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This week's real food meal plan for picky eaters includes party leftovers (mom's favorite!), taco bowls and scrambled eggs. The kids are making dinner all week as we go through the Kids Cook Real Food ecourse!

Real Food Meal Plan for Picky Eaters June 18, 2017

This week’s real food meal plan for picky eaters includes party leftovers (mom’s favorite!), taco bowls and scrambled eggs. The kids are making dinner all week as we go through the Kids Cook Real Food ecourse!

This week's real food meal plan for picky eaters includes party leftovers (mom's favorite!), taco bowls and scrambled eggs. The kids are making dinner all week as we go through the Kids Cook Real Food ecourse!

Ahhh. Can you feel me breathe a sigh of relief?

Last week was super busy cleaning the house top to bottom and hosting family and a party! We had so much fun visiting with family, but it certainly wasn’t what my body needed right now. Since I had to be in the kitchen from morning until evening for a few days I’m taking a break this week. By which I mean we are going through the Kids Cook Real Food ecourse again…and the kids are making dinner all week!!

If you haven’t looked into KCRF you should! Grab your free snacks that kids can make book while you check it out HERE!

My goal is that this week will help reinforce skills they’ve learned so that my kids can continue to help more and more in the kitchen and build confidence.

Last week I got kefir grains. It’s been years since I’ve made kefir. I’m excited to have another probiotic-rich food in the house.

Back to School

We have some fun activities this week, including visiting a friend’s small farm. The kids are so excited to see more animals!

Now that we had our week off from school we’re jumping into summer school. My daughter will begin typing lessons this week. The Kids Cook Real Food course will also be part of our summer school. I think we’ll wait one more week before getting back into math and language arts (it will give us a week to really clean up our school stuff from last year!)

Thankfully we finally got some rain here. Our grass was already getting brown in June! You can just feel the earth drinking it in.

I hope you are enjoying the summer! Here is our real food meal plan for picky eaters for the week. What’s on your menu?

This week's real food meal plan for picky eaters includes party leftovers (mom's favorite!), taco bowls and scrambled eggs. The kids are making dinner all week as we go through the Kids Cook Real Food ecourse!

Sunday
B – eggs, muffins
L – leftover hot dogs and brats, salad, veggies and dip, chips, jello
D – meatloaf, baked potatoes, peas
prep: make pumpkin yogurt
notes: 

Monday
B – yogurt, granola bars
D – crockpot ham and bean soup, crackers with cheese
prep: soak beans
notes: 

Tuesday
B – toast with sunbutter, kefir smoothies
D – taco bowls, salad with ranch dressing, refried beans
prep: make taco seasoning, make ranch dressing, make beans
notes:

Wednesday
B – hard boiled eggs, toast with strawberry jam
D – stir fry, gelatin cups
prep: make gelatin cups
notes:

Thursday
B – bagel with cream cheese, fruit
D – chicken rice-a-roni
prep: make crackers
notes:

Friday
B – yogurt, granola, fruit
D – scrambled eggs, fruit salad, pumpkin muffins
prep: bake muffins
notes: 

Saturday
B – muffins, fried eggs
D – pancakes, bacon
prep: 
notes: 

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

Real Food Meal Plan for Picky Eaters June 11, 2017

This week’s real food meal plan for picky eaters includes tacos, sloppy joes and a picnic! With family in town we’ll be enjoying lots of good food and fun.

This week's real food meal plan for picky eaters includes tacos, sloppy joes and a picnic! With family in town we'll be enjoying lots of good food and fun.

School is done!

Well, sort of. On Friday we decided to call our 2-016 – 2017 school officially over. It just felt like good timing. Not to mention we’ve finished all of our work! Tomorrow we’ll head to our local home school building to start buying our new curriculum so we can get back at it.

Busy, Busy

This week will be a busy one with shopping (it’s been over two weeks since I’ve been to the store…the fridge and freezer are bare!!), meeting up with friends and having out-of-town family stay with us. If you need me I’ll be in the kitchen or cleaning like mad (and yes, we are taking this week off of school).

Garden Fresh

Our garden is coming along nicely. So far we’ve been enjoying fresh spinach. Soon we’ll have lots of lettuce. Bring on the salads!! I made a new dressing last week that my kids are going crazy for (even my son that hates salad). I’ll be sharing it on the blog soon.

