Recipe of the week....

One of my favorite smells of the season! Such a wonderful drink for a cold night, enjoy while snuggled under a blankie in front of a fireplace...perfect!

HOT MULLED APPLE CIDER
1 qt. apple cider 8 whole cloves 2/3 c. packed brown sugar 1/4 tsp. each nutmeg and ginger 1 stick cinnamon Combine all ingredients in 1 1/2 quart sauce pan. Cook until brown sugar is dissolved, stirring constantly. Simmer, covered, for 10 minutes; strain. Serve hot in cups. Garnish with lemon slices and cinnamon sticks for stirring. May keep warm in Crock pot on low. Yields 1 quart.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Wishing everyone a happy and healthy Thanksgiving!

Enjoy all the yummies that come along with it!
Hugs to you and your families...xx

I love cook books!

Do you have a family favorite or one you have just discovered? What is your favorite cook book? I would love to know what you recommend.

A good find today....I was out with a friend in downtown Seattle today. While out walking in a wonderful little neighborhood we stumbled across a second hand bookstore. Sure the store its self was a good find, but an even better one was a book I've been wanting to get and for only $10...woo hoo!
This book comes recommended by a number of mommy friends who are also into healthy/natural cooking...can't wait to try my first recipe!
I'll let you know what I make and how it goes down with the family.

Recipe of the week....

Pumpkin Ginger Nut Muffins Recipe

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon of salt
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup pumpkin purée
1/3 cup melted butter
2 eggs, beaten
1/4 cup water
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon allspice
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1 cup chopped toasted walnuts or pecans
2 Tbsp well chopped dates (raisins, cranberries, anything with a fruitiness)

Method

1 Preheat oven to 350°F. In a medium sized bowl, sift together the flour, salt, sugar, and baking soda.

2 Mix the pumpkin, melted butter, eggs, 1/4 cup of water, and spices together, then combine with the dry ingredients, until just incorporated. Do not over-mix. Fold in the candied ginger (this is where I uses dates instead) and chopped nuts.

3 Spoon mixture into a prepared muffin tin. Bake for 25-30 minutes. Check for doneness with a toothpick inserted into the center of a muffin. If it comes out clean, it's done. Cool on a rack.

Makes 12 yummy muffins. My boys loved them!!!

I couldn't agree more with this review by Elisa of simplycook.com "What I love about these quick bread pumpkin muffins is that they are so easy to throw together, and so hard to mess up. You can mix everything by hand with a wooden spoon, don't need an electric mixer. Baking soda and eggs are the leavening agents, so you don't have to worry about old baking powder that refuses to rise. The one cup of pumpkin purée can come from a can, or from leftover baked squash, any winter squash will do - butternut squash, acorn, pumpkin - they'll all work. If you don't like nuts, keep them out. If you like raisins, add them in. The ginger gives the pumpkin a nice spicy kick, but if you don't like ginger, skip it. This pumpkin muffin recipe is very flexible. Serve freshly baked, warm, and if you really want to be indulgent, with a little butter, once you've broken them open."

Our Journey while eating out

Last night was hard....
How to maintain this lifestyle while eating out!

OK, so basically I didn't...oops!
I'm sure the Thai food I ate was OK, but how do you know? You don't. Unless you ask them for the packaging to everything that went into your meal, you have no idea. But seriously who is going to do that, I don't think so!
This was the first time I have eaten out since starting this and honestly I was a little overwhelmed. All I could think about was "I am going to blow it!" I have worked so hard to get to this point, only to throw it away on movie snacks and Thai food.

So my solution was to think "No, I'm not blowing it! Its a few hours with friends for a night out, if I can't enjoy myself because I am so worried about what I am eating, that's just crazy and not how I want to live. I may as well give up on the changes now, because its about being healthy and loving life! Not restricting myself so it takes from my quality of life"

After I stopped beating up on myself and the personal little pep talk, I started to enjoy the evening so much more. I thought, I'll just make the best choices that I can, in the moment that I am in. Its not about changing the moment because that's what I live for!!!

I'm also not going to deny myself some of my favorite guilty pleasures that make moments that much more special. Like movie popcorn (which I am sure is fine if I didn't get the butter, but I got the butter!) or the pretty colored cocktail when out with the girls.

If this was something I did every week, then maybe I would rethink my strategy, but going to the movies happens a few times a year, so I say enjoy!!!

