Good morning readers! I have to tell you a fun story. The other day our 12 year old son got a ride home from youth group with some friends and 
they stopped at McDonald's. (Can you believe it?! I had a to take a deep breath and just let it go… LOL!) He said, “They were telling me about this HUGE burger they have there…” I said, “Do you mean the Big Mac?” He got a look of complete shock on his face and said, “Yes, how did you know that?!” Kal (our 19 year old) and I cracked up and told him, “We used to eat there all the time.” Of course Kal had to add, “Back in the good ‘ol days…” I absolutely LOVE that he had never heard of the Big Mac before. Woo-hoooooo! (Obviously McDonald's hasn't advertised the BM much in recent years, huh? Not that he's seen anyway.) If you have similar stories, please share them in the comments, so as parents we can celebrate this kind of stuff together. 🙂
Let's jump right to the scoop for today…
- I'm curious if the issue of grains vs. no grains still has any of you confused? ME TOO! Don't fret though, because soon we'll have a great guest post on this topic (from someone who knows much more than I do), and also I'll share more of my own conclusions after meeting with my natural health practitioner. Stay tuned, and sign up for blog updates (via RSS or email) so you don't miss anything. 🙂
A couple years ago, I went to L.A. to visit my friend, Ann Marie, a.k.a. Cheeseslave (here's my post about it: Expanding my palate in Los Angeles – because I tried so many new foods there!), and met some neat Real Foodies. One couple, Ken & Kathy Lindner, own a bison ranch and just wrote a new book, “Standing into the storm: A journey from industry into grassfed bison ranching and a call to reclaim our agrarian heritage.” Let me know what you think if you read it. 🙂
A couple years ago, I went to L.A. to visit my friend, Ann Marie, a.k.a. Cheeseslave (here's my post about it: 
Don't forget that you have until Friday to enter to win the $100 tub of beef tallow from U.S. Wellness Meats – beef tallow is a healthy cooking fat!
Don't forget that you have until Friday to 
Did you know that the British Prime Minister recently proposed a punitive tax on products with greater than 2.6% saturated fat?! The USDA's dietary guidelines are infecting the world and our Real Food movement needs to continue spreading the truth! You can help to share the message of the Weston A. Price Foundation by purchasing the 2011 Wise Traditions London conference DVD set. Check them out – it's a great way to “go” to a conference if you haven't been able to get there in person.
Did you know that the British Prime Minister recently proposed a punitive tax on products with greater than 2.6% saturated fat?! The USDA's dietary guidelines are infecting the world and our Real Food movement needs to continue spreading the truth! You can help to share the message of the Weston A. Price Foundation by purchasing the 
Do you love and appreciate that you can get raw milk where you are? Please read this information from Kristen: Urgent action for raw milk rights.
Do you love and appreciate that you can get raw milk where you are? Please read this information from Kristen: - More on raw milk: Have you heard of the raw milk freedom riders? These Moms are doing something to protect their food rights!
- Someone sent me this video about how to easily peel garlic in ten seconds, has anyone ever tried this and does it really work?
J in VA says
My 12 yo peered over my shoulder as I read these the other day–today she wanted me to add this:
She was with a group that had been horseback riding and the instructor (who *constantly* eats fast food) “forgot” her lunch so they HAD to stop at McDonalds on the way back. DD had packed her lunch (sandwich, veggies, almonds, few choc. covered peanuts, lard cooked chips and water)–she packed herself. They had talked about stopping for a treat on the way back; so, she chose to get a McFlurry (softserve “ice cream” with M&Ms mixed in).
Her verdict: the M&Ms were good; the “ice cream” was yucky.
I’m glad she thought it was yucky. Now, she really knows why Fast Food Nation and Chew on This are so hard on McDs. I don’t know when the last time we went to McD’s was. Very rarely do we go to Chik-Fil-A or Five Guys.
J in VA
(who has 5 year old McD fries in a jar on my ‘frige–like from Super Size Me– complete with the carton and the date written in. They look just like when we put them in– double YUK!!
Jennifer says
Okay, had to skip straight down to comment after the Big Mac story (but will skip straight back up after I post). It’s probably been 5 years since we’ve eaten any fast food (with the exception of Chipotle, which we get maybe once a month or so), and only my 14- and 12-year-old sons remember eating places like McDonalds, Burger King, etc.
The other day, I was feeling terrible and my husband was exhausted from his day at work and I just couldn’t figure out what to do for dinner. He jokingly asked “So what? You want me to go get some McDonalds?” I joked back “Sure! I’m sure a Double Quarter Pounder will make me feel so much better. Kids, what do you want from McDonalds?”
