Cholesterol Not Bad? | Real Food Round-Up

It looks like the new US Dietary Guidelines won't include a limit for cholesterol. This is a big deal after so many years of recommendations to limit cholesterol to 300 milligrams per day. But why is this changing and what does it mean for us? [x_video type="16:9, 5:3, 5:4, 4:3, 3:2" m4v="" ogv="" poster="" hide_controls="" autoplay="" embed='' no_container="true"]

The U.S. government is poised to withdraw longstanding warnings about cholesterol

DIY Natural Pink Food Coloring

Coconut Custard from Mommypotamus

Peanut Butter Brownie Bars from 100 Days of Real Food

How to Find Local Food

Local food is often more nutritious and offers more variety. Plus, you can talk directly to the producer and support your community. Finding that local food, however, can be difficult. Here are my top tips and resources for finding farmers' markets, CSAs, farms, and other local food resources in your area. [x_video type="16:9, 5:3, 5:4, 4:3, 3:2" m4v="" ogv="" poster="" hide_controls="" autoplay="" embed='' no_container="true"]Local Harvest

Eat Wild

Meetups

Red Onion Pizza with Balsamic Reduction

If you want delicious homemade pizza, you've got to try this topping combo. Diced red onion gets cooked down into yummy caramelized bites and the whole thing is topped with a balsamic reduction that takes this pizza to the next level. [x_video type="16:9, 5:3, 5:4, 4:3, 3:2" m4v="" ogv="" poster="" hide_controls="" autoplay="" embed='' no_container="true"]

Red Onion Pizza with Balsamic Reduction

Ingredients

1/2 medium red onion, diced

1/4 cup balsamic vinegar

You favorite pizza dough, pizza sauce, and cheese combination

Directions
  1. Roll out your pizza dough and top with sauce and 2/3 of you cheese.
  2. Sprinkle diced red onion on pizza and top with remaining 1/3 of cheese.
  3. Cook pizza according to your crust instructions and set aside to cool.
  4. Heat balsamic vinegar in a small pot over medium heat.
  5. Once vinegar comes to a simmer, stir frequently until the vinegar is reduced by half, about 5 minutes.
  6. Drizzle balsamic reduction over pizza, slice, and enjoy!

DIY Natural Pink Food Coloring

Brightly colored foods are fun, but lots of them are made with artificial food coloring. You can make your own natural pink food coloring with common ingredients for beautiful colors that aren't bad for you. Here are two ways to make natural pink food coloring for Valentine's Day or any other day of the year. [x_video type="16:9, 5:3, 5:4, 4:3, 3:2" m4v="" ogv="" poster="" hide_controls="" autoplay="" embed='' no_container="true"]

Healthy Road Trip Snacks (for Playlist Live!)

Going on a road trip or vacation doesn't mean that you have to be stuck eating unhealthy junk food. You can pack healthy, delicious snacks that will keep you full on the road and make sure you're feeling your best on your trip. Here are the healthy snacks I'm packing for my trip to Playlist Live 2015 in Orlando. [x_video type="16:9, 5:3, 5:4, 4:3, 3:2" m4v="" ogv="" poster="" hide_controls="" autoplay="" embed='' no_container="true"]

Almond Joy Granola Recipe

Healthy Super Bowl Recipes | Real Food Round-Up

Super Bowl Sunday is a great time to get together with family and friends and enjoy delicious food. Unfortunately, a lot of that food is full of artificial junk. Luckily, you can still have all of that yummy goodness and feel great if you choose real food versions of your favorite Super Bowl dishes. [x_video type="16:9, 5:3, 5:4, 4:3, 3:2" m4v="" ogv="" poster="" hide_controls="" autoplay="" embed='' no_container="true"]You can find links to all of these recipes and more on my Real Food Super Bowl Pinterest Board.

January Favorites 2015 | Real Food, Kitchen Gadgets, and More!

January is coming to an end and that means it's time to talk about my favorite things from the past month! This month I'm sharing a real food recipe, some kitchen tools that are making my life much easier, my favorite gardening resource, and something a little out of the ordinary for me. :D [x_video type="16:9, 5:3, 5:4, 4:3, 3:2" m4v="" ogv="" poster="" hide_controls="" autoplay="" embed='' no_container="true"]Tortilla Press (not the exact one I have)

Tea Stand

Seed Savers Exchange Catalog

Walking Dead Video Game

How to Make Chicken Bone Broth in a Slow Cooker

Making bone broth is a great way to get more nutrients, save money, and make meals that taste delicious. Good news is, it's super easy to do in a slow cooker or Crock Pot! You get to go about your day while a yummy pot of broth simmers away on your counter.

