Processed Food Free CLUB! part 1

funnygirl0940
funnygirl0940 Posts: 260
edited September 25 in Food and Nutrition
Do we have a club of PFF community? I read topics from time to time but would love to start one! Only requirement would be that your home is processed food free or pretty darn close to it! :D I don't have a cow or goat so I still buy fresh cheese and milk. Although I do know how to make cream cheese :o)

The other "exception" that's in our house is that daily piece, I mean one piece, of dark chocolate. It's made trips a fun adventure searching for the best dark chocolate in the area and making a yummy souvenir!

So, yes, not to be too hard nosed, there are exceptions to the rule but over all 95% PFF! Love to meet you and know if you're blogging your adventures or have something new to share that fits within the confines of homesteading or living PFF ;o) Are their any urban homesteaders out there in MFP land??? We're semi...We have a square foot garden and chickens. :o)
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Replies

  • Jenn97355
    Jenn97355 Posts: 103 Member
    Hi Lori :bigsmile:

    I'm with you on the LEAST processed a house can get, and still weeding out "junk" I find...while still allowing my 10y.o daughter to have mac and cheese once a month(she is a kid after all):bigsmile: :laugh: ... My husband is the one having a hard time--some things really bother me, but others are easy to let go! I have been trying to get my house HFCS -free for 2yrs!! NOT an easy job when it seems the WORLD is made out of this junk!! My downfall is I am allergic to honey :sad: so, I have been looking for an alternative--have yet to try Agave, kinda scared due to many food allergies! But--love that I can go to my pantry and get applesauce I canned last season for dessert and organic pasta sauce w/hormone free range beef... This I am proud to say I am doing better for my family. We drink only raw milk, and I make yogurt, and culture kefir daily(Thanks to my BFF) She has taught me to make cheese(and we get the stuff that is too strong for her family!) Also, butter... :heart:
    BTW--one of the things I have been meaning to try is cream cheese!!! I am excited! Does it take long?:flowerforyou:
    BTW--Good idea on the group :flowerforyou:

    Jenn
  • Robin1117
    Robin1117 Posts: 1,768 Member
    Hi! Would love to participate. I'm not sure what % I am non-processed, but it's a relatively high number and grows all the time as I learn to make new things. I have the will these days and some extra time so am taking it in steps.

    We definitely do the all-natural, no HFCS, whole foods focus. I'm making my own breads and granolas, but haven't done the flour grinding (is that what it's called, or milling?). I bought supplies and a cookbook to make cheese but haven't started that project yet. I would love to make greek yogurt--I eat a ton of it. Maybe a project for this spring/summer? We buy local beef and lamb in season. I have a veggie garden that I'm still learning with, so the output isn't great, but have a wonderful CSA share that provides most of our veggies where we get local organic veggies 9 months out of the year. YUM....can't wait for that to start up again! I forage for wild mushrooms and ramps (leeks) and fiddleheads--soon (spring) we'll have those and morel mushrooms. In the summer, chanterelles and quite a few others. I so can't wait!

    One of the things I think about also is just supporting the local economy. In Vermont we are so lucky. We have the best cheese you can imagine. We have really talented people making things like salsas, jellys, maple syrup, honey, etc. I make some decisions to not make some things in lieu of purchasing from our neighbors and feel excellent about that as well. I believe as long as they have the same unprocessed, all-natural focus, I'm going to support them.

    Anyway, look forward to discussing this topic and learning some additional ways to move along towards a more unprocessed world!
  • Thanks girls!! :D

    The cream cheese & greek yogurt is super easy to make! I use a thin cloth, actually a tortilla towel w/a yarn border but a cheese cloth would be best, i suppose. I fill the cloth with natural yogurt and suspend over a nob on the upper kitchen cabinet. Let the water/whey drip into a pan. Takes about 6-8 hours. You can set it out at night and by morning it should be done. When there is no more whey, it's done! That's cream cheese! Add a tsp of vanilla or spices for a tasty cream cheese spread!
  • Robin1117
    Robin1117 Posts: 1,768 Member
    so the natural yogurt you use on the cheesecloth--I assume you make this?
  • yes, i do! fill the cloth and tie it up and suspend it so the whey drips out & when it stops dripping it's done! I'd have to refresh my memory but this same method makes greek yogurt and sour cream...sour cream is separated in the refrigerator but I don't remember how to do the greek yogurt. You can find videos examples on youtube. ;o)
  • Jenn, I know that you're doing a great job educating your family about healthy eating. Keep doing what you're doing, they'll catch on!