Products - reusable grocery bag

Cool find.....
The next time you are at the grocery store, reference your new Preservatives bag to find out which ingredients to avoid. (not all harmful preservatives are included in this list and there are other "nasties" listed her to avoid)
For more information check out the website I found it on
http://fuzzco.bigcartel.com/product/preservatives

An all too common Nasty - Preservatives

I was just about to bake some yummy pumpkin spice muffins for the kids and while reading the ingredients I came across some scary discoveries including this.....

Food Preservatives...
What are BHA and BHT?

(Do you think it scary that I found this listed under many chemistry/science sites rather than food? And yet we eat it!)

Butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) and the related compound butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) are phenolic compounds that are often added to foods to preserve fats.

What foods contain BHA and BHT? BHA is generally used to keep fats from becoming rancid. It is also used as a yeast de-foaming agent. BHA is found in butter, meats, cereals, chewing gum, baked goods, snack foods, dehydrated potatoes, and beer. It is also found in animal feed, food packaging, cosmetics, rubber products, and petroleum products.

BHT also prevents oxidative rancidity of fats. It is used to preserve food odor, color, and flavor. Many packaging materials incorporate BHT. It is also added directly to shortening, cereals, and other foods containing fats and oils.

BHA Characteristics:(the more popular)

• BHA is a mixture of the isomers 3-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyanisole and 2-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyanisole. Also known as BOA, tert-butyl-4-hydroxyanisole, (1,1-dimethylethyl)-4-methoxyphenol, tert-butyl-4-methoxyphenol, antioxyne B, and under various trade names
• Molecular formula C₁₁H₁₆O₂
• White or yellowish waxy solid
• Faint characteristic aromatic odor

BHT Characteristics:

• Also known as 3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxytoluene; methyl-di-tert-butylphenol; 2,6-di-tert-butyl-para-cresol
• Molecular formula C₁₅H₂₄O
• White powder

So did you understand that? Sounds....yummy! NOT!

How do they preserve food? BHA and BHT are antioxidants. Oxygen reacts preferentially with BHA or BHT rather than oxidizing fats or oils, thereby protecting them from spoilage. In addition to being oxidizable, BHA and BHT are fat-soluble. Both molecules are incompatible with ferric salts. In addition to preserving foods, BHA and BHT are also used to preserve fats and oils in cosmetics and pharmaceuticals.

Are BHA and BHT safe? Both BHA and BHT have undergone the additive application and review process required by the US Food and Drug Administration. However, the same chemical properties which make BHA and BHT excellent preservatives may also be implicated in health effects. The oxidative characteristics and/or metabolites of BHA and BHT may contribute to carcinogenicity or tumorigenicity; however the same reactions may combat oxidative stress. There is evidence that certain persons may have difficulty metabolizing BHA and BHT, resulting in health and behavior changes. BHA and BHT may have antiviral and antimicrobial activities. Research is underway concerning the use of BHT in the treatment of herpes simplex and AIDS.

_____________________________________________

"May also be implicated in health effects" and yet it is still used in most foods in your pantry! I love how when asked the question if it is safe, they then state that it has been tested, followed with a "however" response! Wonder what they would say if it had to be yes or no? Thanks for the testing US Food and Drug Administration, just another reason why I now question everything I put in my mouth!

Real Food of the week...

Brussel Sprouts

Eww...not brussel sprouts! I'm sure most people would turn up their nose to the thought of eating these. I bravely introduced these to my boys the other night, with no expectations. Sure Thomas refused to eat them, but Harry was curious as to how a cabbage could be so small! I made a yummy honey ginger stirfry with chicken and loads of veggies...yum! They were slightly crunchy and still beautiful and green, they just looked and tasted so good, even Harry tried it! Plus they are in season which makes them super fresh and cheap.
I grew up hating brussel sprouts, sorry mom, I don't know how you made them taste so bad!
But did you know, these little parcels of power are full of so many wonderful things for you. Just one cup provides....

