try at a fraction of the cost. It can be a one time event, or you can get a new box every other month. I think it’s like having Christmas all year long!

There are many neat products that you may not otherwise hear about. In the two boxes I’ve received I have already found multiple items I will definitely be buying again.

This month I tried a Mom box. It was such a treat to get a box with items just for me (there was even an extra special treat for this dairy free mom…bet you can guess which one). Here are the items I tried.

Country Choice Organic Oatmeal

“Country Choice Organic is a producer of USDA certified organic oatmeal. These single serve oatmeal packets include a multigrain blend of oats, rye, barley and wheat. At only 160-170 calories, each serving is a powerful source of fiber and protein. Maple Spice with Raisin and Cranberry Apple.”

Packaged oatmeal is not something I would normally buy since I like to soak our oats. But it can come in handy when you are traveling or for those days here and there where you just don’t have time to make anything. It came in handy for us recently when all three kids had the flu and I needed an easy breakfast for my husband!

I can’t eat most of the grains in this oatmeal, so I can’t give a personal opinion. But my husband really enjoyed it! Take note that it is not gluten free. It does have rye, barley and wheat.

Goddess Garden

“We created Goddess Garden because our family loves the great outdoors. Unlike traditional chemical sunscreens, Goddess Garden is safe, effective, biodegradable, and free from harmful chemicals.”

This looks like a really great product and a safe alternative to traditional sunscreens. I’ll admit we haven’t actually tried it yet since it’s only 40 degrees here! I don’t put sunscreen on myself or my kids regularly because I think it’s good to soak up some sun. But if I know we are going to be outside in direct sun for a long time (like at the beach or sitting at a parade or a baseball game) then I do. I will definitely be trying this when the time comes.

Earth’s Enrichment

“This USDA Organic Certified body & skin care company prides itself on being health conscious and environmentally friendly. Each product is 95%+ organic & provides the best skin care that organic products can!”

I got to try Earth’s Enrichment’s Lavender of the valley sugar scrub. I am such a low maintenance person when it comes to personal care. I don’t usually take the time for things like sugar scrubs. But I decided to give this a try. I have only used it on my face so far, but it’s great!! I figured I’d only try it once and forget about it…but I’ve been using it almost every night. It makes my skin feel so fresh, clean and soft.

I also love that I know what every single ingredient in the scrub is. It is so natural you could actually eat it…though I don’t really recommend it. They have a whole line of healthy skin care products. I may have to try more of them.

Pure + Remedy (two products)

“Botanical Firming Eye Cream: This powerful firming eye cream is formulated with dozens of botanical extracts, plant oils, and vitamins to boost collagen production, promote cellular rejuvenation and repair wrinkles. It will leave your eye area soft and hydrated with fine lines and wrinkles minimized.”

“Vitamin C Concentrate Eye Gel: This gentle and lightweight eye gel is a concentrated delivery system for a high form of active, bioavailable Vitamin C to skin around eyes. It instantly cools and soothes the delicate eye area.”

Pure + Remedy has two great eye products. The firming eye cream is great for wrinkles. I think I’ll have to use it a while longer to notice any results. I don’t have much in the way of wrinkles yet. But I think this will still be helpful to keep my skin nice.

The eye gel is cooling under the eyes. It feels like a little pick-me-up for weary mom eyes. I will add this to my nightly routine some days.

Eco Eggs

“Eco eggs are made in the USA from plants, 100% renewable content, and are fully compostable after use. They are made from non-toxic, durable, plant-based plastic and have a secure closure. eco eggs can be stored and reused for many Easters. After use, dispose of eggs in industrial compost.”

What a fun surprise to see an Easter egg in my box this month! My kids are enjoying playing with it. But how cool that I can compost it when we’re done with it!

Equal Exchange

“Equal Exchange minis are made with cacao (cocoa beans) from farmer co-operatives in the Dominican Republic and Peru. The sugar and vanilla are also fairly traded and organic. The sugar comes from co-operatives in Paraguay and the vanilla from a co-operative in Madagascar.”

This was my favorite part of the box…dairy free chocolate! Just for me. I don’t eat much chocolate these days since it can make my little one spit up (though thankfully that’s getting better as she gets older). But this was a real treat. Each mini is the perfect size. Not too much. Just a little taste. Plus they don’t have any junk in them. And no soy! Now I’m tempted to buy a full size bar.