    My husband is the one that actually initiated trying new things after years of not so along with my adventure of studying nutrition, it's been a mutual consent. I study, pass on the education and it's overall accepted. I did have to ask him to give up sodas. It took a little while but I think he's given it up, occasionally he'll buy a sweet tea while out but that's ok :D BIG CHANGES are worth waiting for!
  • pchann
    pchann Posts: 84
    Hey I like this thread. No PF is basically the rule of my eating plan. Discovering raw foods has truley been an eye opening journey. . I think the only two things in my diet that are processed is unsweetened almond milk and liquid egg whites. Condiments and supplements also now I think about it.
  • welcome pchann!!! I made raw ketchup and bbq sauce that i don't care for. The ketchup tastes like cardboard! haha Do you have a good recipe for those? I don't have canning equipment.

    I make fresh almond milk twice a week :) very simple to make and after drying the meat, I dehydrate it in the oven on low, grind in the coffee grinder for fresh almond flour and store in the freezer!
  • pchann
    pchann Posts: 84
    Wow very intrigued by your almond milk recipe. I'm going to try that. For the condiments I just use store bought. The quantity I use is so small that I've rationalized it's just easier :) Whats strange is that the amount of condiments I apply to meals has reduced drastically. Their sweet as heck now lol. Regular milk tastes like soda pop it's so sweet haha. Example: I used to have my scrambled egg whites swimming in ketchup. Now I use less than a single tblspn on four scambled eggs. I always have ketchup left over nowadays. This gettin healthy is really fun. Expanding my universe of healthy natural foods feels very fullfilling. Would love some detailed instructions on that almond milk :)
  • scarletleavy
    scarletleavy Posts: 841 Member
    What a great idea!

    Ideally I would love to be 95-100% processed food free, but living with people who are diametrically opposed can make that a little bit difficult. I don't know what percent I'm currently at, but I think it's pretty high. I feel really lucky to live in an area with great access to fresh, local and organic foods. I'm mostly a vegetarian, but when I do eat meat it's only from our local organic butcher who keeps all of his own animals. I don't drink cow's milk, but if I did it would come from the cows that live on the farm down the street.

    I love to cook and am beginning to start baking. In the future I hope to make all of my own jams, peanut butters, almond milks, breads, etc. I'm really excited to start all of this. My boyfriend's mother makes her own tofu and tempeh and I can't wait to learn that from her.
  • Welcome scarlet! I cleaned & boiled soy beans this week(huge pain) and was wondering how to make tofu! I'll have to google the info, I'd love to know about it!
  • heniko
    heniko Posts: 796 Member
    Hi everyone!

    We are mostly processed food free ... exception being canned tuna and dark chocolate (less often now). And my husband drinks coffee and me green tea (does that count) I buy only local organic veg and fruit. Local and free range chickens and grass fed beef. I make everything we eat from scratch including baked goods like bread. I freeze and can summer's bounty. I make jams, preserves and nut butters. I make yoghurt and am an amateur cheesemaker. I recently started soaking grains also.

    We are eating basically a Mediterranean diet mostly grains, legumes and veg, but since I started my weight loss I am trying to limit my carbs and increase my protein.

    Looking forward to reading and sharing ideas ...
  • hotpickles
    hotpickles Posts: 639 Member
    Love this!

    I just bought a bunch of groceries today, and everything was natural or as far away from processed as I could get. Even my turkey sausages were made at a local, small production turkey farm. The best part was they were incredibly cheap, much cheaper than the processed junk full of preservatives I usually find in the frozen food section.

    I appreciate the idea of cooking from scratch a lot of the time as well. So much more delicious!
  • heniko
    heniko Posts: 796 Member
    The cheese Funnygirl posted is actually called Labneh not cream cheese that we think of like Philly. you can more info on cheesemaking here in englush: http://biology.clc.uc.edu/fankhauser/cheese/cheese.html
  • Hey all, I am working to be PF free also....I am an avid Crossfitter and I am working on 95% Paleo diet! I still do dairy because i have no issues with it.....Its a hard road, but a life changer for sure. Paleo is definately a lifestyle more than a diet. If anyone is interested in the Paleo lifestyle Robb Wolfe wrote an excellent book called "The Paleo Soluition". Its a really good read even if you dont want to try it. A lot of good info on weight loss and ultimate health information.. Its about 15 bucks on amazon i think or you can kindle it on your smartphone for 10 bucks(thats what I did)....This isnt a plug I promise LOL but it really opened my eyes to a lot. Good job to everyone for tryin to go PFF!!!!!! Good Luck!!!!
  • amycal
    amycal Posts: 646 Member
    I am interested however I don't know if I am as hardcore as the first few posters. I do buy bread but it is from a local really natural place and I buy cheeses and Greek yogurt and since I can get high quality stuff I am not that interested in making my own. I also eat the occasional snack that is processed such as nature's path granola bars. But I try to cook a lot of healthy homemade things and most of my diet is whole foods. I really believe in "eating real food" and not artificial substitutes.
  • There really is no really natural bread. I suppose whole grain breads are better than white bread, but it still is basically empty carbs and compared to the calories it costs you it is not very nutritional... Grains are your enemy. The agricultural reveloution brought about the decline of health in the world. It sucks because I love bread and pasta, but there are facts out there to show they are very very bad guys. Some believe even carcinagenic. Who knows, people think im crazy anyways LOL WOOHOO!!! :-D

