Staying Whole Essentials Pack Giveaway!
I’m so excited.
I’ve been antsy to put this giveaway together since I started the “Staying Whole in a Process World” series! There’s one more wrap-up post with some final thoughts coming up next week — all about staying motivated, the true costs of a whole food diet, and how it’s improved our lives.
Thank you for all of your supportive, wonderful comments and questions! It’s so great to hear the steps that you are making and the successes you’ve had. Keep them coming! I’d also like to throw some major thanks over to my husband, Steve. He’s been there through every post answering a few questions I’ve had and clarifying some of the concepts I’ve talked about. You know when you learn something and the reasons why, but then you forget the reasons why? I tend to do that. Steve’s memory is like the external hard drive back up for my memory.
Let’s get into the good stuff, shall we? This time I decided give away some of the essentials that have made our whole food kitchen more convenient. May I introduce….
The “Staying Whole” Essentials Pack
One lucky winner will have his or her choice of:
Cuisinart Smart Stick Blender (your choice of color) + Krups Electric Spice & Coffee Grinder
OR
Wustof Classic 7-inch Santoku Knife
Plus a few more of my favorite things
1 jar each of Trader Joe’s Coconut Oil & Organic Raw Honey
1 jar of Perry’s Plate taco seasoning
1 bottle of Biokleen Produce Wash
A 1-year subscription to Clean Eating Magazine
In Defense of Food by Michael Pollan
French Children Eat Everything by Karen Le Billon (I recently read this and thought it was a fantastic resource for a whole-food diet transition whether you have kids or not! I’ll have a review up over at Reading for Sanity in a few weeks.)
How to Enter
This time there are two ways to enter:
1. Tell me something whole food-related.
Leave a comment below and tell me about a success you’ve had transitioning. Tell me a food-related goal you’ve set for you or your family. Tell me something you liked or learned from the “Staying Whole” series. I’d love to hear about it!
2. Make a donation to the Jamie Oliver Food Foundation through the Real Food Advocate’s page.
If you’ve entered contests on my blog before you’ll know that I don’t like to make you jump through hoops (i.e. follow me on Facebook, Twitter, or Pinterest). Well… this time I’m going to compromise because it concerns an issue that I feel very passionate about.
Did you know that tomorrow (May 19th) is Food Revolution Day? As part of the Real Food Advocates team, I’m helping to spread the word about whole food and food education. We’re hoping to raise $5000 for Jamie Oliver’s Food Foundation’s Food Education Program.
Basically… to help educate kids and families about nutritious food, offer cooking classes to kids & families, and improve the quality of food in schools. For more information about the foundation’s projects (or sign the petition), visit Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution website.
DIRECTIONS
(Click here to go to the donation page.) For every $5 donation you’ll receive one additional entry in the giveaway. Just leave one comment below telling me you’ve made a donation, and include the amount. You can also email the amount of your donation to perrysplate@gmail.com if you prefer to keep the amount private, but you still need to leave a comment saying that you donated. And please be honest. :)
For example, if you make a $25 donation, just leave one extra comment, not five. I’ve got a system figured out to track the entries. Don’t worry.
So the maximum number of comments you’ll leave on this post is TWO. One for the first requirement and one for the second (if you choose to do both).
A few little details…
1. Comments will close on Wednesday, May 23rd, 2012 at 8PM Pacific Time. I’ll use a random number generator to choose one winner that I will contact and announce here on the 24th (if I remember). If I don’t get a response from the winner after three days I’ll pick a new one.
2. Contest open to US residents only. (Sorry, Int’l friends!)
3. Leave a valid email address for me to contact you.
4. The comments must be on this post. If you email me or send me a Facebook message, I’ll just tell you to leave your comment here. On this post.
Contest sponsored by Perry’s Plate, Biokleen, Clean Eating Magazine, and Harper Collins Publishing.
***CONTEST CLOSED!***
perrysplate
perrysplate
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Kari M. — May 18, 2012 @ 4:13 pm
This winter and spring I’ve been trying to make more of the soup that I eat from scratch rather than from a can or mix. I’d love to have an immersion blender to make thickening the soup easier.
Francine Werlinger — May 18, 2012 @ 4:16 pm
I have been making alot of smoothies adding both fruits and veggies. I watch my two tot grandkids during the week, and they also love them!
Debbie — May 18, 2012 @ 4:17 pm
I have been trying to buy exclusively organic produce and have started to make my own tortillas!
Julie {BananasForBourbon} — May 18, 2012 @ 4:18 pm
I’ve had a lot of whole food successes! The first that comes to mind is switching from processed cereals to homemade granola for breakfast. It has made such a difference for me!
Janet Stott — May 18, 2012 @ 4:22 pm
learning to use whole grains – 1st attempt at bulgur mushy – but will keep trying.
Kayla — May 18, 2012 @ 4:22 pm
At the end of 2010 we decided to do whole foods only for 3 months. It was totally eye-opening. It was REALLY hard at first, but definitely got easier. We eased up afterward and allowed back some treats and convenience items, but for the most part have been able to stick to a relatively whole foods diet. I am such a believer!
Kristi replied: — May 18th, 2012 @ 5:22 pm
I’ve been making an effort to buy more organic produce – specifically the things we are juicing (celery, apples, spinach). I’m so proud :)
Mindy O — May 18, 2012 @ 4:25 pm
My biggest whole foods adjustment for our family has been making a snack drawer of healthy whole foods – bagged up sugar snap peas, mini carrots, apples, oranges. The girls know that they can go in there and get a snack when they feel hungry and I don’t feel guilty about it.
McKell S. — May 18, 2012 @ 4:30 pm
Well, you pretty much get a lot of my questions so you kinda know how I’ve been making changes. But I loved your Staying Whole series and wish you’d keep going so I can keep learning through you :) I learned that there are multiple forms of msg :/ Still need to look into that some more.
Kim — May 18, 2012 @ 4:32 pm
We’re fighting our usual summer fight with the sugar demon — popsicles and ice cream are just so good when it’s hot! Also, like you, I seem to be pregnant with a little girl who is determined to come out sugar coated. XD
Jill — May 18, 2012 @ 4:35 pm
I loved your whole “staying whole” series! I’m like you where I know something, but I can’t remember why I know it. Hehe.
We have done a lot of transitioning in the last few months from eating only (most of the time) whole grains to going pretty much sugar-free to eating a ton more fruits and veggies than we used to and really using and loving coconut oil.
Thanks for this giveaway. It’s an awesome one!
Kimber — May 18, 2012 @ 4:35 pm
This is so hard and your post are so helpful we have finally gotten all refined sugar out of our diet! We are working on a garden now, thanks so much
Samuel Fred — May 18, 2012 @ 4:36 pm
I have been fixing more healthy dishes for me and my wife!:)
Ashley — May 18, 2012 @ 4:36 pm
I have adopted a paleo diet and your posts on staying whole have helped me tremendously in staying clean when I was tempted to veer off course. Thank you so much!
Jenni — May 18, 2012 @ 4:39 pm
My most recent transition has been to organic produce from a CSA. Working now on actually using it all. Then will come the step of weaning myself off of chocolate (the only remaining source of processed sugars that I can’t do without).
Danae — May 18, 2012 @ 4:44 pm
I got coconut oil in the mail today, and threw away the shortening. We’ve been trying to make the transition into a whole foods diet. Baby steps though. We’ve stopped buying flavored yogurt, and things of that sort.
I’d be thrilled to have the immersion blender!
lauren @ wholewheatorbust — May 18, 2012 @ 4:46 pm
I really loved the post on fats the most, I have been transitioning to fit that advice for quite a while now. I am so glad I dont view fats the way I used to a few years ago!
Bianca @ Sweet Dreaming — May 18, 2012 @ 4:48 pm
We essentially have omitted all processed grains from our diet! Only whole-grains if at all possible!
Heather Shutt — May 18, 2012 @ 4:49 pm
I learned that all sugar is bad for you, and our family goals, (due to husband’s new health issues) counting carbs and eating more fresh vegetables.
Gretchen Alice — May 18, 2012 @ 4:51 pm
Due in part to this series, I’ve started switching over a couple of my dairy products over to organic. Really enjoyed learning more from you!
Holly G. — May 18, 2012 @ 4:52 pm
I’ve started making my own granola, and paying more attention to the types of fat I use when I cook. Thank you very much for posting this series. Its given me a lot to think about and motivation to make the changes, not just think about them!
amy marantino — May 18, 2012 @ 4:58 pm
i am trying to work more whole foods into my diet, but am finding it a challenge to fit them into my budget.
Redd H from Salted Spoon — May 18, 2012 @ 4:58 pm
I’m super proud because I’ve managed to cut processed food out of my diet almost completely. I make everything from scratch, no more packaged foods for me! I’ve really appreciated the Staying Whole series! Great work!
Carol — May 18, 2012 @ 5:01 pm
I’ve been making small changes and easing my family into the whole foods lifestyle. Expense was a big factor for us, so the first thing I did was take the money I would have spend on unhealthy snacks and buy fruits, veggies and nuts. I’m concentrating on shopping the perimeter of the grocery store, and if we have sweets – I bake them, so I know what went into them!
Jayne — May 18, 2012 @ 5:01 pm
I was listening to an eating healthy book while exercising the other morning (just keeping up the motivation) and the chapter was on artificial sweeteners. So wrong! Learned a lot about the FDA, bad politics, and lobbyists. Ugh.
