Heavenly Homemakers

Encouraging women in homemaking, healthy eating and parenting

Focus on Stocking Your Kitchen With Real Food Ingredients (A Giveaway Package from More Than Alive)

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Grocery stores and online resources offer plenty of prepared foods. Some of them are even of the “healthier” variety, giving us some handy snacks to have on hand that are at least made from “better for you” ingredients. I appreciate having a few of these items on hand for when we’re traveling or for those days I truly can’t find an extra minute to make something to eat.

But what I find it better to focus on is simply purchasing real food ingredients. If I stock up on all the staple ingredients that I use frequently, I can be assured that with just a few minutes of work, we will have something great to eat! Even better, I find that if I have basic staple ingredients on hand, if I find a few extra minutes in the day, I can mix something up to put into the freezer for those days I don’t have time to cook (which is happening more and more as my kids get older).

Read more about my preferred staple ingredients here. And here’s something super fun to help us all get going with our real food stock pile…

More Than Alive, which carries many wonderful ingredients that I use daily, has put together a perfect package to give away. The quality of the food they offer is wonderful. I love that you can purchase in large quantities, or just by the pound if you prefer. (Although I found that if you purchase a larger quantity, typically the price per pound is much less!)  They offer free shipping on orders over $100, which is a huge money saver. I love it when healthy ingredients arrive on my porch!

Today, More Than Alive is even giving Heavenly Homemakers readers an additional 10% discount! Use the code HHBLOG10 to receive 10% off  any order over $50 (not including shipping). Don’t forget you get free shipping on orders over $100. This discount code is good through January 25, 2014.

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If you win this giveaway, you will receive one pound of each of the following:

  • Oats
  • Rice
  • Rapadura
  • Real Salt
  • Amaranth Seeds
  • Baking Powder (actually, you’ll just receive 1/4 pound of this)
  • Coconut Flour
  • Sunflower seeds
  • Sesame seeds
  • Raisins

Do you know all the wonderful foods you can make with this package? Love this!

For a chance to win this giveaway from More Than Alive, leave a comment on this post. I’ll draw a random winner on Friday, January 17. Be watching for a post stating the winner as you will be responsible for contacting me if your name is chosen!

 

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Gratituesday: Gratituesday

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Yes, this Gratituesday, I’m thankful for Gratituesday. :)  Why? Is it because I couldn’t think of anything else? No. It’s because I really am thankful for this day of the week.

I try to be thankful every day, but what I often find is that I just get busy and distracted, which can so easily make me ungrateful and negative. I can get grumbly and frustrated – usually with silly situations that happen during the day.

But each Monday I have to stop and give some real thought to what I’m thankful for. After all, you’re all expecting me to write about what I’m grateful for on Gratituesday. I’m pretty sure you don’t want to hear me say, “Yeah, God is good, but man those kids just tracked in mud and left the toilet seat up again.”

Knowing that I will be sharing about God’s goodness on my blog gives me an attitude check that I need. Gratituesday helps me keep a godly perspective – even if I’m just sharing something simple. That’s where most of our biggest blessings are found, after all – in the simple things in life.

So yay for Gratituesday! Let this day each week be a reminder to us all to take some time to consider our blessings!

Now your turn. Share what you’re thankful for!  Leave a comment on this post letting us know how God is working in your life. If you’ve written a blog post about what you’re thankful for, leave the link in the comments so we can visit your blog to read about it. We love sharing and reading about God’s blessings!

 

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Hey, Thanks For the Feedback!

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I’ve been excited to get the Real Food Reality Resources Package into your hands because the contents within answer so many of the questions I get so often about where to start, how to keep up, how to get ahead, and how to save money while on your Real Food Journey. It’s always great to hear your feedback and to know that the information we share really is helpful to you!

Here’s what Kelley said after purchasing the Real Food Reality Resources Package:

I bought the  Real Food Reality Resources Package last night and have already devoured most of it!! ABSOLUTELY loving it!! Thank you soooo much for all you do. It is GREATLY appreciated :) Blessings to you and your family!!”

And here’s a fun comment I received from Melony:

Just a thank you for your amazing resources. Your website has helped make our transition to whole/clean eating so simple and painless. It is nearly dinner so I am off to make some of your delicious Corn Muffins.”

I’m always encouraged when I read comments like those…so thank you!

For just a few more days, we’re offering this Real Food Reality Resources Package, worth $24.95, for just $19.95. We want you to succeed on your real food journey. You can do this!

