The Paleo Mama

Homegrown and Handmade

Jackie Ritz

Paleo/Primal Lunch Box Ideas

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Do you find that packing a Paleo lunch box is extremely difficult? It can be pretty overwhelming. That’s why I’m writing this post today. I want to encourage you that the daunting task of packing a non-gluten filled lunch is completely possible and, possibly, even easier than you thought!

Here is what I made for my kids for lunch the other day: 

Wait, don’t you homeschool? Technically, yes. But my daughter is only Pre-k/Kindergarden age so we just, pretty much, have a lot of fun during the day. I’m enjoying these early years. Did you see what I posted on Facebook the other day about homeschooling? It’s a conversation I had with a woman at the Social Security Office.

Lady: “Why isn’t your daughter in school…she looks like she should be in Kindergarten?”
Me: “Nah, she is only 4.”
Lady: “Well, then she should be in pre-k, right?”
Me: “Technically, I guess.”
Lady: “Then why isn’t she?”
Me: “I homeschool.” …..hoping that with being short, she would get off my tail.
Lady: “ohhh then why are you here and not homeschooling her? Shouldn’t she be learning something today?”
Me: “Because this is why I homeschool…so I can go and do whatever I want with them.  Plus she is learning how to put up with idiots like you. ” I said that last part in my head.
Lady: “Wow, I’ve never heard that before…I’m not a big fan of homeschooling.”
Me: “I’m not a big fan of talking to you. Have a good day though.”

Crazy, eh? And, yes, I really said that last part.

Back to lunches…

Even though I homeschool, I still present healthy, colorful foods to my kids. It really helps get them to eat better. My kids do eat some high quality dairy, so we include that in our lunches.

Need more lunch ideas and inspiration? 

Great things on Amazon for lunches: 

Don’t forget to follow this real food lunchbox page for great ideas!

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Chocolate Pecan Pie Energy Bars

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Today I’m excited to share this guest post from Jennifer of Sweet Plantains. Please head over to Sweet Plantains and check out Jennifer’s amazing recipes and don’t forget to follow Sweet Plantains on Facebook! -Jackie 

We have a little grocery shopping tradition in our family. A light at the end of the tunnel, if you will. And believe me, you need a light when you attempt any sort of shopping with four kids. After we’ve gone through the whole store (and back again, since I inevitably forgot one thing all the way at the beginning), we head to the “bar aisle” for a Larabar.

We love Larabars. They’re chewy, fruity, and filling; and while so many bars in the health food store are masquerading as healthy, it’s like a breath of fresh air to find something a picky mommy like me can be happy to give her kids.

There are so many different flavors that I can grandly motion to a whole row, and say, “Pick one. Any one. Whichever one you want, you can have.” It feels good. Especially since chances are I just spent the last half hour explaining why we can’t get soy-ladened-this, or food-colored-that. And even though I have to stand there for a full five minutes while each child agonizes and debates the merits of each flavor before picking the exact same one as the sibling before them, I get to feel the thrill of allowing my children to get a store-bought goodie wrapped in a shiny, colorful, crinkly package. A rare treat, indeed!

I’d love to pack up a whole basket of those great little bars to take home. Unfortunately, they’re a little tough on the budget department. They’re such a great portable snack that I just had to decode the formula and start making my own larabars at home. Which, as it turns out, is even better than buying them – and not just for the money saved. Making homemade Larabars is so incredibly simple and easy, and when I make them at home, I get to create any flavor my little heart desires.

Like Chocolate Pecan Pie. Yes, I did say Chocolate Pecan Pie. Sweet and decadent, it tastes like the perfect combination of fudge and pecan pie – all rolled into one healthy, energy-packing little bar. And while I do love making these with my kids, I will forewarn you – it’s hard to share!

Chocolate Pecan Pie Energy Bars

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup toasted pecans
  • 1 cup dried apricots
  • 1/2 cup dried blueberries
  • 1/2 cup raisins
  • 1/4 cup cocoa powder

Directions:

1. Put the pecans in the bowl of a food processor and process until they are the consistency of cornmeal. Set aside.

2.  Put the fruit in the food processor and puree until smooth.

3. Add in the cocoa and the pecans and process until well combined.

4. Line an 8″ square baking dish (or equivalent) with parchment or wax
paper, leaving a few inches of paper hanging over either side.

5. Spoon the fruit mixture into the parchment-lined pan and flatten – either with slightly
damp hands, or by pressing down with the overhanging paper.