Rachel P — May 18, 2012 @ 5:02 pm
I’ve made so many small changes over the years to get closer to having a vegan and whole-grain based diet. One was switching from 1/2 & 1/2 to soy milk creamer for my coffee. Also making smoothies in the morning with almond milk instead of cows milk. For grains – I just hit up the bulk section and then build my meals on what I have stored, just shopping for produce. It’s been amazing and I feel great!
Cindy @ Hun, What's for Dinner? — May 18, 2012 @ 5:23 pm
My greatest whole food success would be making my own granola. I can control the sweetness and add ingredients that I can pronounce and recognize. Paired with some Greek yogurt and berries, it’s a perfect way to start my day!
Katrina @ Warm Vanilla Sugar — May 18, 2012 @ 5:26 pm
I very rarely eat anything processed! AND I eat out once a month!
Dana — May 18, 2012 @ 5:29 pm
I make smoothies all the time for my boys and today I added spinich and it was delicious. We have been enjoying the fruit and veggies from the local farmers market and making our own granola with coconut oil. I have been reading about whole foods for a while and read In Defense of Food. But I have to say that this series has clarified a lot for me. Thank you!!!
Hilary — May 18, 2012 @ 5:29 pm
I’ve started trying harder to buy more fresh produce on my weekly trips. I really want Lydia to have a large variety of fruits and vegetables she likes to eat! Going ALL the way would be extremely drastic for us (mainly Adam), but I always cook at home and try to make a lot of things from scratch. Thanks for a little inspiration :)
Sarah — May 18, 2012 @ 5:39 pm
I’ve been trying to make myself actually assemble and cook all of my dinners, even if simple, rather than relying on processed or pre-made entrees that are tempting and quick but really unhealthy.
Janel Gradowski — May 18, 2012 @ 5:41 pm
I love making salads with grains, plenty of veggies and homemade dressing. Also, I’ve started making a lot of smoothies. Love seeing my kids as to make those instead of asking to buy milkshakes from McDonalds!
JB — May 18, 2012 @ 5:50 pm
We do a good job of staying whole-grain and I’m trying to eliminate most of the sugar we so enjoy….without a family revolt! Making smoothies helps us feel “treated” without added sugar.
Jen — May 18, 2012 @ 5:57 pm
We splurge every year for a crop share or CSA. It’s totally worth it, but MAN that first check is hard. Then a few months later we are getting such tasty food all the time that I save so much money on groceries. Sometimes staying whole is definitely hard!
monica B — May 18, 2012 @ 6:14 pm
Hi! We’ve been cutting out the processed flours and the dairy, while trying to eat more vegetable dishes. It’s not so bad, but there are days I need some ice cream.
Meighan — May 18, 2012 @ 6:23 pm
i use the outside aisles at the grocery store!
Charlotte — May 18, 2012 @ 6:23 pm
Starting this spring, my family and I will be making weekly trips to the Farmer’s Market to help support local farmers and eat the organic fruits and veggies! Staying Whole has inspired me!
Zoe — May 18, 2012 @ 6:25 pm
I am about to go work on an organic sheep farm (lovetreefarmstead.com) for about a month to learn more about sustainable foods and eat really really well. I can’t wait, and I can’t wait to try some of your recipes while I’m up there!
Jessica M — May 18, 2012 @ 6:30 pm
I have been making more food from scratch. Homemade granola bars, crackers, bread as much as I can. I want to be able to pronounce all the ingredients in the things I am eating. It requires some more work on my part, but it is well worth it!
Jenna — May 18, 2012 @ 6:44 pm
I’ve been slowly making changes for a few months now and am doing well with staying away from (most) foods with processed ingredients and buying (mostly) organic produce. Still not perfect, but getting much better!
Heather Spooner — May 18, 2012 @ 7:03 pm
We are incorporating more whole grains in our diet. Such as replacing white flour with wheat in recipes and using dried beans. We are trying to encourage our taste buds to say ” Yum!” instead of “Yuck!” when trying new foods. Thanks for all the information you’ve shared in your Staying Whole series.
heatherspooner1981 at gmail dot com
Carly — May 18, 2012 @ 7:05 pm
While I’m not perfect at it, I have been working really hard the last six-nine months to ween us off of white flour. I grind my own wheat flour and try to add at least some to all my flour-needing recipes (including desserts!). I have a few bread and other recipes (waffles etc) that I only use whole wheat for. My husband is the most reluctant about it… but is coming around!
Megan — May 18, 2012 @ 7:23 pm
I’ve been trying new foods and branching out. I’ve tried spaghetti squash, quinoa and even found a brussell sprouts recipe I’ve liked. I’ve learned if I’m going to want a healthy diet, I need more variety. It may not be huge, but it’s a step in the right direction!
Kristen Gilmore Powell — May 18, 2012 @ 7:26 pm
I have been trying to work on my ph balance and have added a lot of lemon juice to my drinking water for cleansing.
Bridget Washburn — May 18, 2012 @ 7:34 pm
I joined a veggie co-op and it completely changed how I feed my family.
sara — May 18, 2012 @ 7:41 pm
We have made the change to whole foods slowly over the past two years. Let me say, my family thinks we’re crazy. My mom brings her own food when she comes over. She looks in our pantry and says, “Where is your FOOD?” she even feeds my girls handi-snacks and when they are eating them I cringe thinking “poison, poison”, over and over in my head.
Debbie — May 18, 2012 @ 7:47 pm
I am working on cooking more like my mom did! We ate real food; never fast food and rarely anything out of a tin can! I am gardening and canning so we eat more real food. Also, making my own bread quite often, usually 7 grain!
Nic — May 18, 2012 @ 7:56 pm
We’re working on eating less carbs overall, and trying to make sure the carbs we do eat are whole grains. Hubs is a recently diagnosed type II diabetic so dealing with this curveball has been *interesting*…
Annie — May 18, 2012 @ 8:01 pm
What a fantastic giveaway! One of my goals over the last year was to minimize processed foods in my diet. I planted a garden that has now grown to 96 square feet and provides nearly all my veggies for the year. I no longer buy any processed foods, and have nearly doubled the veggies and fruits in my diet. It has definitely paid off–I’ve built a lot of muscle, and my energy level is better than ever!
Angie @ Losing It and Loving It — May 18, 2012 @ 8:08 pm
Well, this month I had a goal to not have dessert unless it was something healthy (no ice cream, etc.). Well, I had cookies after lunch one day but other than that I am doing really well. Gotta keep it up!
I also am trying to cut down on processed foods little by little I’m getting there.
Kimberly — May 18, 2012 @ 8:17 pm
I LOVE oatmeal in the morning with almond butter, chia seeds, a mashed up banana, and a dash of cinnamon, vanilla, and salt. SO GOOD!! And so much better for me than boxed cereal…
Heather @ Bake, Run, Live — May 18, 2012 @ 8:18 pm
I am now buying more vegetables and learning to cook with them (and eat them)! I have been using quinoa more, instead of pasta, and I really like using coconut oil, in place of vegetable oil.
Adora — May 18, 2012 @ 8:27 pm
Since reading the book In The Defense of Food a couple of years ago (it is an eye opening read on the history of the Western diet) I try to stick with whole foods as much as possible. Eating “clean” has improved my energy level and performance in the gym. I would love to have an immersion blender to make fruit smoothies and pear butternut squash soup!
A few months ago my mother and I entered a 6 week nutrition and fitness challenge. My mother went from eating fast food and lots of processed, unhealthy foods to eating whole foods. The first day she went through a withdrawal from the addictive foods, but soon after was amazed with her energy level. By the end of the six weeks she lost 20 lbs and looked years younger!
Denise M — May 18, 2012 @ 8:29 pm
We are doing much better at eating whole foods, by making a meal plan we are sticking to. I have not eaten out in two weeks which is huge for me
Megan — May 18, 2012 @ 8:32 pm
In 2012 my family stopped eating junk, and the only reason it worked was a wholehearted focus on adding real and whole foods. Once the sugars were out of our systems, I’ve found I’m really enjoying finding new and creative ways to integrate more veggies and whole grains and finding amazing recipes. I’ve lived reading these tips and bottom lines on products since without the research we all just rely on what seems healthy – like the agave nectar. I also really like the baby steps. There are things we have essentially phased out and just not replaced, things like pasta we now buy whole grain, and things we are just over and threw out. It was baby steps that got us here, and daily choices keeping us on track (and lots of weekly meal planning).
Thanks for taking the time for the series, it has been educational and inspirational.
Ruth P. — May 18, 2012 @ 8:42 pm
I’m starting a container garden on my tiny apartment balcony! Hoping to grow more of my own produce this year! I also want to share meals with my roommates so the burden of a homecooked and healthful meal is shared amongst us all. This series has been really inspiring to that end!
Sarah | The Cyclist's Wife — May 18, 2012 @ 9:28 pm
We are a cycling/running household and we eat A LOT of pasta. I was tired of buying jarred sauce with mystery ingredients and dismayed when I couldn’t find a recipe that didn’t contain canned ingredients, so I started making my own. I learned that scratch cooking is not as hard as it may seem and in the long run is less expensive. Not to mention healthier and tastier!