Reality Resource Sale 2

Get all of the details about the Real Food Reality Resources Package here.  Not only will you receive loads of helpful ideas and instruction, you’ll receive more delicious (and easy!) recipes too!

Real Food Reality Package
$19.95

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Start the Day With a Healthy (Quick & Easy) Breakfast {31 Days of Real Food Reality ~ Day 13}

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I’m almost as passionate about eating a healthy breakfast as I am about eating lots of butter. They’re both super important. Therefore…feel free to spread butter all over your breakfast. Oh yeah.

breakfast_casserole

But wait. You don’t have time to cook a healthy breakfast every morning? Me neither.  I mean, if I felt like losing an hour of sleep, skipping my much needed Bible time, foregoing my morning work-out, or beginning my day by being glued to a griddle while flipping countless pancakes – I could make the time to cook a healthy, hearty breakfast every morning. But well…I don’t.

breakfast_cake_3

That’s what scares us away from making a healthy breakfast isn’t it? Time. Effort. School. Work. Schedules. I get it. I’m with ya. I have plenty of other things to do in the morning and I like sleeping. I don’t like the stress of trying to get everyone going in the morning while trying to keep breakfast from burning on the stove. So does that mean we take the easy way out and buy boxed, convenience foods for breakfast? Sure, if you want to feel like junk all day and start your kids’ school day off with a big, blurry bang that ends in a sugar crash by morning recess. But what if there is a way to have a nourishing breakfast without the morning stress?

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Oh yes. There is definitely a way. I am loving this real food reality which includes a hearty, healthy, no brainer breakfast each morning.

I do everything possible to make healthy breakfast foods ahead of time so that all I have to do in the morning to get a nourishing breakfast on the table is open a container. Or boil water. Or maybe, just maybe, I’ll “go to the trouble” of scrambling or frying eggs, which takes about five minutes. (Or better yet, I assign that task to one of my boys. Hurray for kids who are old enough to use a stove!)

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How do I put a healthy breakfast on the table without much effort each morning?

Seriously, making a healthy breakfast is not hard. We do not have to resort to boxed food. It’s just a matter of planning ahead and focusing on food that is real and nourishing. Real food – it is amazing.

Here are some of my favorite healthy, make-ahead breakfast ideas:

And always, always serve fruit with breakfast.  That’s the healthiest convenience food there is. :)

As soon as we start making some healthy foods ahead of time, and stop assuming that eating healthy food is difficult, we’ll be well on our way to saving money and keeping our lives so much simpler in the kitchen! Plus, when we begin our day with a nourishing breakfast, we get our body off to a great start – setting the pace for a great day ahead.

add fruits and veggiesAnd there’s more!

Need some easy, healthy breakfast inspiration? We have a freebie for you!

To help us all along in this effort, I created a downloadable chart with 31 Days of Real Food Breakfast Ideas. It is internet linked, so all you have to do is click to find the recipe referred to on the chart.

Eggs and smoothies. Smoothies and eggs. Cereal. Cereal. Cereal. Snore. Need a change of pace? Want some fresh ideas? We’ve got a free printable for you that includes 31 Days of Real Food Breakfast Ideas!


All 31 ideas are recipe linked. Every recipe is made from real food: Whole grain, healthy fats, wholesome sweeteners. It’s all simple, it’s all delicious, and it will inspire you with fresh ideas for ways to feed your family each morning.

Unless you enjoy eating breakfast at night for dinner. (For some reason, waffles taste better at night. We don’t understand it. We just go with it!)

Mix it up. Substitute your favorite fruits – whatever is in season! Be sure to add protein to each meal if needed. There’s no right or wrong way to use this free printable full of ideas. We just hope you use it!

 —> Want some simple real food dinner ideas too? Check out this huge list! <—-

By the way, want to eat cookies for breakfast? With bacon? Strawberries and cream? Life is good, and so is your health. Real food for the win! (Seriously. Stop being afraid of bacon and cream. It’s real food, our bodies can utilize it for nourishment, and when we eat real food in balance, we can be healthy!)

We’re happy to share this 31 Days of Real Food Breakfast Ideas printable with you to use in whatever way works best for your family. Adapt it, pick and choose what works for you, and enjoy!

BONUS: Using these recipes will save you big bucks! How? Well, have you seen the price of a box of cereal? Making a homemade breakfast is quite a money saver. We love it!

Get your free printable 31 Days of Real Food Breakfast Ideas. Signing up to receive this will connect you to our Savings Club, providing you with relevant money-saving tips, recipes, ideas, and inspiration!

