This week’s real food meal plan and agenda focuses on stocking the pantry and fridge with allergen-free foods and getting everyone back to full health.

What a winter. The sickness seems to never end. Last week it even included my husband and I. I still don’t think I’m fully over it…as I sit here eating some rice to try to settle my stomach. It took more out of me and my oldest than I thought. We both need some extra rest. And I think all of the digestive stress I had really messed up my diastasis recti more, which is causing problems now.

So today’s to-do list may get pushed to tomorrow so I can take a long nap.

In the kitchen.

I’m trying to stock up on safe foods for my son. This week’s kitchen projects include:

• coconut milk
• coconut milk yogurt
• beef jerky
• crackers
• muffins
• pancakes
• beef broth

On the menu.

We introduced rice to my youngest two yesterday. So far no major reactions. We’ll see how today goes. I hope we can add it to our regular rotation! Next up will be white potatoes.

We have a fairly busy week. I might even get to go out one night! Hopefully I can still get all of the baking and cooking done.

Here is this week’s real food meal plan. What’s on your menu?

ROTATION: Each day starts with dinner and goes through lunch the next day. Foods in () are things yet to be tried.

Day 1: sourdough?, squash, cabbage, banana (potato, carrot, beet, cassava, tapioca)
Day 2: corn, grapes, cauliflower, brussels sprouts, broccoli (avocado, amaranth)
Day 3: teff, eggplant, zucchini, blueberries, asparagus, spinach, (sunbutter, sorghum, beans, peas)
Day 4: pumpkin, mushrooms, lettuce, cucumber, cherries, olives, split peas (rice, millet, egg, dairy)

Sunday 4
B – baked oatmeal, fruit | sweet bread, sunbutter
L – taco rice soup, chips, guacamole
D – beef roast, roasted carrots, seasoned rice
prep: make broth
notes: 

Monday 1
B – yogurt, granola bar | broth, beef, brussels sprouts
D – chicken nuggets, sweet potato fries, roasted asparagus
prep: make coconut milk, make cm ice cream, prep smoothies, make jerky
notes:

Tuesday 2
B – cereal, fruit | squash cherry smoothies
D – cp pork chops, baked potato wedges, beans, spinach
prep: make cm yogurt, make muffins, boil eggs
notes: ready any time

Wednesday 3
B – hard boiled egg, toast | broth, pork, spinach | cm yogurt
D – spaghetti, roasted brussels sprouts and cauliflower
prep: soak flour for muffins
notes:

Thursday 4
B – toast w/ sunbutter | brussels sprouts, cauliflower
D – beef vegetable soup, muffins
prep: bake muffins, soak flour for pancakes, prep smoothie
notes: early/easy clean up; me out to eat?

Friday 1
B – yogurt, muffins | pumpkin smoothie
D – pancakes w/ strawberry topping, bacon, roasted cabbage
prep: soak flour for crackers
notes:

Saturday 2
B – pancakes, bacon | broth, squash
D – honey herb chicken, baked potatoes, broccoli
prep: make crackers
notes: introduce potatoes

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. It will not change the cost of any products or services for you.

This week’s real food meal plan is focused on figuring out our new menu options that factor in my son’s allergies. Time for a new rotation!

Happy Valentine’s Day! Not exactly the best time to find out your son has a cocoa allergy. Poor kid.

Though cocoa is the least of my concerns. Sadly his allergy test did not go nearly as well as we had hoped. My son’s new allergies include:

• dairy
• corn
• oat
• wheat
• cocoa
• sweet potato
• peanut
• almond
• string bean
• pea
• apple
• banana

• cats
• dogs
• feathers
• dust mites
• tree pollen
• grass
• nettle
• ragweed
• corn pollen
• mold
• corn smut

Talk about cruelty…I think the allergist dashed my son’s hopes and dreams when she said due to his feather allergy he should not be around free-range chickens or collect eggs.

So, it’s back to the drawing board when it comes to feeding my family. That will take time to figure it all out.

On the flip side we are starting to re-introduce foods for my youngest. So far bananas have gone well! Sweet potatoes are TBD. She had some yesterday so we’re in the observation phase. This coming weekend we’ll try rice. Sourdough may be on its way out. She seems to be reacting to it lately.

In the kitchen.

Due to my son’s allergies he can’t eat most of the snacks I have on hand. So it’s time to start baking again to make safe food for him. My kitchen work includes:

• breakfast cookies
• gummies
• graham crackers
• beef broth (in my new roaster!!!!)
• teff cherry breakfast bar
• TBD scones

On the blog.