Now it’s time to get busy! In other words, super simple meals to kick off the week. What’s on your menu?

This week's real food meal plan for picky eaters includes tacos, sloppy joes and a picnic! With family in town we'll be enjoying lots of good food and fun.

Sunday
B – cereal, smoothies
L – crockpot roast beef, baked potatoes, peas
D – grilled burgers, grilled asparagus, chips with dip
prep: make graham crackers, make gf “Wheat Thins”, boil eggs
notes: 

Monday
B – yogurt, granola bars
D – crockpot meatballs, noodles, cauliflower
prep: make bread
notes: 

Tuesday
B – bagel with cream cheese, fruit
D – chicken, rice, broccoli skillet, pearsauce
prep:
notes:

Wednesday
B – hard boiled eggs, toast
D – crockpot stuffed cabbage unrolls, garlic toast
prep:
notes:

Thursday
B – toast with sunbutter, smoothies
D – baked pork chops, seasoned rice, beans, carrots 
prep: 
notes:

Friday
B – egg casserole, muffins, fruit
L – broccoli noodle soup, crackers with cheese, fruit, veggies with dip
D – tacos, peas, home canned peaches
prep: make jello, make hummus, make lemonade
notes: 

Saturday
B – yogurt, granola, fruit, muffins
L -sloppy joes, roasted cauliflower and brussels sprouts, roasted potatoes, applesauce
D – grilled brats and hot dogs, salads, fruit, dessert
prep: 
notes: 

This week's real food meal plan for picky eaters includes roast chicken, meatballs and salad. It's exciting to have fresh produce in season again like greens and asparagus!

Real Food Meal Plan for Picky Eaters June 4, 2017

This week’s real food meal plan for picky eaters includes roast chicken, meatballs and salad. It’s exciting to have fresh produce in season again like greens and asparagus!

This week's real food meal plan for picky eaters includes roast chicken, meatballs and salad. It's exciting to have fresh produce in season again like greens and asparagus!

The school year is winding down. We haven’t picked an official end date yet, though we’re thinking when we wrap up the last few history and language arts lessons. So maybe in a couple weeks. Then we’ll be ready to kick off our next school year the following week! Not totally, but we will be doing school all summer. Just at a slower pace.

Farm Life

Farm life is getting exciting. Last Sunday one of our cats gave birth to three kittens. Sadly they didn’t make it to a week old before a Tom cat took over. Good life lessons for the kids. But sad nonetheless.

We are excited about warmer weather and getting outside more often. We’re planning all of our summer activities and field trips. Though I do want to make sure we leave plenty of time for just hanging out, playing and enjoying our first summer on the farm.

Back to Baking

Oddly enough I’m in the mood to bake this week. So I have a few projects on my to-do list. And with a little less school work that means I have more time to let my kids help. They could use some practice on their cooking and baking skills!

Over the weekend I made chocolate pudding, banana bread, banana muffins, rhubarb crisp and a cake. We are having family over in a couple weeks so I’m trying to prep things in advance as much as possible.

Here is our real food meal plan for picky eaters. I hope you enjoy your start to summer. What’s on your menu? Any grilling?

This week's real food meal plan for picky eaters includes roast chicken, meatballs and salad. It's exciting to have fresh produce in season again like greens and asparagus!

Sunday
B – cereal, smoothies
L – crockpot roast chicken, baked potatoes, peas
D – grilled pork chops, grilled asparagus, salad, roasted potato wedges
prep: make salad dressing
notes: 

Monday
B – yogurt, granola bars
D – crockpot meatballs, rice, beans
prep: bake muffins, soak oats
notes: 

Tuesday
B – strawberry overnight oats
D – chicken bacon pesto pasta, roasted asparagus
prep: make granola, boil eggs, make pesto
notes:

Wednesday
B – hard boiled eggs, toast
D – sweet and sour chicken and veggie stir fry over rice
prep:
notes:

Thursday
B – bagel with cream cheese, fruit
D – pancakes, sausage, roasted cauliflower and Brussels sprouts
prep: 
notes:

Friday
B – yogurt, granola bars
D – sunbutter and jelly sandwiches, veggies with dip, fruit
prep: 
notes: packed dinner

Saturday
B – scrambled eggs, toast
D – at birthday party
prep: 
notes: 

We live in a world where food comes in boxes and bags. Which leads to the question...how much do your kids know about their food?

