Hey there, fellow party-goers! Are you craving a well-deserved break from your daily routine? Well, get ready to unwind and have a blast this 4th of July! 🇺🇸
And what better way to celebrate than with the easiest, most festive dishes (flags, stars and red, white and blue)!
What do we love about these two dishes? They are both healthy, quick, delicious and pleasing to ALL at the party, including health nuts, vegans and those with food sensitivities. BOOM! 💥 Here are my two go-tos:
American Flag Spinach Salad with Blueberries, Strawberries & Jicama
When you're in need of a refreshing and rejuvenating dish, look no further than this vibrant spinach salad with a patriotic twist. Packed with wholesome ingredients, it's the perfect way to recharge and savor every bite of the holiday.
Ingredients:
1. On a large tray, spread out the spinach.
2. Now it's time to make the flag! Arrange the blueberries in the upper left quadrant of the tray (like the blue of an American flag). If you have extra jicama and have a small star veggie cutter, you can put some white stars in the upper left quadrant too.
3. Then alternate the strawberries and jicama as the American flag's red and white stripes
4. Just before serving, drizzle the dressing over the salad. Enjoy!
...and now something a little more filling. At All Clean Food, we love a healthy, easy pasta salad, regardless of the season!
Festive Caprese Pasta Salad with Star-Shaped Cheese
This pasta salad is delicious, hearty and fun! If you happen to have a blue serving bowl, you will achieve the red, white and blue theme!
Ingredients:
Instructions:
And done! Two delicious recipes that will give you the break you deserve while embracing the fun of the 4th of July.
So, take a step back, put on your party hat, and let the flavors transport you to a world of summer fun and relaxation.
Happy 4th of July, everyone – may your holiday weekend be filled with delightful food, memorable moments, and an abundance of fun!
Love,
Laura
Hey there, fellow moms! Can we all agree that the start of summer brings a whole new level of chaos to our lives? From juggling kids' activities to planning vacations and everything in between, it feels like we've entered a whirlwind of madness.
But fear not! Today, I'm here to share a laugh and offer a solution in the form of an easy peasy pasta salad recipe. Let's dive into the chaos and conquer it with a fork in one hand and a smile on our faces!
School's out, and suddenly our little darlings transform into mini-tornadoes, leaving a trail of toys, half-eaten popsicles, and creative messes in their wake. And don't even get me started on the never-ending "I'm bored!" chorus. As moms, we're expected to keep the ship sailing smoothly while navigating through summer camps, playdates, and family obligations. Can we get a round of applause for our multitasking skills?
The Art of Pasta Salad:
Now, let's talk about the art of pasta salad—a dish that can rescue us from the chaotic grip of summer schedules. It's quick, versatile, and loved by kids and adults alike. The beauty of pasta salad lies in its simplicity and the endless possibilities for customization. So, let's set aside those elaborate recipes that require 20 different ingredients and embrace the easy breezy nature of this delightful dish.
Recipe: Easy Breezy Pasta Salad
Ingredients:
Instructions:
Dear moms, embrace the chaos, and conquer the summer schedule madness like the champions we are! And when things get overwhelming, remember that a delicious and easy pasta salad is just a whisk away from saving the day. Cheers to surviving the summer with our sense of humor intact and our bellies full of pasta goodness!
Love, Laura
1. Drop Unhealthy Habits
You can reduce expenses and improve your health by letting go of unhealthy habits. For instance, smoking cigarettes and drinking alcohol can be bad for your body and budget. Frequently dining out is pricey, and restaurant foods tend to be higher in sodium, sugar, and calories than meals prepared at home. This may increase your likelihood of developing hypertension and high cholesterol. You can also try driving less to save money on gas. Active transport methods, such as walking or cycling, are better for the environment and help you avoid a sedentary lifestyle.
2. Create a Wellness Routine
You can replace your unhealthy habits with new, affordable routines that promote health and wellness. For example, you should develop a meal plan and grocery shopping strategy that allows you to eat a nutritious diet and avoid costly food waste. Buy nonperishable staples, like lentils and rice, in bulk quantities to save money. For perishable goods, buy in smaller quantities and look for in-season produce that may be more affordable. While you should seek out fresh foods, frozen vegetables and canned beans can be an important part of a healthy diet, too.
