New Series: My Secrets For Saving On Real Food-Bountiful Baskets Co-op

If you have never heard of Bountiful Baskets before you are missing out. I heard about them several years ago, but never really thought much about it until a friend insisted I try it out. I finally caved a couple of months ago. I am SO glad I did!

The fruits and veggies pictured above cost me a whopping $15!  The price is the same every week that you order. You will get 50% fruit 50% vegetables. There is even an organic option for $25. That is a steal!!

The other thing I love about Bountiful Baskets are the ad ons you can order every week. There is always something different to pick from. Usually there are large cases of fruits or veggies, breads, tortillas or special packs such as soup or holiday packs. I usually get the 5 loaves of organic bread for $12.50, just $2.50 each.

I recently ordered 40 pounds of pears for around $25. There were so many, but they were delicious and fresh.

You can choose to order up to 3 baskets each week and you do not have to order every week. You can also choose your pick up location. In most cases you must be at the pick up location on time and you have a 20 minute window to pick up your basket or it will be donated. Most locations ask that you volunteer from time to time since this is a co-op.

Bountiful Baskets is one of my secrets for feeding a large family on a tight budget. In the next several days I will let you in on a few more of my savings strategies. Go ahead and head on over to Bountiful Baskets to see they offer it in your area.

This post may contain affiliate links

When Should You Splurge on Organic Produce?

Have you ever found yourself standing in the produce section of the grocery store and almost fallen over when you see the prices of organic produce? I know I have. I really want to feed my family only organic, pesticide free fruits and vegetables, but the high price of many of these items has forced me to go with the conventional produce. I always feel bad, but what else can you do?

Well there are a couple of things you can do. The first is to become familiar with the Dirty Dozen List for deciding what fruits and vegetables are the most contaminated and worth spending the extra money on.

1. Celery
2. Peaches
3. Strawberries
4. Apples
5. Blueberries
6. Nectarines
7. Bell Peppers
8. Spinach
9. Kale
10. Cherries
11. Potatoes
12. Grapes (Imported)

Thankfully there is also a list of the Clean 15.

1. Onions
2. Avocados
3. Sweet Corn
4. Pineapples
5. Mangoes
6. Sweet Peas
7. Asparagus
8. Kiwis
9. Cabbage
10. Eggplant
11. Cantaloupe
12. Watermelon
13. Grapefruit
14. Sweet Potato
15. Honeydew Melon

There are also things you can do to help offset the price of buying organic. The first of which would be to cut back on convenience foods and non essential items such as soda, cookies, and other junk food that we really don't need anyway. You will have more money to spend on the good stuff when you start learning to either do without or make your own convenience foods.

Another option is to buy your produce locally and in season at farmers markets. Get to know your the farmers around you. Many of them grow organically, but can not technically call it organic because they are not certified organic growers. Often you can get a deal from farmers when you buy in bulk. You are also getting the freshest and best tasting food when you are buying this way.

You should always wash your produce when you get it home to remove any residual chemical residue and other contaminants. One of the best ways you can do this is with baking soda. All you need to do is sprinkle some on your food and scrub while you rinse. It is the safest way I have found to clean produce.

The last option for reducing cost is to grow your own. You will always know what has been put on it while growing. It is cheap and easy to get it when you need it. Even if you think you don't have room for a garden container gardens can produce a surprisingly large amount of food. So even if all you have is a small patio or balcony you can grow your own food.

Hopefully this gives you some ideas to help you decide where and how to obtain the freshest, healthiest produce for your family.

Baby Steps To A Healthier Lifestyle

Today I am restarting a series on ways you can slowly work your way into a healthier lifestyle. I know first hand just how overwhelming it can be. When I began my journey about 4 years ago I had no clue where to start. I then started looking at the cost of it all and just about changed my mind. So today I think we should begin with looking at the budget.

Of course, everyone has a different budget to work with so I do not want you to feel that you have to strive to do the same thing as I or any other person would do. If you are interested in looking at my personal grocery budget you can read about it here.

One of the hardest things for me to get over was the fact that it is OK to spend money on food. There is such a huge craze right now to see how much you can get for as little as possible. I will admit that I have been a huge couponer, and still am to some extent. The only problem was that I was discovering that I was coming home with less then natural food. In most other cultures food is something to be enjoyed. As Americans we tend to be in a hurry and want as much as possible for as little as possible. So my husband and I decided that we must remind ourselves it is OK to spend money on food. I am not saying we spend a huge amount, but we have learned to buy the best quality food we are able to with what we have been given.

So what are some tips to staying on a budget while eating healthy, whole foods?

1.) Stop buying processed foods and save your money for the better quality real stuff. You will be better off. If your great-grandmother would not recognize it don't eat it.

