Choosing Real

Simplifying the process of providing homemade meals for your family

Kitchen Tips

Kitchen tips includes grocery shopping, ingredient substitutions, and meal prep ideas for a healthier kitchen.

My Homemade Taco Dinner Makeover to Reduce Sodium

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Almost 5 years ago I did a sodium analysis of a typical taco dinner I would serve for my family. As a result, I have modified our typical dinner to be much healthier with this homemade taco dinner makeover to reduce sodium.

Over time I have modified our typical dinner to be much healthier with this homemade taco dinner makeover to reduce sodium.

 

I should also confess: I am obsessed with tacos. I love them for Taco Tuesday… or Taco Thursday …or Sunday… it doesn’t matter when. Therefore, almost every week we have some form of Mexican-style dish for dinner.

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How to Start Cooking From Scratch

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Cooking from scratch hasn’t always come easy to me. I had to get past the convenience food mentality to make healthier food choices for my family. Here are some tips from my own experience for when you don’t know where to start to cook meals from scratch.

Cooking from scratch hasn't always come easy to me. Here are some tips from my own experience for when you don't know where to start to cook from scratch.

Eating out gets expensive, and frozen, store-bought meals, while convenient, are far from healthy. Preparing dinner at home is the best way to save money and provide a healthier meal while still enjoying time with family.   [Read more…] about How to Start Cooking From Scratch

Grow Vegetables Indoors in Your Kitchen

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When you don’t have space for a garden, you can still grow vegetables indoors. Produce thrives right in your kitchen with the limited space that you have.

When you don't have space for a garden, you can still grow vegetables indoors. Produce thrives right in your kitchen with the limited space that you have.

Note from Dawn: This post was originally published by me on RevealNaturalHealth.com. It has been transferred to ChoosingReal.com as I am moving content from that out-dated blog to this current blog. 

Guest Post by Dan Mowinski of Urban Turnip

I’ve never had a lot of space. My current “garden” is made up of a dozen or so pots, a small raised bed, and a polyethylene mini greenhouse. That, to those lucky city allotment-holders, will sound like pittance. For me on the other hand, it’s a huge improvement on past situations.

Balconies, patios, backyards…I would have given my left leg for one!

Yet I came to realize that a lack of growing space shouldn’t stop me from actually growing. I discovered that a tiny garden, cultivated in old trays and jars, will thrive quite happily on my kitchen worktop.

In this short post, I’d like to share some of things I’ve learned. If you’re short on space too, I guarantee you’ll be pleasantly surprised by how much you can grow. If garden size isn’t an issue, then these tips will help you towards a steady supply of homegrown goodies through the winter months.

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How to Freeze Tomatoes – For Beginners

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Freezing tomatoes is a great way to preserve your harvest without needing a pressure cooker. Here is a step-by-step tutorial for how to freeze tomatoes.

Freezing tomatoes is a great way to preserve your harvest without needing a pressure cooker. Here is a step-by-step tutorial for how to freeze tomatoes.

As long as I can remember, my parents have always raised lots of tomatoes in their garden. I grew up helping them can batches of tomatoes, tomato juice, and salsa at the end of August each year.

I don’t remember ever seeing my parents freeze tomatoes. So when my mom asked me if I wanted some tomatoes to freeze, I said “sure…if you can teach me how to freeze tomatoes.” [Read more…] about How to Freeze Tomatoes – For Beginners

How to Freeze Corn – For Beginners

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Freezing corn is an economical way to preserve the harvest. Here is a step-by-step tutorial for how to freeze corn.

Freezing corn is an economical way to preserve the harvest. Here is a step-by-step tutorial for how to freeze corn.

I grew up in the country watching my parents can and freeze vegetables from our large garden, so I am familiar with the process of freezing corn. However, I have been removed from that country life since I moved away from home.

A few years ago our neighbor gave us a huge tray filled with corn he had husked. I had to quickly figure out how to freeze corn. [Read more…] about How to Freeze Corn – For Beginners