6. Cover the dish with plastic wrap, and place in the refrigerator for a few hours until hardened.

7. Place the hardened mixture on a cutting board, peel off the paper, and cut into bars of desired size.

8. Wrap each bar individually in parchment, or layer them in an airtight container with parchment between each layer.

Enjoy!

Jennifer is a stay-at-home, homeschooling mom of four. She is an avid cook, health enthusiast, and lover of all things homemade! At Sweet Plantains she shares original recipes, homeschooling tips, parenting thoughts, and anything else that strikes her fancy. In her spare time she enjoys experimenting in the kitchen, reading nutrition books, and being barefoot outdoors with her little ones!

 

shared at: Mostly Homemade Mondays  and Holistic Squid

The Udder Truth: City Girl Adventures in Goat Milking

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Hi everyone! I’m Jackie, a city girl turned farm girl. I grew up in Orlando, Florida and all my life had a calling for living on a farm. I would run into farmers and tell them that my dream was to have a farm. They would look at me like I was crazy and say, “I didn’t know people dreamed of doing this.” 

So, after years of dreaming of having a farm, we finally made it a reality! Three weeks ago we moved to the mountains of Western North Carolina to fulfill our farming and homesteading dreams. One of the first things I did, even before we moved to North Carolina, was look for a goat. I wanted to be able to have fresh milk every day. So, I bought a goat. I bought two goats.

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We moved to North Carolina, ditched our sleek, sedan, pimped out Altima and bought a old, cornflour blue, pickup truck. We hopped into our new “ride” to pick up our goats. The kids sat, excitedly, in the back seat and we arrived at our destination. “Ok…now what?” Ummm, ok…the big mama goat got shoved into a dog kennel in the truck bed…and I’m talking SHOVED. Poor thing. The (not-so) baby goat sat ON MY LAP in the front seat. “Helloooooo goat”.

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So, here we are, a family from the city that just moved into the country and we are driving in a 21 year old pickup truck with 2 goats that are bleating incredibly loud! “Oh what a dream.” One is pooping in the dog kennel, the other is trying to climb into the driver seat, and my husband is getting hit on by a local redneck woman driving next to us. “Hello, I’m the wife and, yes, we those are goats. Hot, right?” The kids had no idea what to think. But we arrived home safely, tucked the goats into their new barn, and said goodnight till the morning.

Oh the day has finally come! Oh sweet morning! I have dreamed of this for years…milking my beautiful goat out in the mountain breeze; pumping fresh, warm milk into a shiny new bucket. I jump up from bed at around 4am, I just couldn’t sleep. Let’s do this. I washed and sanitized the bucket as all the articles had said, and I set out to milk my new goat. As I walk out into the cool air in my new rubber boots carrying my shiny, new bucket, the thoughts of chèvre, feta cheese, and goat milk ice cream dance in my head.

Into the barn I go. I prepare the milk stand that my husband, so graciously built, for me. Then call Sophie, the mama, to the stand. She doesn’t move. She stares me down. “Oh, Sophie, come on you old goat. I’m your new owner…I know you got some delicious milk for me.” I, literally, have to drag her to the milk stand. It’s almost abusive. My desire for milk is becoming squashed by a stubborn goat. “Oh, no Sophie, I will get some milk. Don’t spoil my dream.“What is her problem? I bribe her to the stand with grains. Up she goes and I lock her head in. Ok, here we go.

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What in the world am I doing? Am I really about to milk a goat? One look at those hairy teats and I about lose it. Oh city-girl Jackie…where am I again? Some old farmhouse milking a goat…my mother is probably dying laughing at the thought of this.

I grab my homemade, organic, udder wash for Sophie and go for it. Get them teats all nice and clean. Clean teats make clean milk. Thank God I was by myself. It took me almost 10 minutes to clean them teats. Sophie was almost done with her food. “NOoooo, slow down, I still have to milk you.”

Alright, here we go….I grab my shiny silver bucket and give her teats a squeeze. Nothing. Ok, let’s try this again. Squeeeeeze. Sophie about jumps a mile high. Sorry girl. I’ll get this. I squeeze again and I shoot myself in the neck with milk. At least there’s milk! All I can think about is all the times I spent milking myself!

“Do her teats feel like my nipples did?” God, I sure hope not.  I aim, set, and fire away…I’m doing it with two hands. “Look at me, twooooo hands!!!” As soon as I start getting it, Sophie steps in the nice, new, shiny, clean bucket and my heart sinks. “Are those poop particles floating around in there now? Shoot, I guess I can’t use this milk.”  I leave the goat strapped into the milk stand and run in to get another bucket to use. I come back and get back into my rythym. Squeeze, aim, and fire away. Sophie wiggles and squirms and kicks me over and over again. “WHAT????”