 

Slow Cooker Chicken Bone Broth

 

Ingredients

Bones from one chicken

Assorted broth veggies like celery, carrot, onion, garlic, and herbs (whatever you have is fine)*

12 black peppercorns

Salt (to taste, I probably use about a teaspoon)

Splash of apple cider vinegar

Water

 

Directions

  1. Add all ingredients to your slow cooker with enough water to cover everything. Put on lid and cook on low for 12 to 24 hours.
  2. Once broth is done, turn off slow cooker and allow broth to cool a bit. Then, strain the broth into jars or containers to remove solids. Store broth in the refrigerator if you want to use it within the next few days or the freezer to save for later.

*Note: I keep a bag in my freezer for storing vegetable scraps like onion peels, carrot ends, and celery ends. Then, whenever I make broth, I can just go in my freezer and toss some of these veggies in the slow cooker. This saves money and time. Other scraps you can keep in this bag include garlic ends, asparagus ends, ginger peels, and fresh herbs that you won't be able to use up before they go bad. Don't include cruciferous veggies like cabbage, broccoli, and cauliflower because they can make things a little stinky.

Does WHEN You Eat Matter? | Real Food Round-Up

We know that WHAT you eat and HOW MUCH you eat are keys to a healthy weight and healthy body. However, a new study suggests that WHEN you eat might also have an important role in this. According to this study, restricting your eating to 12 hour window could make a big difference in your weight management and overall health. [x_video type="16:9, 5:3, 5:4, 4:3, 3:2" m4v="" ogv="" poster="" hide_controls="" autoplay="" embed='' no_container="true"]

A 12-Hour Window for a Healthy Weight

Journal Abstract: Time-Restricted Feeding Is a Preventative and Therapeutic Intervention against Diverse Nutritional Challenges

A Simple Carrot Soup Recipe from 101 Cookbooks

Should You Try a Menstrual Cup?

Being on your period isn't much fun, but is can better with a menstrual cup. Compared to disposable pads and tampons, reusable menstrual cups are cheaper, more environmentally friendly, and less disrupting to your everyday life. That time of the month isn't so bad when you use a menstrual cup. [x_video type="16:9, 5:3, 5:4, 4:3, 3:2" m4v="" ogv="" poster="" hide_controls="" autoplay="" embed='' no_container="true"]Diva Cup

Garden Planning: Tips and Resources

The best way to have a successful garden is to have a plan! Here are some tips for what to think about when planning your garden, as well as my favorite place to get heirloom and organic seeds and a garden planner that takes out a lot of the guesswork. [x_video type="16:9, 5:3, 5:4, 4:3, 3:2" m4v="" ogv="" poster="" hide_controls="" autoplay="" embed='' no_container="true"]

Seed Savers Exchange

SEE Garden Planner

Learn about the SEE Garden Planner

Steps to Get Plastics Out of Your Kitchen

Plastic dishes and storage containers can leach unhealthy chemicals into your food. Getting rid of them can be overwhelming, so I'm giving you a step-by-step process to help you prioritize which plastic items you should get rid of first and which ones you can hold off on. [x_video type="16:9, 5:3, 5:4, 4:3, 3:2" m4v="" ogv="" poster="" hide_controls="" autoplay="" embed='' no_container="true"]

  1. Hot/Heated Foods. If there is one thing you take away from this post it should be this: never heat your food in plastic! Risk for chemical leaching is higher when the plastic is heated so use reusable glass containers or ceramic dishes for anything you plan to reheat or that is to be consumed hot. An example would be avoiding hot coffee or tea served in a Styrofoam cup. Opt for a proper mug instead!
  2. Most Used Items. Switching out the things you use on a daily basis is going to give you the most bang for your buck in terms of limiting exposure. Try replacing your plastic water bottle with a glass one.
  3. Long Term Storage. The longer something is stored in a plastic container, the higher the chance of chemical leaching. Look for large glass jars or containers to store these foods instead.
  4. Cold/Frozen. This is the area I would tackle last. Remember, if you plan to reheat the food you need to make sure to transfer it before heating.

Also, as a general rule in all categories, the more liquid a food is the more concerned I am with chemical leaching. Think soup vs a sandwich.

I don't think there is any need to go out any buy all new containers and have your bank account crying on the way home. If you have the money, feel free to do an overhaul, but, if your budget is more limited, institute a gradual and calculated change. Start with the containers for hot foods and your most commonly used items and replace things as you're able to from there. Also, keeping a ceramic plate or bowl at work for reheating is a great option. Just make sure you have a way to clean it after each use.

The Problem with BPA Free Plastic + Chipotle Pulls Pork | Real Food Round Up

There has been a big push for BPA free plastics in recent years, but a new study suggests that these new plastics might not be any safer. In other real food news, Chipotle has been forced to pull pork off the menu in about one-third of its locations and a new potential obesity treatment has been approved by the FDA.