How Much Do Your Kids Know About Their Food?

We live in a world where food comes in boxes and bags. Which leads to the question…how much do your kids know about their food?We live in a world where food comes in boxes and bags. Which leads to the question...how much do your kids know about their food?

We have a little joke in our house about corn.

Whenever I serve corn with a meal my husband asks, “Why did you make two vegetables?” – referring to the corn and whatever vegetable I’m serving. To which the kids quickly reply, “Corn is NOT a vegetable, Daddy! It’s a grain!”

The sad thing is that far too many people don’t actually know that. My husband and I both grew up thinking that corn was a vegetable (now he says it just to tease the kids). It may be laughable at our table, but the reality is so many kids are so disconnected from where their food comes from that they don’t even know that corn is a grain. Or that an egg is not dairy (it comes from a chicken, not a cow!).

Kids today see food that comes in boxes and bags without any idea of its origin.We live in a world where food comes in boxes and bags. Which leads to the question...how much do your kids know about their food?

How Will They Learn?

We are blessed to live in the country, raise our own animals and grow our own produce. Every day is a lesson in agriculture for my kids! (Though I am curious if some of the neighbors that have large corn fields know they are growing grains??)

But not everyone has that opportunity. That is why I am thankful for resources like the book Where Does a Rainbow Grow? by Kathryn Kemp Guylay. In it she uses bright colors and easy-to-read text to explain to kids where their food comes from and what to eat to stay healthy.

Real Colors!

As a family we made a decision over five years ago to cut out food dyes 100%.

No exceptions. It has made a world of difference in the neurological health of our children. So when I opened this book and the first page talks about avoiding fake colors I was hooked.

My kids love to look at the pages with brightly colored produce. They also like to answer the questions and try to name every fruit and vegetable.We live in a world where food comes in boxes and bags. Which leads to the question...how much do your kids know about their food?

Ever since reading Guylay’s first book Give it a Go, Eat a Rainbow my kids and I have enjoyed pointing out how many colors we eat each day. Just the other day when I put some spinach on my son’s plate he asked, “What is green good for?” It makes me so happy to know at six years old he is already learning how his food impacts his health. Green is great for bones and teeth!

Try Something New

Seeing all of the pictures has reminded me that, although we eat a wide variety of and a large quantity of produce, we still have plenty of foods we haven’t tried. Maybe we’ll grab a few new items the next time we go to the store and experiment with them.

Where Does a Rainbow Grow? would make a great addition to a home school curriculum. Or it would be a wonderful gift to share with your child’s classroom.

I firmly believe that the more knowledge we have about our food, the better choices we make and the healthier we become.

Let’s raise a generation of kids that understand where their food comes from and how they can use food to feel good. Reading Where Does a Rainbow Grow? Is a great place to start!We live in a world where food comes in boxes and bags. Which leads to the question...how much do your kids know about their food?

If you want to get your kids more involved with their food and learn how to cook check out the Kids Cook Real Food eCourse.

I was compensated for my time to review this book; however I was not paid to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.

This week's real food meal plan for picky eaters includes sloppy joes, meatballs and creamed spinach (my daughter's request!). Hopefully it will also include a shift to summer weather!

Real Food Meal Plan for Picky Eaters May 28, 2017

This week’s real food meal plan for picky eaters includes sloppy joes, meatballs and creamed spinach (my daughter’s request!). Hopefully it will also include a shift to summer weather!This week's real food meal plan for picky eaters includes sloppy joes, meatballs and creamed spinach (my daughter's request!). Hopefully it will also include a shift to summer weather!

It feels good to have everyone back to full health again and ready for a new week. We are using our holiday weekend to finish planting the garden and work on landscaping…when it’s not raining, anyway.

Looking Ahead

We took some time last week to plan our summer activities, next year’s curriculum and next year’s activities. It’s exciting and overwhelming at the same time. But I’m determined to be a bit more prepared as we head into our second year of homeschooling.

Since we are doing school year round we don’t have a specific starting and stopping point. I asked my kids if they wanted to “switch grades” in June or August. They chose June. So by the end of the week I’ll have a first grader and a fourth grader!!