There you go – 31 healthy, make-ahead, family friendly, money-saving, real food breakfast ideas!

What are your favorite ways to get a healthy breakfast on the table quickly in the morning?

It’s here! Check out our amazing Simple Meals program!

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Menu Plan for the Week {31 Days to Real Food Reality ~ Day 12}

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This post is sponsored by Great Homeschool Conventions. I am honored to be working with them to spread the word about the wonderful conventions they offer!

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How have you been enjoying the 31 Days of Real Food Reality series so far? I pray it’s been helpful to you!

My Real Food Reality Tip for you today has to do with organization:  When planning what meals to serve to your family, keep it simple. Pick a main dish, then choose one or two veggies to go with it. Easy as that! You’ll see in my menu plan below that there is nothing fancy about our Real Food Reality. Don’t make eating a healthy diet difficult! Remember…it’s just food. :)

On another note, I have to give a big shout out to the Homemade Instant Oatmeal recipe. A healthy breakfast (or snack) does not get any easier than this. It takes about five minutes for me to mix up a double batch of this oatmeal. I store it in a jar in my pantry, then scoop it out and add boiling water when we want it for breakfast. Better yet, my kids can make a bowl of oatmeal for themselves. Love this!

Instant Oatmeal in a Jar 2

Here is my very non-fancy, but still very real food and family friendly meal plan for the week:

Sunday, January 12
Homemade instant oatmeal, dried fruit
Cheesy pasta bake, already prepared and in the freezer, ready to bake! (Recipe in {Healthy} Make-Ahead Meals and Snacks eBook), tossed salad
Small group – Chicken pot pie, with side dishes provided by others

Monday, January 13
Bacon cheese muffins, oranges
Baked potato with broccoli cheese sauce
Roast, carrots, gravy, green beans

Tuesday, January 14
Cinnamon swirl bread, apples
Black bean salsa with corn chips, pineapple
Chicken burritos, tossed salad

Wednesday, January 15
Oatmeal breakfast bars, applesauce
Chicken salad on pita bread, cottage cheese with peaches
Cheesy salsa enchiladas, tossed salad

Thursday, January 16
Pumpkin chocolate chip bread, pears
Chicken noodle soup, carrot sticks
Lasagna casserole, tossed salad, steamed broccoli

Friday, January 17
Pancake and sausage muffins, applesauce
Pizza boats, green beans, olives, blueberries
Shepherds pie, tossed salad

Saturday, January 18 – Elias’ b-day!
Still waiting for him to decide his birthday meal choices. :)

What’s on your menu this week? 

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What Healthy Food Should I Have On Hand? Where Do I Buy Them? {31 Days of Real Food Reality ~ Day 11}

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Not sure where to start when it comes to shopping for healthy, real food ingredients? No problem! I have an entire page on my site dedicated to sharing what foods I buy regularly and where I usually purchase them.

Real Food Ingredients Resource Page

Click the image above to head over to our
Real Food Ingredients Resource Page

Many people assume that you either have to live on a farm or live in a big city in order to find sources for healthy food. Not true at all! I live neither on a farm, nor in a big city. I live in a small town with two locally owned grocery stores and a Wal-mart. The nearest Whole Foods, Trader Joes, Natural Grocers stores are about an hour away – which means we are only privileged to shop in those stores a few times a year when we happen to be in the city for appointments or soccer games.

So what are my options? I buy from farms close-by, I buy from a food co-op, I buy online, and I buy the rest from our local grocery stores and Wal-mart. When I do happen to be in the city and can shop at a more specialized whole foods store, it’s a blast! But since those opportunities are rare, I sure do love having access to the internet and my food co-op!

What food do I often buy to have on hand to prepare healthy meals and snacks? You’ll find that detailed list here. Even better, I have a printable Real Food Grocery Check-List included in my Let’s Do This! eCourse, which is very helpful to have in your kitchen as you transition to real food cooking. (That eCourse is a part of our amazing Real Food Reality Resources Package. Did you get yours yet?!)

Let these detailed lists offer you guidance as you transform your kitchen. Anytime I find online sales on these whole food ingredients, I always share them with you within a post so that you can benefit too. The ability to order healthy food ingredients online is a wonderful blessing!

Head on over to our Real Food Ingredient Resource Page to learn more about how I shop.

What are your favorite places to shop for real food ingredients?

 

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Get a 32-Ounce Jug Of Maple Syrup For As Low As $15.60

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maple_syrup

I’m always on the look-out for a nice deal on real maple syrup. Typically, if I find a 32 ounce jug for under $20.00, I snatch it up!

