This switching over to the new website thing is taking for-EEEEEEEEEEEVER. It's still a work in progress, but I've decided to just go ahead & make it public. This website (& the others) will not be updated from here on out, so please refer to the new website for new content.
I'm so excited about doing this, because it's a compilation of all the
other blogs & sites I've tried to keep up with over the years.
Instead of having them in different places, they're now going to be all
in this one spot! There's also a blog page that I'll be updating often,
so you're welcome to subscribe to that if you'd like.
The main tabs have drop down menus under them, but the main tabs themselves also have page content... So don't forget to click on everything :) And don't worry, the empty pages will soon be filled with more & more info.
I wish it had the "follower" capabilities also, but it doesn't at the current moment. So just use the feed or email subscription options.
Feel free to share with your friends (LDS or not!) & I hope I can inspire everyone a little more in the world of whole foods, food storage/preparedness, & natural living!
Click below to check it out, & contact me or leave a blog post comment to let me know what you think!
The Modern Pioneer Mom
All New Website!
I have about 5 or 6 different blogs I've worked on the past few years, & I'm kinda tired of having multiples! So I've decided to combine them all into one big website called "Modern Pioneer Mom".
FYI, I'll will keep my "Raising Chaos Gracefully" blog for other random things like creative stuff! :) But that... is... IT.
The new website will combine everything. Cooking, preserving, natural healing, food storage, preparedness, organizing, etc... & I'm even doing FREE online video classes & tutorials!!
It'll definitely be a big improvement over having several blogs for different subjects all over the blogosphere. That's exhausting! This website will also include a blog right on it, so I can update you with fun little things I learn & share regularly, so you'll get the best of all worlds in one spot!
I'm very excited about this change, as it will make access to all the information easier as well as making it a LOT simpler for me :) Who knows... Maybe I'll have an online store full of affordable favorites of mine one of these days......
When the whole combo switch is done & finished for good, I'll post the new address. I'm expecting it to be in the next couple of weeks. YAY!
FYI, I'll will keep my "Raising Chaos Gracefully" blog for other random things like creative stuff! :) But that... is... IT.
The new website will combine everything. Cooking, preserving, natural healing, food storage, preparedness, organizing, etc... & I'm even doing FREE online video classes & tutorials!!
It'll definitely be a big improvement over having several blogs for different subjects all over the blogosphere. That's exhausting! This website will also include a blog right on it, so I can update you with fun little things I learn & share regularly, so you'll get the best of all worlds in one spot!
I'm very excited about this change, as it will make access to all the information easier as well as making it a LOT simpler for me :) Who knows... Maybe I'll have an online store full of affordable favorites of mine one of these days......
When the whole combo switch is done & finished for good, I'll post the new address. I'm expecting it to be in the next couple of weeks. YAY!
Chia Chia!
Chia Seeds = Yep!
The same seed used to sprout the infamous "Chia Pets"
into ridiculous looking lush green shelf ornaments!
The same seed used to sprout the infamous "Chia Pets"
into ridiculous looking lush green shelf ornaments!
These microscopic powerhouses, finally re-surfacing into the food & health world, are only 2 mm long!
2 Tb. of Chia seeds contain approximately 11 grams of fiber & 5 grams of protein! They're a beneficial healthy fat (just like other nuts & seeds), & they are rich in several minerals such as calcium, phosphorus, zinc, copper, & manganese. They're high in omega-3 fatty acids, which help ward off illness, cancer, arthritis, heart disease, etc... They're also known to aid in digestion & lowering cholesterol.
Unlike flax seeds, Chia seeds do NOT need to be ground up before using to benefit from their nutrients. (Most people don't realize that whole flax seeds do not digest. They go right through you. - Which makes me get a little confused when I see them incorporated 'whole' into granolas & cereals at the grocery store.)