Summer Cooking School

One of the things I know we are doing during our summer session is taking a whole week to focus on Kids Cook Real Food and learn new skills in the kitchen. My kids have made great progress this year, but I want even more independence. Have you invited your kids into the kitchen lately? It can be hard to find the time, but it is SO important! You can learn more about Kids Cook Real Food HERE.

Time for a Plan!

The other exciting event this week is our HTMA (hair tissue mineral analysis) consults!!! I can’t wait to really dig into the information and get a plan of action. I’ll be sure to keep you updated.

Here is our real food meal plan for picky eaters for the week. Some grilling, some staple recipes and more experimenting. What’s on your menu?This week's real food meal plan for picky eaters includes sloppy joes, meatballs and creamed spinach (my daughter's request!). Hopefully it will also include a shift to summer weather!

Sunday
B – cereal, smoothies
L – crockopot roast beef, carrots, roasted potatoes
D – grilled steak, beans, baked sweet potatoes
prep: make granola bars
notes: 

Monday
B – yogurt, granola bars
D – grilled burgers, grilled asparagus, chips with dip
prep: prep smoothies, make chip dip, boil eggs, chop veggies
notes: 

Tuesday
B – toast with sunbutter, smoothies
D – sloppy joes, roasted purple cabbage, baked potato wedges
prep: bake bread
notes:

Wednesday
B – hard boiled eggs, toast
D – crockpot sweet and sour meatballs, buttered noodles, cauliflower
prep:
notes:

Thursday
B – bagel with cream cheese, fruit
D – broccoli egg bake (new recipe), peas, hashbrowns
prep: 
notes:

Friday
B – yogurt, granola bars
D – crackers with cheese and ring balogna, veggies with dip, clementines
prep: 
notes: packed dinner

Saturday
B – scrambled eggs, toast
D – bacon grilled cheese OR BLTs (kids decide), creamed spinach (new recipe), home canned peaches
prep: 
notes: 

This week's real food meal plan for picky eaters includes pesto pasta, tacos and chili. I hope the warm weather returns so we can get out and enjoy some sunshine!

Real Food Meal Plan for Picky Eaters Week of May 21, 2017

This week’s real food meal plan for picky eaters includes pesto pasta, tacos and chili. I hope the warm weather returns so we can get out and enjoy some sunshine!

This week's real food meal plan for picky eaters includes pesto pasta, tacos and chili. I hope the warm weather returns so we can get out and enjoy some sunshine!

The start of a new week…in May…and I have a couple kids with fevers. This year has been crazy in terms of illness. I’ve been hearing of pink eye, strep throat and the flu going around again! I’m sure the up and down weather hasn’t helped. But I sure am anxious for summer when we have no activities and can be outside all day soaking up Vitamin D. We need to stock back up after the winter.

I’m so glad that we can take it easy this week. Maybe we can do some fun baking projects and take more walks through the orchard. We’re all enjoying the relaxation after a busy school year.

New Recipes

My oldest got a new cookbook for her birthday. We’ve been trying a few of the recipes. This week we’re trying Porky Chops – adapted to be gluten free. And I’ve been creating some new recipes. Hopefully I’ll have time to post them soon!

I’m still researching about HTMA and learning more about our results. We have a couple weeks yet before our consults to really get a plan of action.

Here is our real food meal plan for picky eaters. What’s on your menu this week? Trying anything new?

This week's real food meal plan for picky eaters includes pesto pasta, tacos and chili. I hope the warm weather returns so we can get out and enjoy some sunshine!

Sunday
B – cereal, smoothies
L – crockpot pork roast, rice, carrots
D – sandwiches with homemade lunch meat, veggies with dip, chips
prep: make dip, boil eggs
notes: 

Monday
B – yogurt, granola bars
D – pesto salmon pasta, broccoli
prep: make pesto, soak oats
notes: 

Tuesday
B – oatmeal with blueberries
D – tacos, peas
prep: soak beans
notes:

Wednesday
B – hard boiled egg, toast
D – chili, corn bread
prep: bake corn bread
notes:

Thursday
B – bagel with cream cheese, avocado
D – porky chops, mashed potatoes, roasted brussels sprouts and cauliflower
prep: 
notes:

Friday
B – yogurt, granola bar
D – sunbutter sandwiches, olives, peppers, clementines
prep: bake cookies
notes: packed dinner

Saturday
B – fried eggs, toast
D – TBD – kids’ choice
prep: 
notes: 

Feeding kids does not have to be complicated. But it does have to be intentional. I'm here to walk you through the process. Let's making feeding kids healthy and fun again!