2.) Make a list/menu and stick to it. No more impulse buys. This is probably where I struggle the most. If I fail to make a menu we are more likely to eat out and just buy what looks good. This is a big budget buster. When you go to the store have a list and do your best to stick to it.

3.) Make as much of your own food as possible. You may be thinking that you will be spending all your time in the kitchen. You will be there a bit more then before, but modern conveniences have also helped to cut time in the kitchen, such as a bread makers and crock pots. You can also dedicate one day to cooking ahead and freezing meals. This works well for me. The extra time you spend preparing your food will pay off in the long run. Keep things simple.

4.) Search for local food. You are most likely to get the most bang for your buck this way. To help you find sources of local food check out my post here.

5.) Shop with cash. Try to have a predetermined amount for the month and take that weeks amount shopping with you. You are less likely to overspend this way. If you are sticking to your weekly menu and shopping list this is somewhat easier to do. You can even try to adopt the envelope system that Dave Ramsey recommends. This is what we have done. It is one of our methods we are using to get out of debt. Getting out of debt is a HUGE goal we are working on. If you have not already taken Financial Peace University high highly recommend it.

6.) Buy on sale and stock up when you can. If you learn to watch for sales and clearance prices at the right times of the year you can buy things at their lowest prices and save tons of money. For example awhile back I bought 4 pounds of shredded cheese. I really did not need that much, but I got it for around $8. It fit in the budget so I bought it. I took it home and portioned it into 2 cups per baggie and froze it. It lasted us over a month.

Another way to stock up is after the holidays or buying in season. Soon after Thanksgiving and Christmas there is often cans of pumpkin, meat, and other baking supplies marked way down.

7.) Be creative and flexible. If you run out of an item before your next shopping trip try to find an alternative. There have been many times we have run out of something and the kids will of course be asking for it. I have had to tell them to wait many times. I will not say that I do not ever give in, but I try to make them wait. It is good for them to learn this lesson and it also helps with the impulse buys that will most likely happen when you go to the store for that 1 item causing you to blow your budget.

8.) Watch for sales on Amazon. I have found many organic items on sale with Amazon lately. I will do my best to highlight them when I see them. If you have any Swagbuck gift cards saved up you can easily score some free or cheap organic/ natural food.

Next Monday I am planning to post about where you should start to make the changes in your diet to help ease your family into this new way of life.

Here is my proposed schedule of posts for this series. I am open to suggestions.
Week 1-Baby Steps and Budget
Week 2- What, Where, and Why? Food groups
Week 3- Frugal ways to buy natural personal care and toiletry items.
Week 4- Household items
Week 5- Anything I may have left out.

I would love to have you join me. I am thinking about starting a monthly post with a link so everyone can share their progress stories. That way we can all help each other along with additional ideas and support.

Baby Steps-Take It Slow

When you are first starting out trying to change your family over to a healthier diet I would suggest taking it one step at a time. Do not try to do everything at once or they will likely rebel and be very unwilling to try anything else. Not to mention the hit you will take to your budget.

Here are a couple of books that may be helpful.
Real Food: What to Eat and Why
Real Food On A Real Budget: How To Eat Healthy For Less
There is also a great E-course called A Peasant's Feast-Nourishing Food On A Budget


I am going to make several suggestions over the next couple of weeks as to places you can start. Pick one and keep doing it until you are comfortable with it and then start adding others as you are able to.

1.) Switch from margarine to butter. You may also want to switch from using vegetable oil to using olive oil or coconut oil.

You may be thinking the same thing I did at first. "I thought all those fats were supposed to be bad for you. Won't they make me fat." Actually my husband has lost 60 pounds with a wife who cooks using only real butter, olive oil, and coconut oil. That's it. The Lord made these fats to be used by our bodies. Man made margarine and most vegetable oils. They are not natural. In fact, my husband read somewhere that margarine is one molecule away from being plastic. Is that something you really want to be eating? For a great book on this subject you could try reading Eat Fat, Lose Fat: The Healthy Alternative to Trans Fats

2.)Switch from using white flour to wheat flour. The taste may take some getting used to, but eventually you will come to prefer it.

3.)Use brown rice instead of white.

4.) Try using natural sweeteners when baking such as molasses, honey, real maple syrup, or rapadura.

5.) Drink more water. When you cut out sugary drinks you not only cut out the cost from your budget you also save calories and your health.

Stay tuned Monday for more baby steps to better eating.

Originally Posted November 2009

How To Get Cheap Or Free Produce

My FREE cherries from last week

I love this time of the year because fresh produce is abundant. You can finally get a fresh tomato that is in season and that is actually red and tasty. The only problem is that the cost of food seems to keep going up, even for in season produce. I got to thinking there has to be a way to get healthy food cheaper.