When Chia seeds are soaked, they absorb the water & form a gelatinous coating that's kinda fun to play with in your mouth! (see photo below). Soaking chia
seeds for about 10 minutes before consuming prevents them from
absorbing water from your body during digestion and causing dehydration. But if you're sprinkling just a bit on a salad or into a smoothie, don't worry about it too much :) You can always drink a little extra water...
These little guys are making their way into ice cream, smoothie, & yogurt shops. My first experience was when I sprinkled them on top of my frozen yogurt at Kiwi Loco in Idaho. I was instantly addicted to playing with the gelatin that formed around them after soaking up the moisture from the yogurt. I've heard several others say the same thing... They're fun to play with in your mouth! :)
I'm a little bit addicted to Chia seeds. I put them in & on breads, smoothies, sauces, ice-cream, salads, pasta dishes, soups, dips, fruits & veges, casseroles, you name it! They're AWESOME!
You can even grind them up into Chia flour with a coffee grinder! :o) Take a minute to google Chia recipes, & you'll find loads of them!
I'm a little bit addicted to Chia seeds. I put them in & on breads, smoothies, sauces, ice-cream, salads, pasta dishes, soups, dips, fruits & veges, casseroles, you name it! They're AWESOME!
You can even grind them up into Chia flour with a coffee grinder! :o) Take a minute to google Chia recipes, & you'll find loads of them!
Here are a couple of fun healthy(er) dessert ideas for getting started:
Chocolate Peanut Butter Chia Pudding:
Is Your Honey Real?
Did you know most of the honey in the grocery store isn't the same honey that comes straight from the hive? There's a difference between honey & raw honey.
After doing some research on this, my findings were *once again* backed up by what Elder Widtsoe said in the Word of Wisdom book he wrote many years ago. (Sad, it's probably much worse now than when the book was written). Here were his words: "More subtle adulterations, much more difficult to trace, are now employed.....Glucose is mixed with a trifle of honey and sold as pure honey."
After doing some research on this, my findings were *once again* backed up by what Elder Widtsoe said in the Word of Wisdom book he wrote many years ago. (Sad, it's probably much worse now than when the book was written). Here were his words: "More subtle adulterations, much more difficult to trace, are now employed.....Glucose is mixed with a trifle of honey and sold as pure honey."
Now take a look at this:
More than 75% of the honey you purchase from super markets is NOT what bees produce. According the food manufacturers, their customers prefer the look of clear honey, so they filter out the nutrients & pollen to make it more aesthetically pleasing. (They do that to vinegar, juices, & other foods also. More on that in another post...)
Even more frustrating is this: More & more brands of honey contain high fructose corn syrup! Yet the bottles say "Natural Honey" or "100% Natural Honey" on them... Dr. Joseph Mercola's book "Sweet Deception" outlines the process of 24 hour, round the clock forced honey production. There are many bee farms in North America that produce 2/3 of honey by force feeding their bees high fructose corn syrup. Talk about dishonest! Much of what we are getting from the grocery stores is NOT real honey.
Once pollen is removed from honey, there's no way to tell where it came from & whether it's from a reliable, pure, & safe source. The pollen is the proof of the plants in a specific local area. Hence the ability to tell where the honey came from. (Not to mention the fact that the pollen is the most nutrient dense & healing part of the honey.)
A friend of mine recently wrote to Golden Heritage Foods asking them about their honey. Here's their conversation & then my response to the whole thing...
MY FRIEND'S LETTER TO GHF:
"Hi. I have been buying your honey from Costco for a
while now and I just found out about "ultra-filtered" honey. Ultra-filtered
honey has been processed so that all the pollen has been filtered out. I am just
wondering if your company does this? I looked on your website and couldn't find
any information about this so I thought I'd ask. I don't want my honey
"ultra-filtered". I use honey on a very regular basis and this process concerns
me. I hope I haven't been feeding my family honey that is less than pure. Thank
you for your time."