    Paul
  • I'm so excited to see all the new posts!!! Just checking in and will have more time mañana to catch up! I'm just exhausted. We can't buy clean oat groats in Mexico, unless someone knows where???? Please tell me! So I have to pick out the hull. I spent ALL day picking it out to be able to make chewy granola and enough for porridge in the morning. Did you know oat groat porridge was the first cereal??? We don't buy boxed cereal anymore. You all that have access to clean oat groats & wheat berry, I'm jealous! :D
  • yeah! That's us too, eating Mediterranean! :D Nice to have you here!
  • heniko
    heniko Posts: 796 Member
    Paul - 2 questions

    What is the difference btwn Paloe, Neoanderthin and Primal? I read Mark's Daily Apple blog - very informatiional. changing habits here and there but not going totally grainless (yet)

    ezekiel bread 4:9 doesn't contain flours but legumes. And was eaten way back in the day of Ezekiel; So what is wrong with this type of bread or soaked grain breads?
  • Jenn97355
    Jenn97355 Posts: 103 Member
    Lori--I just read thru all the posts and am JAZZED by all the people LOVING a PFF life, and eating more raw foods... Even my daughter and husband love this more now. It is very nice to read that other families are changing this way, and I hope our future generations will wake up and pay attention to what HFCS and PF does to our bodies--I LOVE all the responses you are getting! Once again, great idea...And I still owe you an email about how we do some things--life has just been a little stressful lately. :flowerforyou: I have not forgotten you!
    Jenn
  • Almond milk is very easy to make! soak 1 cup of blanched almonds 4-6 hours or overnight, I add 2 cups of pure water to the blender and blend well. Then strain out the meat. I just use a mesh strainer. I don't add anything else but others do. :o) Lots of youtube videos with how to's! Enjoy!
  • What a great idea!

    Ideally I would love to be 95-100% processed food free, but living with people who are diametrically opposed can make that a little bit difficult. I don't know what percent I'm currently at, but I think it's pretty high. I feel really lucky to live in an area with great access to fresh, local and organic foods. I'm mostly a vegetarian, but when I do eat meat it's only from our local organic butcher who keeps all of his own animals. I don't drink cow's milk, but if I did it would come from the cows that live on the farm down the street.

    I love to cook and am beginning to start baking. In the future I hope to make all of my own jams, peanut butters, almond milks, breads, etc. I'm really excited to start all of this. My boyfriend's mother makes her own tofu and tempeh and I can't wait to learn that from her.

    Peanut butter is a cinch to make! lightly toast in the oven and puree in the food processor to your desired consistency! You'll never buy it again! :D
  • This is very interesting news! Thanks for sharing! I use the homemade cheese for cream cheese, adding a little Mexican vanilla and a pinch of salt, works great!
    The cheese Funnygirl posted is actually called Labneh not cream cheese that we think of like Philly. you can more info on cheesemaking here in englush: http://biology.clc.uc.edu/fankhauser/cheese/cheese.html
  • Lori--I just read thru all the posts and am JAZZED by all the people LOVING a PFF life, and eating more raw foods... Even my daughter and husband love this more now. It is very nice to read that other families are changing this way, and I hope our future generations will wake up and pay attention to what HFCS and PF does to our bodies--I LOVE all the responses you are getting! Once again, great idea...And I still owe you an email about how we do some things--life has just been a little stressful lately. :flowerforyou: I have not forgotten you!
    Jenn

    No worries Jenn, Glad you're encouraged! :D So much to learn and great to know how simple things can liberate us! :D
  • Paul - 2 questions

    What is the difference btwn Paloe, Neoanderthin and Primal? I read Mark's Daily Apple blog - very informatiional. changing habits here and there but not going totally grainless (yet)

    ezekiel bread 4:9 doesn't contain flours but legumes. And was eaten way back in the day of Ezekiel; So what is wrong with this type of bread or soaked grain breads?

