I think my biggest challenge has just been eating enough. I have been so incredibly busy with my web site, our business, and home schooling our son that I tend to get really caught up in what I am doing. Then all of a sudden it is really late in the day and I have not eaten as much as I should! Fortunately when I am eating something, it is always wholesome.

The only thing I’ve eaten this week that wasn’t healthy was a few bites of bun at the restaurant we ate at for dinner last night. I took the bun off my chicken because I forgot to ask the waitress to leave it off on my order. – but this restaurant is known for their local, organic fare so the bread was better than some (and it was covered in real butter, cheese, and pesto!). I’ve also been tasting the Green and Black chocolate samples I received in the mail this week to write my review of their products. They are great, but we received milk chocolate (and dark is my favorite), so my son has been enjoying those samples.

I also find that I am having a challenging time eating enough vegetables. I eat plenty of real fats and proteins – meat, seafood, cheese, home-made yogurt, butter, coconut oil, and others. I am having trouble getting motivated to also prepare vegetables to go along with it. And then of course, I find myself being hungry sooner than I should.

Last night I actually found myself feeling really exhausted and almost as though I might be coming down with something (I’ve been completely healthy all during flu and cold season this year, as has my husband – and our son has only had one sick day all year). I ate a very healthy dinner with local, pastured chicken, mozzarella cheese, pesto, and sundried tomatoes, a big salad, and a cup of clam chowder. I took extra cod liver oil and probiotics before bed, and made sure I drank extra water – the mixture I always keep around is filtered water with a bit of unsweetened cranberry juice (for minerals) and added some fresh squeezed lemon. Today I feel much better! Now I need to focus on getting my vegetable intake back up. Thanks for the Real Food Challenge, Jenny!

I remember how hungry I would get when I was nursing my little guy – especially when he was a newborn.  I suggest you pick up some nuts, vegetables, larabars, dried fruit and naturally prepared beef jerky (if you haven’t the time to prepare it yourself). Bread spread with ghee (which is butter without the milk solids) or coconut can also help to tied you over.  Boiled eggs or deviled eggs are also good.  Homemade hummus with vegetables can be quite filling as well.

You’ll make it through, promise.

- Jenny

I’ve found that I am craving dairy and SWEETS, oh the sweets.
I’ve committed to buying some raw milk for the rest of the fam, and am considering buying a Blendtec blender and excalibur dehydrator….. I’ve switched my daughter’s post-dinner treat from ice cream to a yummy “smoothie” made with milk and frozen fruit- she looooves this!

this is an exciting challenge. I hope I can keep up!

On the clean cupboard day I was not at all surprised to find the things that I’d been “meaning” to get rid of for a while…still taking up space in my cupboard. Instead of throwing things away (since we’re on a really tight budget) I’ve started replacing things as we finish them with healthier options (been food shopping once since then and stuck to my new healthier food list!). I’ve been trying to be TF for a couple years yet so it isn’t a ton but still and all…it’s going to be REALLY hard to give up our white sugar for baking because, even though I love Sucanat in my coffee, it just doesn’t bake up the same (in my experience) in stuff like scones.

Day #3 went well as I’ve soaked our oatmeal for a while now…and now that we have eggs in the house again I’m going to make your baked oatmeal for tomorrow…can’t wait!

Day #4 (Sourdough) I’ve tried at and failed miserably with in the past (something about living in the desert…not as many wild yeasties flying around!) so I’ve decided to wait until I have the money to buy a starter from your source. I’m making our food budget extra tight so that I can order a couple of things from them at the beginning of March (including a Kombucha mushroom since buying bottled is no longer in the budget, an a yogurt starter!).

Day#5&6 Since it’s been cold here I’ve had some issues getting my grain to sprout but am pleased with the results. This day made me realize that I’ve totally been malting my grains and that is probably the reason I’ve had so much trouble baking with them! DUH! We’ll see what kind of bread baking luck I have with this batch!

All in all I have to say it was a successful week overall, just the kick in the pants that I needed to get back to my TF ways! Thanks so much for the challenge!

I did not do so well with the first assignment. I still have a few things in my cabinets which I’d like to see go. Sugar is one of them. Also, I find that the organic baby crackers are so simple for me, that I couldn’t get rid of those.

I began my sourdough starter and have had terrific success with sourdough bread. My family loves it and it is so easy! My sourdough is my new baby.

I also started kefir. After over a week of it tasting like vomit every morning when I tried it, this morning it finally had a better taste. I was told to be patient, so I’m waiting it out.

I have not started the soaking of the grains. I do not have a dehydrator and to make enough for my family would be really tough, so I’m sticking with the sourdough for now.

That’s it! I’m looking forward to the rest of the month.

Leslie (Momma of 11)