**************************************************
GOLDEN HERITAGE FOODS RESPONSE:
"Thank you for contacting Golden Heritage Foods. All of our honey is micro-filtered honey.
If you should have additional questions, please feel free to let me know."
Sincerely,
Roxann Ewert
Media Specialist. Marketing Support
Golden Heritage Foods, LLC
Corporate Office
120 Santa Fe Street
Hillsboro, KS 67063
GHF is now True Source Certified!
100% Traceable Honey
MY THOUGHTS ON GHF'S RESPONSE:
First of all, that was quite the informationally loaded letter back to my friend, don't you think? A little more info would have been kinda nice. But that's just me.
Second of all, traceable origin (as stated at the end of her response) is one thing. Nutritionally depleted (virtually no pollen) is another.
Second of all, traceable origin (as stated at the end of her response) is one thing. Nutritionally depleted (virtually no pollen) is another.
Here’s the difference in particle size between the 2 filtration processes:
Micro Filtration:
Membranes with a pore size of 0.1 – 10
Membranes with a pore size of 0.001 –
0.1
(Notice the bottom of micro & top of ultra
are the same number. Hmmm.....)
***You want your honey macro-filtered at most. This is the least invasive filtering process & mainly removes bee parts or large particles/debris.
***You want your honey macro-filtered at most. This is the least invasive filtering process & mainly removes bee parts or large particles/debris.
• 76 percent of samples bought at groceries had all the pollen removed, These were stores like TOP Food, Safeway, Giant Eagle, QFC, Kroger, Metro Market, Harris Teeter, A&P, Stop & Shop and King Soopers.
• 100 percent of the honey sampled from drugstores like Walgreens, Rite-Aid and CVS Pharmacy had no pollen.
• 77
percent of the honey sampled from big box stores like Costco, Sam's
Club, Walmart, Target and H-E-B had the pollen filtered out.
• 100
percent of the honey packaged in the small individual service portions
from Smucker, McDonald's and KFC had the pollen removed.
• Bryant found that every one of the samples Food Safety News bought at farmers markets, co-ops and "natural" stores like PCC and Trader Joe's had the full, anticipated amount of pollen.
HERE
is the link to the full article and a chart
with the brands that have had most or all
of the pollen removed...
(ie: It's no longer real pure honey)
is the link to the full article and a chart
with the brands that have had most or all
of the pollen removed...
(ie: It's no longer real pure honey)
The door is THAT way, Mr. Allergy...
Itchy eyes? Scratchy throats? Sneezing?
Here are several great ways to help relieve those allergies & actually enjoy a little more spring time!
Chamomile - anti-inflammatory - relieves dry, itchy eyes. Place wet refrigerated chamomile tea
bags over your eyes (closed) for 3 to 5 minutes.
Stinging nettle - antihistamine - targets the immune system’s response to allergens. 300 - 500 mg of stinging nettle capsules daily or try an herbal tea made from dry stinging nettle leaves.
Peppermint: - Menthol
oils and tannins make a powerful decongestant. Steep fresh or dried peppermint leaves in boiling water to create a
sinus-clearing tea.
Thyme: - Antimicrobial and expectorant - treats coughs, clears congestion, and sooths sore
throats. Sip on fresh thyme herbal tea (homemade or pre-made bags)
Honey -Very healing. Eases cough & sore throat. Mix raw (unfiltered) honey - local if possible... into a cup of very warm water, mixed with a bit of thyme herb or a drop of thyme essential oil. Can add lemon also. *Another great way to use honey for allergies is to just simply lick a tablespoon of raw local honey right off a spoon 3 times/day. Local pollen in local honey helps to build immunity to the allergen/pollen in your area. Cool huh! :)
Ginger: - Natural pain killer -soothes sore throat, especially when combined with honey. Honey-Ginger Tea = Simmer 1 tsp. fresh grated ginger (or dried ginger powder) in water for 5-10
mins & add raw honey.