Brussel sprouts, boiled 1.00 cup 156.00 grams 60.84 calories
Nutrient	Amount	DV (%)	Nutrient Density	World's Healthiest Foods Rating
vitamin K	218.80 mcg	273.5	80.9	excellent
vitamin C	96.72 mg	161.2	47.7	excellent
folate	93.60 mcg	23.4	6.9	very good
vitamin A	1121.64 IU	22.4	6.6	very good
manganese	0.35 mg	17.5	5.2	very good
dietary fiber	4.06 g	16.2	4.8	very good
potassium	494.52 mg	14.1	4.2	very good
vitamin B6 (pyridoxine)	0.28 mg	14.0	4.1	very good
tryptophan	0.04 g	12.5	3.7	very good
vitamin B1 (thiamin)	0.17 mg	11.3	3.4	very good
omega 3 fatty acids	0.26 g	10.8	3.2	good
iron	1.87 mg	10.4	3.1	good
phosphorus	87.36 mg	8.7	2.6	good
protein	3.98 g	8.0	2.4	good
magnesium	31.20 mg	7.8	2.3	good
vitamin B2 (riboflavin)	0.12 mg	7.1	2.1	good
vitamin E	1.33 mg	6.7	2.0	good
copper	0.13 mg	6.5	1.9	good
calcium	56.16 mg	5.6	1.7	good

World's Healthiest Foods Rating	Rule
excellent	DV>=75%	OR	Density>=7.6	AND	DV>=10%
very good	DV>=50%	OR	Density>=3.4	AND	DV>=5%
good	DV>=25%	OR	Density>=1.5	AND	DV>=2.5%

There are so many health benefits in just 3-5 servings a week...

• Cancer Protection from Special Sulfur-Containing Phytonutrients found in Brussels sprouts enhance the activity of the body's natural defense systems to protect against disease, including cancer.

• Also increase production of enzymes involved in detoxification, the cleansing process through which our bodies eliminate harmful compounds.
• For Healthy Skin and Immune Function
• Fiber-rich Brussels Sprouts Support A Healthier Colon
• Cardiovascular Benefits
• Protection against Rheumatoid Arthritis
• A Birth Defect Fighter

For a more indepth study on the above benifits (its pretty amazing) check out

http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=10

What helped me take the step....

I want to change my diet
But I am too overwhelmed!

One of the things I am loving about this new lifestyle has been sharing it with my friends, they have been so supportive and encouraging...thank you!!! Its also encouraging to see how many others out there want to do it too. So I thought I would share what got me moving down this path. One that I had been thinking in the back of my mind for years, but just seemed impossible for this lazy cook and busy mom!

A comment I have been hearing a lot lately is,
"I want to change my diet but I am too overwhelmed, there is too much that needs changing and I wouldn't know where to start!"

I wish I could wave my magic wand to make it easy for you! Like anything taking the first step is the hardest, no matter how big or small.
For me it has a lot to do with "thinking" about everything that needs changing at once and that once you start you are committing. Both these thoughts are enough to scare anyone and make them feel to overwhelmed from taking that first step!

Really it was the thinking that was holding me back. So wanting to do it and having that thought, I think really is the first step. So Yay! You've already started =)

What we did next, was pick one small "active" thing and stick to it for a few weeks. I had to not allow myself to get discouraged if I messed up one day and to believe that I wasn't a failure. If I did mess up it was a great reason to try harder and to focus on doing better the next day...I had to make an effort to not beat myself up about it.
I started with the decision of not eating fast food (the boys and I used to eat it at least twice a week, if not more! because it was cheap and easy when out and about)
After a few weeks of this I was excited to be rid of fast food and would pack peanut butter sandwiches for the car instead, I had, I guess a new habit, if you want to call it that. It felt great! and seriously thought that would be impossible since we had come to rely on the 3 local Mc's so much for lunch.

The more I made the right choices the more consistently I wanted to do it!

After a few weeks of this, I decided to go through my pantry and read all the labels on products we normally eat...this was scary! For starters, there were so many ingredients that I didn't even know what they were, but yet I was happy eating and giving it to my family? This was probably the most motivating thing I did, to take the next step!

I jumped online with the list of words I was not familiar with, also the colors and preservatives and started reading about them. Holly cow, what the hell were we eating! Petrolium, rat poison, chemical resin...scary!!! This was huge motivator for me and I have not changed my real foods mindset since.

We have a pantry half full of things we will not eat, time to donate to the local food banks and time to rethink my shopping list for my next grocery shop.

If anyone would of asked me 2mths ago if I would be eating this way, I would of laughed at them and said no way, I am not a health nut! I loved my easy, quick, prepared foods way too much, I am a lazy eater and an even lazier cook, I would always opt for what was ready at hand and could eat on the run.
But now that I have started eating this way I feel the healthiest I have felt in a longtime, I have more energy, I sleep better at night, I just feel so different, its great!!! It feels amazing doing something so good for myself and for my family!

You and your families deserve only the best!!!!