Last week I shared some delicious Valentine’s Day treats. There is still time to make them! Especially the two ingredient Nestle Crunch® bites. So simple. And the divine chocolate cake is, well, divine! My husband enjoyed it all last week.

Coming up this week I have a timely post on my feelings about food allergies.

And the countdown is on! Exactly one month until my book release. I can’t wait to share it with you. If only I could snap my fingers and have all of the work done related to selling it. Writing the book was the easy part.

On the menu.

It will take some time to get a feel for our new dietary restrictions and how to incorporate everyone’s needs. I tried to stick to really simple meals this week while I work on all the details. I’ll have an updated rotation soon.

Here is our real food meal plan. What’s on your menu this week? Any fun chocolate treats?

ROTATION: Each day starts with dinner and goes through lunch the next day. Foods in () are things yet to be tried.

Day 1: sourdough?, squash, cabbage, banana (potato, carrot, beet, cassava, tapioca)
Day 2: corn, grapes, cauliflower, brussels sprouts, broccoli (avocado, amaranth)
Day 3: teff, eggplant, zucchini, blueberries, asparagus, spinach, (sunbutter, sorghum, beans, peas)
Day 4: pumpkin, mushrooms, lettuce, cucumber, cherries, olives, split peas (rice, millet, egg, dairy)

Sunday 1
B – cereal, fruit | teff cherry bars | broth w/ squash, brussels sprouts, chicken
L – beef stroganoff, broccoli, peaches
D – hot dogs, roasted cauliflower and brussels sprouts, chips
prep: make gummies, make bars, soak flour for graham crackers
notes:

Monday 2
B – yogurt, granola | breakfast bar, gummies | beef, cauliflower, brussels sprouts
D – sloppy joes, squash, cheesy potatoes
prep: boil eggs, make graham crackers, prep smoothies
notes:

Tuesday 3
B – hard boiled egg, toast | blueberry spinach smoothies
D – cp pork chops, rice, beans, spinach
prep:
notes:

Wednesday 4
B – cereal, fruit | broth, pork, spinach
D – pork burgers, french fries, peas, salad
prep: soak flour for breakfast cookies, prep smoothie
notes:

Thursday 1
B – teff cherry bars, pork/yogurt | pumpkin smothie
D – squash and sausage soup, breakfast cookies
prep: bake breakfast cookies
notes: early/easy clean up

Friday 2
B – breakfast cookies, gummies/yogurt | squash soup
D – hot dogs, scones, roasted cauliflower and brussels sprouts
prep: bake scones
notes: easy/husband out for dinner

Saturday 3
B – scones, fruit | broth, brussels sprouts
D – hot taco rice, salsa, guacamole
prep:
notes: introduce rice

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. It will not change the cost of any products or services for you.

This week’s real food meal plan and agenda include Super Bowl treats and more allergy testing.

Are you ready for some football? Or maybe just some delicious munchies? We sure are! Well, my husband is ready for football. The rest of us just want some good food.

Then it’s back to reality with a busy week of field trips, music class, piano, dance, meetings, parent teacher conferences and allergy testing!

Allergy update.

My little one had her allergy test last week. We praise God that her only strong allergy at this point is coconut/palm/date. Now we start the process of trying new foods and observing to see if any latent allergies remain. First up on the list is banana!

My son has his allergy test later this week. I’m very excited to see what shows up.

In the kitchen.

I won’t have a lot of time for baking this week, but we are running low on a few things. My kitchen projects include:

• teff crackers
• gluten free crackers
• breakfast cookies
• cake
• baked oatmeal
• muffins
• scones

On the blog.

Last week I shared a recipe for a black forest smoothie. It’s the perfect Valentine’s Day breakfast! I also shared my favorite gluten free flour mix to help you with your baking.

Coming up this week I’ve got a post on allergies that might surprise you. Plus some delicious Valentine’s Day treats.

On the menu.

Meals will have to be super easy prep most of the week. Then on the weekend I’ll let my kids get their hands dirty as we (hopefully) attempt to make stromboli!!

Here is this week’s real food meal plan. What’s on your menu?

ROTATION: Each day starts with dinner and goes through lunch the next day.

