5 new things I've learned in my real food kitchen this week:

 

1. That freezing our yummy and nourishing staple of chicken broth, can easily be done in glass jars.  Just make sure to leave enough room for expansion of the liquid in the freezer, and the jars won't break.  I do like to use glass over plastic as much as is possible.

2. Did you know you can freeze avocado? I purchase avocado frequently. I don't bother with organic, although I do buy mostly organic foods. Why not?  Well, first off...it's on the "Clean 15" side of "The dirty dozen and the Clean 15" list.  This list is a handy chart to get to know what are the dirtiest and cleanest foods to purchase in the produce department, so you know which are more important to buy organically.  Since avocado makes the clean 15 list, and since organic avocado are upwards of $1.50 per piece....I choose to just buy regular on this one. 

It does make a convenient baby food, so me and my little guy share them. Also, we throw them into our smoothies a lot, for a good dose of healthy, natural fats---and, it doesn't change the taste at all, yet makes them much creamier.

To freeze, just remove the outer skin and pit...and place into snack size plastic baggie.  Flatten and let air out, close bag.  Place this into a gallon size freezer bag.  Ready for making guacomole, throwing in smoothies, or whatever! No lemon juice needed.

3. To not beat myself up when I don't make perfect food choices. I teach Healthy Family classes at our local homeschool co-op.  My five children and I spend every Tuesday there for a day full of classes and friends.  On this particular Tuesday, I had been up late the night before, and not done my weekly meal plan.  I was out of ideas and energy. So, do you know what I did?  We stopped on the way to classes, and purchased lunchables for everyone to have for lunch. 

I felt a lot of guilt at first.  I mean, I am teaching healthy family classes.  And, I am supposed to set an example for the other families there, right?  Well, yes.  However, as I drove to classes with my lunchables in the backseat, I realized something.  I want to be an example of how to help our families' eat real food. Teaching that real life happens, and legalism is boring, is also important.  Sometimes mama needs a bit of a break, and that's okay!

4. The fact that soaking old-fashioned oats overnight, turns them into quick-cooking oats.  I had learned this a long time ago, yet forgotten to put it into practice with a few of my recipes.  Making the oats much digestable, and much more nutritious.

 5. In my research and studying for my classes, I have come to agreement with this conclusion found in In Defense of Food by Michael Pollan. That the reason for so much sickness in America today is due to one thing.  The fact that we neglect to eat food.  Most of what is in the grocery store is not real  food!

Happy learning,

Joy~

 {This post is a part of Works for me Wednesday at We are that family, as well as Real Food Wednesday, Pennywise Platter , Simple Lives Thursday,  Homestead Barn Hop and Modest Mondays}

Comments

[Mariah]

Those are some great tips! I'm definitely using #1 & #2 this week! Found you through WFMW.

I'm hosting Cake Week 2012 Here (http://theefirewife.blogspot.com/2012/03/cake-week-2012-rules-regulations.html) if you have a cake recipe you'd like to submit for a chance to win some sweet swag! The cake can be healthy, if you need it to be :)

[Elise]

I'm still skeered to freeze chicken broth in glass jars. :P
Totally with you on #3. I don't want to get obsessive about what I eat to the exclusion of all else. (which is another way of saying that I just love Pizza hut too much to live without it ;))

[Samantha Cooper]

Thanks for the great idea for freezing avocado! Glad to know that you can do that....something that I am sure will come handy for us in the future since we all love avocados over here :)

[Anne @ Quick and Easy Cheap and Healthy]

Great tips! I have frozen avocado before with some success; I will have to try your method.

[Gail]

Didn't realize that avocado was on the clean 15 list, and thanks for the tips on easy way to freeze them.

[Carly]

Love the advice

ryandcar.blogspot.com

[Cheryl]

We bought freezer canning jars that don't have a shoulder. The just get wider at the top with a wide mouth lid. Still have to leave headroom but there is no risk of breaking.

[Cyndel]

Good to know with the avicados!!! Next I'll be buying them on sale when the entire been has to be eaten THAT DAY or they're bad, and freeze the lot! I love them on tacos!

[Courtney]

Informative post! Good stuff :)

[Abbi]

I use glass jars to freeze broth some of the time as well. You have to be a little more careful with them but they work fine.