Here’s what I found on Amazon today, and here are the price options:

Anderson’s Pure Maple Syrup, Grade B, 32-Ounce

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Cheeseburger Soup – for $1 per person {31 Days of Real Food Reality ~ Day 10}

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How about some Cheeseburger Soup for less than $1.00 per person?

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It’s a real food recipe that most everyone will love. It’s full of nourishing goodness. After all, there’s chicken broth and carrots in it, not to mention delicious beef, cheese, milk, and sour cream. It’s a full meal all on its own. Just like all of the recipes I share, this one won’t appear to anyone as “health food.” It’s simply delicious food. Comfort food. And yep, it just so happens to be healthy.

I found that this recipe yielded six hearty servings. I did the math on it, and can declare it to be a Dollar Menu Dish. Technically, it cost me just over a dollar per person to feed this to my family. I decided, eh, it counts. :)  So what does it mean that this meal costs about a dollar per person? It means that healthy eating doesn’t have to be expensive! I love it that there are so many economical ways to feed a family well.

If you don’t mind adding a little extra expense to this soup, and you really want to make it appealing to those among you who just might be afraid of anything healthy – try adding 1/4 – 1/2 pound of chopped, cooked bacon. Then it becomes Bacon Cheeseburger Soup, and who wouldn’t want to eat that? By the way: Bacon is real food.  Hallelujah!

Cheeseburger SoupYum

Cheeseburger Soup - for $1 per person {31 Days of Real Food Reality ~ Day 10}
 
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Author:
Serves: 6
Ingredients
  • ½ pound ground beef
  • ½ cup chopped onion
  • ¾ cup shredded carrots
  • 1 teaspoon dried basil
  • 1 teaspoon dried parsley
  • 3 cups chicken broth
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 1½ cups milk
  • 5 cups potatoes cut into chunks
  • 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
  • ¼ cup sour cream
Instructions
  1. In a large pot, brown hamburger meat with onions, carrots, basil, and parsley.
  2. Once thoroughly cooked, add chicken broth and potatoes.
  3. Salt and pepper to taste.
  4. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to medium while potatoes cook, about ten minutes.
  5. Once the potatoes are tender, add milk, stirring and cooking until bubbly - about two minutes. Remove from heat.
  6. Add cheese and sour cream, stirring until melted. Serve.

Cheeseburger Soup

Looking for more meal ideas that use healthy, real food ingredients and cost less than one dollar per plate? Here’s what I’ve shared so far:

Have you found ways to keep real food eating within a reasonable budget for your family?

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Stop Calling It Health Food {31 Days of Real Food Reality ~ Day 9}

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We were at a friend’s house. The dear lady had been brave enough to offer to feed a meal to our family of six big eaters. As she got pulled a pizza out of the oven, one of my boys (who was pretty little at the time) proclaimed, “Uh-oh, Mama! She made us the unhealthy kind!!”

I shrugged, smiled, and responded by doing what any wise mother would do: I slunk down under the table, never to return.

At that point, it became clear to me that I had created a monster. Four monsters actually, but thankfully the littlest one couldn’t talk yet.

See, when we were transitioning to a whole foods diet several years ago, my kids, who were used to being served meals from a box or a can, found themselves with a freaked-out sort of mama. I swung our food pendulum from one side to the other, and became afraid of anything that wasn’t organic, grass fed, soaked, fermented, and free of all additives, dyes, flavorings – and felt that I would certainly be poisoning us all if even a morsel of it crossed our lips. I did exactly what I now encourage you all NOT to do as you baby step your way toward real food cooking and eating. In an effort to educate my kids as we were making seven hundred changes all at one time, I spoke way too often about what was healthy, and what wasn’t.

Part of this was good. I believe we need to make our family aware of the good, the bad, and the ugly when it comes to healthy eating. They need to understand why we’re opting to make changes in the kitchen. It’s only fair.

But particularly if you have kids or a husband who is not excited about making healthy changes, and definitely so that your kids won’t throw you under the bus when someone feeds you something that might just contain a bit of Velveeta or MSG – it’s a very good idea to chill out with the “we are now eating health food” family conversations. There is no need to make a big shebang at each meal as you announce that: “The healthy, real food meal is now on the table, and it will nourish us all so much better than the processed food we used to eat, especially since it contains leafy greens and abundant antioxidants…” I mean, maybe that will make your family come running to the table with eagerness, but I’m pretty sure if you just place the nourishing, well balanced meal on the table and holler, “The pot roast is ready!” they’ll be much more relaxed as they join you for the feast.