Real Food Meal Plan for Picky Eaters Week of May 14, 2017

This week’s real food meal plan for picky eaters includes sloppy joes, jello and hot dogs…but real food style! But it doesn’t require any extra effort. What’s on your menu?

This week's real food meal plan for picky eaters includes sloppy joes, jello and hot dogs...but real food style! But it doesn't require any extra effort. What's on your menu?

Happy Mother’s Day! Such a special day because I know how hard all you mamas work every day! Give yourself some love and some extra snuggle time with your kiddos.

Bye Bye Birthday

We’re finally slowing down this week. Only a few activities and a trip to the doctor for yearly check-ups. And since we did a ton of cleaning yesterday my house is looking good. That means we have time to get our school work done and then have some fun! Maybe we’ll take advantage of the (finally) warm weather and go hiking.

I’m just happy I don’t have to bake any birthday cakes this week! We did have a ton of fun celebrating my son’s sixth birthday. But I’m thankful we get a little break now. Although in typical planner fashion I’m already brainstorming for my toddler’s birthday at the end of August. After four birthdays in a row here I’ve realized one thing…she hates frosting. She really doesn’t like much of anything sweet besides basic fruit (I guess I’ve trained her well). So we may have to skip the cake for her this year and do something simple like popsicles (fine with me!!). But I’ve got time to figure that out.

New Recipes!

Are you anxious for some new recipes? I’ve got some in the works. And hopefully I’ll have time to experiment with them now that we aren’t so busy. My goal is to get back on track with Kids Cook Real Food so my kids can start experimenting too!

Results are In!

Last week we got the results from the HTMAs we did. I can’t even explain how excited I am. But I have to wait a few weeks for our consults to really dig into the info and have a plan of action. On a positive note I was so, so, so happy to see that my toddler is in the normal range on almost everything!! All of our hard work to get her back to full health has been paying off!! She is seriously the most amazing eater now (follow along on Instagram to see her snacks and meals). God is good.

Now for the food. Here is our picky eaters meal plan. We do have a couple nights of quick/easy meals again. But we still keep it real. What’s on your menu?

This week's real food meal plan for picky eaters includes sloppy joes, jello and hot dogs...but real food style! But it doesn't require any extra effort. What's on your menu?

Sunday
B –  cereal, smoothies
L – crockpot roast turkey, rice, broccoli
D – grilled brats and sausage, jello, peas, chips
prep: kids make jello
notes: 

Monday
B – yogurt, granola bars
D – sloppy joes, french fries, beans
prep: boil eggs
notes: prep ahead dinner

Tuesday
B – hard boiled eggs, toast, fruit
D – ring balogna, cheese, crackers, veggies with hummus, jello
prep: make hummus
notes: early, light, prep ahead dinner

Wednesday
B – bagel with cream cheese
D – salmon cakes, rice, squash
prep: prep smoothies
notes: make mayo

Thursday
B – toast with sunbutter, smoothies
D – cheese quiche, roasted cabbage, pearsauce
prep: 
notes:

Friday
B – yogurt, granola bar
D – sunbutter sandwiches, olives, clementines
prep: bake bread
notes: packed dinner

Saturday
B – scrambled eggs, toast
D – grilled burgers, beans, roasted potatoes
prep: 
notes: 

Do you make mom self-care a priority or do you put yourself at the bottom of the to-do list? Here are simple steps to make mom matter!

Real Food Meal Plan for Picky Eaters Week of May 7, 2017

This week’s real food meal plan for picky eaters includes grilled cheese, meatballs and waffles. Plus another special birthday celebration. We’ll soon have a six-year old in the house!This week's real food meal plan for picky eaters includes grilled cheese, meatballs and waffles. Plus another special birthday celebration. We'll soon have a six-year old in the house!

We made it! Well, almost. My husband has been out of town since last Sunday. We are all more than ready to have him home (tonight!!). Doing double duty for a week sure has worn me out.

