Choosing Real

Simplifying the process of making healthier meals for your family

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Homemade Taco Seasoning Recipe

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This is my favorite recipe that I have posted on my blog. In fact, I think the only seasoning I use more than taco seasoning is garlic — and I even use garlic powder in this recipe!

As much as we use taco seasoning, I'm glad I learned to make my own. This version is so much healthier than store bought and only needs 6 ingredients.

My family LOVES Mexican style dinners. I fix them for my family just about every week. But these meals are traditionally high in sodium. One way I cut back on sodium is to make my own homemade taco seasoning.  By following the recipe below you can save 250 mg sodium per serving. [Read more…] about Homemade Taco Seasoning Recipe

Easy Homemade Ketchup Using Tomato Paste

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It makes me happy when I can make recipes using ingredients I have on hand rather than buying the premade version from the store. By making my own homemade ketchup, I can reduce the amount of high fructose corn syrup my family consumes.

This homemade ketchup uses just 5 ingredients and takes less than 5 minutes to make!

Plus this recipe is so easy! My version only includes five ingredients and they are all ingredients we normally have in our cupboards.

Another thing that makes this recipe so easy is that it does not require heating. The tomato paste and tomato sauce have already been heated prior to being canned and there is no sugar in this recipe to worry about dissolving. Simply mix the ingredients and store in a jar in the refrigerator. [Read more…] about Easy Homemade Ketchup Using Tomato Paste

7 Reasons Why I Cloth Diaper & Why You Should Consider it too!

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You may not have even considered cloth diapers as an option for you baby. Here are 7 great reasons why plus answers to questions you may be asking yourself.

Today I am excited to welcome Brittany from Equipping Godly Women as my first guest poster. I personally have never tried using cloth diapers, but I know Brittany uses them. In fact, she jumped at the idea of writing a post about cloth diapering for this site to share this information with all of us. Thank you, Brittany!

When I decided to cloth diaper, I didn’t know anyone else who cloth diapered as well. Reactions ranged from: “Well, I would never do it, but if you want to, more power to you” to “That’s disgusting.” In other words, I didn’t have a whole lot of support. But the more I researched cloth diapers, the more I knew that they were the right choice, even if they aren’t the norm. You’ll have to decide for yourself what is best for your family, but here are my reasons why I chose to cloth diaper.

[Read more…] about 7 Reasons Why I Cloth Diaper & Why You Should Consider it too!

My Experience with Baby Seizures

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I am sharing the story of my daughter’s history with seizures as a baby to offer encouragement to moms who have been through that experience of feeling helpless when our babies are sick.

I am sharing the story of my daughter's history with seizures as a baby to offer encouragement to moms who have been through that experience of feeling helpless when our babies are sick.

This post was originally published in July 2013 after enjoying July 4th festivities with my family and looking back on how we had spent the holiday a year earlier.

The 4th of July festivities this year were particularly special for me.  It was the first time my family of 4 was all together to watch fireworks.  A year ago my then 8-month-old daughter was in the hospital after having another seizure. My husband and I saw some fireworks from her hospital room and our then 6-year-old son watched fireworks at Grandma and Grandpa’s house.

This year I couldn’t help but tear up as I watched both kids looking up at fireworks as we sat on a grassy hill outside on a beautiful summer evening. Below is the story of my daughter’s history with seizures as a baby.  This is something I never expected to experience as a parent.  I hope my story can help those are going through similar experiences.

I was asked so many questions about her history and symptoms that I had no choice but to write down all the details I could remember for all the doctors who asked. [Read more…] about My Experience with Baby Seizures