Transitioning Real Food Confessions

How “into” real food are you? (how long have you been doing it, how many different foods do you make from scratch, etc.)

November, so only about 8 months. So I still consider us in the transitioning phase.  Though I do have to say unless something drastic occurs with hubby we will be transitioning for a long time to come.

Right now I am doing our yogurt, granola and lara “bars”, stock and growing much of our produce. I also recently just began canning, only using the water bath method so far. We’ve also had chickens for eggs since March 2011 and have now gone from two to 10.   I also  just started doing water kefir to replace soda.

What is one food you just can’t make yourself? (even if you’ve tried a lot…!)

I’d have to say sandwich bread or rolls and pizza dough.  Anything with yeast or that involves rising I have never had much luck with.  And it now being summer I am not keen to be using the oven that much right now anyway.

Oh and mayo, I have yet to find one that the whole family likes.

How much of what your family eats is *really* homemade? (vs. storebought, restaurants, etc.)

I have mostly eliminated our processed foods, rather than replacing them.  I am very conscientious about the ingredients in the things I do still buy. Those items with few ingredients and REAL foods in them.  In all I am buying probably a quarter of what I used to in store bought foods.

We eat out maybe once a week, whether that is in a restaurant or bringing something home. I do push our family to at least go to somewhere that is not a load of empty foods.  And refuse to go to the major fast food chains – honestly that stuff makes me feel sick anyway.

What is one junk food or processed food your family still eats?

We don’t live in an area where I can buy raw milk or grass feed beef straight from the source, so we are left with the very expensive stuff at the store to choose from.  Which is not in the budget to buy, so I am trying to focus on other protein sources.  But we do still buy cheeses, milk and some meats.

My family would be so devastated without our white flour and lard, uncooked tortillas.  And I do indulge in the occasional sea salted chocolate bar.  I am trying to kick the horrible soda habit I have.

My husband isn’t totally on board and sometimes thinks I’m a “nutter”, so he still comes home with things I’d rather not have in the house and therefore available to the family.  So I am only pushing it far enough that there is peace between us.

What is the worst thing your family’s eaten in the last few months? Why?

Cookies, soda, fries – mostly stuff I didn’t buy, but if it’s in the house I can only hold out for so long.  Oh and pizza – we have lots of times that teenagers are over because of my husband’s job.

Why? Honestly, to keep a happy marriage.  I’d go all the way to real foods if it were just the kids and me.  But food is a touchy issue for my husband and he doesn’t like “experimenting.”  He’s not the typical eat whatever is put in front of him kind of man.

What’s one area where you won’t compromise, no matter why?

” Snacks” and pre-meal foods (cause the kids are ALWAYS hungry right before dinner) MUST have high nutritional value. So that if they do fill up on those it is not that their bellies are full of crackers or chips, but nuts, fruits and veggies.

And if a “treat” is to be had an appropriate amount of healthy food must be eaten.

What’s your best tip for eating real food in the real world?

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