Bear’s Beauty

“100% Natural Hand-Made Small Batch Vegan Skin Care or the whole family! Essential Oils & Clays are suspended in a base of Shea Butter and Coconut Oil to give you a naturally fresh experience without chemicals!”

I got to try the Bear’s Beauty Grapefruit and Lavender deodorant. I have a hard time finding deodorant that actually works. I sweat more than I would like. But this brand works quite well! Plus it smells really good. I’ve been using this almost every day since I got it.

I am interested in trying some of their other products now. Especially the chocolate toothpaste! If you want to try their products you can use the coupon code ECOMOM2015 for 15% off your first order over $25. What a great deal.

Eco Trek Whole Foods Bar

“The Whole Food Bars are created from nutrient-dense ingredients, avoiding refined sugars and artificial sweeteners. They contain a wide variety of green foods, and happen to be vegan & dairy-free too!”

I have mixed feelings about this bar. I like that it has so much nutrition packed into one little bar. It has 100% RDA of so many vitamins and minerals. It also tastes really good (I could only try a little since I don’t tolerate nuts well and it is made with peanuts). I had to stop myself from eating more than a couple small bites. My husband and my daughter tried it too and agreed that it tasted great.

On the other hand I am not a fan of some of the ingredients like soy protein, Fruitrim (not totally sure what that is), Fructooligosaccharides, Agave Syrup, Resveratrol, Soy Protein Crisps and Natural Flavors. So this is not a product I would buy because of the ingredients. I’d rather make my own bar.

Brigit True Organics

“Brigit True Organics is a woman-owned, organic skin care company that offers hypoallergenic body care for super-sensitive skin. Their whole line is gluten-free, soy-free and doesn’t contain any nut oils.
Their Peppermint Lip Balm is crafted with soothing healing herbs to bring immediate comfort and long-lasting protection to sensitive, dry, or chapped lips.”

I love this lip balm! It came at the perfect time since I’m out of my old chap stick and my lips are dry from the long winter. The peppermint is very refreshing too. Best of all this balm is made with quality ingredients.

Overall this was a pretty cool box. As a mom of three little ones I don’t take much time for myself or get very many things that are just for me. So this was a real treat. It would be fun to get one of these on a regular basis! If you haven’t checked out ecocentric mom you really should.

April 19, 2015

Allergen Friendly Meal Plans Week of 4-19-15

Good morning! We made it through another busy birthday week. We’ve got three weeks until we do it all over again.

This week it’s time to play catch up. We don’t have too much out of the ordinary going on and no major kitchen projects. Maybe we can all get some extra rest.

My baking list includes graham crackers, “wheat thin” crackers, soaked granola, banana bread (I have lots of bananas to use up after my daughter’s birthday treat!) and sourdough bread.

Tomorrow we start OMT (osteopathic manipulation therapy) for my little one to help settle her body from the stress of the tongue/lip/nursing issues. My oldest has her yearly check up this week too.

I keep learning new things daily about our diet. It seems that my little one doesn’t just have issues with coconut…it’s any product of the palm family. So no more using palm shortening in my baking (for me). And no more birthday cake for me. For now she seems to do well if I avoid any coconut product (besides coconut oil), any palm product, dairy, peanuts and gassy vegetables. I’ve also been avoiding egg whites since I’m not sure how she handles them. All of that keeps the screaming/nursing strikes away.

My son seems to be making good progress lately. We introduced peanuts into his diet and so far so good. Though to be fair he never did have a peanut allergy. His allergy was to almonds. So we just decided to avoid all nuts just in case. I’m thinking about trying more dairy products (cheese and milk) again soon.

I’m trying to decide if I can continue eating sourdough (gluten) or if I need to take it back out of my diet. I have a lot of bad symptoms lately that I know are largely due to stress/adrenal issues. But I’m wondering if some of it is also my thyroid…which is impacted by gluten. It is all related, so it’s hard to figure out what is causing what. Maybe next week I’ll experiment with back to strict gluten free.

If you haven’t yet, be sure to enter the Hamilton Beach blender giveaway!

I’m keeping meals simple this week and not overscheduling my kitchen work. Hopefully that means I can squeeze in some good naps. Do you have a busy week or an easy week? What’s on your menu?