Suggested Reading

Simple Food for Busy Families

The Whole Life Nutrition Approach

I just came across this book on another blog, it looks good, I think I'm going to purchase it. I'll let you know when I get it and what I think. The cover pics alone are making me hungry. Look at all that yummy goodness!

Click the book cover to see price at Barnes & Noble

This is what they say about the book....

Are you too busy to feed your family home-cooked food? Confused by the latest nutritional news? Struggling to help your kids stay healthy, active and balanced? Whole Life Nutrition is a much-needed antidote to the S.A.D. - our Standard American Diet and lifestyle of fast food and faster entertainment. Designed for parents of school-aged children, this book clearly and simply lays out how to nourish your family and create balance in your home life while keeping up with your full and busy days.

You'll learn how to reverse common cravings, imbalances and ailments and experience a comprehensive new approach to modern family cooking - one so simple and intuitive that even readers who are afraid to boil water will be dishing out quick, delicious, nourishing meals in no time. With clear, practical lifestyle guidelines, the inside scoop on many nutrition issues, and endless simple meal options, this book is one-stop-shopping for getting your family's health on track.

Is ALL Natural really ALL Natural?

Today while shopping at Costco (the first time since starting our all natural lifestyle) I was faced with the challenge again of finding alternatives for products that we are used to consuming.
One thing I am having a hard time with is snacks for the kids, so many companies out there feel the need to color, flavor and sweeten their products. Not only is it hard finding things good for them, but finding things that actually taste and look good too.

I was amazed on my quest today to come across so many kids products, health bars in particular claiming to be all natural. When was partially hydrogenated oil (PHO) considered "natural"?

Where is the truth from the companies we blindly purchase food from and then feed our children? Can we do something about it?

My quest, the more we inform ourselves and each other, the less big companies can pull the wool over our eyes and think we are not aware of what we are eating!
There for I am not buying anything with PHO & HFCS, if we all did this maybe they would get the message through drop in sales??

Family Journal

Feeling the effects!

We have been on this real food only diet for over 2 weeks now and I feel great!!!
My energy level is starting to rise, which is better than nothing because that's what it used to be...Nothing! I had no energy!

We had a delicious homemade roast pumpkin soup last night, chock full of yummy real goodness. So why oh why did I suggest getting a French bread stick to go with it, white bread! Holly cow my body felt it, I had a headache later that night as well as indigestion, I also started to feel a little groggy.

I think it was good to have the bread last night, just as a reminder how your body reacts to things you eat. When your body is so used to eating a certain way over time it no longer reacts. Last night was a mini wake up call to say don't do that again as well as a reminder to keep up the good work with eating right!

You may be thinking, what is wrong with the white bread I ate? It had HFC in it as well as useless white processed flour. Nothing in it my body needed or could digest easily...bring on the whole grains =)

It's making an impact!

When you see your good example rub off....

We have been discussing our real foods change with our kids. While Thomas our 4yr old is not really getting it, Harrison our 7yr old is really interested!

Harry will ask me before he eats something now "Mommy, is this good for me?" if it is he gets excited but if its bad for him he will put it down...yay! It is great to see our example enable our kids to make healthy food choices for themselves.

The healthy food pyramid has been among Harry's interests lately, I think they must be teaching the kids at school. He's been drawing it and talking about what foods he thinks are healthy...way to go Harry!

An all too common Nasty - Hydrogenated oils

You may have heard about the health issues caused by a food ingredient called partially hydrogenated oil (PHO). It is found in many, many foods in your supermarket and in restaurants. Although I knew it was unhealthy, I never really knew why until I did some research for this post.

In a nutshell, PHO’s are created when hydrogen bubbles (yes, hydrogen) are passed through oil that has been heated. This removes the essential fatty acids that do a lot of good for your body, and chemically alters the oil so it becomes a trans fat, also called a saturated fat (bad, bad stuff). McDonalds is one of the better-known trans fat cases because of all the media attention.

So why are PHO’s so bad? They cause cancer, diabetes, heart disease, multiple sclerosis and allergies that can cause arthritis. It also disables your body from properly absorbing good essential fatty acids (necessary to sustain healthy life) found largely in polyunsaturated oils. Instead of being absorbed and providing your body with what it needs to function properly, the essential fatty acids are eventually stored as fat cells, causing you to gain weight.