After some thinking here are the ideas I have come up with. If anyone has any other thoughts I am sure my readers would love to hear them.

1.) The obvious- Grow your own. It is cheaper and you know what has been put on it. Even if you do not have enough space for a full garden you can look into container varieties of plants.

2.) Find friends and neighbors who have large gardens and ask them if there is anything they would like to have in trade for some of their fruits and veggies. Maybe you could offer to cook some of them for them or possibly help them with canning. This worked for me last year when my brother had some extra venison. He did not have any way to cook due to kitchen renovations. I cooked all his meat and was able to keep half.

From my experience most home gardeners have more then they can use and are willing to give it away before it goes bad. It never hurts to ask.

3.) Look around for free produce. I noticed that one of my parent's neighbors has an apple tree that is not being taken care of. Last fall all the apples were falling to the ground and being left. I think this year I will be brave enough to ask him if I can gather them for him and possibly keep some.

You can also sometimes find wild grown foods. My parents have horseradish growing behind their house. We are not sure how it got there, but it is free and yummy. This option is one that not everyone can do. You have to be careful and know what you are picking before you eat it.

4.) Become friends with your local grocery store produce manager. I often find marked down produce that is still just fine. I will buy as much of it as I can and freeze it. Maybe you can talk your manager into holding some things back for you or letting you know what days he is planning to mark certain items down.
5.) Buy in bulk at your local farmers market or u-pick farms. You can also order in bulk from places like Azure standard. It is more economical if you can get a couple of friends to order with you and split the cost.
6.) Ask your local grocery store to buy in bulk for you. I bet they would be willing to give you a discount for buying so much at one time.

Does anyone else have any ways they save on produce?

Produce Worth Buying Organic

Photo Credit Watch It Photos

Have you ever found yourself standing in the produce section of the grocery store and almost fallen over when you see the prices of organic produce? I know I have. I really want to feed my family only organic, pesticide free fruits and vegetables, but the high price of many of these items has forced me to go with the conventional produce. I always feel bad, but what else can you do?

Well there are a couple of things you can do. The first is to become familiar with the Dirty Dozen List for deciding what fruits and vegetables are the most contaminated and worth spending the extra money on.

1. Celery
2. Peaches
3. Strawberries
4. Apples
5. Blueberries
6. Nectarines
7. Bell Peppers
8. Spinach
9. Kale
10. Cherries
11. Potatoes
12. Grapes (Imported)

Thankfully there is also a list of the Clean 15.

1. Onions
2. Avocados
3. Sweet Corn
4. Pineapples
5. Mangoes
6. Sweet Peas
7. Asparagus
8. Kiwis
9. Cabbage
10. Eggplant
11. Cantaloupe
12. Watermelon
13. Grapefruit
14. Sweet Potato
15. Honeydew Melon

There are also things you can do to help offset the price of buying organic. The first of which would be to cut back on convenience foods and non essential items such as soda, cookies, and other junk food that we really don't need anyway. You will have more money to spend on the good stuff when you start learning to either do without or make your own convenience foods.

Another option is to buy your produce locally and in season at farmers markets. Get to know your the farmers around you. Many of them grow organically, but can not technically call it organic because they are not certified organic growers. Often you can get a deal from farmers when you buy in bulk. You are also getting the freshest and best tasting food when you are buying this way.

You should always wash your produce when you get it home to remove any residual chemical residue and other contaminants. One of the best ways you can do this is with baking soda. All you need to do is sprinkle some on your food and scrub while you rinse. It is the safest way I have found to clean produce.

The last option for reducing cost is to grow your own. You will always know what has been put on it while growing. It is cheap and easy to get it when you need it. Even if you think you don't have room for a garden container gardens can produce a surprisingly large amount of food. So even if all you have is a small patio or balcony you can grow your own food.

Hopefully this gives you some ideas to help you decide where and how to obtain the freshest, healthiest produce for your family.

The Many Uses Of Coconut Oil

Since I wrote a post yesterday on homemade deodorant and I was wanting to write one on homemade sunscreen (coconut oil) I figured I might as well tell you about all the uses I know of so far for this versatile oil. Not only is it very healthy for you to use in recipes, but it also has many cosmetic uses.

Here is a list of what I have researched so far...

Deodorant-See my post on this here.

Hair gel- Just use it straight out of the jar. I have been told this works really well on curly hair. Someone will have to tell me if this really works since I have very straight hair.

Hair conditioner- Again use it straight out of the jar.

Acne cream- I had a reader suggest this one to me. I have to admit that even at nearly 30 I still have issues with pimples. I was told that this will help dry them out quickly. I was a bit skeptical since it is an oil. How could an oil dry something out? Well I tried and guess what? It really does work.