Sunday
B – egg casserole, toast
L – hot dogs, chips and vegetables w/ dip, fresh fruit
D – cp spare ribs, mashed potatoes, beans
*soak flour for graham crackers

Monday
B – yogurt, granola, fruit
D – cp tomato soup, grilled cheese
*make graham crackers, boil eggs

Tuesday
B – hard boiled egg, toast
D (prep ahead) – cp 7 layer dinner
*soak oats, feed sd, make sd bread

Wednesday
B – cereal, fruit
D (prep ahead) – cp split pea soup, sd bread
*dry oats, make granola

Thursday
B – banana bread, fruit
D – pork burgers, sweet potato fries, peas
*make banana bread, soak flour for pancakes

Friday
B – yogurt, granola
D – bacon, pancakes, roasted vegetables
*bake apples, soak flour for crackers

Saturday
B – apple pie parfait
D – sd bacon avocado sandwiches, roasted vegetables, fruit salad
*make crackers

April 12, 2015

Allergen Friendly Meal Plans Week of 4-12-15

Good morning. Are you ready for the new week? Spring break is over for us, so it’s back to normal routines, orthodontist and mom’s group. Plus I have lots of errands to run.

To top it off this Friday is my daughter’s seventh birthday! So I’ll be working on birthday treats all week long (two tier cake w/ homemade frosting and decorations, candy bar ice cream and a special school treat too…I can’t wait to share pictures of all of it!). That will keep me busy in the kitchen. Though I’ll still have plenty of other stuff to do just to keep us fed.

I’m trying to keep meals simple this week since we’ll be on the go a lot. We’re low on a lot of cuts of meat (not even one piece of chicken in the house), so it’s getting challenging. At least today I don’t really have to cook. We’ve got lots of leftovers from the weekend since I did a lot of cooking for our guests.

We discovered over the weekend that my little one is extremely sensitive if not allergic to peanuts. Just a little on her skin caused big red splotches (plus she got hives from me eating a small amount of peanut butter a couple weeks ago). My husband has been getting stomach aches from peanuts lately too. I let my son have peanuts for the first time in a year and a half last week. We’re still watching to see if his body is reacting. So peanuts will be pretty limited around here.

We’re still dealing with tongue issues for my little one. We’ll see how she does with a normal week and not so much extra stimulation from siblings and house guests. We may have to get her re-evaluated or do some other kinds of therapies.

I guess we’re just working on things one day at a time here. Hopefully in the forward/healing direction. Here’s what’s on the menu this week. What are you eating?

Sunday
B – apple dumpling muffins, yogurt, granola, plums
L – leftover sloppy joes, roasted veggies, fresh veggies
D – leftover lasagna, garlic toast, roasted veggies
*bake sd bread, make cake decorations, grind flour, make powdered sugar

Monday
B – muffins, fruit
D – creamy beef and noodles, broccoli
*soak flour for cake, skim cream/make ice cream, boil eggs

Tuesday
B – hard boiled egg, toast
D (prep ahead) – squash and sausage soup, crackers with cheese
*bake cake

Wednesday
B – muffins, yogurt
D (prep ahead) – cp meatloaf, baked potatoes, carrots
*make cake decorations

Thursday
B – cereal, fruit
D – hashbrown, egg and sausage bake, beans, fruit
*make school treats

Friday
B – granola bar, fruit
D – salmon cakes, sweet potato fries, peas
*make frosting/decorate cake, soak flour for pancakes

Saturday
B (birthday breakfast) – pancakes
D (birthday dinner) – grilled steak and asparagus, french fries
*make strawberry frozen yogurt

April 5, 2015

Allergen Friendly Meal Plans Week of 4-5-15

Christ is risen! The Lord is risen indeed! Happy Easter. I can’t think of a better way to start my week than by celebrating Christ’s resurrection. We are also celebrating my husband’s birthday today!

I hardly dare say it, but I think we are almost back to full health here. Last week was filled with way too much puking, doctor’s visits, crying, restless nights, not eating and laundry for my taste. Hopefully this week will be much better.

My oldest will be home all week for spring break. We’re not going anywhere this year. I’m just going to enjoy having all three kids home and doing some fun projects together. I think I’m going to have the kids help me spring clean and do some baking to stock our empty freezer.