Day 1: sourdough/rye/barley/wheat, squash, cabbage
Day 2: corn, grapes, cauliflower, brussels sprouts, broccoli
Day 3: teff, eggplant, zucchini, blueberries, asparagus, sunbutter, spinach
Day 4: pumpkin, mushrooms, lettuce, cucumber, cherries, olives, split peas

Sunday 2
B – yogurt, granola bar | broth, pumpkin, spinach, sausage | banana!!
L – cp beef roast, rice, broccoli
D – cheesy bread sticks w/ sauce, taquitos and chips with guacamole and salsa, bacon wrapped dates, veggies w/ dip, cake, chocolates, nuts, pink lemonade
prep: bake cake
notes:

Monday 3
B – toast w/ sunbutter, fruit | broccoli, sauerkraut, beef
D – CA chicken, garlic noodles, roasted cabbage
prep: soak oats
notes:

Tuesday 4
B – baked oatmeal cereal, fruit | chicken, cabbage
D – cp hobo dinners
prep: bake oatmeal, soak oats, prep smoothie, soak flour
notes: ready any time, soak quinoa

Wednesday 1
B – baked oatmeal | pumpkin smoothie
D – beef and broccoli stir fry over quinoa
prep: bake oatmeal, make breakfast cookies, soak flour
notes:

Thursday 2
B – breakfast cookies, yogurt | chicken, roasted cabbage
D – cp split pea soup, muffins
prep: bake muffins
notes: early/easy clean up

Friday 3
B – yogurt, granola, fruit | split pea soup
D – quiche, scones, roasted asparagus
prep: make pie crust, make scones, soak flour, prep smoothie
notes: 

Saturday 4
B – quiche, scones | blueberry spinach smoothie
D – stromboli
prep: make teff crackers, make gf crackers, make pizza dough
notes: kids help prep food

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. It will not change the cost of any products or services for you.

This week’s real food meal plan and agenda focus on easy prep and easy clean up while we pick up the pace with activities.

Just when I thought we were all back to full health…my son had a fever again last night. Spring can not come quickly enough!

My son is also still having daily stomach aches. We are trying to find the root cause. But so far not much luck.

In the kitchen.

We are picking up the pace with weekly activities as Kindermusik and swimming lessons start. My oldest started piano again last week. That means busy, busy and not as much time in the kitchen.

My refrigerator and pantry are totally bare. It is definitely time to restock! Groceries first thing Monday morning. Plus my kitchen projects:

• kettle corn granola
• elderberry syrup
• baked oatmeal
• double raspberry chocolate chip muffins
• sauerkraut
• sourdough bread (I’m trying it with barley for the first time…and praying my daughter handles it ok)

On the blog.

If you haven’t had a chance go enter the Crunchy Balm giveaway! My family is kind of obsessed with this stuff now. And be sure to come back tomorrow. I’m sharing a super fun recipe that is perfect for sick kiddos. Though my kids beg for it all the time.

I’ve been hard at work lately putting the finishing touches on my book and prepping some updates to the look of the blog. The countdown is on!

On the menu.

With lots of activities and errands meals need to be easy. But I’m still focusing on nourishment and giving everyone as much broth as possible. Here is our real food meal plan. What’s on your menu?

ROTATION: Each day starts with dinner and goes through lunch the next day.

Day 1: sourdough/rye/barley, squash, cabbage
Day 2: corn, grapes, cauliflower, brussels sprouts, broccoli
Day 3: teff, eggplant, zucchini, blueberries, asparagus, sunbutter, spinach
Day 4: pumpkin, mushrooms, lettuce, cucumber, cherries, olives, split peas

Sunday 4
B – smoothies, honey oat bars | broth, spinach, beef
L – crockpot roast chicken, baked potatoes, carrots, salad
D – hot dogs, beans, chips | salad
prep: bake sourdough bread, make elderberry syrup
notes:

Monday 1
B – yogurt, granola, fruit | salad
D – sloppy joes, roasted red potatoes, squash
prep: soak oats for oatmeal
notes:

Tuesday 2
B – baked oatmeal | broth, squash, beef
D – crockpot pork chops, rice, peas | pork chops, spinach
prep: soak oats for granola, soak flour for crackers
notes: ready any time

Wednesday 3
B –  breakfast cookies, cheese| pork chops, spinach
D – spaghetti, garlic toast, broccoli | beef, asparagus
prep: make crackers, sprout beans, dry oats, make granola
notes:

Thursday 4
B – baked oatmeal | pumpkin smoothie
D – chicken and bean enchilada bake, guacamole, rice | chicken, salad
prep: cook beans, soak flour for muffins, make sauerkraut
notes: early/easy clean up

Friday 1
B – yogurt, granola bar | chicken, salad
D – crockpot split pea soup, muffins
prep: bake muffins, soak flour for waffles
notes: 

Saturday 2
B – muffins, crispy nuts | split pea soup
D – gf waffles, bacon, fresh fruit, roasted cabbage
prep:
notes: let kids help with prep

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. It will not change the cost of any products or services for you.