My 8-year-old daughter – looking completely perplexed – asked “What is a McDonalds? Is it a toy store?” We all laughed, but she was totally serious. I finally figured out why she thought that. I teach music lessons and some of my students’ siblings bring little toys and stuff to play with while they wait. One of them always brings his newest happy meal toy, and when she asks him what the toy is, he says “It’s a McDonald’s toy.” LOL!
I LOVE that she has NO IDEA what McDonalds, or any other junky fast-food restaurants are, much less any desire to eat the food from them.
And while we’re on the subject of teens and the deep breath, I’d love any input you have on the issue. My oldest is a freshman and one of his first high school youth group activities was to a youth conference one state over. The whole 4 days he was gone – including the bus ride there and back – he was limited to McDonalds, Blimpies (a sub place), Pizza Hut and Chick-Fil-A. Needless to say, he came home feeling exhausted and grumpy. I just don’t know how to give him the freedom to do things like that without him feeling alienated or making him a target for peers making fun of him. I seriously want to pack him a plug-in cooler of food for next year’s conference or something. A once-in-a-very-rare-while trip to a fast-food restaurant doesn’t bother me too much. It’s 3-meals-a-day-for-4-days-in-a-row that I’m super-concerned about. I’d love any ideas!
KitchenKop says
Gads, that’s a lot of junk food. I can’t believe they don’t serve ANY food while they’re gone or at least encourage them to bring SOME snacks or lunches from home? I don’t think a plug-in cooler would fly with my kids, but I know I could get them to take some good snacks in their bag at least. Then for the other meals, just look at the online menus ahead of time with them and see if you can find options that aren’t AS terrible… If that’s possible…?
Lastly, when they get home, put them through a “detox”! Lots of fermented CLO, probiotics, cultured/fermented foods, pastured meats, eggs & fats, etc. (Have you seen this post: Counteracting the effects of junk food? https://ow.ly/79sDW )
amy says
Do you have a chance and resources to dehydrate food (like jerky, soups, fruit leather, etc) prior to the conference you could dehydrate a lot of food for him to take (easy to pack and light weight). Then he could pack dehydrated meals, thermos, and a spoon. All he would need is access to is hot water to make a meal. Between thermos meals, jerky, nuts, and fruit leather he should be able to survive for four days out of a suitcase.
J in VA says
I don’ t know if this was a religious youth group or some other sort of group and I’m not sure if it matters; but… before next year could you talk to the sponsor or who ever plans the trip and and try to encourage/educate them on why 12 meals of fast food is bad? Maybe expose that person to the Maker’s Diet book if nothing else (if it is a religious context–giving a Biblical basis for your position–if it applies might go a long way.)
It would seem that somehow at least one meal a day could be from a restaurant that sells FOOD–vegetables besides fries, meat without breading or buns–or at least easier access to those foods.
Then load him up the nutritious snacks so that he’ll be less hungry for junk when he has to choose it.
Leon @ Organically Thought says
I want to share that big macs are one of my addictions. When I watched “Super Size Me” it drove me to pause the movie go through the drive through and finish the DVD while eating that poison (SO CRAZY). I have successfully not had any McDonald’s in about six months. Before that I spent most of my time eating very healthy but once and a while would sneak a number 1 with a 10 piece nugget on the side. When I would see Julie at home later in the evening she could always be able to tell by how physically and mentally the food had effected me. I have to say for the first time since I was a young child I can drive by MD with out getting a craving. Our kids get a home cooked whole foods dinner and then we go play on the play structure. They are very accustomed to going into a McDonald’s and not eating. Once and a while one of them will ask me “why are all these people eating the bad food?” I just answer “they may not know it is bad.” CUTE boys they are 4, 5 and 6.
Lenetta says
“Two all beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions on a sesame seed bun….” :>) I haven’t eaten there in years but i can still sing the song! :>)
KitchenKop says
LOL, me too!!
Stanley Fishman says
That is a great story, Kelly! Your whole family is so blessed to be fed real food.
I once knew a little boy who liked to go out and collect candy on Halloween, but he never ate any of it. His parents did not eat candy and they did not introduce him to it, so he never even wanted to try it.
Kendahl says
Kelly, I’m loving all these stories about real food kids who don’t know what Big Macs and donuts are! My youngest is that way, which is great 🙂
Meagan says
Thanks for the links Kelly – looking forward to meeting you at WAPF!!