She squats and an enormous amount of pee comes out. Really? Is this really happening? A goat is, literally, peeing on me.

I clean the table…then I clean her udder again. “I want some friggin milk.” Squeeze, aim, fire…squeeze, aim, fire. The sound of milk hits the bucket and I smile. I am here…no longer a dream. I’m milking a goat…my goat. So beautiful!

“OMG what is eff is that falling from the sky???” The sound of a million little goat turds hit the table. I back away and look at the goat. How could she disgrace herself like that?

I clean the table again…then her udder AGAIN…and she kicks me over and over. I manage to get about 3 tablespoons of milk that morning. Whew…what to do with 3 tablespoons of milk?

Thankfully, Sophie and I have an understanding now. I let her poop and pee before bringing her to the milk stand and she gives me almost a half gallon of milk every morning.

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shared on : Prairie Homestead

Kick the Weight With Keto – How to Lose Weight & Feel Great on a Paleo Ketogenic Diet

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Hey everyone! I wanted to share with you this great book I’m reading called, “Kick the Weight with Keto – How to Lose Weight and Feel Great on a Paleo Ketogenic Diet.” It’s a book by a woman, Kim Knoch, who was eating everything right on Paleo alone but still wasn’t losing weight. After discovering that it wasn’t because of a lack of willpower, laziness, or anything else, she prescribed herself a low-carb ketogenic diet. Kim began treating her disability to lose weight by using a ketogenic diet cure.

Kim has dropped from 260lbs to 220lbs!!! She describes this way of eating as a “lifestyle”…kind of how Paleo is to me! I love that she is open about her continual transformation saying, “I didn’t want to wait until I’m “perfect” to share this method, since I am for the time in my life having success!” Before Keto, Kim had come to grips with the fact that she was meant to be obese…but not anymore!

What is a Ketogenic Diet? 

Kick the Weight with Keto uses “nutritional ketosis” to tell your brain to use ketones for fuel instead of glucose. Ketones break down fatty acids, either from fat in your diet, or from your own body fat stores. When you lower your carbohydrate intake enough your body starts breaking down fat for fuel! Which, obviously, is a great thing! When you are eating loads of carbs, your body uses glucose to burn fuel and doesn’t tap into fat stores causing weight loss. Kicking yourself into ketosis requires diligence and a deep desire to see your health (and weight) improve.

Is Kick the Weight with Keto for me? 

Do you want to lose weight? Has your weight loss stalled with eating Paleo or Primal alone? Do you suffer from metabolic issues (thyroid, adrenal fatigue, PCOS) or blood sugar issues? Are you a healthy weight but would like more mental clarity? Then Kick the Weight with Keto is for you!

**Nutritional ketosis has worked for so many different types of people. If you are pregnant/breastfeeding or have type 1 diabetes, then you should avoid a Ketogenic diet.

What’s the Diet Like?

The Keto diet is somewhat similar to eating Paleo or Primal(with the inclusion of high quality dairy) and uses a high fat, moderate protein, and low carb guideline. Kim gives you a suggestions of what to eat and what to avoid to help kick your body into nutritional ketosis. In the book you will find 2 weeks of suggested meal plans and LOTS of recipes. In fact, half the book is recipes!!!

After reading Kim’s book and educating myself more on nutritional ketosis, I am going to be adding it into my nutritional regime. I have, personally, lost over 60lbs eating Paleo, but my weightloss has stalled. I’ve been ok with that because I am comfortable with myself, however, I, clearly, have around 15-20 more lbs to lose. I’m pretty sure Kick the Weight with Keto will do the trick! Won’t you join with me?

Click here to learn more and get Kick the Weight with Keto!

 

Here’s a few awesome recipes and a peak inside the book: 

Keto Meatloaf

Ingredients:

  • 1lb of ground beef
  • 1/2 cup of tomato paste or low sugar ketchup
  • 1 TB onion flakes
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon of salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon of pepper
  • 1 teaspoon worcestershire sauce
  • 2 eggs
  • 1/2 cup almond flour
  • 1/2 cup crushed up pork rinds

Directions:

  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
  2. Mix all the ingredients in a large bowl with hands or in a food processor.
  3. Form into a loaf shape and put in a baking pan.
  4. Bake for 45-60 minutes.