Happy Birthday…Again!

But no rest for the weary. My son turns six on Tuesday! So it’s back to the kitchen to bake a special cake. We’re trying some natural food coloring so we’ll see how it goes. He really wants a blue dog on his cake. He also wants grilled cheese for his birthday dinner so I need to bake another loaf of bread.

Thankfully after this week most of our regular activities are done for the year. I am so excited for a slower pace for a while. Especially since the farm work is just starting to ramp up!

Now for the food. It’s back to normal meals this week with Daddy home. Here is our real food meal plan for picky eaters. What’s on your menu?This week's real food meal plan for picky eaters includes grilled cheese, meatballs and waffles. Plus another special birthday celebration. We'll soon have a six-year old in the house!

Sunday
B –  hard boiled egg, toast
L – roast beef, potatoes, carrots
D – tacos, roasted cabbage
prep: bake bread, bake cake
notes: 

Monday
B – yogurt, granola bars
D – beef vegetable soup, crackers with cheese
prep: make frosting, soak oats
notes: prep ahead dinner

Tuesday
B – oatmeal with blueberries
D – grilled cheese, roasted cauliflower and brussels sprouts, fruit salad (Birthday dinner request)
prep: decorate cake, prep smoothies
notes:

Wednesday
B – toast with sunbutter, smoothies
D – crockpot pork chops, rice, beans
prep:
notes: prep ahead dinner

Thursday
B – cereal, fruit
D – meatballs, buttered noodles, broccoli
prep: 
notes:

Friday
B – yogurt, granola bars
D – ring balogna, cheese, crackers, veggies with dip, clementines
prep: chop veggies, make hummus
notes: dinner at t-ball game

Saturday
B – scrambled eggs, toast, fruit
D – waffles, bacon, roasted cauliflower
prep: 
notes: 

This week's real food meal plan for picky eaters includes salmon cakes, guacamole and waffles. What could be better?! Life is getting busy on the farm so it's easy, nourishing meals all week long.

Real Food Meal Plan for Picky Eaters Week of April 30, 2017

This week’s real food meal plan for picky eaters includes salmon cakes, guacamole and waffles. What could be better?! Life is getting busy on the farm so it’s easy, nourishing meals all week long.This week's real food meal plan for picky eaters includes salmon cakes, guacamole and waffles. What could be better?! Life is getting busy on the farm so it's easy, nourishing meals all week long.

It’s almost May…hopefully that means the rain ends soon and we get lots of sun!! We’re ready for more May flowers.

Let the Farming Begin!

This is an exciting week as we just moved our chickens outside to their coop. The garden is well under way too. It’s actually starting to feel like a working farm! And we’re all loving it.

We’ve got another busy, but fun week. We’re taking a little train ride and checking out a new home school co-op. The kids are very excited.

No Picky Eaters?

I’m trying to be a little creative in the kitchen this week with some different meals. I’m putting my “not picky eaters” to the test. Will they like liverwurst and lentils for dinner? We’ll see!

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Have a blessed week with lots of nourishing food. What’s on your menu? Anything new or exciting?This week's real food meal plan for picky eaters includes salmon cakes, guacamole and waffles. What could be better?! Life is getting busy on the farm so it's easy, nourishing meals all week long.

Sunday
B –  toast with sunbutter, smoothies
L – crockpot roast chicken, rice, peas
D – avocado chicken salad, peppers and cucumbers with dip
prep: make graham crackers, bake bread
notes: 

Monday
B – yogurt, granola, fruit
D – squash and sausage soup, muffins
prep: 
notes: prep ahead dinner

Tuesday
B – scrambled eggs, toast, fruit
D – salmon cakes, roasted cauliflower and Brussels sprouts
prep: make hummus
notes:

Wednesday
B – salmon, roasted cauliflower
D – black eye peas, liverwurst, rice, spinach
prep:
notes:

Thursday
B – toast with sunbutter, smoothies
D – red lentil soup, crackers with cheese
prep: 
notes:

Friday
B – yogurt, granola bars
D – sausage, chips with guacamole, clementines
prep: 
notes: dinner at t-ball game

Saturday
B – fried eggs, toast, avocado
D – waffles, bacon, roasted cabbage
prep: 
notes: 

Cooking for a family with allergies is manageable, though sometimes challenging. What happens when you leave the comfort of your own kitchen? How do you handle food allergies then?