This week’s real food meal plan and agenda focuses on easy, prep ahead meals, recovering from sickness and spending time with family.

Here we go again. Starting another week with illness. Is it spring yet?

How we’re feeling.

My son has some kind of stomach bug and they always hit him hard. This is the third day in a row of him being up at 4:30 am. I am praying today is the day he really starts to get back on track. His little body needs some nourishment.

My youngest had another food reaction yesterday. It’s been a long time since we’ve had that much crying and sleep trouble.

I’ve got a sore throat. I’m taking lots of camu camu (vitamin C) and elderberry syrup and hoping to kick this quickly.

On top of illness today and tomorrow are the visitation and funeral for my grandfather.

I’m hoping by the end of the week everything and everyone is back to normal.

I’m working on a food experiment with my oldest, seeing how sugar impacts her behavior. We have found for sure that it impedes her sleep.

In the kitchen.

I do hope to spend some time in the kitchen this week. My projects include:

• fruit snacks
• sourdough bread
• teff crackers
• oatmeal bars
• winter spice bread

On the blog.

There has been a lot going on here lately. I want to remind you of a couple important things.

1. Sign up for the Kids Cook Real Food course ends tomorrow! It is seriously so cool. My kids LOVE it. I love how much they want to help in the kitchen.
2. Today is the last day for the Cheshire Fields hair care bundle giveaway. I’ll be announcing the winner in a couple days. It could be you!

Last week I posted recipes for On The Go Nachos In A Jar and Ten Mason Jar Lunches Kids Can Make. Plus I posted my Simple Cure For Picky Eaters.

I have a fun surprise for you tomorrow morning! Don’t forget to check back.

Meal plan update.

Now on to the food. You’ll notice that I changed my weekly meal plan to a REAL FOOD meal plan. These days people have allergies to just about every kind of food. So there really is no way to make a menu that is “allergen friendly.” I still post meals that are very adaptable and can be made without many common allergens.

Here is our real food meal plan. It is very subject to change this week! What are you eating?

ROTATION: Each day starts with dinner and goes through lunch the next day.

Day 1: sourdough/rye, squash, cabbage
Day 2: corn, grapes, cauliflower, brussels sprouts, broccoli
Day 3: teff, eggplant, zucchini, blueberries, asparagus, sunbutter, spinach
Day 4: pumpkin, mushrooms, lettuce, cucumber, cherries, olives, split peas, wheat

Sunday 1
B – oatmeal | cucumbers, pork
L – cp beef roast, roasted cabbage, baked potatoes
D – sunbutter sandwiches, chips, veggies with dip, fresh fruit
prep: soak oats for bars
notes: prep ahead dinner

Monday 2
B – cereal, fruit | roast beef, cabbage
D – cp meatballs, rice, beans, cauliflower
prep: bake oatmeal bars, soak flour for crackers
notes: prep ahead dinner

Tuesday 3
B – oatmeal bars, crispy nuts | meatballs, cauliflower
D – beef and bean enchilada bake | spinach, beef
prep: make gummies, soak flour for graham crackers, soak flour for teff crackers, soak flour for porridge, feed sourdough
notes: dinner ready any time

Wednesday 4
B – yogurt, granola, fruit | teff pumpkin porridge, cherries
D – pumpkin pasta, broccoli
prep: soak flour for bread, make sourdough bread, make graham crackers, make teff crackers
notes:

Thursday 1
B – oatmeal bars, gummies | pumpkin pasta
D – squash and sausage soup, winter spice bread
prep: make bread, soak flour for waffles, soak oats, make elderberry syrup
notes: dinner early/quick clean up

Friday 2
B – yogurt, granola bar | squash and sausage soup
D – gf waffles, bacon, applesauce, roasted cauliflower and brussels sprouts
prep: dry oats, make granola
notes: 

Saturday 3
B – waffles, bacon | brussels sprouts, cauliflower, sausage
D – hamburgers, carrot fries, peas | hamburger, spinach
prep: make sourdough buns?
notes: let kids help with prep

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. It will not change the cost of any products or services for you.