Nourishing Traditions Support Thread

[3 ladybugs]

This is a spin off of this post. We thought we would put it here so we could exchange ideas.

Please join at anytime. New threads will be started on Sunday unless otherwise stated.

Links!!
Quick start principles - http://www.westonaprice.org/abcs-of-...thy-diets.html

General recipes
http://thenourishingcook.com/
http://nourishedkitchen.com/ (also has cooking classes and meal planning)
http://www.thenourishinggourmet.com/
http://www.cookinggodsway.com/ (also has cooking classes)
http://www.foodrenegade.com/
http://www.passionatehomemaking.com/
http://www.kitchenstewardship.com/
Rye sourdough recipe and starter recipe http://www.diaperswappers.com/forum/...2&postcount=49
http://www.culturesforhealth.com/ (also supplies)
http://www.100daysofrealfood.com/
http://www.katheats.com/
http://ohsheglows.com/
http://wholefoodforthewholefamily.blogspot.com/
http://www.cookingtf.com/ (menu planning as well)
http://gnowfglins.com/ (Menu planning and lessons as well)

Recommendations
Celtic Sea Salt
Coconut oil - http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/re...uct/B001EO5Q64
http://www.tropicaltraditions.com/
Organic honey - http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/re...uct/B00014JNI0
Aluminum free baking powder
Organic cane sugar
Brown sugar
Sucarat
Fermented cod liver oil
General supplies

Misc.
Dangers of statins
Blog about sweeteners
http://180degreehealth.blogspot.com/
http://undergroundwellness.com/blog/
http://www.livinlavidalowcarb.com/
Where to get raw milk
Facebook group to improve eating
Water kefir tutorial
Milk kefir tutorial
http://www.cheeseslave.com/2008/09/0...to-make-kefir/
Crock pot apple butter
Fertility help
Homemade tortillas
Homemade ginger ale
Homemade crackers
How to make a recipe healthier
Soaked oatmeal recipe
Sourdough frosted chocolate cake
Honey Whole Wheat Sourdough bread

Books
Nourishing Traditions
Coconut Oil Miracle

Denver area sources:
http://www.vitacost.com/
http://www.chaffinfamilyorchards.com/
http://www.purityfarms.com/

[3 ladybugs]

So on my way back from playgroup DH called me (normal, he calls me at his lunch everyday) and I tell him how the ladies were explaining kefir to me and how to make it and so on. I told him it was a cross between milk and yogurt. Then I went on to tell him about the fermented tea (forget what that is called) and how we can make yogurt and so on. Then I tell him that they are thinking about starting a co-op for some of this. Then he says that "well I don't want to go too crazy on this". So then I say to him I don't want to go crazy but I think coconut flour could help me as it is higher in protein then wheat. He agrees.

So now I am thinking I am going to have to spoon feed DH this stuff. He isn't going to "get it" till he has to.

[myfrugalfunlife]

My dh seriously thought I was nuts when I started changing over our diets. He's incredibly picky to begin with and only likes a handful of things. So when I started messing around with those few things-he freaked lol! But, I'm working on changing things slowly, and focusing on the ones he's not really going to notice.
Some things I've changed so far:
-eliminated hfcs from my house
-eliminated all canned goods
-stopped buying boxed cereal and make homemade breakfast options (this is one change dh likes ).
-switching to organic as much as possible, especially focusing on produce. Dh isn't really going to notice the difference between a regular carrot and an organic carrot, but the organic is so much better for us!
-switching from bleached white flour to white whole wheat flour (similar in taste but white whole wheat has all the nutrients as dark whole wheat flour).
-switched from regular beet sugar to organic cane sugar, raw honey, and real maple syrup for sweeteners
-buy organic eggs instead of regular (and will start getting fresh eggs from my fil this summer, after he buys more laying hens)
-buy organic olive oil instead of shortening and vegetable oil (I threw away my Fry Daddy )
-buy organic ground beef instead of regular
-buy organic butter instead of margarine!!!
-started buying Celtic sea salt instead of regular table salt (tastes so much better and FULL of nutrients!)
-cook and bake everything from scratch
-eliminated drinking cow's milk for me and my kids
-working on eliminating gmo food from our house

Things I want to do next:
-continue getting rid of those nasty gmo foods! Big priority for me
-find local meat sources this summer for beef, pork, and chicken
-start a garden for the first time this summer
-start buying local produce at the farmers markets this summer
-look further into the whole grain issue, and possibly get a grain mill/start grinding my own wheat berries
-start making my own yogurt (I've tried doing it in the crock pot but failed miserably, so I'm just going to get a yogurt maker).

[myfrugalfunlife]

ooooooh look what I just found! A blogger who's recreating every recipe in the Nourishing Traditions cook book
http://thenourishingcook.com/
I looks like she hasn't blogged in a few weeks-but she has done 80 recipes, and there seems to be some great info on the site!