See, here’s the deal:  The healthy food we should be eating? All of this real food I’m always talking about and encouraging you to focus on? It’s all just…food. When my grandma served her chicken soup, pickled beets, homemade bread, and real butter – while it was all very healthy, in her mind, she was simply serving food. It was food in its whole form, so without even trying, she was serving us “health food.” But it would have made her chuckle for someone to call it that.

Do make your family aware of how they can make good choices when it comes to healthy eating. And definitely don’t be deceitful or sneaky in your food preparation and efforts to get nutrients into your family. But it might be a good idea to avoid making a huge deal about how “we’re going to be eating really healthy now.”

Create yummy dishes. Make tasty snacks. Use real food while you’re cooking and baking. Know that you are putting together delicious, real, whole, healthy food for your family, and that it can be as simple as Grandma’s fried chicken.

To give an example of this, tomorrow’s Real Food Reality post includes a recipe for Cheeseburger Soup. It’s a real food recipe, filled with wholesome goodness, but no one would eat it and declare, “Oh, what wonderful health food we are eating.” They’ll just devour it and call it wonderful. Oh how I love recipes like this. Can’t wait to share it with you!

Have your kids ever embarrassed you by proclaiming someone else’s food to be unhealthy? Come….come join me under the mortified mom’s table.

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Real Food Reality Resources Package – Wait Till You See This!

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31 Days 300

It’s everything you need to gently walk through your journey to a Real Food Kitchen. Don’t know where to start? Can’t even find your kitchen? Hoping to save money and time? Need as many menu planning ideas as you can get? Check, check, check, check, and then some. This package covers it all!

Reality Resource Sale 2

This package includes five wonderful resources to make your transition to real food cooking a reality. I’m so excited to package these up and knock a bunch of money off the price in an effort to save you money coming and going. Yep, while you’ll be saving a nice percentage off the regular price of the eBooks and eCourses in this package, you’ll also be amazed at the money you’ll save by following the steps and tips described in these eCourses and eBooks. Here’s what this package includes:

Do the Funky Kitchen

Having an organized, well equipped kitchen isn’t a must, but well, it is very helpful. Spend a little time following the suggestions in this eBook, and have a functional (funky!) kitchen that you’ll love! Read more here…

Heavenly Homemaker’s 40 Weekly Menu Planning Ideas Packet

You’ll receive 40 simple, real food, family friendly, easy recipe menu plans in this packet. It is internet linked so that when you see a meal idea within a menu plan that you like, you can click the link directly from the eBook to find the recipe online. Be inspired and receive countless meal planning ideas! Read more here…

You Can Do This! The First Five Steps to a Real Food Kitchen

It’s an eCourse that includes five thorough but simple lessons to walk you through transforming your kitchen into a real food kitchen – one little step at a time. Work at your own pace. Work at it in your jammies. Love where this journey takes you! Read more here…

Let’s Do This! Getting Ahead in Your Real Food Kitchen

My favorite way to serve real food to my family is by making food ahead of time so that I have healthy convenience foods ready to grab and go. This five lesson eCourse teaches you how you can not only keep up in your real food kitchen – you can actually get ahead! You’ll love these methods and find that getting ahead in your real food kitchen is easier than you think! Read more here…

{Healthy} Make-Ahead Meals and Snacks

It’s an eBook full of easy, real food recipes that can all be made ahead of time and frozen for easy use. This includes many of my family’s favorite casseroles and snacks. This eBook will save you time and money, and the recipes are delicious too! Enjoy getting ahead with these fun recipes! Read more here…

Bonus!

The You Can Do This! eCourse automatically comes with a free set of What To Do With the Chicken in Your Kitchen Recipe Cards, which includes 24 delicious, real food chicken recipes on cute, printable cards. Enjoy this free bonus worth an additional $6!

Get your Real Food Reality Resources Package

$19.95

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And one more thing…

I must also encourage you to purchase my Oh, For Real: Real Food, Real Family, Real Easy printed cookbook. It’s a wonderful resource to have in your hands and in your kitchen. Consider adding the book to this purchase and we’ll get it sent out to you right away.

ForRealBookCover6

Oh, For Real: Real Food, Real Family, Real Easy 

$25.95
Price includes shipping – U.S. only

Add to Cart

Just want the Real Food Reality Resources Package?
Get it here for $19.95.

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Our goal is that these resources will be a blessing to you as you venture on this real food journey!

Heavenly Homemaker's Club Members: Access your homepage and all your fantastic resources here! Not a member yet? Please join us!