Jennifer — May 18, 2012 @ 9:29 pm
Because of food allergies and intolerances, our family eats pretty cleanly, but one area I’d like to work on for my family is to develop some whole food go-to and on-the-go snacks that my kids like and will eat. I appreciated your post on sweets and sugar. As a reforming addict, I can relate and am working on ways to reduce it from our diet. Thank you for the good information.
Kathryn — May 18, 2012 @ 9:36 pm
well, doing the HCG diet pretty much turned me into a sugar-hater, haha! (hater might be the wrong word… opponent, maybe??) My energy levels have been so much better since I killed my addiction to sugar. That is the one thing I’m trying to eradicate as much as possible from my family’s diet. I used to regularly buy boxes of honey-nut Cheerios and go out for ice cream once a week. Not anymore! :) Fresh fruit is my new, best friend. Also, dates. I never thought I would love those nasty-looking brown lump-things, but they taste better than candy to me now!
Jill — May 18, 2012 @ 10:01 pm
I have really enjoyed this series. It’s re-affirmed some things I knew and taught me a lot of knew things. We have started eating several vegetarian meals each week, and when we do buy meat, I try to by the good stuff. I’ve also been drinking almond milk for a while and am experimenting w/ soy milk too. It’s actually been really fun to try new things and feel good about what I’m putting in my body.
pinksuedeshoe — May 18, 2012 @ 10:36 pm
This has been such a great series, I have just loved it. Also, pink immersion blender? The coolest. I’ve been making a real effort not to consume dessert for breakfast. But yesterday I wanted a waffle so terribly. So I made a whole wheat flour/oatmeal version with only 1/4 cup of sugar for 12 waffles. (bonus points!) But instead of dousing in fake maple syrup I topped it with homemade raspberry applesauce and fresh berries. I didn’t even miss the syrup. And that is saying a lot. Thanks for all your wonderful work and info!
theresa — May 19, 2012 @ 1:05 am
I’m living in Europe right now, and I’ve found that eating clean is so much easier here…there is not nearly the amount or variety of boxed/processed foods in Europe as there is in the States!
Jenny — May 19, 2012 @ 3:58 am
These posts have been so eye-opening and inspiring for me! We’ve been working towards a whole foods diet for a while, but your information has really helped us along. We are on a trip to D.C. Right now and packing snacks for the road trip was really hard with piles of crackers and chips, but we did it! Fruits and veggies and other healthy fare kept the kids happy and satisfied. I was thrilled! I’m looking forward to more good eating in the future as we implement more whole food choices at our house.
shannon — May 19, 2012 @ 4:00 am
$25 has been donated. happy food revolution day!!
shannon — May 19, 2012 @ 4:02 am
i’ve been loving this series of posts!! i’ve been moving to completely un-processed foods over the course of the last 10 months or so, and feeling much better because of it! the next step will be making better choices when it comes to dressings/sauces/condiments. i’m over most of the sugary stuff except salad dressings. :)
Shannon — May 19, 2012 @ 4:06 am
We’re moving towards more & more organic foods.
Danielle — May 19, 2012 @ 4:58 am
I have loved the series and I thank you for sharing so much! I had a mostly whole food diet before but there is always room for improvement and your posts gave some great advice. Thanks again for all those posts!
Dina — May 19, 2012 @ 5:09 am
I have been putting a tablespoon of coconut oil in my coffee every morning! :) I am sharing these posts with my daughter. Thanks.
Sadie — May 19, 2012 @ 5:14 am
I work in the flavor industry and even though we don’t use anything really surprising, being able to see the chemicals that go into my food has me shying away from processed foods. It’s hard with a brand new baby, but I’m getting there.
jen — May 19, 2012 @ 5:29 am
My husband and I did the Whole Living magazine food challenge in February. We’ve completely changed our diet. I’ve lost 20 pounds and my husband has lost 30. It has been such a wake up call for us. We feel so much better!
Theresa Sea — May 19, 2012 @ 5:35 am
We’ve been trying to eat more naturally-whole fruits and veggies and slowing down our use of instant grains in our cooking. It does take more time, but everything is so delicious! Thank you for the awesome giveaway!
allison — May 19, 2012 @ 5:38 am
We eat pretty much only real food at home already. However, I have a lot of free food available to me during the day at work, so I’m really trying to make sure I only choose whole foods even though it’s free!
Also trying to get better at only eating a dessert if I really love it – not so much indulgence that isn’t even worth it!
Elissa — May 19, 2012 @ 5:49 am
I try to get my vegetables and goods from local farmer’s and producers as mush as possible whether they are from the farmer’s market or our locally owned grocery store. I only buy meats which are grass fed, pasture raised and organic if possible…if they are also from Virginia that’s an extra bonus! I have cut out anything with artificial sweetners in it. I miss Diet Coke! I have switched it to Seltzer Water and just have an extra coffee in the afternoon if I need some caffeine :)
Alyse — May 19, 2012 @ 5:50 am
We have been growing our own heirloom vegetables, on a very small scale for a few years now. I have a dear friend who has taught me so much about gardening with a natural fertilizer, ordering seeds carefully, and so much more.
Also, I make my own breads and much of our meals. Our older son, who used to be such a picky eater, is now eating a very healthly “whole” diet. He has thanked me for showing him, but he has also looked out for the best himself.
Corisa — May 19, 2012 @ 6:18 am
Recently watching Forks over Knives definately opened up my eyes about eating vegan. I’ve been wanting to try it and your blogging has helped me understand it even more!
Lisa S — May 19, 2012 @ 6:36 am
We signed up for a local organic fruit/veg delivery service. While sometimes the types and amounts of veg overwhelmed me, it didn’t allow us to get stuck in a rut nutritionally! Finding new ways to prepare and new family favs!
Shelley — May 19, 2012 @ 6:56 am
I stopped buying processed snack type foods in January and my kids have finally stopped asking for them. They are eating a huge variety of fruits and veggies now. We joined a CSA and love it!
Jennifer — May 19, 2012 @ 7:08 am
I’m a vegetarian and I made Kimberly Snyder’s Glowing Green Smoothie every morning for breakfast.
Staci DeCoteau — May 19, 2012 @ 7:11 am
We eat allot of bulger instead of rice. Free range chicken and fresh fruits and veggies.. We also do not eat fast food except on a very very rare occasion..
Becca J — May 19, 2012 @ 7:17 am
All of these changes have been gradual for us, but we’ve started doing Meatless Mondays (along with other days of the week). I decided that since the best quality meats are more expensive, I’d splurge on those once a month and then try to do meatless meals the rest of the time. Basically, when the packages of chicken and beef run out, no more until next month. Also helps save me from too many sanity-crushing runs to Costco. Thanks for all the great posts and extra inspiration to eat clean.
Nichole — May 19, 2012 @ 7:24 am
Slowly over time my body has declared war on processed food. I have had to remove a great many things from my diet, but the results have been amazing. This year I have stopped eating sugars, even fruits, and have had a great surge in energy and overall well-being. I plan my meals on what I find in the local produce section, and avoid anything with more than five ingredients. I thought that it would be a struggle, and sometimes in social settings it can be, however, I feel so great that it is worth every minute.
Esther T. — May 19, 2012 @ 7:25 am
I have started a garden this year for the first time. Have lots of leafy veggies, and tomatoes. I’m having so much fun researching how to preserve my produce, and recipes for cooking it. I also started making my own granola. So much better than store bought! Thanks for the giveaway!
Babs — May 19, 2012 @ 7:27 am
Changing over to whole grains has been interesting. Not all members in our household are on board with the changes, so has been somewhat of a challenge to work them in to daily meals. Homemade granola has been a real success.
Jan — May 19, 2012 @ 7:29 am
We are growing our own vegetables and herbs in a backyard garden and have integrated those fresh things into almost all our cooking.
Jackie — May 19, 2012 @ 7:40 am
I’ve been focusing on vegetables, and trying to buy local and organic. It’s been the first step of what I hope are many small steps towards better health for my entire family. I look forward to our local farmer’s market to reopen in a few weeks!
Kristin — May 19, 2012 @ 7:43 am
I’ve been buying more organic produce, plus I’ve been discarding boxed cereal and making granola and oatmeal more often! I’m so excited about it!
Annette — May 19, 2012 @ 7:44 am
Let me start by saying I loved your “whole foods” series! Thanks for all your hard work on behalf of your readers. My first goal is to cut out as many processed foods as possible. A little daunting but I know all those words I can’t pronounce on the ingredients label can’t be good for me or my family.
Tram — May 19, 2012 @ 7:51 am
I try to avoid processed food and eat whole foods. Instead of cereals I eat oatmeal and make my own granola. I snack on veggies and fruits.
Loretta E. — May 19, 2012 @ 8:15 am
A few years ago I told my sister how bad HFCS was and she immediately went through her house and threw it all out! …much to the horror of her husband!
Claire L — May 19, 2012 @ 8:39 am
About a year ago, I started cooking several days a week for our family. At the same time, I read Michael Pollan’s “In Defense of Food” and “Food Rules.” With those two books as my guide, I jumped into transitioning to more less processed foods. I think I can nearly say that our family has made the transition from store-bought bread to homemade whole wheat bread, a big jump especially for my younger brothers. So long as I can keep a loaf of bread constantly available in the house, everyone stays pretty happy. My greatest challenge: cereal. My brothers just won’t give up those processed, sugary flakes.