Cayenne pepper - high in quercetin which prevents release of histamines & other
inflammatory chemicals that cause allergy symptoms. (Try adding a pinch of cayenne to your honey drink above) Cayenne pepper
also helps ease pain from a sore throat. Here's a great gargle recipe:
- pinch cayenne pepper
- pinch sea salt
- small cup boiling water (7-8oz.)
- 2 Tb. raw honey
- 2 Tb. raw unfiltered apple cider vinegar (I like Braggs brand)
- 2 tsp. dried sage leaves, if desired
Pesticides, Cancer, ADD/ADHD... Oh My!
Exposure to environmental contaminants like fertilizers, pesticides, antibiotics, & growth hormones are of special concern when it comes to children. An investigation in 2010 found that children with higher-than-average pesticide levels in their bodies are TWICE as likely to have symptoms of ADD/ADHD.
Exposure to pesticides, toxins, antibiotics & growth hormones in the food chain highly increases individuals' risk of cancer also. (Not to mention adding that to refined, processed, & artificial foods/colors/flavors explodes the risk of cancer & ADD/ADHD both!)
These chemicals have been found in maternal blood, placental tissue, and breast milk samples from both pregnant women and new moms. Recent studies of new born babies were found to have over 200 pesticides/chemicals/toxins in their little systems! That is horrible!
Each year 12 MILLION POUNDS of pesticides are used in food! Whenever possible, shop for organic or local / pesticide free meat, dairy, eggs, & produce. See the "toxins" page for more information on the "Dirty Dozen" & the "Clean Fifteen". The TOP worst foods that have been noted lately in reports, documentaries, & television health shows are:
APPLES
CELERY
POTATOES
MILK (Please see the posts on raw organic vs. pasteurized milk)
APPLES
CELERY
POTATOES
MILK (Please see the posts on raw organic vs. pasteurized milk)
Honestly, the '15' are NOT clean. At all. They're still grown in nutrient depleted soil with chemicals & pesticides being used. But the levels are at least lower than that of the "Dirty Dozen." If you're not able to (or choose not to) buy organic, then PLEASE at least wash your produce thoroughly before cooking or eating it!
Consider using a non toxic natural soap/cleanser or mixture of water/antibacterial essential oils, & glycerin. Rub into produce & rinse well. My favorite essential oil blend for doing this is "Thieves" Oil. There are several recipes out there for making your own, but an easy solution for cleaning produce is equal parts each of Clove, Cinnamon, Rosemary, Lemon, & Eucalyptus (maybe 5 drops each...) mixed in a small travel sized spray bottle of water with a teaspoon or so of glycerin.
Consider using a non toxic natural soap/cleanser or mixture of water/antibacterial essential oils, & glycerin. Rub into produce & rinse well. My favorite essential oil blend for doing this is "Thieves" Oil. There are several recipes out there for making your own, but an easy solution for cleaning produce is equal parts each of Clove, Cinnamon, Rosemary, Lemon, & Eucalyptus (maybe 5 drops each...) mixed in a small travel sized spray bottle of water with a teaspoon or so of glycerin.
And don't even get me started on the dangers of GMO. I believe it should be called Genetically MUTATED Organisms. They explode the brains & lacerate the guts of insects, yet they're FDA approved for human consumption. And more than 80% of food from the super market is now GMO. That's all I'll say *for now* on that subject.
Raw Milk / Raw Dairy
One of the best articles I've read yet on raw milk/dairy. And I've read A... LOT!!! I couldn't have said it better myself.
All of these years, & I had no idea . Then I started hearing. Then I started reading. Then I started researching. Then I started taking classes. Now I humbly know... I WAS WRONG. Our grand parents, our great grand parents, and all of their grandparents all the way back... were right.