[myfrugalfunlife]

Here's another great looking site
http://nourishedkitchen.com/

[3 ladybugs]

Originally Posted by myfrugalfunlife Here's another great looking site http://nourishedkitchen.com/

THANK YOU for this site! I have been looking for the foods you should eat for fertility because I moderate an IVF board and sadly we have a few people at the end of their rope on there. When I heard about the dietary changes I couldn't write fast enough to write them all down so I told them I would get back to them. I thought I would have to wait till I got the book to tell them but that blog says it all! So I just posted it for them.

I have some questions about your post. So my questions are in red.

Originally Posted by myfrugalfunlife My dh seriously thought I was nuts when I started changing over our diets. He's incredibly picky to begin with and only likes a handful of things. So when I started messing around with those few things-he freaked lol! But, I'm working on changing things slowly, and focusing on the ones he's not really going to notice. Some things I've changed so far: -eliminated hfcs from my house my plan is to have some artificial maple syrup in my house just for use by my step father as he is VERY picky about his food. I will also keep the splenda for my MIL as she thinks she needs to float away on sugar even though she is a diabetic. -eliminated all canned goods Does this include jams? Do you know if jams with fruit juice are bad? -stopped buying boxed cereal and make homemade breakfast options (this is one change dh likes ). DH is loving this idea too! -switching to organic as much as possible, especially focusing on produce. Dh isn't really going to notice the difference between a regular carrot and an organic carrot, but the organic is so much better for us! Are you getting these at a farmers market or places like Whole foods? -switching from bleached white flour to white whole wheat flour (similar in taste but white whole wheat has all the nutrients as dark whole wheat flour). I think I want to do coconut flour but I am open to other suggestions. -switched from regular beet sugar to organic cane sugar, raw honey, and real maple syrup for sweeteners I did run out of honey recently and so I am hoping to get raw next week. I also like the thought of making things with maple syrup. -buy organic eggs instead of regular (and will start getting fresh eggs from my fil this summer, after he buys more laying hens) Getting pastured eggs starting next weekend. -buy organic olive oil instead of shortening and vegetable oil (I threw away my Fry Daddy ) I have nearly every kitchen appliance known to man but I never got a deep fryer. I am going to try to find cold pressed extra virgin olive oil and coconut oil for cooking. -buy organic ground beef instead of regular Getting a side of grass fed beef next month! -buy organic butter instead of margarine!!! I can get pastured pasturized butter so I will be doing that. I guess it is illegal in PA to sell raw cream or butter. -started buying Celtic sea salt instead of regular table salt (tastes so much better and FULL of nutrients!) This I am really going to have to wait on. I have some sea salt but I also have 2 things of normal table salt that I don't want to just throw out. Though it is cheap so maybe I will if I get to the point that I have done everything else. -cook and bake everything from scratch I used to do this, but got away from it after DS and cancer. Can't wait to get back to it. -eliminated drinking cow's milk for me and my kids I am switching to raw milk next weekend -working on eliminating gmo food from our house DH has no problem with this but I do the shopping so I am going to try for this as well. Things I want to do next: -continue getting rid of those nasty gmo foods! Big priority for me They are everywhere aren't they?! -find local meat sources this summer for beef, pork, and chicken We are getting a pig in the fall (pastured) and my source for milk I can get pastured chickens. -start a garden for the first time this summer What are you planting? I want to do potatoes, corn, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, and a few other things. We do square foot gardening. I also want to do strawberries and get some blueberry bushes. -start buying local produce at the farmers markets this summer We have a year round farmers market so I am going to try to get things there. There are also a few other places I can go but I need to sniff them out. -look further into the whole grain issue, and possibly get a grain mill/start grinding my own wheat berries Ooo! Let me know how this goes. I think I can get a grain mill for my mixer (or did I dream that?) if so I would like to do this too. -start making my own yogurt (I've tried doing it in the crock pot but failed miserably, so I'm just going to get a yogurt maker). I told DH about this and he thought I was nuts. However I do want to make Kefir if for no other reason then to make smoothies!

I did some more research last night and I saw that there was an article on statins and dangers of them. http://www.westonaprice.org/modern-d...tin-drugs.html My DH has had high cholesterol for a long time. They keep wanting to put him on a statin but he has refused because there is no evidence that taking them before a heart attack is beneficial (DH is a pharma research scientist so he knows these things). He has said that when he eats the best, he has higher cholesterol then when he eats worse. So we are hoping that these dietary changes will help him as well.

I also wanted to share this blog that I found. http://www.thenourishinggourmet.com/

[happymama1]

subbing this thread.....I want to post more about what I'm doing and read more about what you all are doinjg...but I love the idea of supporting each other...I've been trying to make as much of the switch as I can afford to (hubby is phd student I'm SAHM)....but baby is fussy

[myfrugalfunlife]

Originally Posted by happymama1 subbing this thread.....I want to post more about what I'm doing and read more about what you all are doinjg...but I love the idea of supporting each other...I've been trying to make as much of the switch as I can afford to (hubby is phd student I'm SAHM)....but baby is fussy

I'm have a strict grocery budget ($340 a month for a family of five and we eat all meals from home).
I've just gotten creative-making things from scratch, getting a Costco membership, finding organic produce on the reduced produce rack at Meijer, using my sb gift cards to buy organic/natural items off of Amazon etc etc.