Satya Sardonicus — May 19, 2012 @ 8:43 am
I loved the info on coconut oil – I knew it was good for you but I never realized just how fabulous it is! Now I make sure to get a tablespoon just about every day :) Thanks Nat for making all this info so accessible!
Cindy Klinowski — May 19, 2012 @ 8:49 am
Leaving processed foods and grains on the shelf, moving to organic foods. Using whole grains and disguising organic veggies in ways my family will eat. So far so good.
Holly Stephenson — May 19, 2012 @ 8:51 am
I have been getting back on the bandwagon after 4 months of intense morning sickness with better meal planning and smarter shopping. I still have a long ways to go, but I am starting back with meal planning and choosing meals that incorporate more whole foods and less convienence items!
Erin @ Texanerin Baking — May 19, 2012 @ 9:13 am
I can’t enter but wanted to say that I love that coffee grinder. I have the same one and use it to make oat flour, nut meals, nut butters and tons of other things. I use it almost every day (and never for coffee!). Today I used it to grind coconut sugar to replace powdered sugar in something. It’s a magical thing.
William @ My Wife's Food Blog — May 19, 2012 @ 10:00 am
I suddenly feel bad for taking the trimmer to our garden this morning, but it was seriously overgrown with grass and weeds and needs to be re-planted. It makes me smile when we are making dinner and one of us runs out to the garden to collect an ingredient. Can’t get fresher than that!
Linda J — May 19, 2012 @ 10:02 am
My little family of four make everything we can. If there is something boxed, canned etc. that I would like from the store, I go home and find recipes I can make. I also am so blessed to have found The Food Revolution. I post about this every week in my Facebook Heathly FamDam Group. We are always expanding and making sure we are up to date on all things food and food related. Great giveaway. I wish I could say I could donate $5 but that has to stay in our grocery budget but I will pass along and share this wonderful giveaway. Namaste
Elizabeth — May 19, 2012 @ 10:25 am
I’ve also really enjoyed this series. We do a pretty good job of choosing foods, but I still learned some things, especially about good fats. I recently started shopping at our local farmer’s market — they finally changed the hours so that people who work full time can make it — which has led to us discovering that my husband likes some vegetables that he thought he didn’t like. We just need to get them when they are perfectly ripe and then do interesting things with them! Roasted asparagus sprinkled with parmesan was a big hit in our household last weekend, and tonight we are going to try one of Jamie Oliver’s fish recipes that involves asparagus and bacon. Prior to this month he wouldn’t even touch asparagus.
lindsay — May 19, 2012 @ 10:26 am
I’ve started grinding my own wheat for all our baking. And we buy organic and local as much as possible!
Jan — May 19, 2012 @ 10:31 am
6 mos. ago my husband went for his yearly check-up and he has high blood pressure. I thought how can this be…we don’t really eat out, I cook all his breakfast and dinner (we are on a tight food buget). I realized my husband sprinkle salt into every meal I serve him (a habit of his). I threw away the salt shaker so, now when he wants salt he has to lift a 2 lbs. box of salt. I also, cut back on the snacks we have in the house like chips, cookies etc. What really was shocking to me was the post on sugar (2 Tbs. a day) wow, I put that much into my tea everyday. Since the post I have cut back to one cup of tea a day (this is really hard for me) I hope I can keep this up. Thanks for the eye opener…keep it coming
Jessen — May 19, 2012 @ 10:48 am
Homemade everything for me is impossible, but I try the best I can from making homemade bread, to mayonnaise, soup. . . you name it, I try my best.
Sare — May 19, 2012 @ 10:51 am
I really love eating real food. I have noticed a difference in how I feel. I can’t describe it other than that I feel icky when I don’t eat food that is a “clean.” I am definitely not perfect, so far from it, but we try really hard to make most of our food at home and make healthy eating choices. My two year old even knows what a bell pepper is (cut or whole)…that was a pretty proud moment.
Ann — May 19, 2012 @ 11:49 am
This is a great giveaway and eating whole is something I struggle with daily. I find that PREPLANNING my menu helps a lot! If I write down my weeks recipe plan – I stick to it!
I also discovered the joys of Honey! I was never a fan – now I love it!
Ilene — May 19, 2012 @ 12:24 pm
I’ve been eating a lot healthier lately. I feel better both about it. I recently bought some of that trader joes coconut oil. Great stuff.
Sarah L. — May 19, 2012 @ 12:30 pm
I live by myself, so I usually make up large batches of freezer-friendly meals from scratch, that way I can just reach into the freezer and grab something for dinner! Also – planning the week’s meals out helps me eat healthy and stay away from processed foods or takeout.
Neesha — May 19, 2012 @ 12:36 pm
I’ve really started prepping more foods at home immediately after getting them home from the grocery store so that I can have carrots and celery and pineapple and cantaloupe at the ready for snacks instead of hitting the convenience store by work. I’m doing the same with pantry staples like peppers and onions so that I’m able to make eggs in the morning instead of staring hopelessly into the fridge and inevitably eating a granola bar. :) I find that tricks like these are the only way I’m consistent in eating whole foods for most of my meals instead of resorting to something super overprocessed.
Holly — May 19, 2012 @ 1:07 pm
If there is an organic option, whether it’s dairy, nuts, veggies, or grains, I opt for it despite the higher price. I also only buy pastured meats and butter, which is a LOT higher in price, but definitely worth it in terms of flavor. It means eating less meat, but that is fine with me. The more veggie-based meals, the better! We also don’t drink sodas anymore and fast food and pizza delivery is really not an option. Who knows how that meat was raised or what’s in it? I never skimp on our food budget because our health is priceless.
MaryAnn D — May 19, 2012 @ 1:25 pm
I’ve been making almost everything from scratch & cutting back on portion size. Also eating a lot of salads with vinegar & oil dressing.
Kimber — May 19, 2012 @ 1:39 pm
I’ve been trying to blend up leftover veggies to add to pasta and sandwiches to get more whole food nutrients added into otherwise less nutritious meals.
AB — May 19, 2012 @ 1:49 pm
I’ve tried to make (nearly) everything from scratch. The biggest success has been homemade granola bars…I almost fainted when I read all the ingredients on the box of the processed ones!
Kristen — May 19, 2012 @ 2:00 pm
Went to a local farm today and bought strawberrys–have strawberry ice cream mix in the fridge to make tonight and made strawberry jam. Kids loved going to the farm and I love knowing where the food was grown.
Olivia — May 19, 2012 @ 2:14 pm
I love the idea of being able to use different sugar substitute instead of the usual. My sister loves it and I really want to try it!
Tierney — May 19, 2012 @ 3:27 pm
I’ve completely eliminated ALL processed foods from my since the holiday season. I feel such a difference, even though I didn’t eat much junk food to begin with.
Amy — May 19, 2012 @ 4:22 pm
I’ve started eating spinach and fruit smoothies for breakfast instead of frozen breakfast sandwiches. The smoothies give me so much more energy throughout the morning!
Maneesha — May 19, 2012 @ 4:46 pm
I cook every day. I make sure my girls always have fresh food and learn to make it themselves. My goal is to teach them things are simple and easy to make. You don’t have to take short cuts if you just plan what you want to eat.
Beth Rodkey — May 19, 2012 @ 4:48 pm
My fiance and I started shopping at Whole Foods and eating mostly whole foods. We still cheat sometimes…but for the most part we’ve cut processed foods out. It’s easy when you have someone to team up with to eat more healthfully. With summer coming and fresh produce abound, it will be easy to continue.
Katie Mast — May 19, 2012 @ 5:04 pm
we try to not eat processed foods. i feel like we have a ways to go. But fresh fruits and veggies are so wonderful.
Callie — May 19, 2012 @ 6:40 pm
I’ve been going a lot of these things already, like making my own yogurt, bread, salad dressings, cereals, etc. After your post on using different grains like buckwheat and spelt i finally bought some. And i threw out all of the low fat dairy, only whole stuff in our fridge now. That was hard for me as I’m an avid calorie counter. I also found a great website for whole foods called vitacost. They have a reward program, so if you want to order click on this link and they automatically give you $10 on your first order. This is where i bought a large container of coconut oil and buckwheat. http://www.vitacost.com/Referee?wlsrc=rsReferral&ReferralCode=3441712
Lissa — May 19, 2012 @ 6:57 pm
I’m still considering making the big change to eating clean – I mostly cook from scratch anyway, but just still learning how I can incorporate it into a picky toddler’s menu. Your series has been very helpful to me!
Lorraine — May 19, 2012 @ 7:01 pm
So, I though I was doing a great thing by switching to 100% whole wheat pasta, brown rice, corn tortillas instead of flour, and making all our bread whole wheat and at home. I’ve loved this series and I went to the grocery store today and brought home mostly fruits and vegetables. Can’t wait to have a bigger space to garden and regular trips to our farmers’ market.
Eric Jackson — May 19, 2012 @ 7:03 pm
I ate quinoa salad and homemade all natural granola. They were delicious!
abbi — May 19, 2012 @ 7:10 pm
I buy grass-fed beef and pastured chickens grown at a local farm that was completely open to all my questions about their raising and butchering processes!
Christin Carbiener — May 19, 2012 @ 7:30 pm
Natalie!!