Chances are, you drink pasteurized/homogenized milk from the grocery store - OR if you don't drink milk or eat dairy products because of milk allergy / lactose intolerance... Just take a look at this milk conversion article below. (And there's a lot more where that came from, if you need it)
IF you don't drink milk or consume dairy because you don't believe in it, then I guess all we can do is agree to disagree. Right? I personally believe that we've been blessed with these beautiful animals to provide us with added nutrients through milk, cheese, yogurt, kefir, etc... And our family is grateful for those generous animals. But if you don't believe in the nourishing foods that come from cows/animals, then there's probably no hope of convincing you otherwise. However, I do hope you'll read this with an open mind anyway, even if the articles don't change your views at all. :)
Read what Elder Widtsoe had to say about milk in his Word of Wisdom book!!! - - -
"Since the inspired Word of Wisdom says: Yea, flesh also of beasts and of the fowls of the air, I the Lord have ordained for the use of man, with thanksgiving... It would follow that the product of the beasts and fowls, milk, and eggs, would be acceptable foods also. Naturally & emphatically they MUST be produced by healthy animals & cared for in a strictly sanitary way. That must be understood - for ALL food eaten by man, as well as for milk & eggs. - - - One must remember that not only does milk show a high co-efficient of digestibility, but it is a protein food particularly well adapted for storage within the body. This is because of its content of necessary amino acids which complement so perfectly those found in whole grains.
Yet one hears the occasional statement that milk makes mucous & the saying is passed around from one uninformed person to another. It may do so for a poorly nourished person, or it may seem to do so. There are people who can't eat wheat in any form - or strawberries make their eyes swell, or produces hives, etc. Should it therefore be said that strawberries make the eyes swell or wheat gives one hives & therefore no one should eat them? IF ONE IS COMPLETELY NOURISHED, NO NATURAL FOOD WILL CAUSE THESE ILL EFFECTS." One of the distinct advantages of milk is that it tends to cleanse the lower bowel or colon... Milk should be certified clean and un-pasteurized if possible, & from cows which produce a soft curd & are healthy above all."
Take a look at this awesome post below:
http://mylifeinapyramid.com/2012/03/my-raw-milk-conversion-why-how-i-decided-to-embrace-fresh-local-milk/
A few more of my favorite references are these:
http://www.realmilk.com/
http://www.naturalnews.com/035130_raw_milk_infographic_pasteurized.html
http://www.thehealthyhomeeconomist.com/the-rise-and-fall-of-pasteurized-milk/
http://www.westonaprice.org/press/cdc-cherry-picks-data-to-make-case-against-raw-milk
http://www.naturalnews.com/035039_raw_milk_pasteurized_CDC.html
Hand Sanitizer Dangers
Hand Sanitizers and Antibacterial Wipes: The Dirty Truth
Triclosan is the main ingredient in most hand santizers. It weakens your immune system making it easier for you to get
sick. A new study from the School of Public Health at the University of
Michigan shows that people exposed to Triclosan actually have a higher
risk of developing allergies and asthma, which mean that Triclosan is
killing off your good, beneficial bacteria and allowing yeast to
overgrow internally.
Triclosan has also been shown to increase drug resistance to antibiotics and, like Bisphenol A (BPA), is an endocrine-disrupting compound because of it messes with your hormones, and even worse, mirror them. Triclosan is actually in a ton of personal care products, such as soaps, deodorants, toothpaste, and lotions. This means that hand sanitizers also put your thyroid at risk. And to children, who’s hormones are developing, this can spell disaster.
Additionally, if you are in the sun a lot, you need to know that when exposed to sunlight or ultraviolet light, Triclosan converts to dioxin, which increases the risk of cancers, and reproductive problems like miscarriage, birth defects, and altering sex hormones. Dioxin is also a major ingredient in disposable diapers, tampons and menstrual pads.
