The anchors asked us yesterday on live TV, “What is something you like to eat that’s more fun? Do you ever want things in your lunch that you see in other kids’ lunches?” Of course my poor kids weren’t ready for the question, so after some silence I jumped in and mentioned homemade granola bars […]
There’s nothing better than a kid messing up and earning a consequence. Don’t believe me? I didn’t pack my 5th grader’s lunch almost the entire year, and I barely had to remind him that it was now his responsibility. Why? Because he earned it as a consequence for messing up. I can’t even remember the
What kid doesn’t like mashed potatoes? It’s a favorite at our house even if I don’t have gravy, but I’m always looking for ways to reduce the starchy foods and incorporate more low-carb, nutrient-dense veggies onto our plates. This recipe is basically a “mashed potatoes” substitute but with…cauliflower! It’s a great swap, because first of
Healthy Creamed Cauliflower (Instead of Mashed Potatoes) Read More »
That moment when I saw a young pregnant mom in a bar drinking a beer (or two or three), long before I was a real food blogger, long before I was a mom myself, and even before I was of drinking age…I gaped in horror. I knew nothing about prenatal nutrition, health, or growing a
The Perfect Birth Won’t Guarantee Healthy Gut Flora for Baby Read More »
I took our Instant Pot camping for the first time this month, and it was a huge success! I’ve used the Instant Pot (an electric pressure cooker) before for many things, although I still think I might only know the tip of the iceberg as far as its potential (I’m a stuck-in-a-rut kind of gal
Pressure Cooker Mexican Lentils and Rice (Main Dish) Read More »
Ever wondered if your favorite recipe has a crockpot to Instant Pot conversion? You know the Instant Pot can cook foods quickly, but finding a new recipe for an old favorite can be hit or miss…and those misses are particularly painful when it’s 6:30pm and everyone is hungry. If you want to use the Instant
Can You Make Slow Cooker Recipes in an Instant Pot? Read More »
You’d think that after 4 years of college and a full year internship program in education, that I’d be uniquely and perfectly suited to be a parent. That as a trained teacher of children and a teacher of an online cooking course for kids that I’d kind of know it all and have much less of
Why Professional Development Should Be Required for Parenting Read More »
I get a little cynical when it comes to single-serve cups of “food” that I see in kids’ school lunches. If you read the ingredients, almost none of them are things I have in my kitchen – except sugar. Which I only use sparingly. I’m not a big meanie and averse to all fun foods,
Homemade No-Cook Chocolate Chia Pudding Recipe (Dairy-Free Options) Read More »
Parenting lowers the standards for so many things! Entertainment, bodily fluids, exciting conversation topics… For example: You go grocery shopping with your spouse as part of “date night” because you have a babysitter, and you TRULY enjoy it, like a highlight of your week! Seriously, right? I have joked about this with so many people
3 Essential Grocery Shopping Tips for Kids of All Ages Read More »
There’s something very intimidating about cooking ‘real food’ for a large group of people, especially if you’re on a budget. Shoot, some days I feel like I can barely get food prepared to feed my family, so to feed a crowd means exponentially more time. And then there’s the idea of wanting to have food
Serve an Easy Pasta Salad Bar for Your Next Party Read More »
It’s the kind of comfort food you pine for when it’s gray and cloudy outside. There’s not too much heat to make you want to avoid using the oven. And mashed potatoes on the side sound just right. In other words, it’s fair to say that when it’s cloudy, there’s always a chance of… You
Easy Kid-Friendly Meatball Recipe {Egg Free, Grain Free} Read More »
I’ve talked about the importance of baby steps for years: Taking small steps, making small individual improvements, to get your family ever closer to real food and natural living goals. But what if it were possible to baby step your way right off a cliff? Can even baby steps be taken too far? When I
Yesterday I joked about how the D.A.R.E. to keep kids off drugs program was kind of like my hubby and I peer pressuring our friends to do a Whole30 – a diet that cuts out all grains, dairy, legumes, sweeteners, and alcohol. Did you know that some would say gluten and sugar are as addictive
Why This Popular Real Food Diet Caused Utter Failure (Part 2) Read More »
Although it seems like we’re uber strict about food in our household, we have only had ONE rule that can never, ever be compromised on, no matter what. When we’re in social situations or gifted with food or traveling, we compromise. We consume artificial colors in moderation. We eat plenty of unknown trans fats, I’m
Dumb move, Katie. I had 30 days to test out my Republic Wireless phone and make sure I liked it, and I didn’t switch over my number until day 24 or so. I figured I’d just test it out, make sure it worked fine, and no problem. Hopefully I wouldn’t need to return the phone.
A man drove his car into that pond next to a busy downtown road nine years ago. Last fall, someone finally noticed his car. He was still in it. Now every time I walk or drive by that pond (which is daily since it’s at the end of my street!) I marvel at how many
Coal miners had their canary, I have the itchy spot on the base of my hairline. Ever since I fought candida off and finally had a name for the little itchy spot on my neck that spread over my chest and arms in 2013, I figured it would be an indicator of when I’d pushed
You know how they say you’re not supposed to bank on the person you choose to marry actually changing at all to fit your liking better? That you should never expect to be able to mold or form that person to become the person you think they could be? We were talking about this over
I’ve been trying so many new things with this Instant Pot challenge! I’ve purchased a few kinds of meat I never tried before, and these “country style boneless pork ribs” that I bought for a Vindaloo recipe definitely count. I had half a package leftover (Costco!) and was getting a little tired of Mexican or
Whole30 BBQ Boneless Pork Ribs in the Instant Pot Read More »
What’s the big deal with the Instant Pot, you ask? Why all the hype? I can tell you why I have learned to appreciate it: There are probably more benefits, and you’ll see some in the post about basic Instant Pot techniques like boiling eggs and cooking rice, but those are the biggies for me.