I had no idea you were so popular until Mindy posted this link! Such a great blog and so cool that you have accomplished so much with it. It’s funny- I think of myself as eating healthy “superfoods” more than eating “whole” when really they intertwine very often. Which means, to me, that I’ve never made my own granola or ranch dressing, but I do have a very hard time finding an easy quick snack in my pantry of quinoa, soup, and beans. Odwalla bars save my life often. And on that hand, my homemade protein bars have a Stevia blend in them and I’m not sure what my EAS carb edge shakes have in them, but otherwise, my diet is remarkably whole. Fresh and Easy is a great grocery store here with tons of raw nuts, fresh wild salmon, pre-cooked quinoa, pre-cut veggies, and fabulous frozen brown rice. It makes “whole” very convenient. (Even frozen steel-cut oats in individual servings!) And Costco sells pre-shelled hard-boiled eggs that make it easy for me to sleep in (and the preservative will probably give me cancer, but….) and still eat two eggs a day. Over the years, my diet has definitely become more whole and I look forward to exploring your recipes and ideas! Thanks!
Deanna E. — May 19, 2012 @ 7:54 pm
I have really enjoyed reading this series and appreciate your perspective and sharing what has worked for your family. Our family does really great in some of the areas like using only whole grains and eating lots of healthy fresh fruits and vegetables (we love local CSA!) We’ve done pretty good of getting rid of almost all of the refined stuff, but we’re struggling a bit more in the sugar department. That is really our weak link and proving to be the toughest to break. Thanks for all the great resources!
Tawny A — May 19, 2012 @ 9:05 pm
We plant a garden every year and like the visit the farmer’s market. We’re not too good with all the whole food stuff but it sure helps when you have it growing in your own yard.
Lindsay G — May 20, 2012 @ 5:16 am
We have enjoyed reading and learning with you. We are new to thinking beyond the grocery store & it has been pretty exciting. We found a csa that delivers close to home & will be touring the farm next week! Did I mention that I’m a city girl?! Your first post is so inspiring & continues to remind us of all of the beautiful foods around us. Thanks so much for putting this together!
Lisa — May 20, 2012 @ 5:33 am
I really have enjoyed your “Staying Whole” series. I have learned to include more coconut oil into my cooking and baking. Another positive change I’ve made in the last year was to invest in an effective water filtration system. I feel good about drinking water when I know it’s been properly filtered. Thanks for the great giveaway and please continue the series!!
BeccaV — May 20, 2012 @ 7:33 am
We switched from Soy to Almond milk, buy all organic meat (you’re right, finding the chicken is difficult!) and dairy.
This has been a great series, thanks!
Cassie — May 20, 2012 @ 7:51 am
I have loved reading each of these posts, Natalie! Thanks to you and your husband for putting them together. I have recently cut gluten out of my diet so that is my main focus as of now. However, I try every day to eat minimally processed foods. I buy organic, hormone and antibiotic-free meats, always, and farm-fresh eggs as often as I can find them. I make spice mixes, salad dressings and marinades at home versus buying store-bought. I am always learning ways to consume a more whole and clean diet!
Linn — May 20, 2012 @ 8:17 am
This is a great blog! My most noteworthy change has been a shift to whole wheat spaghetti noodles. Progress is slower with two young picky eaters at home.
Stephanie Caruso — May 20, 2012 @ 8:43 am
I have a 6 month old at home and so I am completely obsessed with buying organic now so that he stays pure and healthy!
Angela W — May 20, 2012 @ 8:54 am
I have been focusing lately on really limiting processed sugars and grains my son eats. Those quick on-the-go processed snacks really sneak in there without thinking. I have also been really making an effort to make more lacto-fermented foods for our family to eat.
Amy M — May 20, 2012 @ 9:15 am
We signed up for a CSA for the first time. This is our 2nd week and we are loving it. It is definitely a challenge to find recipes for some of the items but we have definitely been eating more whole foods because of it. Loving your posts!
Debbie J — May 20, 2012 @ 10:26 am
I have been trying to add more greens to our diet. I wasn’t a fan of kale, but now I just love it! I’ve gone way beyond kale chips and use it in place of spinach a lot. I’m also trying to make more things from scratch.
Valerie at The Year of Living Healthfully — May 20, 2012 @ 11:17 am
After reading your post on eating clean protein, I scoped out some of the local meat purveyors at our local Farmer’s Market and got information from them on buying local meat. Great suggestions! Thanks for the wonderful series of posts. They have helped me a lot!
Karla H — May 20, 2012 @ 12:22 pm
I’ve been trying to eliminate high fructose corn syrup in my families diet.
Julie Smyth — May 20, 2012 @ 12:23 pm
One of favorite way to stay “whole” in a processed world is to make my own almond milk. Even “organic” almond milk has chemicals in the ingredients, so I’d rather make it myself where it only has almonds and water (and maybe vanilla) as the ingredients. Then I use the almond milk to make a smoothie, and sneak some kale in there :)
Jean — May 20, 2012 @ 1:15 pm
To transition towards ‘whole’ foods I have swapped out almond butter and replaced with raw, unsalted nuts; also have added more fresh veggies in place of canned (the canned are just so darn handy some times, even if you get organic though you can’t be sure what really is in those cans).
Leslie — May 20, 2012 @ 1:26 pm
The biggest thing for us has been joining a CSA. The fruits and veggies are so yummy looking and plentiful we can’t help but eat them. The winter and early spring has been more of a challenge because we don’t have a big box coming everyweek. We have also had a lot of success with preping and freezing meals. It keeps us from getting overwhelmed during a busy week.
Christina — May 20, 2012 @ 1:50 pm
I loved this series! We are pretty good about whole food eating (well, minus our camping trip this weekend), but this motivated me to try harder! I made my own tortillas (with olive oil, not lard!) for the first time last week and I’m happy to take one more “processed” thing off my life!
Elizabeth — May 20, 2012 @ 2:20 pm
To inspire us to eat more vegetables, my husband and I started a garden this year. It has been such a rewarding experience to watch our little plants grow and we’ve already been enjoying zucchini and yellow squash :)
KaylanT — May 20, 2012 @ 2:24 pm
I have a one-year-old with several food allergies, so he is already eating only whole foods. I began feeling extremely guilty about my five-year-old’s diet, full of junk, or sweet and yummy as he has called it since he was able to talk :) Your blog has inspired me even more to make sure our ENTIRE family has a healthy, unprocessed, whole food diet.
Denise — May 20, 2012 @ 2:32 pm
I’ve always been all about home-cooked meals for my family. However, over the past year I’ve really started to work in more healthy options. Smoothies with breakfast. Quinoa, rather than white rice. I’m slowly getting there. Keep the posts coming. Love it!
Kel — May 20, 2012 @ 2:49 pm
Thanks. I have enjoyed the series and am working on making the products that come into our house only natural. I have not completely succeeded – but getting closer.
Meg — May 20, 2012 @ 3:42 pm
I always find it hard to get enough fruits and vegetables throughout the day. Lately I have been cutting up a ton of fruit and veggies at the beginning of the week so that throughout the week, I can grab something for a snack on the run!
jacquie — May 20, 2012 @ 5:57 pm
i eat lots of fruits and veggies and try to stay as fresh and local as possible. i have joined a csa for the summer and i’m looking forward to that starting – though also a bit fearful of it ….
Sarah B. — May 20, 2012 @ 6:23 pm
I loved the series in general. I’ve been working on eating healthier in general, and eating whole is one way I’ve started doing so. My favorite post was about whole fats and why there are GOOD fats and not all are bad. I’ve been posting the series for my friends on Facebook in hopes that they understand why it’s important to think about what they put into their bodies. Thank you for the series and amazing recipes!
Melissa — May 20, 2012 @ 6:24 pm
I am loving the series you are doing. I am currently going in to week 3 of a whole foods cleanse, cutting out sugar, gluten, dairy, soy in an attempt to re-set my tastebuds and do some spring cleaning for my body. It can be a challenge to be so in control of what goes into my body, but it’s also very rewarding. I’ve used some tips from your blog for some of my recipes too, thanks a bunch!!
Marlynn @designmama — May 20, 2012 @ 6:37 pm
My goal this year is to continue encouraging my 5 & 7 year old kids to enjoy salads. They already eat healthy, whole foods regularly, so now I’m working on introducing them to different combinations of fruits & veggies together, and different spices. I’m coveting the Cuisnart Smart Stick blender… LOVE the bold colors!
emily — May 20, 2012 @ 7:12 pm
i bought coconut oil for the first time about six weeks ago and we totally dig it…we’ve been using it in cooking and baking, but also for skin/body care. good stuff!
Nicki Behnke — May 20, 2012 @ 8:30 pm
There is so much I could say but for now, one thing I have found extremely helpful is the list of the dirty dozen and clean 15. It helps me feel good about the decisions I make in the produce section while not breaking the bank. Thanks for the tip!
Risa — May 20, 2012 @ 8:46 pm
ive been fighting the good fight to get my family on the whole foods track. one thing you said in this series has really helped to change the focus in this journey. to make positive changes begin by ADDING something good and whole into our eating and then we can eliminate something processed. I asked my kids to add a fruit or vegetable into their dinner and then a few days later we talked abt not eating the cookies after dinner. So much better this way. Thank you.