Triclosan has also been shown to increase drug resistance to antibiotics and, like Bisphenol A (BPA), is an endocrine-disrupting compound because of it messes with your hormones, and even worse, mirror them. Triclosan is actually in a ton of personal care products, such as soaps, deodorants, toothpaste, and lotions. This means that hand sanitizers also put your thyroid at risk. And to children, who’s hormones are developing, this can spell disaster.
Additionally, if you are in the sun a lot, you need to know that when exposed to sunlight or ultraviolet light, Triclosan converts to dioxin, which increases the risk of cancers, and reproductive problems like miscarriage, birth defects, and altering sex hormones. Dioxin is also a major ingredient in disposable diapers, tampons and menstrual pads.
A few more links on the dangers of this stuff:
WARNING: Antibacterial Soap Linked to Major Health Threats
Hospital Warning: Antibacterial Wipes Found to Spread Super Bugs
Why Disinfectants and Antibacterials Are Overkill + 5 Health-Safe Alternatives
5 drops each mixed with 6 oz. water (or the water/glycerine/aloe mixtures described above):
Cinnamon
Clove bud
Eucalyptus
Rosemary
Lemon or Wild Orange
For every 6 oz of water, use the spray for:
* Wipe doorknobs and other things touched by the public.
* Wipe dirty piano keys to clean and disinfect.
* Use to clean children's hands when traveling.
* Use on the steering wheel and gearshift of your vehicle.
* Use on public telephones to remove germs.
* Use on public computer keyboards and mice.
* Spray on hands before and after shaking hands with a lot of people.
* Spray in public restrooms on airplanes to reduce airborne bacteria.
* Carry for protection in countries with cholera, malaria or dysentery.
* Use as an air freshener for cooking odors or other unwanted smells.
* Take to the gym and spray all the equipment you use.
* Take to the supermarket and use to disinfect shopping cart handles.
* Use in the classroom for desks, tables and other items handled by children.
* Spray in your mouth and throat at first onset of cold or bronchitis.
* Spray on shower stalls and bathroom walls to disinfect and remove mold.
* Wash pesticides & chemicals off of fresh produce.
Hungry For Change
All I can say about this film is.... AMAZING!!! Through March 31, the world wide online premiere is FREE! www.hungryforchange.tv
I believe every single school should REQUIRE all students to watch this, & I WISH every family in America (or the world) could see it!
If you're overweight or NOT overweight, if you're an adult, a child, on medications, have health issues of ANY kind including cancer, diabetes, heart disease, adrenal problems, fibromyalgia, migraines, skin conditions/acne, allergies, really ANYTHING... And if your kitchen is stocked with food & your meals consist of food from your grocery store... WATCH IT! It will change you!
The first half is SUPER informative with tons of facts that most people have no clue about, & the 2nd half REALLY hits home. Please please please watch this film & share it with everyone you know!
Fruity Yogurt
Did you know that (dare I say this...) MOST yogurt you buy at the store is very misleading in its nutrition content? Unfortunately It's become more of an artificially sweetened confectionary treat & is hardly healthy. Real nutritious yogurt is naturally fermented/soured milk full of nutrients, enzymes, & beneficial bacteria, better known as probiotics. (That would be those funny words you see such as Lactobacillus Bulgaricus, Lactobacillus Acidophilus, Bifidus Regularis, etc...)
Not long ago, I picked up a beautifully decorated tub of "all natural" yogurt that said "Sweetened With Stevia" on the front, so I thought 'how awesome is that!?' But when I double checked the ingredients, I found that it was FULL of aspartame, sucralose, & sugar near the top of the list, & stevia was THE VERY LAST INGREDIENT (If you weren't already aware, ingredients are listed from greatest amount to least amount). Needless to say, I was NOT a happy camper.
This is just one simple example of 'conspiring men in the last days'. Seriously, most people don't look at the ingredients list, so they think they're getting a good thing, when in fact, they're getting artificial & processed ingredients that are literally poisoning their precious body. And our kids eat TONS of it!