We also have to get the house cleaned up since my in-laws will be visiting this weekend. After sanitizing the house last week and finally getting my kids’ bedroom cleaned it shouldn’t be too hard.

It just so happened that along with our crazy sickness week I had some big writing deadlines. I’m glad I managed to somehow get things done on time. Now it’s back to writing at my own pace. I still have quite a few deadlines in April, but they are doable.

I have a lot of items on my kitchen agenda this week. Since today is my husband’s birthday I’m making him some special food. He requested lasagna and cheesecake. Plus you have to have fudge sauce to go with the cheesecake. So I’ll make those when my in-laws come. My son has also been begging for cookies (and wants to share them with Grandpa and Grandma). I also need to make graham crackers and muffins. I might make brownies and granola. And I’ll probably be making some sourdough bread to get me through the week. If time allows I’ll make strawberry frozen yogurt.

Last week I posted a few drink recipes – homemade oat milk, homemade quinoa milk and a bedtime beverage (you don’t want to miss that one!). Coming up this week I’ve got some fun ways to use broth.

Here is our menu for this week. Enjoy your Easter celebration.

Sunday
B – oatmeal, banana
L – with family
D – grilled hot dogs, grilled asparagus, french fries
*make water kefir, ~~feed sd starter~~ soak flour for graham crackers

Monday
B – ~~muffins, fruit~~ granola bar, yogurt
D – ~~sd pizza w/ sausage and olives, carrots~~ cp steak, seasoned rice, sauteed broccoli
*bake muffins?, ~~make sd pizza crust~~, soak flour for brownies, make graham crackers, sprout beans

Tuesday
B – yogurt, granola, fruit
D – cp ham and bean soup, muffins
*soak flour for cookies, bake brownies, boil eggs

Wednesday
B – hard boiled eggs, toast
D – pork meatballs, mashed potatoes, beans
*make chocolate chip cookies, feed sd starter, make sd bread

Thursday
B – cereal, fruit
D – scrambled eggs, sd toast, peas, pears
*make cream cheese, make fudge sauce, clean

Friday
B – yogurt, granola, fruit
D – cp roast beef, roasted sweet potatoes, roasted cauliflower and brussels sprouts, rolls
*make cheesecake, clean, prep breakfast

Saturday
B – oat cups or yogurt parfaits, fruit, muffins, toast
L – sloppy joes, chips, vegetables with dip and hummus, fruit
D – lasagna, roasted mixed vegetables, garlic bread / cheesecake
*

March 31, 2015

Homemade Quinoa Milk {Nursing Mother’s Drink}

Homemade quinoa milk is a delicious alternative to dairy that is also great for nursing mothers boost milk supply.

Have you ever tried quinoa milk? Despite the growing variety of alternative milks available, it is not something I’ve ever seen at the store (though I have seen one brand of it online).

As I mentioned in my oat milk post I’m not a huge fan of nut milks. Especially for young kids and nursing moms.

My first choice is always fresh, raw milk from cows or goats. Unfortunately a dairy intolerance is very common for small babies. Which means mom needs an alternative.

Coconut milk is a great choice for cooking, baking and adding a splash to tea. But it’s not something most people will drink plain in large quantities. Plus it can also be hard on babies since it can be gassy and even cause reflux.

Enter quinoa milk! It has a very mild flavor – similar to rice milk. It is also very easy to make and very cost effective. One quarter cup of quinoa can make up to six cups of milk!

The best thing about quinoa milk is that it is great for boosting milk supply. If you tolerate quinoa and are a nursing mother I encourage you to include quinoa in your diet. Even if you can have dairy this is a great alternative milk to have in your diet for variety and nutrition.

Unlike other alternative milks quinoa milk has quite a bit of protein. You can add both calcium and vitamin D when you make it to boost nutrition even more.

Quinoa milk is not heavy like nut milks. It has a very neutral flavor. It works well for cooking and baking. Plus it is great for boosting milk supply!

Need some variety in your diet? Or are you just looking for an alternative to dairy? Give quinoa milk a try.

Homemade Quinoa Milk: Nursing Mother's Drink {fermented option}

2015-02-23 05:01:42

A delicious alternative drink that helps boost milk supply.