Sunscreen- Islanders have been using coconut oil for years as a natural sunscreen. This is one I plan to try this summer. I have a lot of issues with applying chemicals to my babies to protect them from sunburns. Even the organic and natural brands still make nervous. Hopefully this works.

Toothpaste- You can check out Lindsey's recipe for this here. I have not been brave enough to try it yet. I still have a couple tubes of Nature's Gate toothpaste that I bought using Swagbucks. Maybe I will have to try this one sometime.

Lotion- You can add shea butter to coconut oil to make a great lotion or just use it by itself. I have been using coconut oil on my 2 year to treat eczema. For a long time it was the only thing that did not make him scream.

Facial moisturizer- Apply just as you would any moisturizer.

Diaper rash cream- I found the original recipe for this at Passionate Homemaking. You can check out my post on it here.

Don't forget all the great ways this oil can be used in cooking. You can use it to replace butter when baking, in popcorn, as a spread on bread, and in oatmeal. While researching for this post I ran across this article on the benefits of coconut oil. It was quite interesting.

I know that there are tons of blogs right now that can show you how to buy all of the above listed products for cheap or even free, but at what cost to your body? I will admit that I have used coupons to get things for free, but after reading the ingredient list I decided to try and look for alternatives. The only problem was that organic and natural products are very expensive. I still buy them when I can find them on sale or I have coupons for the natural brands, but when I am unable to afford them coconut oil is a great alternative. It is cheap and good for you.

So where is the best place to find coconut oil? I have used spectrum brand in the past, but have lately been using Nutiva. Right now you can get 2 jars on Amazon for around $13. This is a great price.

It might be cheaper to buy it in bulk from Azure Standard or Mountain Rose Herb if you can find someone willing to split it with you.

I would caution you not to buy the cheap stuff you can buy at Walmart or other grocery stores. It is not the same and it contains additives.

Isn't it amazing how our Lord provides us with one product that can be used in so many ways and only cost us pennies per use?

Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution

I am passionate about teaching children about healthy, natural food. I may not always succeed when it comes to my own children, but I do my best to give them good options and hope that someday they will be able to make the right choice on their own.


There are times that I allow them to have junk food because it is not always possible to shield them. I also do not want them to have to go to a party and be the only kid not allowed to have cake. I just explain to them that this is a special treat. It would also not be fair to ask a teacher at school or church to not be the mean one and not give them the same snack all the other kids are having.


It is important to teach your kids moderation and be a good example with your own food choices. If I ever go back to school once my kids are in school full time I would love to find some career that involves teaching children how to make good food choices.


I was very excited to see that Jamie Oliver is hosting a new show called Food Revolution. I watched the first episode with my husband. We were both in shock at the foods that are considered healthy and well balanced in the school system. I realize that cost is a factor, but surely we can do better. If you missed the episode make sure to check it our here and see what you think.

Baby Steps To Healthy Living: Whole Grains

When most people start their journey to healthy eating they immediately think about dry, cardboard tasting whole wheat bread, brown rice, and other supposedly tasteless foods. If not cooked correctly this can be true, but there are so many ways to use whole grains as well as tons of different varieties.

Today I would like to focus on a few well known varieties as well as a couple new ones that you may or may not have heard of or tried before. Eating a wide variety of whole grains in your diet is important.

There are many different topics you can focus on when it comes to grains such as soaking, spouting, and sourdoughs. To keep things simple today I will try to stick with just the basics of what whole grains are, how to cook them, and how to ease your family into eating them.

Getting your family to eat whole grains:

The first thing I would recommend to help ease your family into this transition is to start slowly eliminating white flour from your diet. I started by using 1/2 white and 1/2 wheat flour in recipes and then slowly using more wheat as we became accustomed to the flavor and texture.

The same rule can apply to brown rice. Start mixing it with regular white rice and then slowly add more brown rice.

Types of whole grains:

Wheat flour-

There are 2 types of wheat flour that are typically used in baking: Hard red winter wheat and hard white spring wheat. Winter wheat is what you will usually find in the grocery store when you are buying wheat flour.
Spring wheat is best for baking because it yields a lighter texture and color when baked. You can usually find this in a grocery store or health foods store. You may have to look a little harder for it though.
Another option would be to grind your own wheat for flour. Grinding your own flour is much healthier as well as giving you fresher flour. This is something I would love to start doing as soon as I am able to get a grain mill. The cost of grinding your own flour is actually cheaper in the long run once you purchase your mill.

Brown Rice-

Brown rice is a great whole grain. It does have a different texture then white rice, but it is so much better for you.