Yogurt - - - Who would'a thunk! :(
Instead of purchasing flavored yogurt with unhealthy, unnatural, processed, artificial, & unpronounceable ingredients, why not make your own! It's simple, it's fast, & it's tasty!
You can kick it up a little by making your own plain yogurt, which doesn't take very long at all & is THE HEALTHIEST option, or at least get yourself some good quality plain organic yogurt made of very few simple ingredients. Then, here's what you need to make this simple healthy & yummy food:
(Play around with ingredients & amounts for your own preferred taste!)
-Plain yogurt
-Vanilla (optional)
-Stevia, xylitol, raw honey, or agave nectar (to sweeten)
-Fresh or frozen berries / fruit
-Nuts or seeds
-Oatmeal
*OPTIONAL:
-Lemon essential oil (sometimes I add a drop or 2, because I personally love lemon yogurt!)
*Frozen fruit works GREAT, if you're 'on the go'. By the time you eat it, the frozen fruit defrosts & the colored juices mix with the yogurt perfectly.
Kick it up even further & add nuts or homemade granola to the top! YUMMY :)
SUGAR!
This is a short entry... VERY short. And to the point! We don't eat white sugar anymore. Period.
(Now wait a minute... Let me make myself clear on something. We don't have it in our home. But if someone brings us treats, or if my kids go to a friend's house or a party/gathering with treats, I let them decide if they're going to eat it or not. I don't 'BAN' then from eating any junk food at all. That's what fanatics do.
I know that my kids will once in a while give in & eat junk food. That's fine. Ya know why? Because it's fun. It's a treat. It's something out of the ordinary. Guess what... On rare occasion, I've been known to cheat too ;) However, 9 times out of 10, my kids inevitably end up sick to their stomach, or they get a bad headache, or they're grumpy for several hours, or they break out in rashes! They tell me almost every time (no joke!) that it was good for about the first 3 bites, but then it was just not worth it. They're choosing themselves to eat less... and less... and less white/refined/packaged/artificial foods, because they now recognize the effects it has on how they feel. Even my 7 year old son will once in a while say slugging into the room, "Mom, I think I ate too much sugar". (Not very often, but it DOES happen).
How do we deal with not eating sugar??? Who does that!!!? I hear people all the time say they could never ever get off sugar. They like it too much! It's just a part of our diet. Give up sweets? NO WAY. (Believe me. I know. We had CANS AND BUCKETS FULL of sugar in our food storage, & I rotated it regularly!!!)
First of all, if you just stop eating it, your craving for it WILL go away. In just a few days, or a couple of weeks at most! Second of all, it is making people sick. It is over time... killing people. It is poison. Did you know that there are people that are so addicted to sugar, that when they get off, they actually go through withdrawal period and feel WORSE than they did when they ate it!? Most people don't feel that. So don't worry, it probably won't happen to you. But if it does, it IS temporary. I promise. That said, here is our solution to no white sugar (or brown sugar) in our home:
If a recipe calls for "white sugar", we use all xylitol, OR 1/2 organic coconut palm sugar & 1/2 xylitol!
If a recipe calls for "brown sugar" (white sugar with molasses mixed in), we use either brown xylitol or organic coconut palm sugar, or a mixture of both. You can't tell the difference, & it's full of nutrients! (To make brown xylitol - mix 1 c. xylitol with 1 Tb. un-sulfured molasses & mix!)
Other sweeteners we use are Stevia, organic agave nectar (raw is healthiest, but harder to find), organic 100% maple syrup, brown rice syrup, un-sulphured molasses, & rapidura (unrefined crystallized cane syrup with nutrients still in tact :)
See the 'sweeteners & stuff' page for more info on the benefits of natural sweeteners. (PS: White & brown sugar are not natural. Mother Nature does not recognize them!)
Soon, I'll be posting about an awesome whole grain - nutritious substitute for white flour that you can use in cakes, cookies, & more!