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Ingredients

1/4 cup quinoa
2 tsp. lemon juice
warm water
5 cups water
2 Tbsp. coconut sugar, cane sugar, honey or maple syrup OR 3 dates (optional)
1/2 tsp. sea salt (optional)
Vitamin D drops (optional)
calcium powder (optional)
2 Tbsp. whey (optional)

Instructions

Place the quinoa and lemon juice in a bowl. Cover with warm water (quantity does not matter, as long as it's covered)
Let soak for 24 hours.
Drain and rinse the quinoa.
Combine the quinoa and 5 cups water in a medium saucepan.
Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer, covered, for 2 hours.
If using dates as a sweetener add them to the pan during the last 30 minutes of cooking.
Pour the quinoa and water into a blender.
Blend until smooth.

Non-fermented method

Add sweetener (if desired/if not using dates) and sea salt. Blend.
Pour into a serving container.
Add vitamin D and calcium if desired.
Refrigerate.
Shake before serving.

Fermented Method

Pour the blended mixture into a container.
Add salt and whey.
Cover and let sit at room temperature for 3 days.
Add sweetener and vitamin D/calcium and refrigerate.
Shake before serving.

Notes

You can add 1 tsp. of pure vanilla to the pureed mixture for vanilla quinoa milk.
If the milk is too thick for your taste it can be diluted with extra water or it can be strained.
This should not be used for children under one year of age.
This makes a great dairy alternative for both kids and adults.
This recipe can easily be doubled.
This recipe makes about 5 cups of milk. It can be increased by adding extra water.

By Mary - homemadedutchapplepie.com

Just Take A Bite https://justtakeabite.com/

This post is linked to Savoring Saturdays.

March 30, 2015

Homemade Oat Milk {fermented option}

Looking for a unique dairy alternative that does not contain coconut or nuts? This homemade oat milk is cheap, easy to make, and delicious.

I am a huge fan of raw milk. I’d drink it by the glass full if I could right now. But my little one would be in a lot of pain if I did.

Being dairy-free is a big adjustment. But it’s nothing new to us. We entered the world of no dairy and alternative milks years ago.

At that time my son was also allergic to nuts and rice. So that eliminates a lot of options.

Homemade Oat Milk Dairy Alternative

We tried different versions of coconut milk. That was a big no. I can’t blame him – coconut milk tastes nothing like dairy milk. Even I can’t drink that plain.

Finally I found oat milk – something he didn’t mind drinking. Something I could use in cooking and baking that would be safe for him.

But oat milk is definitely not cheap. We usually pay about $3.50 for each small box.

Recently I was reading through Nourishing Traditions and saw a recipe for rice milk with an option to use oats. I had to try it immediately!

How to Make Oat Milk

First I made a fermented version. I figured it would be the healthiest option if my son would drink it. But it didn’t go over very well.

So I modified it a bit and made an unfermented version. Success!

Let me tell you this is SO much cheaper than buying oat milk. A quarter cup of oats makes over four cups of milk! Not only that I like that I can make sure the oats are properly prepared since oats are very high in phytic acid.

Nut-Free Milk Alternative

I may be in the minority, but I am not a big fan of nut milks. I don’t think anyone needs to consume that kind of quantity of nuts on a regular basis. They do contain quite a bit of omega-6’s, which we get more than enough of.

So I’m happy to have a safe alternative to dairy that my kids enjoy and doesn’t cost a ton. It is also extremely easy to make (just cook oats and puree).

The other benefit of having alternative milks is to make sure you get variety in your diet. This is very important when dealing with allergies. Rotating milk sources can help prevent future allergies or sensitivities.

How to Use Oat Milk

Oat milk works very well for baking. I even use it in cream soups and stews. It has a very neutral flavor.

You can also drink it plain or use it on oatmeal or homemade cereal.

As I mentioned you can make it into a fermented drink to boost nutrition. If you are used to ferments you can give that a try. If you are making it for kids that might have a more sensitive palate try it without fermenting.

Are you dairy-free? Are you looking for a unique milk substitute? Try homemade oat milk. It’s a mildly sweet, satisfying drink.

Need more options?

Try homemade rice milk or homemade quinoa milk.

Homemade Oat Milk {fermented option}

2015-02-23 04:43:50

A simple beverage made from oats.