Lindsay R — May 21, 2012 @ 4:12 am
I have really enjoyed your “whole foods” series! This blog site is great because your food actually tastes good as well as looking beautiful and being healthful. We are focusing on a massive garden this year–hopefully tons of fresh produce and plenty more for canning!! :)
Sheri — May 21, 2012 @ 4:26 am
I’ve cut out processed foods and added sugars. I have also joined a local co-op for fruits and vegetables weekly and have enjoyed finding new recipes to use up the fresh items. Ia m also now growing my own herb garden.
Andrea Smith — May 21, 2012 @ 5:46 am
I am loving this new series! I am always trying to choose healthy options for my family and I. One thing I do is make sure there is a vegetable present at every meal. I also don’t do sugar drinks, or flavored milk anymore. I want my kids to know what food really tastes like! Carrots are so sweet and broccoli is amazing!
My kids are young, so I know by starting now, their future will be so much better!
Mb — May 21, 2012 @ 6:24 am
greek yogurt, chia seeds, whole wheat flour!
Kristina — May 21, 2012 @ 6:25 am
We are trying the paleo diet, and when we stray from it I try to make our grain-containing foods homemade.
Wilma — May 21, 2012 @ 6:48 am
The subject of healthy eating is very interesting to me, and something I’ve been reading about and trying to practice for the last 5-7 years. I don’t keep any junk food in the house, rely heavily on vegetables & limit my sugar. One thing I’ve learned is that when I’m craving something bad for me, I need to let myself have some of that, then go back to healthy eating. Within reason, of course. Otherwise I’ll end up binging.
Paige B. — May 21, 2012 @ 7:07 am
I’ve been trying to make more breads from scratch. I try to make tortillas, rolls, and sandwich bread using WW flour.
Shayla Taylor — May 21, 2012 @ 8:12 am
Our biggest whole food change this year has been our breakfast changes. As a family we made a goal to be Cereal Free for 2012. So far we have been doing great! I have definitely learned I need to be more prepared if we are going to be a whole foods family and slowly I am getting there. Our favorite breakfast is Steel Cut Oats with Apples and Cinnamon.
Sarah C — May 21, 2012 @ 9:15 am
My favorite tip for my making the switch easy for picky eaters is to disguise the food and THEN tell them it’s good for them aftewards. Or don’t! ;-D
My veggie hating son loves spinach, banana, PB, and cocoa powder smoothies.
Elise Miller — May 21, 2012 @ 9:44 am
I have really been trying to feed my family whole healthy foods. I have been canning alot to preserve the food from our garden. It has been a fun new experience and i love it. Its been so fun to try new healthy recipes for my family.
Elaina — May 21, 2012 @ 9:59 am
After some health issues developed, I’ve started slowly making some changes in my diet. We’re eating more organic, less processed and feeling better than ever!
Leslie — May 21, 2012 @ 10:37 am
One month ago I cleaned out my entire kitchen and pantry — got rid of all the processed stuff, chemical flavorings and foods — and all hydrogenated “anything.” I went completely clean, clean, clean. I didn’t even keep powdered Stevia. I won’t say it’s been easy, but now that the first week is over, I feel wonderful and have boundless energy. It sounds drastic, but I’m a widow and I’m the only one affected by my food plans. Thank you so much for all the great information and the links to valuable research. I’m just at the beginning of a great journey and am having lots of fun planning meals with real food — and I lost 12 pounds — a nice side-effect.
Kristin — May 21, 2012 @ 11:51 am
This series started while we were in the midst of a 30 day paleo challenge. My goal is to eat cleaner and transition to a paleo lifestyle permanently. Your series gave me some great options for transitioning the hubby and kids (spelt and whole wheat pastry flour were such an easy sub) which will take longer than if it were just me! Thanks.
Kristin — May 21, 2012 @ 11:53 am
This series started while we were doing a 30 day paleo challenge. You gave me some great ideas for how to permanently transition the whole family to a cleaner diet (spelt is now in my pantry!). Thanks.
Marie — May 21, 2012 @ 12:53 pm
My husband and I have started buying all of our produce and meat from our local farmer’s market. It tastes sooo much better than the store bought stuff and makes me feel good about supporting our local economy. I’m from Michigan and we could sure use it here!
Kristi — May 21, 2012 @ 1:14 pm
I always thought I was a pretty healthy eater, but when my daughter was diagnosed with multiple severe food allergies, we really had to step up. No dairy, eggs, or peanuts – that eliminates soooo many processed foods. And once you really start learning about and scrutinizing ingredients, it’s difficult to go back to ignoring things like BHT, artificial dyes, hydrogenated oils, etc.
Jamie B. — May 21, 2012 @ 1:47 pm
Thanks for the chance.
I just started adding flax seed to my family’s oatmeal at breakfast time. We don’t even notice it. Next I’m going to try adding it to smoothies.
Tracie — May 21, 2012 @ 3:07 pm
I’ve been trying to substitute white whole wheat in my baking – so far I’ve had pretty good results. Meal planning a is big in our home — I will cook if I have a plan!
Michael J. MCcCoy — May 21, 2012 @ 3:08 pm
Whole fruit smoothies!!!! My grandbabies love them made with fresh frut!!
Jill D. — May 21, 2012 @ 3:27 pm
I started making my own granola and got rid of the sugar-filled breakfast cereals! So far my family is loves it and I even had to make two batches the first week. Now I’ve switched to doubling the batch when I do make it. We used your recipe and now I’m looking forward to adding in other mix-ins!
Liz S. — May 21, 2012 @ 3:29 pm
I have been vegetarian and 95% vegan for almost 10 months. My goal for the year is to become 100% vegan. It is the occasional cheese here or there that I am having trouble resisting. I LOVE my new way of eating and feel super! I will admit this is my first visit to your blog. I am exciting to explore it and love all of the things in the giveaway!
AmyM — May 21, 2012 @ 3:49 pm
At 6 wks old, we discovered my son was sensitive to dairy and soy. Since I was breastfeeding him, I began reading EVERY ingredient label trying to find things I could eat. I remember sitting on the kitchen floor crying because I had gone through the pantry/fridge and put an X on everything I couldn’t eat, and only a handful of “foods” were dairy/soy free. My “ah ha moment” was reading the taco seasoning ingredients and wondering why on earth it contained dairy, soy and a whole bunch of other weird things. So I started Googling recipes, etc. and discovered just how disgusting processed food ingredients were. Now I make my own yogurt, bread, chicken stock, etc. Thanks to my son’s allergy my whole family is eating healthier and tastier whole foods!
Courtney — May 21, 2012 @ 4:00 pm
Thanks to your blog and a few others, we are transitioning to clean, whole eating. The first thing I did was cut out all the “white stuff”. Since that was pretty tough, we hit it first. Now its easy to transition to more whole foods as we have tackled the hardest part first! I love your blog and use it as a resource all the time!
Kelly — May 21, 2012 @ 5:08 pm
I’ve been trying to follow some of your “eating whole” tips as part of a new diet for myself. I had been getting stomach aches every time I eat… and they have mostly gone away! =-) I’m feeling much better all around now!
Melissa — May 21, 2012 @ 5:31 pm
1st- love the website!
2nd- I’m trying to get my whole foods ways in order before we start planning our family. I figure the more my FI and I work on our diet now, the easier it will be to introduce our children. We’ve been successful with adding more greens and fruits to our meals. Hopefully we can keep this up and find ways to incorporate whole foods into our wedding. :)
Laura — May 21, 2012 @ 6:59 pm
I’ve been baking my own bread and making sure to have a fruit and/or vegetable at every meal (and snack!).
Liberty Hudson — May 21, 2012 @ 7:40 pm
Our whole family has given up all HFCS,food dyes,and virtually all processed foods,and only eat meat once per week.
AmyG — May 21, 2012 @ 8:19 pm
we’ve started cutting out processed foods and are feeling GREAT about it!
Anne — May 22, 2012 @ 5:02 am
We’ve cut out most processed foods from our diet as I’ve been making more of our food from stratch in the last few years. However, one thing I haven’t been doing as much is buying organic, especially organic dairy. While most of our produce comes from farmers markets, I started buying organic salad and greens in the last 6 months and finally bit the bullet and started buying organic milk as well!
gwen — May 22, 2012 @ 5:20 am
Although I’m pretty disciplined (but not perfectly disciplined!) about buying “clean” groceries, I have a weakness for fast food — especially McDonald’s breakfast. When I move to Dallas for my internship next week, I vow to eliminate fast food for my diet. (Over the fall semester, I cut out fast food except for McDonald’s breakfast… but after I started allowing myself McDonald’s breakfast, I slowly started eating fast food again. Eek!)
Thanks for the chance to win, Natalie!
Tina — May 22, 2012 @ 6:02 am
The importance of eating clean meat is something I learned from your whole food series. It is something I sorta of sometimes did before but now I am making it a commitment. Thank you!
Tori K — May 22, 2012 @ 8:01 am
My I recently completed the Whole30 cleanse and it has truly changed the way I feel about food! And I’m loving your whole food series..such great info!
Heather — May 22, 2012 @ 10:16 am
Lots of work left to do, but so far I have bought whole-fat yogurt, switched to homemade granola instead of processed cereal, avoided MSG for the past 2 grocery trips, increased fresh fruits and vegetables overall, tried some of your pancake recipes, and decreased sugar intake.