How to Handle Food Allergies When You’re Not at Home

Cooking for a family with allergies is manageable, though sometimes challenging. What happens when you leave the comfort of your own kitchen? How do you handle food allergies then?

Cooking for a family with allergies is manageable, though sometimes challenging. What happens when you leave the comfort of your own kitchen? How do you handle food allergies then?

It is very common in the world of real food to be on some type of restricted diet. Whether it be paleo, AIP, keto, GAPS, low FODMAP or another healing diet. Then there are those who have to avoid certain foods due to allergies. Either way it makes eating somewhere other than your own home challenging.

What Can You Do?

The easiest solution is to always eat at home. But let’s be realistic. There will be times that you have to eat out or get an invitation from a friend to have dinner together or even eat with family. In order to avoid going hungry or appearing rude you need to take measures to ensure there is safe food for you and your family.

I deal with it all the time. My family has dealt with a myriad of allergies over the last few years. This is in addition to trying restricted healing diets. We even did have a stretch where we didn’t eat at a restaurant for over a year because there were just too many severe allergies. But I’ve learned how to live with food restrictions and still eat somewhere other than my own home. Here are some simple coping strategies to make this task easier.

Eating at a Restaurant Tips:

  1. Choose a restaurant with an actual chef. They can accommodate almost any request.
  2. Ask for your food plain. Most restaurants have chicken breast and broccoli. They can even cook it in water to avoid unhealthy or unsafe fats.
  3. Choose meals with individual components (meat, vegetable, starch) instead of mixed foods like pasta and burritos.
  4. Order a few sides instead of a main dish. A baked potato, salad and a vegetable makes a good meal.
  5. Don’t be afraid to bring your own food. A salad is a great grain free option. Simply bring a small bottle of your own dressing to make it healthy. I often bring extra raw vegetables for my kids to add to their meals since restaurants have a limited selection and they are sometimes prepackaged with unsafe fats.
  6. Speak up! It’s not always easy, but in my experience most restaurants do their best to accommodate special dietary needs. My little secret? Regardless of why you have to avoid the food I always say it’s an allergy. They’re more likely to respond well to an allergy request than an “I don’t eat that” request.

Cooking for a family with allergies is manageable, though sometimes challenging. What happens when you leave the comfort of your own kitchen? How do you handle food allergies then?Eating with Friends or Family Tips:

  1. Ask for the menu ahead of time. Let your host know you have allergies and you want to be sure there are safe foods. It’s much easier to work through the details in advance than showing up and having to decline everything offered.
  2. Offer to bring a component of the meal. If grains are the problem you can offer to bring homemade bread or rolls that are safe. Maybe you want to be sure there will be plenty of vegetables. Offer to bring a salad or roasted vegetables. Bring something safe so there will be at least one thing you can eat.
  3. Eat a light snack before you go. Then even if there are limited options you won’t go hungry. Enjoy what you can eat and focus on enjoying time with friends. Don’t draw attention to the food.
  4. Be the host. This is usually my default. I’m glad I like to cook! Since my kids are the ones with allergies I try to take the responsibility of hosting and preparing special food.
  5. Speak up! This applies to friends and families just as it does to restaurants. Most people are more than happy to accommodate special diets. If it’s someone I don’t know well I still always call any food restrictions allergies.

Cooking for a family with allergies is manageable, though sometimes challenging. What happens when you leave the comfort of your own kitchen? How do you handle food allergies then?It’s Just Food.

Food restrictions tend to cause me anxiety. Sometimes the most important thing is to remember it’s just food. It’s just one meal. Focus on the conversation and the company. Know that most people want to help and are more than happy to make special accommodations for you. It may take a little courage, but you can work around food allergies without being stuck at home. Then you can turn around and be a blessing to someone else when it’s your turn to host. It’s always my first question when I invite someone over for a meal – do you have any special dietary needs? When the host starts the conversation, it makes the whole process easier for everyone.

There is no need to shy away from family gatherings or a special meal out when dealing with special dietary needs. Simply follow these tips to make it an enjoyable experience for everyone!

How do you cope with special diets when you’re not at home? Do you have any tips to add to the list?