A few other great recipes from her book that I love:

Crispy Cauliflower Crust Pizza

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Stuffed Chicken Breasts

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Low Carb Sub Sandwich “Unwich”

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Green Beans with Bacon and Onions

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Click here to learn more and get Kick the Weight with Keto!

Want to read more Book Love posts? Click here for all my favorite books I’ve been reading!

First EVER Paleo Pinterest Party: Bring On Autumn!

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Hey everyone! Have you heard of Pinterest parties? It’s when a bunch of girls (or guys…maybe?!) get together and bring a few dishes from a recipe they found on Pinterest. Hey, you might as well put all that pinning to good use!

They sound so fun so I thought I would create a virtual version of a Pinterest party for my Paleo/Primal followers and bloggers! It will help us connect and share fabulous recipes that we have tried!

Are you following me on Pinterest? If not, click here!

Get ready for the VERY FIRST Paleo Pinning Party!!! My Paleo Pinning Party will take place EVERY THURSDAY with a new focus/theme for each week!

Since Autumn, officially, begins Sept 22, let’s bring in the crispy season of Autumn with sharing your favorite fall recipes!

BONUS* All recipes submitted will be pinned onto my Pinterest page!!!

HAPPY PINNING EVERYONE!!!

-Jackie @ The Paleo Mama

 

No Bean Paleo Pumpkin Hummus

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Don’t you just love that name…meatified!?!!! It just makes me want to search the Meatified website and make a big juicy and meaty pot roast!  Rach from Meatified has such a beautiful website with some delicious recipes. I get lost looking at her food photography on her page! She has put together a recipe that will satisfy that Pumpkin itch and leave your belly satisfied and full of Paleo Pumpkin Hummus…oh and with no beans! Cause we all know friends don’t let friends eat beans! Please welcome my friend Rach from Meatified!!!

I think if I ever wrote a memoir of my former vegetarian days, it would probably be titled something cheesy like “Hummus: A LOVE STORY”. Because, boy, could I chow down on the stuff. I think it’s safe to say that I was bordering on the obsessive. I can’t remember how I first came to the realization that a plain ol’ bean could be transformed into something creamy, tangy and ridiculously delicious, but once I did, I’d hazard a guess that approximately 347% of my meatless meals probably featured hummus.

Well, ok, that might be a teensy bit of an exaggeration. But only a little. I really, really liked the stuff. And then came Paleo. Well, actually, first came the misery of Hashimoto’s Disease. Paleo definitely helped to alleviate the symptoms of my thyroid problems, but it’s safe to say that it also destroyed my hummus dreams. If there was ever a reason to lament the loss of legumes, the absence of hummus in my life was it.

When people began telling me that you could make hummus from zucchini, I flat out refused to believe them. I mean, there was no WAY that a squash was going to replace a bean. Stop taunting me with your Paleo lies! And then one day, desperate for my dip-fix, I caved. I made zucchini hummus. And the hummus-afficionado in me became so ecstatic that it’s a good job I live in the middle of nowhere. The perks of country life? No one can see you dance around your kitchen like a flailing toddler. Yay.

Since Fall is supposedly coming but it’s still in the 90s for me temperature wise, I’m not quite ready to pumpkin spice ALL THE THINGS! But I did want to get my pumpkin habit started on time, so I flavored this batch of no bean Paleo hummus with pumpkin puree. It adds a gentle sweetness, a vibrant color and even a little extra snazzy creaminess to the original recipe. Top that with a little smoked paprika and this is one heck of a dip! Best part? It will take you all of 2 minutes to make if you’ve got a mini food processor. Let’s face it: nothing beats fast, healthy AND tasty in the kitchen!

No Bean Paleo Pumpkin Hummus
makes just over 1 1/2 cups

Pumpkin Hummus 3 WM

Ingredients

Directions:

  1. Add all ingredients to a mini food processor.
  2. Process until everything is combined and the texture is as smooth as you like – that’s it! Drizzle with a little extra olive oil for prettiness before serving.

A former vegetarian, Rach at Meatified originally came upon the Paleo lifestyle while looking for a way to improve her health after years of Hashimoto’s disease. She writes original recipes that are grain and sugar free while trying to finally figure out how to work the camera she shamelessly “borrowed” from her husband. When she’s not in the kitchen, she can usually be found planning her perfect future mini farmstead in gloriously overly-exaggerated detail.

You can find Meatified on Facebook, Pinterest & Twitter, too!

Recipe shared on: Real Food Forager and Healthy Roots Happy Soul