[x_video type="16:9, 5:3, 5:4, 4:3, 3:2" m4v="" ogv="" poster="" hide_controls="" autoplay="" embed='' no_container="true"]

The Chemical In 'BPA-Free' Water Bottles May Be Just As Unhealthy As BPA

Chipotle Pulls Pork

FDA Approves Appetite 'Pace-Maker'

3 Ways to Flavor Homemade Popcorn

Making popcorn at home is super fun, plus you get to flavor it however you like! Here are 3 different ways to flavor your homemade popcorn. [x_video type="16:9, 5:3, 5:4, 4:3, 3:2" m4v="" ogv="" poster="" hide_controls="" autoplay="" embed='' no_container="true"]

Option 1 - Traditional

Butter + Salt

Option 2 - Spicy

Butter + Chilli Powder + Garlic Powder + Cayenne Pepper

Option 3 - Sweet

Butter/Coconut Oil + Honey + Cinnamon

How to Make Popcorn 3 Ways

Popcorn can be a great snack or movie night food, but the microwaveable bags are full of chemicals and artificial junk. You can make your own popcorn at home and flavor it how you like without any of the fake stuff. Plus, it's easy and fun! I'm showing you 3 different ways to make popcorn at home, so there's sure to be an option that works for you. [x_video_embed type="16:9"][/x_video_embed]

Stovetop Popcorn

Ingredients

3 tablespoons unrefined coconut oil

1/2 cup popcorn kernels

Directions
  1. Heat oil in a large pot over medium heat.
  2. Once oil has melted, add 2-4 popcorn kernels and wait for them to pop. These are tester kernels to let you know when the oil is hot enough.
  3. Once the tester kernels have popped, quickly add the rest of the unpopped kernels to the pot, cover with the lid, and shake back and forth to coat the kernels in oil.
  4. Remove the pot from the heat for 30 seconds. This allows the kernels to heat up in the oil close to their popping temperature so they will pop at relatively the same time when placed back on the heat.
  5. Put the pot back on the burner and allow the kernels to pop until the popping slows down with a few seconds between pops.
  6. Remove the pot from the heat and pour the popped popcorn into a bowl.
  7. Season as desired and eat!

Air Popper Popcorn

Ingredients

Popcorn kernels (quantity according to air popper's instructions)

Directions
  1. Make sure to follow the directions that come with your air popper. Generally, you will add the kernels to the popper, place the spout over a bowl, turn the popper on, and run the machine until only a few unpopped kernels remain.
  2. Season as desired and eat!

Microwave Paper Bag Popcorn

Ingredients

1/4 - 1/2 cup popcorn kernels

Directions
  1. Place kernels in a paper lunch bag. If you use a small bag, use less popcorn and if you use a large bag, use more.
  2. Fold the top of the bag down 3 or 4 times to close it.
  3. Place the bag in your microwave and set the timer for 4 minutes.
  4. Allow the kernels to pop until the popping slows down and there are a few seconds between pops. Then, remove the bag from the microwave.
  5. Carefully open the bag and pour the popcorn into a bowl.
  6. Season as desired and eat!

Food Trends for 2015 | Real Food Round-Up

There are lots of food trend predictions for 2015 and a many of them fall into the real food realm. These are my favorite real food trends. [x_video type="16:9, 5:3, 5:4, 4:3, 3:2" m4v="" ogv="" poster="" hide_controls="" autoplay="" embed='' no_container="true"]

Natural Birth Control with Lady Comp (NEW and OLD Models)

Looking for a safe and effective natural birth control method? Lady Comp might be right for you!

 

Get your own Lady Comp (affiliate link)

Get more info on Lady Comp

 

Sarah Moran is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com

December Favorites 2014 | Real Food, Healthy Recipes, and More!

It's favorites time! Here's all of the healthy food, recipes, and other stuff that I've been loving in December. [x_video type="16:9, 5:3, 5:4, 4:3, 3:2" m4v="" ogv="" poster="" hide_controls="" autoplay="" embed='' no_container="true"]

  1. Lard
  2. Spicy Peanut Sauce from Oh She Glows
  3. Delicata Squash, Millet, & Kale Salad with Lemon-Tahini Dressing from The Oh She Glows Cookbook
  4. Serial
  5. Amazon Prime

What I Got For Christmas 2014 | Food and Cooking

If you're anything like me, you probably got a few gift cards or cash gifts over the holidays. I thought, if you need ideas for what to buy, it might be helpful to see the food and cooking related gifts I got for Christmas this year. [x_video type="16:9, 5:3, 5:4, 4:3, 3:2" m4v="" ogv="" poster="" hide_controls="" autoplay="" embed='' no_container="true"]