Oats-

Oats can be used in so many different ways. Most people think just about a bowl of oatmeal, which can be really yummy, but there are other ways to incorporate them into your diet. I will often toss some in when I am baking bread or muffins. Another way I get oats into our diet is to grind them up and add them to meatloaf instead of bread crumbs. I have even used them ground up as a flour in oat and nanner drops (yummy!)
One of our favorite ways to eat a bowl of oatmeal is to either soak it overnight and cook it in the morning or to cook it in a crock pot over night. I will then add some cinnamon, salt, milk, butter, and honey. You can then top it with fruit for some extra nutrition.

Millet-

Millet has a great nutty flavor to it. These tiny seeds can be used in a couple of ways. I will typically add them to baked goods for an extra crunchy texture or cook them like you would rice and serve as a side dish. Instead of using water when cooking millet try chicken broth for extra flavor.

Quinoa-

This is one of my husband's favorite grains. He is a runner and quinoa is very high in protein. If you eat very little meat like my family and you are looking for another way to add some protein to your diet quinoa is a great alternative. I usually cook it the same way you would rice. It has a cute little "tail" that sticks out of the grain when it is cooked. Quinoa can be a bit pricey so make sure to look for it in the bulk food section where it is usually cheaper.

Popcorn-

Believe it or not popcorn is a whole grain. Make sure to buy organic corn. I will cook popcorn for my kids on the stove with some coconut oil or butter and sea salt. Sometimes we add some Parmesan cheese. They absolutely love popcorn as a snack. It is filling and low in calories.
Making your own popcorn is FAR superior to microwave popcorn. We avoid microwave popcorn when we can. It has lots of added preservatives as well as genetically modified corn.

How to store whole grains-

Whole grains will keep a long time if stored correctly. I often buy grains in bulk to save money. I am planning to get some large 5 gallon buckets to keep them in. I then transfer smaller amounts to glass jars as needed. I love to display my glass jars full of grains, beans, and other baking ingredients. They are so pretty.

Great Post On Lowering Your Grocery Budget

Catherine at A Spirited Mind wrote an excellent article on how you can buy natural foods and still stay on a budget. Since that is the topic of this blog and I have been so swamped the last several months I thought you might be interested in reading it. It is always nice to see someone elses's perspective on a subject.

Baby Steps To A Healthier Lifestyle: Homemade Body Care

After posting the deal on coconut oil last week I had several requests for body care recipes using this oil. So today in our baby step to healthier living series I am going to concentrate on healthy body care items with recipes for deodorant and diaper rash cream. I found both of these recipes from Lindsay's site Passionate Homemaking. She LOVES coconut oil and uses it for just about everything. I have found a couple of her recipes that I really do think work.

Up first is homemade deodorant. It takes 3 ingredients and seems to work really well. My husband is a man who uses deodorant several times a day and I can not stand the smell of the canned stuff when he gets into bed at night. I asked him to try my homemade stuff. At first he was a little unsure, but after having used it for several months now he really likes it. It does not have a scent and it keeps him from being stinky as well. The other perk is that it lasts a really long time.

Here is the recipe...
5-6 Tablespoons coconut oil
1/4 cup arrowroot flour (or cornstarch)
1/4 cup baking sodaMix everything together in a bowl. You may have to warm the oil a bit to get everything to mix. It will become solid again as it cools. You can then either leave the mixture in a bowl and apply with your fingers or place it in an empty deodorant container and apply that way.

As you can see my husband left his in the bowl and has dug out an interesting pattern. You can use your fingers to warm it up a bit and then apply.

The next recipe I would like to share is for natural diaper rash cream. I have not had a chance to try this one out, but I am planning to soon. I did not have any shea butter or I would have taken some pictures for you. If you are interested in pictures you can check them out here.

Diaper Rash Cream

1/8 cup coconut oil
1/4 cup raw shea butter
1/4 cup arrowroot or cornstarch (not talc)

Combine all ingredients until you get the desired consistency and apply as normal.

We have used just coconut on my son's diaper rash before with good luck. I am sure this recipe would be even better. Coconut oil is a natural anti fungal which is nice when it comes to diaper rash.

If you would prefer to order your coconut oil and shea butter you can find it at Mountain Rose Herb.

Let me know if anyone tries these recipes and what you think. From what I hear coconut oil is also a great moisturizer for the hands and face as well. Isn't it amazing how the Lord provides us with such a great multipurpose oil? Who needs to buy lots of different products?

Baby Steps-Healthy Oils

Oils and fat are things I grew up being taught that they should be avoided. I was a teenager during the whole fat free trend. My mother still believes this is the best way to go. I on the other hand have had a change of heart. Maybe I am wrong, but I feel that the body needs fat to run properly, but like all things it should be used in moderation. Fat is naturally occurring in foods that are left alone and not messed with by man made ideas. Have you ever noticed that the low fat milk is cheaper then the whole milk? I can not figure out that one considering they have to work harder to get the fat out of the milk.

