You may have noticed that I haven’t been yammering about traditional diets and real food so much lately. It’s basically because I covered most of the topics near and dear to my heart, and I’ve kind of run out of things to say. That, and I haven’t read any new books or watched any documentaries lately. I’m anxiously waiting for Food, Inc. to be available on Netflix later this month. I can’t wait to watch it. I also have several books on my To-Do List, which is getting longer by the day.
It’s been ages since I’ve had a round of Ask the Housewife so I thought I’d ask you if there is anything you want to know about my whole foods journey. It can be a question about specific foods, or about how it’s going, or how I do certain things, or how I make certain things. Anything. Sky’s the limit!
Ask away, and I will do my best to answer all of your questions over the next week or two.
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I’ve been reluctant to try whole milk because I’m afraid of the extra calories. I drink a lot of milk and I’m afraid that I’ll gain weight if I drink whole milk. Any advice?
Great idea.
I share your passion for real food. But lately, I’ve been wondering about all the butter I use in my cooking. I’m starting to wonder if I’m going too far the other direction. (Not sure how to change it other than eat fewer foods that require butter.)
What do you do?
Flour. I gotta know when you use whole wheat vs white.
Also…pasta, always whole wheat? If so, what brand?
I’m just wondering if all this has helped your digestion issues. Sure hope so!
What about oils? Vegetable, canola, olive? What do you use for what?
I was just wondering about your thoughts regarding sugar substitutes (not Splenda, Nutrasweet, etc.) such as Agave Nectar, Stevia, Honey, etc. Have you tried baking with any of them? Any good results?? Also, other than whole wheat flour, I’m kind of nervous to try any other kind such as Rye or Spelt, etc. Does it have a distinct flavor and when would I substitute that for regular flour? I’ve already begun my transition from margarine to butter and sugar to Stevia. How on earth do you keep from going overboard on certain things?? I started reading labels and just trying to be more aware of what I’m putting into my kids and I swear to you that I was ready to throw everything out and start fresh! I hope I didn’t make you sorry you opened this up for questions! LOL
How do you handle your children’s “junk food” intact at things like birthday parties and other situations that you can’t control?
Just rated you Mahi Mahi Potato Pancake youtube video! GREAT job!
But you cracked me up with the mango! You knew how to dice the avocado! Mangos work (almost) the same way!
I posted (with photos) on dicing a mango back in July of 2008. http://pragmaticcompendium.wordpress.com/2008/07/09/5-minute-diced-mango/
I am new to this and your blog, glad that I found you. My question is how does one begin this whole foods journey, where do I begin?
Thanks!
I can totally relate to Kristy’s comment about going overboard. The more I read, the more depressed I get. Short of making everything from scratch, I sometimes feel like I’m climbing Everest in my attempt to avoid the “bad stuff.” And making everything from scratch is kind of kicking my trash, quite honestly.
Also, then I read that our diets shouldn’t be so grain-focused — but then I’m left thinking, “well, what am I supposed to feed my kids?” They’ll only eat so much fruit and veg. What should a packed lunch look like? What does a good snack look like? Is it true I’m supposed to be limiting grains, as well?
A more specific question I have is with regard to the vitamins and supplements you give your kids. I’d be curious as to the brands you’re using and the amounts that you’re giving them (i.e. are you doing a tsp. of cod liver oil in o.j. each morning, etc.).
Do you eat peanut butter? If so, what kind? Or do you use nutella or something different like that…and have you talked about this before? I have that baby-brain-lack-of-sleep-thing going on and I just can’t remember!
I’m also anxious to hear about your opinion on sugar substitutes like Stevia.
You have made me look at everything I buy in a new light. Do you still visit Starbucks?
My question is about substituting. If you substitute, say honey for sugar, as a sweetener, do you make a 1:1 substitute? Is there a rule of thumb? What about coconut oil for other oils in cooking or baking? 1:1? I want to start substituting more healthy sweeteners in when I bake, but I’m not sure how to do it right…
how did your kids adjust to you changing their diet? your husband? has it changed your kids’s moods/behaviour since switching?
what’s one or two non-whole foods that you indulge in?
What do you use for mayo? Every one I have found is made of canola oil. I have trouble finding subs for oils in recipes. Not everything is going to taste right with olive oil or coconut oil. What do you do?
Food, Inc. is on my “to-watch” list too.
Let’s see. Questions for the Famous Housewife (that would be you…):
1. What do you eat/serve for breakfast on most mornings?
2. What are your 5 favorite, go-to snacks for your kids – and yourself?
3. How many nights per week do you eat meatless meals?
Thanks!
Food, Inc. is on my “to-watch” list too.
Let’s see. Questions for the Famous Housewife (that would be you…):
1. What do you eat/serve for breakfast on most mornings?
2. What are your 5 favorite, go-to snacks for your kids – and yourself?
3. How many nights per week do you eat meatless meals?
Thanks!
BTW I love your blog!
Okay, where or how do you find all these farms where you get your chickens, eggs, butter, etc.?
If memory serves me correctly, you have hypothyroidism. Have you seen any chances in that since you’ve started eating more whole foods? I’d love to know because right now I’m on a pretty high dose of Synthroid and would love to find someway to bring my levels under control without taking such a high dose of synthroid.
And last but not least, that is if it’s okay for me to ask so many questions, do you have favorite cookbooks for cooking all the veggies and chicken you’ve been eating? Cookbooks for people like me who really don’t like to spend a lot of time in the kitchen but who want to put healthy, delicious food on the table.
Could you share your recipe(s) that you use to make bread? Do you use a breadmaker? I am wanting to switch to homemade bread but, am having trouble finding the right recipe and technique.
Kate, I will get to this eventually in my posts, but I wanted to respond to you right away so you can get started if you want. It has taken me a while, and I’ve determined that the old fashioned way really makes the best bread (meaning kneading by hand, ugh!) I am using a basic recipe from my Betty Crocker cookbook at the moment, and it’s pretty good.
http://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes.aspx/old-fashioned-honey-whole-wheat-bread/8f5e8c9b-ccb6-432a-a296-7807b18574f0
I melt coconut oil and use it in place of the shortening.
Good luck!
I have an 18-month old, a 4-year old, and a six-year old (all boys) we already go through about six loaves of bread and countless crackers, granola bars, and other snacks. I’ve wanted to start trying to make these items myself, but won’t it take a lot of time away from my kids that I could have spent playing with them during these fleeting years? Also, the price of organic flours and a breadmaker doesn’t sound like it would be any cheaper. What are your thoughts?
My biggest question is the whole wheat flour. I have a recipe for pancakes that call for whole wheat pastry flour but all I can find is Old Fashioned Whole Wheat Flour. I know theres a difference but how much of one and where do you find the pastry kind?
Also the substituting of oils has me confused. For instance when baking what oil do you use in stead of vegetable oil. What do you use instead of canola and shortening.
And a PC question on Mayo has me intrigued also because I love me some mayo! lol
*and as I side not I just finished In Defense of Food..omg it is such a great book thanks for suggesting it.
I want to know about lunches and snacks for the kids, especially the ones in school all day, every day.
Jo-Lynne — Okay, so I broke down and bought a box of flax seed, and now I want to know what to do with it! Do you have recommendations? The box really didn’t indicate how to use it in everyday cooking.