Meagan says
And btw I LOVED the Big Mac story – “huge hamburger” LOLOL
D. says
When my youngest son was six y/o, my sister asked him what he wanted for Christmas. He told her he wanted a Happy Meal like they advertise on TV. She looked at me really weird and said “hasn’t he ever had a happy meal?” and I said “heck no, we don’t go to mcdonald’s and those places”. So the following year she again asked him what he wanted for Christmas and he told her he still wanted a Happy Meal. She said to me “for Pete’s sake, would you take this kid to mcdonald’s so he at least knows what a happy meal is”? I told her he wouldn’t get one if I could help it. One day the parent of one of his classmates brought happy meals to school for birthday treats (can you believe that??) and my kid didn’t want his food, just the toy. When he got home he said “Gee, Mom, the toy was fun, but I didn’t like the smell of the food so I didn’t even eat it”. How’s THAT for a smartypants kid??!!
*He also thought Santa’s name was Santa Closet (because we hid things in the closet . . .) Oh what I wouldn’t give to go into rewind and have him be a child again. He is now 24 and he and his wife just lost a baby while my DIL was in her 5th month. Two healthy kids and then this. I suspect it is because she was foolish enough to take a flu shot recently. That’s speculation on my part, of course, but it’s STRONG speculation. I’m against all vaccines from the get-go, so this did not set well with me. I told my DH to put his arm around my shoulder and his hand over my mouth whenever we’re around them for a while or I’ll for sure say something. Arg.
D. says
Oh, I forgot to mention in my last post about something my DH and I are going to do for our son and his wife who lost the baby. We are going to order a Peace Light or a Serenity Light (the serenity lights are smaller and probably more suited to a child’s grave). Read the story of their inception and stuff here: http://www.peacelights.com
D. says
Sorry it should be http://www.peacelight.com (I hope)
KitchenKop says
I love your stories about “Santa Closet” and the happy meal!!!
Good for you for knowing that you can’t say a word about that flu shot to your son or DIL. Just pray that she may put 2 + 2 together one of these days and ask you about it. You could reply with, “I actually wondered about that, but would never want to hurt you by bringing it up…” Having lost so many babies myself, I know that the wrong things people say after such a loss can stick with you for YEARS. A couple come to mind right now, actually, even though I know these people love me and surely didn’t mean to hurt me at all.
The peace light is such a special idea. They’ll love knowing that you are mourning your grandbaby along with them and that you care enough to do something like that for them. Blessings to you all…
Kelly
One Wellness says
Last night my son (almost 4 years old) and I were at a friends house for a halloween gathering. We went into the kitchen to get him some water, and there was some cans of soda in the fridge. He pointed to the soda and said, “Is that stuff yucky, mom? Does it have too much sugar?” To which of course I responded “Yes!” And then he said, “I like water better.”
Adrienne @ Whole New Mom says
Kelly,
I actually have a list in my blogging notebook of all of the things that my 6 yo hasn’t heard of. For example, the other day I said we could do something fun, perhaps, like make healthy Pop Tarts, to which he responded with an innocent, “What’s a Pop Tart??” The next time we were in the grocery store I showed him. :-). He’s pretty tempted by junk food so I am glad he is somewhat sheltered.
🙂
Take care,
Adrienne
Kate @ Modern Alternative Mama says
My 3-year-old doesn’t know what donuts or soda are, and I recently got her to drink kombucha! (I’ll have to remedy the former though with soaked dough fried in pastured lard at some point!) Yesterday we were at Walmart briefly and I led her down the cereal aisle on purpose. I showed her the brightly-colored boxes and asked, “Do you think this is healthy food?” I got a big NO from her. Previously when looking at cereal boxes she said, “Wow, people eat a lot of junk!” She also tells me she wants to eat healthy food so she can grow big, while junk food would make her sick. All brightly-colored juices (like sports drinks) are automatically “junk” to her. She won’t eat anything from a package without asking if it has good food or junk food in it. Yeah, we’re teaching her early. 🙂
lindsey says
The garlic trick really does work! You have to use stainless/metal bowls though, and shake them really hard…it’s a little arm workout 🙂
Jill N says
Love the garlic video! Will try ASAP! When I peel, I break the cloves apart by smashing the whole head like he does. Then I cut the root end off a clove, then press on it under the flat side of a chef’s knife, smashing the clove slightly and causing the paper skin to pop off or at least loosen. Might help you for when you just need a few cloves. But I’m definitely trying his way!
Musings of a Housewife says
I can’t wait to hear more about the grains vs no grains debate.
And I’m loving the Big Mac story. It has been ages since we ate at a Mickey D’s and I doubt my kids would know what that is either. YAY for small steps!