After doing a lot of reading and research of the last several years I have come to the conclusion that the healthiest forms of fat and oil include olive oil (mentioned many times in the Bible as a healthy oil), coconut oil, butter, ghee, and if you have nothing else lard.

Yep, I said lard. I don't know if I could eat it, but it is a naturally occurring and cheap form of fat. I have seen it mentioned in the Maker's Diet and Nourishing Traditions. Both are great books to have in your library if you have not read them yet.

Olive Oil
Your best bet with olive oil is extra virgin olive oil. It has an excellent taste and is the best for your body. You do need to make sure that olive oil is not super heated or it will lose all of it healthy benefits. It is best used as a marinade, dressing, or dipping oil. I will admit that I have used it in baking before when I have been out of anything else.

Another great use for olive oil is as a moisturizer for your hands and legs after a shower. It does not stay greasy and absorbs very quickly. I have hear that this is what women in Italy do and have you ever noticed how beautiful these women are?

You can buy extra virgin olive oil in most grocery stores. Lately I have been getting mine at World Market in large bottles for around $8-9.

Coconut Oil
Coconut oil is a high in saturated fat oil that comes from, you guessed it, the coconut. It has been used by people for many years, but has just recently become popular again by those of us who do not live in a tropical climate. At first I was very unsure about using this oil do to the saturated fat, but my mother started putting about 1 teaspoon in her oatmeal every morning and the doctor could not believe how much her cholesterol had come down.

Thanks to Lindsey at Passionate Homemaking for pointing out this article excerpt from Sue Gregg about why we should not fear coconut oil.

According to Sue Gregg, “There is a double reason not to fear coconut oil. First, it is highly debatable that saturated fats cause heart disease. Uffe Ravnskov, MD, PhD in The Cholesterol Myths (www.NewTrends Publishing.com) presents the facts of exhaustive research over the decades to disprove this theory. Secondly, the saturated fat of coconut oil is different than the long chain fatty acids of meats and also of polyunsaturated fats.” Read the full article here.

Coconut oil has been said by some to be a miracle oil for it's many health properties and uses which include:

Diaper rash ointment
Deodorant (recipe coming soon)
Lotion
Cooking
It is heat resistant and great for cooking
Heart health
Diabetes
Cholesterol lowering
The list goes on and on

If you are interested in reading more about the health benefits of coconut oil you can check them out here.

Coconut oil can be bought in bulk online with Azure Standards or Mountain Rose herb. If you are concerned about price you may consider buying a large amount and splitting it with a friend.

Other places I have seen it area at Walmart (Spectrum brand) and all health food stores.

Some other good oils to consider...
Sesame oil
Peanut oil
Unrefined sesame oil
Palm oil
Grape seed
Flax seed

Lindsey has a great article regarding these oils here. I considered getting more in depth with them, but this post would get really long if I did, and I think Lindsey does a great job.

Oil to avoid:
Canola oil
This has been considered one of the most healthy oils in the last several years and is nearly impossible to avoid in processed foods.

I can say first hand that it is not good for the body. I used it to make doughnuts before I studied it and became very ill. To the point of the Dr doing a sonogram to find out why I was having such terrible intestinal distress. They never found anything, but I began to notice that whenever I used my canola oil the pain started all over. Needless to say I tossed the bottle.

What is canola oil? I got to thinking one day olive oil comes from olives, peanut oil comes from peanuts. What in earth is a canola? I discovered that canola is a highly processed oil that comes from the rapeseed plant which is considered toxic in it's natural form. Well that was it for me on using this so called healthy oil.

Other oils to avoid include:
ALL hydrogenated oils
Soy, corn, and safflower
Cottonseed

These have all been linked to heart disease, fertility issues, learning disabilities, as well as many other things.

Well I think that about sums up my view on oil. They may be a bit more expensive then some other products on the market, but you only need to use them in small amounts. I think my health is more important then saving a few dollars.

As an afterthought if you are wanting to cut down the cost of baking you can always swap out butter for applesauce, bananas or other fruit. This will also cut down on the amount of sugar you need to use as well.

Thanks for hanging in there for this LONG post.

Baby Steps To Healthier Eating Habits- Milk

I am sorry if you have already read this post in the past, but I have not had ANY time this weekend to right something new. If you are a new reader then you may be interested. I almost hate to repost this article considering I bought ultra-pasteurized milk, homogenized milk last week which is the exact kind I have said we prefer not to drink. The only reason I bought it was because my husband lost his job a couple of months ago so we are trying to conserve money. When I realized the milk would end up being free I decided that in this season of life it would be ok to compromise for a bit.

