Nourishing Traditions

When we took the food class held by one of the ladies in our church, she had a contest, which we won!!!  Our prize was a book called Nourishing Traditions by Sally Fallon.  It is a fantastic book with a wealth of knowledge and a ton of recipes, that we will be trying and I will try to remember to share.  Some of the recipes are a little strange, like brain omelets and heart kebobs (we will NOT be trying those), but there are many others that I look forward to making and eating.  :) 

I wanted to share some "not much time, not much money" tips that were included in the book that I find very helpful with our bustling household and not overstuffed wallets.  The tips still focus on healthy eating and better choices for your family. 

-Don't buy boxed cereal-instead oatmeal.
-Make your own salad dressing.  So easy to do!
-Always buy butter-never margarine or shortening. 
-Make meat stocks once a week.
-Better to put your money towards healthy food than vitamins. 
-Good quality dairy products are worth the price.
-Potatoes, cabbage, carrots, zucchini, onions, and broccoli are some of the cheapest vegetables, but still very nourishing.  Put butter on them!!
-Don't forget to eat high quality eggs. 
-Incorporate soups into your diet.
-Budget meals include stir fry stews and ground meat dishes.
-Buy organic whole grains and whole grain flours.
-Make your own bread.
-Learn how to make brown rice.
-Good quality fats help in times of stress. 

The book also included a section on feeding babies that I find very helpful in this blessed season of our lives.
-Wanting to get pregnant?  Eat plenty of organic eggs, butter, cream, meats, vegetables, grains, and legumes.  Also, leafy green veggies for folic acid!!!!
-Pregnant?  Eat 2 eggs a day, raw milk, meat broths.  Eliminate sugar, white flour, hydrogenated vegetables oils, and polyunsaturated fats.  Also, cutout caffeine - but I am unable to follow that rule!!! 
-Try to breastfeed for 6 months to a year.  If unable, there is a recipe to make formula, but I have not had to try it so I don't know anything about it.  I would though if I needed to. 
-Give baby one boiled egg yolk a day starting at four months, but not the white part until 1 year of age because they are unable to digest.  Put sea salt on the yolk.
-Don't start baby cereals until 1 year of age because very hard for baby to digest.  Total opposite of what we are told!!!!
-Mashed banana can be given at 6 months. 
-At 10 months age add meat, fish, fruits, and veggies one at a time to look for adverse reactions.  -Don't overdo orange veggies. 
-Give baby buttermilk or yogurt at 10 months, as well, so they get used to sour tastes. 
-Do not give juice, especially apple juice.  Sorry Andrew!!!!!!  Studies have linked failure to thrive with babies who drink a lot of apple juice. 
-Give baby raw milk when age appropriate. 
-Keep baby away from processed food as much as possible. 
-Babies should be chubby and children sturdy not slim.  Well, all my kids are skinny minis!!!! 

We are looking forward to trying these things with our new baby and are curious to see the results.  :) 

We are really enjoying everything that we have learned and our raw milk and weekly trips to the co-op for organic foods!  I enjoy eating much more now and everything tastes so much better.  I prefer to eat at home now, too, which helps with saving money to buy better foods.  I am not sure I could even ever eat fast-food again! 

Hope this is a blessing to you!  Remember, your body is God's temple-be kind to it!!  :)