My Real Food Timeline – How It All Started

My Real Food Timeline

I started this Boholistic Mom website in 2013 to reach out to my friends, family, and any of those who were interested in real food like I was. Yet my real food timeline and journey started many years before that point. So many people get bogged down and frustrated when they think about all the different changes they could made and maybe should make, but when you realize that life is a process it isn’t daunting . . . it’s about learning and growing. Walk with me through my life and how I changed and grew into the Boholistic Mom I am today.

1992-1998

Suffered with asthma and allergies

2000

Realized I was lactose intolerant after having problems every day at 1 p.m. after having milk at lunch

2000-2006

Had vaccinations containing heavy metals before college and before going on a trip to South Africa

2006

Married my husband, James
Picked up my husband’s Diet Coke habit
Started “cooking” for our family . . . by box and by freezer meals

2007

Diagnosed with IBS by a Gastroenterologist
She never was asked what I was eating or drinking . . .
Began to cut out high fructose corn syrup

2008

Gave up Diet Coke
No longer […]

By Boholistic Mom|August 20th, 2014|Brooke S., Lifestyle Tips, Real Food Recipes, Real Food, Real People|1 Comment

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Making a Bone Broth

When considering real food and traditional foods, the journey cannot truly begin without the basic knowledge of bone broth. Our ancestors could not have survived without broth (or stock) and many traditional cultures used broths as the fundamental building block for many recipes. Only within the last 100 years has broth become a thing of the past being replaced by broth in a carton, can, or even worse broth by bouillon cube. The flavors of soups, curries, and other recipes have suffered from the loss of knowledge about traditional broths and many households no longer recognize the authentic taste or texture of an authentic broth.

What is Bone Broth?

“Broth (or stock) is a mineral rich infusion made by boiling bones of healthy animals with vegetables, herbs and spices.”¹ Broth is a highly nutrient dense super food!

Why Bone Broth?

What doesn’t bone broth have? As I researched the benefits and the mineral properties of bone broth, the information regarding the benefits were extensive. Here are a few basic “why’s” to bone broth:

Calcium² – important for strong bones and teeth
Magnesium² – vital for many needed inner processes including calcium management
Glycosaminoglycans² – important for connective tissues, tendons, and joints
Phosphorus – Bones are made of calcium and phosphorus⁷
Amino acids proline – “vital for healthy connective tissue (ligaments, joints, around organs, etc)”¹
Amino acids glycine – “plays extensive roles in digestive health, proper functioning of the nervous system and in wound healing” and “Glycine is […]

By Boholistic Mom|February 28th, 2014|Brooke S., Real Food Recipes, Traditional Recipes|3 Comments

Using the Entire Chicken

Traditionally, in order to eat chicken a person would take an entire chicken that had lived in their yard or farm and kill it. They wouldn’t have just cut off a breast and left the rest. The chicken would have eaten grubs from the ground, weeds, grass, seeds, and insects. It had the freedom to move about the yard and farm without having to step on its own feces. When the owner was ready to eat the chicken, the chicken would have been killed by removing their heads and it would have been prepared to be eaten. The entire chicken was then used for food.

Eat Traditional Chickens

Today, chickens are raised in massive factory farms. The chickens are shoved together into a small space, where they step in each others feces, cannot stretch their wings, or even go for a walk. They lead stressed lives in extreme captivity. Some of these birds will not live long enough to become a meal. They are systematically and brutally herded into trucks then taken to slaughter houses. They are then slaughtered, plucked, the necks are removed, the feet removed, and their insides are gutted. The entire chicken will not be used by a family. Each of the pieces end up in a different place. Most families will never use the chicken feet (that are a great source of gelatin), the chicken livers (that are a great source of iron and Vitamin A, all the Vitamin Bs, and folic acid), or the chicken bones (that have vitamins and minerals that are perfect for growing families).

What nutritional value is actually […]

By Boholistic Mom|September 16th, 2013|Brooke S., Real Food Recipes, Traditional Recipes|1 Comment

Paleo Egg and Bacon Muffins

Whether you are paleo or doing a Whole 30, these Paleo Egg and Bacon Muffins definitely fit the bill for a quick and easy breakfast recipe. Make this recipe with a 12 cup muffin pan and you have breakfast all week long. What gets simpler than that?

Ingredients

12 pieces of bacon

12 eggs

4-6 mushrooms, sliced

1 sweet red bell pepper, diced (optional)

Process

Set your oven to 350 F. Take the bacon and wrap each piece inside the edge of each of the twelve cups of the muffin pan. The bacon will overlap a bit. Then take the slices of mushrooms and lay each piece side by side to cover the bottom of the tin. If you add in the bell peppers, sprinkle a little at the bottom of each cup. Finally, break an egg into each cup. Slide your muffin pan into the oven on the middle shelf for about 20 minutes or until firm.

Violá! Beautiful Paleo Egg and Bacon Muffins!

Mini Paleo Egg Muffins

Today, I was taking my paleo egg and bacon muffins to Classical Conversations, so I needed an alternative to making each muffin an egg a piece. So here is my recipe that has the paleo egg muffins in a mini muffin tin pan.