If you are anything like me you have been told growing up that you should always drink low fat or skim milk from a grocery store because raw milk and whole milk will make you sick and fat.

Have you noticed that there has been a huge increase in the incidence of heart disease and other cardiovascular disease within the last half of the 20th century? How could this happen? We are doing the right things by cutting out butter and full fat milk? Well I believe the answer is that the Lord put fat in our milk for a reason. He knew we needed it to survive. Fat is not the enemy.

Seriously have you looked at the ingredients in a tub of margarine?

But isn't raw milk dangerous? I used to think so. I have a mother who is a nurse and is still convinced that I am making a mistake. A couple of things that have sold me on raw milk is that it can be so helpful for children who have eczema and allergies. The other thing I noticed was that I had a partial gallon that was forgotten at the back of our fridge for a couple of weeks. When I discovered it I thought it would be stinky when I opened it. Would you believe it had no smell at all? If you need more in depth info I would recommend the web site real milk. It has a wealth of information. Way better then I could ever put together.

Isn't organic milk just as good? Well yes and no. Organic milk is great because it has not been produced by cows who have been given synthetic hormones or antibiotics, but that is about where the similarity ends. Most organic milk has been ultra-pasteurized and homogenized. Pasteurization heats the milk up to a point that it kills all the so called bad germs to the point that it no longer resembles real milk anymore. This process also kills off all the vitamins and minerals in milk. To make the milk worth drinking they have to add back synthetic, fortified vitamins.

Homogenization is a process that keeps the milk fat from separating from the milk liquid. Raw milk will have the cream at the top. This cream can be used to make so many things. For example whipped cream, not Cool Whip, real whipped cream. Never ever buy Cool Whip. It is not even real milk. It is a man made hydrogenated oil. Have you seen the commercial lately asking if you would like cream or oil?

Another thing I discovered about organic milk today is that not all organic dairies treat their cows well. You can read a report about it here. Notice where Horizon rates.

Won't eating fat make me fat? No, on the contrary. Eat fat to lose fat. I know this sounds crazy, but it is true.
The following is from the book Real Food: What To Eat And Why. This exert is taken from the article written by Kelly The Kitchen Kop.
"Unlike polyunsaturated fats, which the body tends to store, the saturated fats in milk are rapidly burned for energy.” “The butter fat found in milk helps the body digest the protein, and bones require saturated fats in particular to lay down calcium.” “The cream on the milk contains the vital fat-soluble vitamins A and D. Without vitamin D, less than 10% of dietary calcium is absorbed.”
Read more about Eat Fat Lose Fat from one of my favorite authors, Sally Fallon, here.

If I can not get raw milk what is the next best thing? I believe that if you can not get raw milk try to find unhomogenized milk. I have seen it in health food stores. Kelly the Kitchen Kop has a great article dealing with just this issue and more. Check it out here. If I were to get into everything about raw milk this would be a very long post.

OK, you have convinced me. So where can I find raw milk? The best place to start looking is at Real Milk. They have a list of dairies that offer it. Although you may still have to look if there is nothing listed in your area. The way I found my dairy was word of mouth. If you have a farming community near you go there and ask around. You might be surprised what you find.

If you have any questions that I have not addressed please feel free to leave a comment and I will try my best to answer it for you.

Baby Steps Continued

Yesterday I wrote about the easier things you can do to start switching your family over to a whole foods diet. Today I thought we might discuss some of the harder and sometimes more expensive ones.

1.) Switch your meat (beef, chicken, eggs) to grass fed, free range and if possible organic. Also if you can find it local is best.

Although the meat in the grocery store may be cheaper you have no idea where it is coming from, what it ate, what conditions it was housed in, if it was given antibiotics or steroids, and many other problems.

Here is a great website called Eat Wild that can give you some great ideas for starting to find local meat. If you are willing to search hard enough you can usually find it. If you live near me try Satchel Creek Steaks or Yoder Meats.

2.) If possible try to switch your dairy products over to raw milk or at the very least non homogenized. A lot of us have begun buying milk and cheese that is organic, but unfortunately it has also been ultra pasteurized and homogenized. These 2 processes kill all of the good bacteria and nutrients in the milk. Sometimes people who are lactose intolerant have found that they area able to drink raw milk without any problems.

If you are still a little unsure about raw milk you can check out my post here or this website called Real Milk.

3.) Buy local or organic produce when possible. Often organic produce is much higher in price then conventional. You will notice though that when you are buying produce in season the prices are often comparable. Lately I have noticed that apples and lettuce are only slightly more or the same as conventional.

If you are unable to buy all organic, which most of the time I am not, there are still things you can do to help reduce your pesticide load. Buy from local farmers, remember the dirty dozen, and buy in season.