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Ingredients

1/4 cup old fashioned oats
1 cup warm water
4 cups water, divided
4 Tbsp. coconut sugar, honey or maple syrup (optional)
1/4 tsp. sea salt (optional)
vitamin D drops (optional)
2 Tbsp. whey (optional)

Instructions

Soak the oats in 1 cup warm water for 24 hours.
Combine the soaked oats and 3 cups water in a medium saucepan.
Bring to a boil and simmer, covered, 2 hours.
Pour the oats and water into a blender.
Proceed with the non-fermented or fermented version from this point.

Non-fermented method

Add the salt and sugar.
Blend well.
Pour into a jar and add another 1 cup water.
Refrigerate.
Add a few drops of Vitamin D (optional).
Shake before pouring.
Add extra water if milk is too thick for your taste.

Fermented method

Blend the oats and water.
Pour into a jar.
Add the whey and 1/2 tsp. sea salt.
Cover and let sit at room temperature for 3 days.
Stir in sweetener and 1 cup extra water.
Add vitamin D if desired.
Store in the refrigerator.
Shake well before serving.

Notes

This recipe easily doubles to make a half gallon of oat milk.
This milk should not be used for children under the age of one since they don't have the enzymes to digest grains.
This makes about 5 cups of milk.
You can add extra water to the milk to thin it out.

By Mary - homemadedutchapplepie.com

Just Take A Bite https://justtakeabite.com/

March 29, 2015

Allergen Friendly Meal Plans Week of 3-29-15

Happy Palm Sunday! I can’t believe we are only a week away from Easter. With more cold weather and a chance of snow it sure doesn’t feel like it. And with our first round of flu to hit our house the whole season it also doesn’t seem like spring.

It was another stressful weekend of having one sick kid and trying to keep the others healthy. I am praying this is over soon and that the baby stays healthy.

So our week is a little uncertain depending on everyone’s status. For sure half of the family will be staying home from church today. Thankfully we don’t have any plans for tomorrow either. Spring break starts on Friday. We are not going anywhere. I think we all need to just relax a bit.

We will be seeing family both for Easter and the following weekend. So I’m working on meal planning/prepping and cleaning.

My kitchen to-do’s are dependent on how everyone is feeling. This is what I have planned for now: gluten free bread, whole wheat muffins, gluten free sweet bread, gluten free corn muffins and gluten free crackers (for the crust for my husband’s birthday cheesecake).

With all of the stress I’ve been under for the last six weeks my body is really struggling. Pretty much every symptom that pops up related to some form of stress is happening: acne/cysts on my face, head and neck, hair falling out, tooth decay, weight gain in my abdomen, poor digestion, blood shot and itchy eyes, body odor (no matter how many times I wash or how much deodorant I wear), mood swings, anxiety, fatigue, dry and oily skin, lower body temperature. So this week I am trying to make rest a priority. That might mean going to be early or sleeping in a little, taking a nap if the opportunity arises or even just putting my feet up and reading instead of always being busy.

This could mean no exercise. I know that is a form of stress on my body when I’m already run down. I do like to do some gentle movement each day. But even small stuff can be stressful. So I’m trying to put rest first. And then if time/energy allows I can do a little exercise. This will be a big challenge for me. Mostly mentally. We’ll see how it goes.

Here is our menu for the week. We should probably just be eating soup for every meal. Hopefully everyone is healthy and back on track by the start of spring break. What’s on your menu this week?

Sunday
B – yogurt parfait
L – hamburgers, french fries, beans
D – leftover mac ‘n’ cheese, smoothies
* soak flour for corn muffins, soak flour for gf bread

Monday
B – yogurt, granola, fruit
D – corn dog muffins, roasted cauliflower, peaches
*sprout beans, make corn muffins, make gf bread, boil eggs

Tuesday
B – hard boiled egg, toast
D (prep ahead) – cp chili, corn muffins
*

Wednesday
B – muffins, fruit
D (prep ahead) – cp pork chops, potatoes, carrots
*make muffins, soak flour for sweet bread

Thursday
B – sweet bread, fruit
D – fried perch, sweet potato fries, broccoli
*make sweet bread, soak oats, feed sd starter

Friday
B – oat cups
D – sd pancakes w/ blueberry topping, roasted cabbage, bacon
*soak flour for graham crackers

Saturday
B – apple pie parfait
D – hamburger corn bake
*make graham crackers for cheesecake

Homemade Oat Milk Dairy Alternative

How to Make Oat Milk

Nut-Free Milk Alternative

How to Use Oat Milk

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