I’m not a scientist, so I won’t pretend to be. The purpose of this post is to inform you of the ill effects of this ingredient (as well as some others). I’ve included some informative links below for those of you who are interested in a more detailed explanation of PHO’s.

But I will tell you this. Companies use this stuff because it’s a really cheap way to give things like cake, cookies, pancakes, cereal and bread a rich buttery taste WITHOUT adding butter (which is more costly). It also extends the shelf life of the product so it can sit there for months (or years) instead of a few weeks. I guess the almighty dollar is more important than the health of our children.

Now that there’s more awareness, some corporations have changed the name of these trans fatty oils to mono-diglycerides. Don’t be fooled, it’s the same thing. Shame on every company that is trying to trick us. I wonder if the owners and employees feed this crap to their families. Or do they take their profits and shop at Whole Foods?

Hey Kellogg’s, charge me an extra dollar and take that crap out of your Pop Tarts and your cereals. It’s in Froot Loops, Corn Pops and lots of other cereals I can’t think of right now (check the labels).

My question is this: who is going to step up, take responsibility and get rid of this stuff in our food? Will it be a major corporation that will set the precedent, the government, or nobody?

If that’s not enough to keep you up at night, here are a few more bad food ingredients:

Sodium Nitrite: found in bacon, hot dogs and other processed meats kids and parents like to eat. Why is it bad? It causes colon cancer and pancreatic cancer. It has been proven to cause leukemia and brain tumors in children! We eat bacon at least once a week!! At least we used to. I’ll have to check Whole Foods for organic bacon.

Naturalnews.com also lists: MSG, refined white flower, refined white sugar, aspartame, saccharin, artificial colors, chemical preservatives, color fixer chemicals and homogenized dairy fats. Visit their link, or use Google to find out more.

Special thanks to the following links which provided me with this useful information. Pleases visit them for more details:
- Ban Trans Fats
- What’s Wrong with Partially Hydrogenated Oils?
- The latest U.S. health safety distraction ploy: Blame China!
- Recovery Medicine

Related posts:
Healthy Food Tip #1: Decoding PLU Codes For Better Health

And remember, you are not alone…

---

Possibly related posts: (automatically generated)

• Healthy Food Tip #3: Many Top Food Brands Don’t Care About Your Family’…
• Twinkies: Surprise Ingredients in the Antithesis of a Healthy Food
• All Natural Foods Do Not Include Hydrogenated Oils and Refined Sugars
• Palm Oil: Better Than Trans Fat?

Thanks DADDY BRAIN BLOG for this amazing article! http://www.daddybrain.wordpress.com

Healthy food website

Field to Plate is the paradigm shift in food education.
They are a visionary education company infusing new inspiration and meaning into food education and the eating experience. They are part of the groundswell that is changing the way America eats one bite at a time. One day at a time. One life at a time.

http://www.fieldtoplate.com/index.php

Suggested Reading

Real Food For Kids
Real Food for Kids by Rachael Anne HillWe have become increasingly reliant on ready-prepared meals and snacks to feed our kids, many low in essential nutrients and high in saturated fats, sugar, salt and additives. Such a diet, linked to soaring rates of childhood obesity and other diseases, is not a healthy one for a growing child. In this invaluable book, nutrition expert Rachael Anne Hill explains why the food our children eat is damaging their health, and shows how you can reverse this trend by cooking simple good food at home without spending hours in the kitchen. Her recipes are quick and simple to prepare, made from everyday ingredients and are packed with the nutrients your family needs. From Breakfasts to Lunch Boxes, Snacks & Drinks, Lunches & Suppers, Puddings and Party Food, there are recipes for every occasion that kids will love. Rachael also advises on what foods to buy and what to avoid, understanding food labels and cutting through marketing hype.

Feingold Diet

Here is a diet that has been recommended to my by other moms of special needs kids. To be honest it is full-on and am not sure if I can implement the whole thing, but I will cut the things previously discussed and will try an elimination diet with the rest of the foods listed. This is an extract from www.everydiet.com

Feingold Diet

The Feingold Diet derives from the program suggested in the book “Why Your Child is Hyperactive“, first published in the 1970s by Dr. Benjamin Feingold, a pediatrician and allergist. He went on to develop and promote his dietary approach to helping children with learning and behavior problems, since categorized as Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) or Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).