4.) Start making your own food rather then buying processed food. Rather then trying to do this all at once start with one thing. Make just that one thing until you are comfortable with it and then slowly start adding things one item at a time. You will find that it gets easier. Some great things to start with would be yogurt (I use a yogurt maker, really easy), tortillas, bread, or granola.

Next week I plan to start going over certain food groups in more detail.

Don't let yourself get discouraged. You will get there. It has taken me a long time to get to the point I am and I still have a LONG way to go.

There are still many things you can do to add nutrients to your diet such as sprouting seeds, soaking grains, and making some of your own dairy products (cheese, kefir, buttermilk...), but I think I will save those for separate posts since they are more involved.

Baby Stepping Your Way To A Healthier Lifestyle On A Budget

Today I am starting a series on ways you can slowly work your way into a healthier lifestyle. I know first hand just how overwhelming it can be. When I began my journey about 4 years ago I had no clue where to start. I then started looking at the cost of it all and just about changed my mind. So today I think we should begin with looking at the budget.

Of course, everyone has a different budget to work with so I do not want you to feel that you have to strive to do the same thing as I or any other person would do. If you are interested in looking at my personal grocery budget you can read about it here.

One of the hardest things for me to get over was the fact that it is OK to spend money on food. There is such a huge craze right now to see how much you can get for as little as possible. I will admit that I have been a huge couponer, and still am to some extent. The only problem was that I was discovering that I was coming home with less then natural food. In most other cultures food is something to be enjoyed. As Americans we tend to be in a hurry and want as much as possible for as little as possible. So my husband and I decided that we must remind ourselves it is OK to spend money on food. I am not saying we spend a huge amount, but we have learned to buy the best quality food we are able to with what we have been given.

So what are some tips to staying on a budget while eating healthy, whole foods?

1.) Stop buying processed foods and save your money for the better quality real stuff. You will be better off. If your great-grandmother would not recognize it don't eat it.

2.) Make a list/menu and stick to it. No more impulse buys. This is probably where I struggle the most. If I fail to make a menu we are more likely to eat out and just buy what looks good. This is a big budget buster. When you go to the store have a list and do your best to stick to it.

3.) Make as much of your own food as possible. You may be thinking that you will be spending all your time in the kitchen. You will be there a bit more then before, but modern conveniences have also helped to cut time in the kitchen, such as a bread makers and crock pots. You can also dedicate one day to cooking ahead and freezing meals. This works well for me. The extra time you spend preparing your food will pay off in the long run. Keep things simple.

4.) Search for local food. You are most likely to get the most bang for your buck this way. To help you find sources of local food check out my post here.

5.) Shop with cash. Try to have a predetermined amount for the month and take that weeks amount shopping with you. You are less likely to overspend this way. If you are sticking to your weekly menu and shopping list this is somewhat easier to do. You can even try to adopt the envelope system that Dave Ramsey recommends. This is what we have done. It is one of our methods we are using to get out of debt. Getting out of debt is a HUGE goal we are working on. If you have not already taken Financial Peace University high highly recommend it.

6.) Buy on sale and stock up when you can. If you learn to watch for sales and clearance prices at the right times of the year you can buy things at their lowest prices and save tons of money. For example today I bought 4 pounds of shredded cheese. I really did not need that much, but I got it for around $8. It fit in the budget so I bought it. I took it home and portioned it into 2 cups per baggie and froze it. This should be enough to last us the rest of the month.

Another way to stock up is after the holidays or buying in season. Soon after Thanksgiving and Christmas I can almost bet you there will be some cans of pumpkin, meat, and other baking supplies marked way down.

7.) Be creative and flexible. If you run out of an item before your next shopping trip try to find an alternative. There have been many times we have run out of something and the kids will of course be asking for it. I have had to tell them to wait many times. I will not say that I do not ever give in, but I try to make them wait. It is good for them to learn this lesson and it also helps with the impulse buys that will most likely happen when you go to the store for that 1 item causing you to blow your budget.

8.) Watch for sales on Amazon. I have found many organic items on sale with Amazon lately. I will do my best to highlight them when I see them. If you have any Swagbuck gift cards saved up you can easily score some free or cheap organic/ natural food.

Tomorrow I am planning to post about where you should start to make the changes in your diet to help ease your family into this new way of life.

Here is my proposed schedule of posts for this series. I am open to suggestions.
Week 1-Baby Steps and Budget
Week 2- What, Where, and Why? Food groups
Week 3- Frugal ways to buy natural personal care and toiletry items.
Week 4- Household items
Week 5- Anything I may have left out.

I would love to have you join me. I am thinking about starting a monthly post with a link so everyone can share their progress stories. That way we can all help each other along with additional ideas and support.