Readers Ask: part 5

inkleywinkely asked:
What percentage of your family’s diet would you say is organic?

While I would LOVE to say 100%, we just aren’t there yet. I’d say 1/2 the produce I buy is organic, but 90% is at least local. All of our beef is organic and grassfed, chicken is about 1/2 organic/free range. Our pasta is, as well as most my spices, butter, and oils. Over all I guess I’d say about 70% or so organic? It sounds about right. Hopefully after our harvest this fall I can say it’s a bit higher!

Are your children inoculated? If so, are they on a certain schedule?

At 3 years old, my son has been up to date on his shots for about a year. Though I was hesitant enough when he was born to not start them until he was 4 months old. And from then on he was on a slightly delayed schedule. (I couldn’t tell you what he got when though. It was more like at each appointment I discussed it with his doc and then he picked out a couple to give him) He also received the chicken pox vaccine at his last appointment. The one I knew I wasn’t going to do. They just snuck it in with another dose of something and I didn’t find out until we left!

My baby girl at now over 4 months old has yet to receive a shot. I don’t know if she’ll ever get them. I’ve done my research and know that I don’t like most of the vaccines out there. I honestly can’t think of one shot that I’d be okay with my kids getting. They and I won’t get flu shots either. My husband can make up his own mind about that one.

Considering how well your family is fed, what is your budget for groceries, and do you use coupons?

Great question! My budget is $300.00 each month, nothing more. I normally spend about $50.00 of that at the farm buying milk, eggs, and honey. Another $50.00 of that is used to buy bulk items like flour, sugars, nuts, oats, dried fruit, etc. I;m also in the process of trying to put at least $25.00 aside each month for my very large bulk orders like beef and chicken. The rest is spent mostly on produce, condiments, and odds and ends.

I used to coupon, but the healthier we began to eat, the less coupons worked for me. I no longer get the Sunday paper as the amount of coupons I was able to get out of them just wasn’t covering the cost. I’ll still print off coupons online for things like toiletries and every once in awhile I find a great one for an organic item or two.

And really, the more I make from scratch, the less I need coupons. Most of them that are out there are for prepackaged foods that I no longer need. I found I can save just as much as I would with a coupon by making it at home. Plus it’s loads healthier!!

If you had unlimited time and money, what would your menu look like?

I really had fun thinking about this one! Because in my dreams I know what I’d like. Here’s a small rundown.

• First and foremost my menu would consist only of things grown and raised on my own property. Fruits and veggies, grains, meat, milk, eggs. Both fresh and preserved.
• And because it came from my land, it would be 100% organic.
• Each meal we would be able to have the luxury of tons of “picked just before we ate it” fresh produce and beautifully prepared meats, thereby eating less grains.
• I would fully incorporate the “Nourishing Traditions” style of cooking.
• I would make all of my own pastas (a short term goal for me actually!)
• I would also preserve all the food we needed for winter
• I’d also incorporate more fresh, wild caught fish into my meal plans

Readers Ask : part 6

Starryphate asked:
Is your family only allowed to eat healthy?
I wish I could enact that much control in my house, but it’s just not feasible. I buy mostly whole foods and make things from scratch, but there are a few things that my husband enjoys having in the house, like chips. There are also times when food is given to us or we are invited to a friends or family members house for dinner, and I receive it as a blessing. I feel that sometimes it is best to overlook my passion for health food when it would hurt someones feelings. All in all I try to follow the 80/20 rule. Basically trying to eat healthy 80% of the time, although I do strive for more like 90% when I’m trying to conceive or while I’m pregnant..

Starryphate also asked:
Do you ever eat out at restaurants and order something greasy like a cheeseburger?
Yes and no. I got sick off a fast food hamburger once so I just can’t get myself to eat a burger from a place with no waiters! But I also love the bbq burger at famous dave’s, though I’ve only been there about once a year. And we do eat out every once in awhile. More so lately than I’d like to admit, and it’s all my fault for not taking things out of the freezer when I need them so we end up picking up food on the way home. I do try and keep eating out to a once a month occasion though!