The Feingold Diet is based on the premise that allergic reactions or sensitivities to certain types of foods cause or contribute to ADD/ADHD symptoms, such as problems with:

• Behavior (marked hyperactivity, impulsive and compulsive actions, emotional concerns)
• Learning (short attention span, neuro-muscular difficulties, cognitive and perceptual disturbances)
• Health (physical complaints and/or sleep problems)

The full Feingold Program

How it functions

The Feingold Program is more comprehensive than a simple diet, and operates in two stages. Stage 1 eliminates chemical compounds in particular food additives, and salicylate compounds in certain foods (and non-food items such as fragrances – hence the name Program rather than Diet). See below for a list of items for elimination. Stage 2 involves identifying which salicylates (if any) can be tolerated.

Does it work?

Many ADD/ADHD sufferers who follow the Feingold Program have experienced great improvements in focus and behavior. There is a considerable (recent) research to back this up (see more).

Studies in the early nineties show that around 75% of children improve on a diet that restricts additives.

What it does

The Feingold Program eliminates these additives and chemicals:

• Synthetic coloring (are made from petroleum – crude oil)
• Artificial flavoring (combinations of many natural and synthetic chemicals – eg imitation vanilla flavoring or “vanillin” might originate from the waste product of paper mills). There has been little research carried on these chemicals.
• Artificial preservatives (BHA, BHT, and TBHQ, made from petroleum; also termed “anti-oxidants” because they prevent or delay the “oxidization” of fats in foods, which make them rancid)
• Salicylates (a group of chemicals related to aspirin, which are a naturally occurring pesticide in particular food plants – see ‘Food sources of salicylates’ below; also manufactured and used in many products including medicines, perfumes and solvents). Only some are eliminated on the Feingold diet.
• Artificial sweeteners (only aspartame is eliminated)
• Other food additives considered undesirable (such as MSG, sodium benzoate, nitrites, sulfites) – these are not eliminated – but are noted in the food list.

Food Sources of Salicylates

Almonds, Apples, Apricots, Aspirin, Berries, Cherries, Cloves, Coffee, Cucumbers, Currants, Grapes, Nectarines, Oil of wintergreen, Oranges, Peaches, Peppers (bell & chilli), Pickles, Plums, Prunes, Raisins, Rose hips, Tangelos, Tangerines, Tea, Tomatoes

A Staged Dietary Plan

A less rigorous approach than the Feingold Program, given that many studies have shown the sensitivity of some children to dyes, is to start by eliminating only those foods (and vitamins, drugs, and toothpastes) that contain artificial colorings.

If initial dietary changes have little benefit (i.e. excluding only dyes), try the complete Feingold diet. It is important to use a diet diary or journal.

If that doesn’t help, the Feingold Association recommends eliminating:

• corn syrup, high-fructose corn syrup, and corn sugar (in soft drinks and other sweetened foods)
• MSG (monosodium glutamate) and HVP (hydrolyzed vegetable protein, which contains some glutamate)
• sodium nitrite (in luncheon meats)
• calcium propionate (in baked goods)

After several weeks, if the child’s behavior has improved, every few days restore one eliminated food or ingredient at a time. Repeat that two or three times if a problem occurs, to confirm that the food is really a culprit.

If the child’s behavior did not improve on the Feingold diet, try a “few-foods” diet, which involves more extensive restrictions (see Elimination diets). Studies show that some children are sensitive not just to food additives but also to such foods as:

• wheat
• eggs
• milk and other dairy foods
• chocolate
• soybeans/tofu
• corn products (including corn sugar and syrup)

Eliminate as many of those foods as possible, plus artificial colorings and other additives. Children can eat fresh meat and poultry, any vegetable (except corn and soybeans), fruits and fruit juices (but not citrus fruit/juice and not beverages normally consumed daily), rice, and oats.

Welcome to our blog

Welcome to our Real Food Blog!

Our family is on a mission to change our diet for better living!
We believe that diet is a major component to how we feel and behave.
And that how you fuel your body, is a huge contributor to how productive and positive your day is (or isn't!).

With ADHD and deppresion in our family, we are hoping that through a change in diet, we can live life to the fullest without these conditions effecting the lifestyle we want.

This journey for a healthier, real food living has only just started!
And honestly there is a lot of information out there to help and hinder on this ride. Its overwhelming! One site saying one thing and the next you read totally contradicting what you just read, its enough to send you crazy!

I am hoping this blog can provide an unbiased view on how beneficial whole/real foods are for the body and mind. Also posting the things we eat and what they really contain. Just because its in food that we can purchase from a major store, does not mean it is safe/good for us.

Our goal is to have a healthy & happy family =)