    these are interesting questions since I'm not familiar with them! bread from legumes???
  • heniko
    heniko Posts: 796 Member
    ezekiel is made from ground up legumes. very high protein nutritous bread. bread that suppose ezekiel from the bible survived on in the desert for 40 days
  • quoyle
    quoyle Posts: 8 Member
    I would love to join the club! My goal is always to eat the least amount of processed foods possible but lately I have been falling off the wagon with breads and cereals. I have a degree in natural nutrition (not working in that field though) and have a big interest in whole food and local diets. It seems like I can learn a lot from the posters in this group. If anyone has their diaries available let me know... I do not have many friends who are eating this way so I would love to see some examples of how others are eating. Does anyone have a Vita-mix?
  • The neo and the primal are the same thing as paleo....it basically stresses food that you could eat raw....i know meat and stuff you dont want to eat raw but you technically could and be safe. Legumes are not part of the diets....they contain bad stuff that is basically protects the bean. Same for grains, they contain nasty stuff. I havent read the blog but i will. I can tell you, grains ar your biggest enemy when it comes to weight loss....invest in the book I posted about earlier....there are others similar but thats the only one I read. Any more questions or anything my email is cbrwheelieguy@msn.com I would love to help anyone that has ?'s
    Paul - 2 questions

    What is the difference btwn Paloe, Neoanderthin and Primal? I read Mark's Daily Apple blog - very informatiional. changing habits here and there but not going totally grainless (yet)

    ezekiel bread 4:9 doesn't contain flours but legumes. And was eaten way back in the day of Ezekiel; So what is wrong with this type of bread or soaked grain breads?

    these are interesting questions since I'm not familiar with them! bread from legumes???
  • I would love to join the club! My goal is always to eat the least amount of processed foods possible but lately I have been falling off the wagon with breads and cereals. I have a degree in natural nutrition (not working in that field though) and have a big interest in whole food and local diets. It seems like I can learn a lot from the posters in this group. If anyone has their diaries available let me know... I do not have many friends who are eating this way so I would love to see some examples of how others are eating. Does anyone have a Vita-mix?

    I'd love to have a Vita-mix someday, do you have one? I have a blender that can make smoothies that works great for making almond milk. We also have a jack la lanne juicer that someday I'd like to replace with a Champion when it wears out. Speaking of jack la lanne, he was pretty incredible! I looked up a bunch of his old videos and programs on youtube. Very inspirational man! I'm at the age that I think about a neck lift so I'm doing his facial exercises :D

    I would love to have a degree in nutrition! I've studied constantly online about nutrition for nearly 2 years. Breads & cereals do have the bulk of my calories and when I do pass them up, along with pasta, I seem to lose quicker. Filling my calories up with fresh produce. I bake all of our breads. Whole wheat honey, which I only use whole wheat flour and sometimes grind my own wheat berry. The problem I have here in Mexico is that I can only find soft wheat berry which is used for pastries. So I have to add wheat glutton to make the bread stick together enough. Otherwise it won't rise and crumbles. Aside from whole wheat honey I bake, whole wheat focaccia flat bread, whole wheat pitas, and now whole wheat sourdough. Tonight I'm baking sourdough bowls and making corn chowder tomorrow. This is a really special treat for us because you can't buy sourdough bread in Mexico and I learned how to make the original starter...no yeast added! So cool!

    We don't buy cereal anymore. My biggest pain is cleaning oat groats. I have to separate the hull from the whole oats. It's a painstaking chore. Takes me all day to pick through enough to make fresh chewy granola and porridge. Oat groat porridge is the first cereal ever! :D Love it and it's very good for us!

    I use another site to log my food because I'm trying to balance all my vit and minerals out and this site doesn't offer enough. If your interested in another free site, pm and I'll send you the info. but the supportive community and user-friendly MFP can't be beat there!

    I understand that buying fresh produce is a problem in the US, due to the expense. It sickens me that real food is so expensive! Produce is very affordable here, although I must confess I doubt it's all organic. For this reason I started a garden last fall but it only subsidies what we use. I don't know anyone else around here that buys and consumes as much produce as our family. We're asked monthly if we have a restaurant.

    Right now, I'm eating a lot of atlantic salmon. There is something worth looking into about fish oil. It really does make you lose! In fact, although I'm not an advocate of supplements, I have some fish oil gel caps from a couple of years ago and I'm going to research how many I should take a day to lose faster! :D I just don't have that far to go.
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