Ingredients

square pieces of bacon (about 6 strips cut)

4-6 eggs, beaten and fluffy

coconut oil

Process

Set your oven to 350 F. Use […]

By Boholistic Mom|September 12th, 2013|Brooke S., Quick & Easy, Real Food Recipes|0 Comments

Real Food, Real People: Brooke

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by Brooke Shambley

Originally posted on Fancy Little Things: I Stopped Dieting on July 11, 2013

Oh heavens! I used the word diet; please, don’t run away screaming. I no longer fear the word diet. I detest the verb “dieting,” but I absolutely cherish the word diet.

Dieting

verb

The eating small amounts of food, exercising intensely, and feeling dead in the water

To eat sparingly or according to prescribed rules – Merriam-Webster

Diet

noun

A way that I eat that is consistently good for me

Habitual nourishment – Merriam-Webster

I grew up during the low fat craze of dieting. There were low fat Oreos, low fat Wheat Thins; dude, they were even pulling the fats out of cheese! I thought that fat was bad.

Then the fad was low cal. Low calorie brownies, diet soda, everything became low calorie or diet. Now I felt that I not only needed to avoid fats, but I should stay away from calories. Alright, avoid fats, avoid calories, check!

Then it was carbs…the next food villain. “Keep your hands off those muffins!” “Don’t even think about eating the free […]

By Boholistic Mom|July 31st, 2013|Brooke S., Real Food Recipes, Real Food, Real People|2 Comments

Real Food, Real People: Jessica

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by Jessica

I’m reading a Kindle book. I know, I know. But it was cheaper.

It’s called “It Starts with Food.” It’s about the Paleo diet – AKA eating food that’s actually good for you. Foods that actually add to your health rather than detracting from it due to unnecessary additives and processing and fake sugar and the works. And about how, if you’re eating real food that really is good for you, your body is actually able to operate at its full potential, including an increased power with which to fight disease, resist allergic reactions, recover from injuries, achieve better degrees of mental focus, and get a good night’s rest. Don’t just feed your face – increase your […]

By Boholistic Mom|July 31st, 2013|Real Food Recipes, Real Food, Real People|0 Comments

Vegetable Broth

2 Carrots

2 Onions

2 Garlic Cloves

2 Celery Stalks (fennel stalks will also work)

2-6 Tomatoes

Water (approximately 8 – 10 cups)

Other Vegetables (peppers, sweet potato, fennel, etc. as desired)

2 Bay Leaves

Organic Virgin Raw Coconut Oil, Extra Virgin Olive Oil, or Grass Fed Dairy Butter

Chop the carrots, onions, garlic, celery, and other vegetables into small pieces to maximize the surface area able to caramelize while sautéing the vegetables. Take the carrots, onions, garlic, celery, and other vegetables and sauté in the bottom of your stock pot using the coconut oil, olive oil, or butter. Sauté vegetables until they are browning slightly. For larger vegetables, consider caramelizing the vegetables separately. Add the water, the tomatoes, and the spices. Bring the broth to a boil then lower to a simmer and continue to cook 2-3 hours.

Strain the broth into a large bowl. Consider eating the vegetables that are left over from the broth or using them in another dish.

Drink the broth for a healthy snack or use in recipes to increase the nutrients in other recipes. Freeze the broth to save for recipes and for times of sickness. The vegetable broth can be kept in the refrigerator for 3 – 4 days or frozen for up to 3 months.

7 Tips for Full-Flavoured Vegetable Stock – Stone Soup

Homemade Vegetable Stock – Martha Stewart

By Boholistic Mom|July 19th, 2013|Brooke S., Real Food Recipes, Traditional Recipes|0 Comments

Real Food Hummus: Fantastic Snack or Side

If you are searching for a recipe for real food hummus you have come to the right place. Real food hummus is great; hummus is adequate, but not fabulous. Considering hummus is so easy to make, why not make it fresh and as real as possible? Try this real food hummus recipe and get your family snacking right!

Real Food Hummus

2 cups – Chickpeas, cooked or canned (or Garbanzo Beans)

1 tablespoon – Tahini (or Peanut Butter)

2 tablespoons – Extra-Virgin Olive Oil

1 small – Garlic Clove

1 small – Lemon, juiced

1/4 teaspoon – Salt

Pinch of Cayenne Pepper

Directions

Combine all ingredients in a food processor or a heavy duty blender. Continue to blend ingredients until smooth. Add extra olive oil to the bowl when serving, as desired.

Remember, a recipe is only as good as you decide. If you want more garlic, add more garlic. If you want more lemon flavor, add more lemon juice. Tweak the recipe until it is your own and just the way you like it!

Possible Additions

2 tablespoons – Roasted Red Peppers

2 tablespoons – Italian Roasted Eggplant

1 teaspoon – Cilantro

1 teaspoon – Parsley

Add one of these additions to a batch of hummus to add a new kick to your hummus.

Additional Recipe Ideas

Hummus is all in the taste of the beholder . . . or at least of the one eating it. If you don’t like my particular recipe, no problem! Try making it another way and I’m sure you’ll find the combination you like. Remember, if you don’t like a food one way, just keep trying. You will find a way to […]

By Boholistic Mom|July 10th, 2013|Brooke S., Quick & Easy, Real Food Recipes, Traditional Recipes|0 Comments

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