(Now wait a minute... Let me make myself clear on something. We don't have it in our home. But if someone brings us treats, or if my kids go to a friend's house or a party/gathering with treats, I let them decide if they're going to eat it or not. I don't 'BAN' then from eating any junk food at all. That's what fanatics do.
I know that my kids will once in a while give in & eat junk food. That's fine. Ya know why? Because it's fun. It's a treat. It's something out of the ordinary. Guess what... On rare occasion, I've been known to cheat too ;) However, 9 times out of 10, my kids inevitably end up sick to their stomach, or they get a bad headache, or they're grumpy for several hours, or they break out in rashes! They tell me almost every time (no joke!) that it was good for about the first 3 bites, but then it was just not worth it. They're choosing themselves to eat less... and less... and less white/refined/packaged/artificial foods, because they now recognize the effects it has on how they feel. Even my 7 year old son will once in a while say slugging into the room, "Mom, I think I ate too much sugar". (Not very often, but it DOES happen).
How do we deal with not eating sugar??? Who does that!!!? I hear people all the time say they could never ever get off sugar. They like it too much! It's just a part of our diet. Give up sweets? NO WAY. (Believe me. I know. We had CANS AND BUCKETS FULL of sugar in our food storage, & I rotated it regularly!!!)
First of all, if you just stop eating it, your craving for it WILL go away. In just a few days, or a couple of weeks at most! Second of all, it is making people sick. It is over time... killing people. It is poison. Did you know that there are people that are so addicted to sugar, that when they get off, they actually go through withdrawal period and feel WORSE than they did when they ate it!? Most people don't feel that. So don't worry, it probably won't happen to you. But if it does, it IS temporary. I promise. That said, here is our solution to no white sugar (or brown sugar) in our home:
If a recipe calls for "white sugar", we use all xylitol, OR 1/2 organic coconut palm sugar & 1/2 xylitol!
If a recipe calls for "brown sugar" (white sugar with molasses mixed in), we use either brown xylitol or organic coconut palm sugar, or a mixture of both. You can't tell the difference, & it's full of nutrients! (To make brown xylitol - mix 1 c. xylitol with 1 Tb. un-sulfured molasses & mix!)
Other sweeteners we use are Stevia, organic agave nectar (raw is healthiest, but harder to find), organic 100% maple syrup, brown rice syrup, un-sulphured molasses, & rapidura (unrefined crystallized cane syrup with nutrients still in tact :)
See the 'sweeteners & stuff' page for more info on the benefits of natural sweeteners. (PS: White & brown sugar are not natural. Mother Nature does not recognize them!)
Soon, I'll be posting about an awesome whole grain - nutritious substitute for white flour that you can use in cakes, cookies, & more!
Jars, Jars, & More Jars!
Canning jars are my very favorite storage system for the kitchen pantry, in the whole wide world!
Throw out all those mis-matched & un-attractive odd sized & smashed in boxes of packaged foods.
I keep mixes, salts, grains, rice, beans, sprouting seeds, spices, dehydrated veges & fruits, & tons of other stuff in them. I use half gallon, quart, pint, & half pint sizes.
Since they're glass, they won't absorb flavor or odor. They don't contain all the toxic chemicals (like BPA!) that you get with plastic. They're see through, which makes for easy viewing - And they're pretty!
Their uniform size makes them nice & neat , & the wide mouth, especially, are stackable (either size could be stacked in 2's, but no more... for safety purposes, of course)
Even if the rest of your home isn't organized, your kitchen pantry & cabinets CAN BE!
The size of the openings makes them pourable AND scoopable, and best of all... THEY'RE CHEAP!
It also makes storing bulk whole foods easier & keeps them fresher longer. And it's usually cheaper & healthier to purchase bulk whole foods.
PLUS - If you have a vacuum sealer, you can use the jar attachments to vacuum seal dry foods in your jars for longer term storage!
I'm so addicted!. Try it. You'll love it!
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