Sarah L — May 22, 2012 @ 10:43 am
I’ve been working on eliminating foods with dyes. I try not to eat a lot of processed foods, so this doesn’t affect a huge part of my diet, but it’s surprising how often little things sneak in! I’ve also been focusing on using whole wheat flour in a lot of my baking.
Rachel V — May 22, 2012 @ 10:50 am
I’ve started carrying around a cheat sheet with key terms so that when I go grocery shopping I buy the “right” animal proteins. Thank you for helping it not feel so overwhelming!
Rachel V — May 22, 2012 @ 10:52 am
I donated $25 (under the name Rachel & Aidan) to Jamie Oliver’s Food Foundation.
Nicole Hughes — May 22, 2012 @ 11:05 am
I use whole grain flours when baking and try to keep my pantry full of unprocessed foods.
Lauren G — May 22, 2012 @ 11:07 am
My whole food goal is to stay away from refined sugar and add greens to my protein shake. What a great giveaway. Cool blog
Jesika — May 22, 2012 @ 11:18 am
Recently I’ve decided to become a vegetarian, and my husband, meat and potato man that he is, decided to join me 6 days a week. Thus far, I’ve realized that being a vegetarian is not only cheaper, but easier than handling and cooking meat! Most of my favorite dishes only needed a minor tweak, or the complete omission of chicken/fish/etc to make them veggie friendly. Instead of potato chips, I snack on snap peas. (Turns out I want the crunch, not the flavor.) I’ve gained energy (waking up earlier, exercising better) and feel “lighter” — not that I’m losing weight, or doing it to lose weight, I simply feel less stuffed. My husband hasn’t complained once, and has discovered a new love for Indian food, with the occasional weekend grass-fed steak :)
Angie — May 22, 2012 @ 11:21 am
eating whole foods was tough at first, but it has been a fun challenge. I look forward to discovering new recipes each day!
Cindy's Recipes and Writings — May 22, 2012 @ 11:25 am
I try to grow as many of my own veggies as possible and I make as much as I can from scratch. I did spread the word about Jamie’s cause on Food Revolution on May 19th. Good luck with your whole food blog!
Cindy
Allison W — May 22, 2012 @ 11:27 am
I’ve been eating a lot more whole foods and buying fewer unprocessed foods. I’ve also doubled my fruit and veggie intake and I’m feeling so much better!!
Natalie — May 22, 2012 @ 11:30 am
Since reading in defense of food, I’ve made a lot of progress in transitioning my family’s diet toward whole foods. But, sugar is my big weekness. Thanks to your series, I’m going to try going without sugar during the month of June. Wish me luck!
Jill S. — May 22, 2012 @ 11:31 am
I have made an effort to buy local produce, organic if possible and definitely from small farms. Fortunately living in Florida it’s fairly easy. We planted a salad garden in EcoBoxes on my lanai, and we do pick-your-own veggies at local farms because it gives us at least a little more appreciation of what the local migrant farmers coalition is working for. The Wusthof knife would be well used in my kitchen! I am learning to can those fruits and vegetables that we pick, and I have started making my own bread. I made a $25 donation to Jamie Oliver’s foundation because his series in West Virginia single-handedly convinced my teenage daughter that frozen and fast-food chicken nuggets are gross. She hasn’t asked to eat at McDonalds since!
Brooke Fortson — May 22, 2012 @ 11:40 am
I have embraced EVERYTHING coconut – oil, flakes, milk, water. :) LOVE<3
Rebecca Slavin — May 22, 2012 @ 11:41 am
I was introduced to clean eating almost 2 years ago but it has taken me a while to truly live by the clean eating moto. I now feel so much better physically and mentally. I still struggle with avoiding sugary treats but after years of GI issues without any answers as to the cause, I have come off of one of my meds and no longer have sharp pain in my stomach (which used to be a daily occurrence). I even converted my boyfriend to eating clean, who before living with me, lived off of frozen meals, white processed starches, and super processed snacks. I truly believe eating clean can change everyone’s lives for the better in one way or another and preach it to everyone who will listen (as I continue to commit to this lifestyle with continued struggles with sugary treats)
Tara — May 22, 2012 @ 11:50 am
My fiancee and I have been following the very “whole food” -related advice of sticking to the outside loop of the grocery store. At the one we go to, we hit the cheese/yogurt/dairy aisle, meat department, and produce, which means we bypass the majority of processed foods. I must say, so far, so good.
Susan — May 22, 2012 @ 11:57 am
I started eating this way 2 months ago and have already lost 6 pounds. I want to lose weight but I mostly want to be healthy and have enough energy to keep up with my almost 2 year old! I’m not perfect with it but it’s a work in progress.
Bee — May 22, 2012 @ 11:58 am
I make a point to write a list before going to the store and really stick to it. We hit the produce first, then go to meats, and dairy. Most of what we buy is in the produce section, though. All of our snacks are things like watermelon, kiwi, snap peas. I was never big on things like potato chips, but I don’t even think about buying things like that anymore and I don’t miss them at all. I’m just glad my boyfriend is on board and just goes along and eats whatever I put out or make.
Renee Agius — May 22, 2012 @ 11:58 am
If there is a label to read I read it and pick the food Item with the least ingredients.
jen — May 22, 2012 @ 12:03 pm
Being a vegetarian for 17 years, I thought I was eating healthy. In November was diagnosed with low iron… what an eye opener! The biggest challenge is trying to become educated to make safe, healthy decisions. It’s a slow process and requires effort, but it’s totally worth it! Thanks for posting the Staying Whole in a processed world series!
India D — May 22, 2012 @ 12:12 pm
I became way more familiar with different grains and now rarely eat bread for lunch (whereas I used to do it every day). I enjoyed the series and can’t wait to view more recipes!
Kimberly — May 22, 2012 @ 12:13 pm
I have started to get my family to eat healthier. We only buy organic, grass fed meats and we buy most fruits/veggies organic. In addition my mom juices a few times a week. lso my family has eaten romaine lettuce for years and now we are mixng in other leafy greens into our salads – kale, spinach, swiss chard.
Jennifer Clark — May 22, 2012 @ 12:19 pm
I just recently started the process of eliminating processed foods from my diet. I love your blog!! I just read your article on Sugar and will be working on eliminating it from my diet. I can’t wait to see what results I will have! We are also buying our fruits and veggies from our local famer’s market. I just love it!!
Tanya Pav — May 22, 2012 @ 12:25 pm
The best thing(s) we did as a family was our garden and raising our own grass fed beef, chicken and eggs. My kids refuse to eat store bought meats and eggs.
James McElroy — May 22, 2012 @ 12:29 pm
I’ve made the green drink my morning ritual. Spinach, kale, some frozen berries or fruit and coconut water. Yup!
Carly — May 22, 2012 @ 12:29 pm
One day, I hope to start a non profit having to do with kids and food. But until then, I love to engage in conversations with kids about where food comes from! Does a french fry come from a french fry tree? Have you ever tried a pear before? I just like to talk about whole foods with them!
Julie Ryan — May 22, 2012 @ 1:00 pm
Ive been eating healthy for what seems like ever but a few months ago I decided to make a Green Monster smoothie and wow – its changed my life. Adding flax to it has also changed my digestive system! Seriously, it amazing what one a day can do for you. Thanks for the giveaway :)
Jenny — May 22, 2012 @ 1:53 pm
We’ve started making homemade hummus instead of store-bought! It only takes about 5 minutes and it’s delicious!
Teresa Goller — May 22, 2012 @ 1:55 pm
I set a goal of 100 day of eating only unprocessed food starting January 1 of this year. I reached that goal on April 9!! I have continued to eat only whole unprocessed foods and plan to continue for the rest of my life (which hopefully will be a long time!). This has been a life changing process. I am 51 and have never felt better and best of all I am very proud of myself. I just wore out my immersion blender so this give away would be fantastic for me! I am a big fan of Jamie Oliver and will also donate to his website and comment after I have done that. Thanks so much!
Kari Buccambuso — May 22, 2012 @ 1:57 pm
the biggest thug that has helped me cut out processed foods is buying tons of yummy produce every week, we eat whatever is on sale, and just not buying the processed stuff. If I don’t have it in my pantry then I cant use it when I am feeling lazy and don’t want to take them time to cook a real meal. Also seeing good recipes on pinterest helps keep me inspired and motivated to cook healthy cleanness meals.
Teresa Goller — May 22, 2012 @ 2:02 pm
I just donated $25 to Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution. Thanks for this!
Laura — May 22, 2012 @ 2:06 pm
I’ve stopped being a box eater. If I want something like au gratin potatoes, I have to make it from scratch. I have vegetable omelets for breakfast and when making cakes or cookies I do not use a mix. not only is it better, it makes it worth it when I eat it. I use to eat snack cakes in secret (the whole box) but now that I make my own I share with my friends, co-workers, the “girls” at my local bank and my local insurance company
Kristen H — May 22, 2012 @ 2:09 pm
I have loved the series because it brought basis to so many of our recent food changes. We’ve been transitioning over the last year, more so making changes as we are better educated. I’ve struggled with really finding where to settle my family in-between the Paleo vs. Vegetarian lifestyles. This series and your blog has confirmed how I feel and helped us nail down where we want to be. My 5 year old transitioned without even realizing it, and eats almost anything I prepare now. My 3 year old still has work to do – but I’ll letting her get there in her own time. I want my kids to love whole food, not hate it because I forced them to!