If you have a tight budget, just pick one area to focus on and then go from there Maybe switch out your regular bleached flour to a whole wheat option, or start buying butter instead of margarine etc etc. There's so many things we can do that will have a positive effect on our health

[happymama1]

Originally Posted by myfrugalfunlife I'm have a strict grocery budget ($340 a month for a family of five and we eat all meals from home). I've just gotten creative-making things from scratch, getting a Costco membership, finding organic produce on the reduced produce rack at Meijer, using my sb gift cards to buy organic/natural items off of Amazon etc etc. If you have a tight budget, just pick one area to focus on and then go from there Maybe switch out your regular bleached flour to a whole wheat option, or start buying butter instead of margarine etc etc. There's so many things we can do that will have a positive effect on our health

thanks for the encouragement! my grocery budget is similar and we also eat every single meal at home (or pack it). I just got a costco membership recently too and I LOVE it!!

I've been cooking from scratch for quite a while...but felt I could make some great changes when a friend really helped push me into NT style cooking

It has turned out to be even better for my budget and we FEEL soooooo much better (energy levels etc...)

I soak our oatmeal every night in kefir. (2C old fashioned oats and 1/4 c kefir plus 2C warm water) Then I just cook it in 2C more water in the morning.

I buy organic chickens...worth the extra dollar per pound to know that they don't have cancer.....and I poach 2 chickens at the same time in a big stock pot once a week. I freeze half the meat, and put the other half in our fridge to use as "lunchmeat" DH eats this on whole wheat pita pocket with home made saurkraut (NT) as the condiment with sliced tomatos...he likes it better than deli meat sandwich....who knew? It is SO much cheaper and healthier! After I poach the chickens, I use the broth and bones that have been picked clean to make stock....I add vinegar and let it simmer all day, turn off overnight, turn back on in the morning and simmer all day, then cool, strain and store in the freezer in manageable portions to add to recipies.

I also buy organic ground beef and as much produce as i can (but especially spinnach, apples, carrots, potatos and anything on sale)

I sweeten with honey as much as possible....got some awesome local raw honey for cheap recently.

I make pumpkin muffins with 100% whole wheat flour (soaked overnight in kefir) and use a very small amount of sugar, plus molassas....I modified an old recipie I had from "before"....and after 3 tries/variations can consistently make pumpkin muffins with a nice, pretty normal, consistency (not bricks). I freeze these and let thaw as needed to give to my kids for breakfast on the go, snack or to supplement a meal when we're having one of "those" days.

We try very hard to avoid white sugar and white flour....we're not perfect, but its been going very well over all

I usually eat leftovers for lunch and the kids eat little bits of lots of things.

I only use butter or olive oil I already HATED margarine with a passion....so it was easy to ditch the other veg. oils in my pantry.

As a result of all these changes....my super skinny older daughter gained a few pounds and is looking a lot healthier already! My hubby has much more engergy to sustain his PhD workload, I have energy to get through the day without a nap (even though the baby wakes me up all night long to nurse), my milk supply is AWESOME (thank you soaked oatmeal), and my baby has rolls and rolls of chubby cuteness (thank you butter).

I love it! We also do the fermented high vitamin butter oil fish oil stuff (expensive)...it is nasty tasting...but the kids take it with a spoonful of orange juice....as do hubby and I.

I've started making Kombucha....and it is going well It actually tastes pretty good. I've made beet kvass too....which is easy and also tastes pretty good.


I feel like we've found a pretty good system....hope to make more changes in the future....more organic meat and farm eggs....plus raw milk someday....but now isn't the right time for our budget for all of that. I did find that by not buying any more junk food...I could better afford the organic meat and produce that I do buy...which was a happy surprise!

[mercy589]

Originally Posted by myfrugalfunlife There's so many things we can do that will have a positive effect on our health

I had to go all the way back to page one and find this quote because I loved it. This thread is just so encouraging. I liked how she said this quote rather than being overwhelmed with all there is to learn and change. I totally get overwhelmed with it at times.

We have come a long way, probably since having my first DD 5 years ago. That's what really pushed me towards eating better. I realized that *I* am responsible for everything that goes into my child's mouth! That was a big realization, lol.

I grind my own flour, using whole grains for everything. (White wheat is a great place to start, its still whole wheat but tastes lighter.)

We've switched to brown rice pasta recently. (reg pasta is not whole grain and we didn't care for a heavy wheat tasting pasta, but brown rice pasta works)

I've learned to make my own of lots of things. This allows me to cut out the HFCS and junk that are in so many things at the stores. Granola bars, etc, I make at home.

I just started making kefir this week! I'm using it for smoothies, and for soaking grains, something I'm just starting to do as well.

We did a CSA year before last and I just wasn't quite sure what to do with the weird veggies we got, lol. I want to try again this summer, but we're moving and I'm not sure exactly where yet so I'm bummed about that.

I want real milk and real eggs and real meat from a farm, but we haven't been able to afford that yet either.

I don't know what else... its definitely a process! Nice to have people to chat with about it all.