Jen asked:
How do you handle grandparents, etc. that want to feed your child not-so-good food?
That’s a tough one. And it depends on what’s being offered and what he’s had to eat lately. If he’s been eating at home for the last week and hasn’t had any junk, a cookie or crackers from grandma is okay. Do I like it? Not really, but again we’re looking at the grand scheme of things and the 80/20 rule. There are some things that are an ‘absolutely not’ in my book though. Fake juices like sunny d and koolaid as well as any pasteurized milk. There are also somethings that I know he’d be sensitive too (products with lots of coloring/flavoring/preservatives) so I pull out the “he has a food sensitivity to it” phrase. I don’t mind telling people what he can and can’t eat. Especially now that I can actually see a difference in him when he eats certain things. I figure it’s my kid, I can decide what he eats!

Rachel asked:
When eating out, what do you try to feed your little one? (what do you choose/look for on the menu?)
Again, this may be more difficult as he gets older and learns to read a menu himself, but for now, I try to pick grilled vs. fried and choose a fruit or veggie side for him instead of fries. It also helps that he’s small enough and restaurant servings are large enough, that I normally just share my food with him when it’s a sit down restaurant. I also only get him water to drink while we’re out. As he gets older this may become more of an issue for us, but then again we don’t eat out often!

reprehriestless warillever asked:
How do you handle food on long trips – pack meals or buy carefully along the way?
My goal is to do both. I pack a lot of our own snacks (granola bars, fruit, trail mixes, etc.) and last time I traveled I also brought along things for breakfast since that seems to be the hardest meal to eat healthfully while out. Personally I would recommend bringing quick meals with you if you have a way to keep them cold. Even if it’s just for the first couple of days (a cooler w/ ice will normally be okay for the first night at least) Things like deviled eggs, cheese, and yogurt. If we ever went traveling for more than a day or two I’d also bring along some bread and peanut butter and jelly. A PB&J on homemade bread is healthier than Micky D’s for sure!

Readers Ask : part 5

Anonymous asked:
What is your favorite snack?
It kind of depends on the season! In the winter I love homemade popcorn, this summer, I’ve been enjoying fresh fruits (strawberries, cherries, and now blueberries), and I can’t wait for apples to ripen this fall.

My favorite ‘not healthy’ snack? Always homemade ice cream!

Erica asked:
How did you come up with your blog title?
Funny story, I had it named something completely different for 6 months while I debated on whether or not to start actually writing this blog. Then one day, I just knew it was time, but the name just wasn’t catchy enough for me. So I found an online thesaurus for “modern/urban” words and typed in pregnant. Up came Knocked Up and I just knew naturally Knocked Up was meant to be!

Anonymous asked:
What’s your favorite “healthy” meal?
Again depends on the season! In the spring/summer it’s hamburgers with homemade pickles, roasted sweet potatoes and fresh green beans slathered with lots of yummy butter. In the fall/winter I love to make a beef or venison roast with lots of veggies and potatoes.

Readers Ask: part 4

Back when we did a giveaway and I asked for your questions, as well as some recent e-mails I’ve received, I’ve been asked:

What is the one thing you would recommend someone do to to change their health for the better. (or what is the one thing you would tell someone to do to increase their fertility)

Stop buying processed food!! That’s it. The one thing that will change your health the most! Stop buying boxed and frozen meals, stop buying processed breads and meats and milk. Buy your food closest to it’s original state!

By not buying processed foods, yes you will have to make your food at home but you’ll stay away from excess sugars and salt. There won’t be any MSG or high fructose corn syrup in it either. You don’t need snacks like chips and cookies. You don’t need cereal. You don’t need juice. It just takes a little extra time to feed your body what it truly needs. And after awhile, most of those processed foods won’t even taste good to you.