Jessica — May 22, 2012 @ 2:13 pm
I have been cooking a lot more with fresh fruits and vegetables, and using less processed pastas and bread! I have been making a lot more meals from scratch lately.
Cheryl — May 22, 2012 @ 2:35 pm
Getting a juicer has revolutionized my eating. I like most veggies more than most fruits, but the juicer got me consuming fruits now too. But I can’t give up my kale juice – that’s the best!
Meme — May 22, 2012 @ 3:00 pm
I loved the sugar article. I’m about to start on a two week sugar free cleanse. Love the staying whole series!
Cathi — May 22, 2012 @ 3:02 pm
If you look in our cupboard, you’ll find no prepared food other than protein powder. For me personally, the produce aisle it the most frequented section of the grocery store, along with the bulk foods for dry beans & legumes, nuts and whole grains. I’ve been doing the Tosca Reno Eat Clean coolers and working out for about 3 months now and am fine tuning packing my cooler for all day including working out pre & post meals. When I cook for my family (my 83 yr old mom, my 20 yr old daughter and myself), I try to prepare something that will appeal to all of us and stay clean for me. Sometimes means preparing the same ingredients a couple of different ways. My daughter appreciates the increased veggies and whole food prepared from scratch at home meals, and its helping her learn to cook as well.
Cynthia — May 22, 2012 @ 3:25 pm
The kids and I are total whole food fanatics — we love quinoa, brown rice, fresh fruit/veggies, etc. But, the husband (my tough Montana guy) will not go there. He’ll try it once but won’t eat it on a regular/repeat basis. It’s really difficult getting him out of meat and potatoes mode. Even with his doctor wagging his finger at him! So, we have plenty of wonderfully healthy whole foods in the house, but we have one hold-out who can wrestle a wily calf to the ground for a branding, stare a bull elk in the eye without a single blink, brave 20 below for a morning of duck and goose hunting, but who’s afraid of a wheatberry. :)
JC — May 22, 2012 @ 3:27 pm
Eating whole foods has helped with my
JC replied: — May 22nd, 2012 @ 3:31 pm
(Darn phone) Eating whole foods helps with my gluten intolerance. Nothing can hide in a whole vegetable.
Erin L — May 22, 2012 @ 4:07 pm
We are trying to add more whole grains into our diet, and just found out today that we will be making some more changes since my husband has high cholesterol.
Tanya — May 22, 2012 @ 5:39 pm
Oh so many things this year:-). Mostly is making as much as we can from scratch. We moved to the country in September and even live near a rancher who raises grass-fed cows. We make our own butter, yum! Organic produce from a local farm. We still cheat, but having so much fun learning and building confidence in these new, more healthy ways.
T
Michelle — May 22, 2012 @ 5:58 pm
my whole food success this year: switching to fresh fruits and vegetables vs. canned. And paying attention to food labels (buying natural/organic, no added preservatives, chemicals, or anything else i cant pronounce)
Emma — May 22, 2012 @ 7:32 pm
Three years ago I had a brain injury that affected the planning/organization (executive functioning) part of my brain, making it super difficult to plan food purchases and preparation. While I don’t recommend losing brain cells as a way to improve eating habits, there was a silver lining for me!! After many frustrating attempts at “normal shopping and cooking”, I started buying simple ingredients that cook quickly (or can be eaten raw). There’s a Trader Joe’s and a weekly awesome farmers market nearby, so now I mainly eat salmon, fruits and vegetables. I thought I was eating fairly healthy before (no salt, no canned foods) but simplifying made a major difference for me in many ways.
I can afford organic because I don’t have waste, I spend less time shopping. I lost weight, don’t have cravings. I snack on dark chocolate, toasted seaweed, and a variety of raw nuts so it never gets boring.
I still buy Clean Eating magazine even though I’m not able to make the recipes now. As my brain improves I’ll be able to prepare those great recipes, My goal for this summer is to make gazpacho – tomato season is here and I’m sure there’s a recipe in my Clean Eating stack that will be tasty yet simple enough for me to complete.
Renee — May 22, 2012 @ 8:10 pm
The biggest change for our family this year has been learning about and incorporating healthy fats. I threw out the canola oil and embraced the butter! And the fabulous coconut oil from Trader Joe’s :-)
Molly — May 23, 2012 @ 12:48 am
Discovering that my oldest DS had an allergy to Red Dye 40 a few years ago caused my family to “go clean” … we are always trying new things and working to improve our diet!
Abby — May 23, 2012 @ 7:40 am
I’m trying to use as many local and seasonal ingredients as I can. It turned out to be a lot easier than I thought…although sometimes I do look longingly at something in the produce aisle, but I stay strong! :) It’s led me to try lots of new things like fresh apricots.
Jamie — May 23, 2012 @ 9:36 am
This is so awesome!
My biggest problem staying whole in a processed world was that I really didn’t like vegetables. Then, I bought a food processor. I’ve been blending leafy greens, cauliflower, mushrooms, carrots, onions…you name it… into my soups, sauces, and side dishes. I’ve completely cleaned out my eating by substituting and adding veggies in all my favorite recipes. Having a Smart stick blender would make this so much quicker and easier!
Jamie — May 23, 2012 @ 10:54 am
I have been trying to make everything from scratch. It can get tricky but tastes so much better!
Jenny — May 23, 2012 @ 2:39 pm
I’ve been trying to cut out any processed foods – and trying to keep my son out of places like McDonalds (gross). Little by little we’re getting there.
Bethany — May 23, 2012 @ 2:42 pm
I know that I am trying to get my kids to eat more organic fruits and vegetables. I would like to switch to more organic meats. I am really tired of all the extra chemicals that are in the food anymore. We dont need all of those in our bodies. Plus, I stay away from the middle isles in the grocery store as much as possible. I HATE processed foods.
Anali Wills — May 23, 2012 @ 3:07 pm
I’ve made a pretty substantial switch to whole food over the past two years and have had a positive change in my energy levels and weight. I run into trouble when not at home and eating on the road. Recently I’ve started trying to plan ahead and make healthy portable foods like kale chips, apple chips and salads.
Lisa Garrett — May 23, 2012 @ 3:13 pm
I am making my own yogurt, and using more nuts and nut butters, including roasting the nuts myself. We are buying more from the farmer’s market in season, and trying to buy more organic produce, particularly the ‘dirty 10″.
Becky — May 23, 2012 @ 3:18 pm
I try to prep my veggies on my day off, that way during the week when I’m exhausted and life is crazy, it takes very little effort to make myself a healthy and nutritious meal. :-)
Jill Barrow — May 23, 2012 @ 3:42 pm
I have been working on my transition to real/whole foods since November, and have seen so many positive effects! I think the biggest challenge for me is trying new foods. My most recent experiment was quinoa – pretty tasty!
Ali — May 23, 2012 @ 3:51 pm
I’ve been making slow changes over the last year or 2. I’ve loved your basics posts, though, because I’m seeing areas that I need to tweak and areas with which I’m on the right track. I’ve cut out nearly all processed foods, but now that I’m pregnant and nauseated, I’m not sure how to handle things! Fortunately, things like homemade organic yogurt or roasting a free-range chicken take very little effort. I also feel better that I’ve cut WAAAAYYY back on sugar compared to other pregnancies and am using more natural options. Now if only veggies sounded delish….
katherine d — May 23, 2012 @ 3:57 pm
i’ve successfully turned my whole family vegan – and we love it!
katherinedibello (at) gmail (dot) com
Ali — May 23, 2012 @ 4:11 pm
I try and make green smoothies throughout the week. My kids have a hard time eating veggies; they love green smoothies, so I feel they are getting their “greens” nutrients! :)
Kari — May 23, 2012 @ 5:16 pm
My husband I have made a goal to not buy processed treats–we’re making all our goodies in hopes we avoid processed additives, high fructose corn syrup, and preservatives.
Allen — May 23, 2012 @ 5:29 pm
There are meals available that have little or no carbs. Nice to know when one can’t have more than 45 per meal.
Brynn — May 23, 2012 @ 5:49 pm
I have loved making my own stuff that I used to buy in bulk…cream of whatever soups and even broths I make on my own now. I have also been canning my own fruits and it is nice to know exactly what is in it. Since i have been making nearly everything from scratch, my cooking has tasted much better too! Also I love eating seasonally because the fruit is SO MUCH better!
Cheryl V — May 23, 2012 @ 6:50 pm
I have been eating organic and unprocessed for about 3 years due to a diagnosis of Ulcerative Colitis; all the chemicals in our food was wreaking havoc on my body. I still have to be very careful as fresh fruits and veggies will cause issues with this disease. But I love the series and have tried a number of changes like soy ice cream and coconut milk ice cream dairy free, gluten free and they are really good Am about to embark on a gastric bypass, so the blender would be a perfect addition to my kitchen and would get quite a workout with all the smoothies.
Kelly — May 23, 2012 @ 7:33 pm
we’re pretty ‘whole’ already. But the biggest thing that Eric I were talking about being better at was the meat thing. Being better about where and what we buy, since we’re pretty big meat peeps. :)
PS – I LOVED this series. Thank you!