You should also look into affordable ways to stay fit. For example, you can perform bodyweight exercises or run outdoors for free. In addition, low-cost, multipurpose equipment like resistance bands and exercise balls can take your work out to the next level. There are also many free or inexpensive fitness apps and online videos that can provide guidance and instruction.
3. Start a Health Business
You can earn additional income while pursuing your wellness goals by starting a business. Depending on your interests, you could write about your healthful lifestyle on a blog with affiliate marketing or open up a shop that sells fitness gear. If you have a passion for an activity such as yoga, you can become an instructor and open your own studio.
When you found your business, consider using a DBA name, which enables you to branch out and offer a variety of products and services. You can easily operate under a different name, and if you struggle to obtain a domain for your company, you can use another name for marketing your services.
You should also look for ways to brand your company. For example, when collecting payments from clients, you can project a professional image by using an invoice template that contains your logo. Select a pre-made and free invoice template and add custom text, images, colors, and any relevant information.
4. Use Available Resources
You should take advantage of any resources that can help you afford your healthy lifestyle. Many employers offer generous wellness packages to their staff. From on-site fitness programs and gym reimbursements to wellness education and nutritional support, more companies are looking for ways to help their employees stay healthy. Research suggests that wellness programs improve productivity and employee health outcomes while reducing absenteeism and controlling healthcare costs. You should also see if your employer offers health savings accounts as part of your benefits packages. An HSA can help you set aside untaxed money for future healthcare expenses, and some employers provide HSA contributions.
You can maintain a budget while leading a healthy life. Look for ways to enhance your wellness that also let you spend less money and increase your earnings.
Shop at All Clean Food for healthy, organic meals that don’t break the bank.
Image via Pexels
]]>If you are in the Twin Cities, we are SO excited to share that our Creamy Garlic Pasta and Taco Pasta are now available to purchase at Target! Support our brand by buying your favorite pasta meals from Eden Prairie, MN or Shoreview MN.
]]>Your support means A LOT to us - Let's show Target that we can do it!
]]>Most parents want to make sure that their children will make healthy choices as they grow up. However, figuring out how to encourage the proper behaviors can seem tricky. Thankfully, it’s easier to do if you use the right approach. Here are some tips to help your kids make healthy choices, presented by All Clean Food.
When it comes to healthy eating, ensuring your children know how to cook makes a big difference, and not just while they’re under your roof. As one study showed, self-perceived cooking skills matter. When young adults (age 18 to 23) felt confident in their cooking capabilities, they had better nutrition-related outcomes a full ten years later in life.
Ideally, you want to introduce your kids to cooking in a strategic way, ensuring you can use age-appropriate approaches that allow children to build in their skills over time. Additionally, you want to show that healthy ingredients can be tasty as you work. Discuss the ingredients you’re adding, why you choose them from a nutrition standpoint, and how you can make them delectable by using different techniques, herbs, spices, and more. You can also use products from All Clean Food to have tasty, nutritious meals ready to fix.
Getting regular exercise is incredibly important for overall health. However, simply telling your children to exercise isn’t the best approach. Instead, by making working out a fun family activity, you can ensure that exercise is an enjoyable part of their lives, increasing the odds they’ll make it a habit.
Find activities that are age-appropriate, engaging, and fun. In some cases, this might mean engaging in active play. In others, it could be taking classes or using instructional videos to let them explore an activity that intrigues them, like dance, martial arts, and more.
Children and adolescents need 60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous activity daily. Additionally, muscle-strengthening should be part of the equation at least three days each week. While recommendations for adults are different – 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity weekly and two days of strength training – more time exercising typically doesn’t hurt. In the end, by ensuring your children are participating as much as they need to and doing the activities alongside them, everyone benefits.
Children take many of their cues about how to behave from parents. In some cases, this is incredibly beneficial, giving parents a way to teach what’s desired by simply modeling the trait, action, or mindset. In others, it’s a detriment, causing children to pick up behaviors that aren’t necessarily desirable.
One study showed that parents modeling anxious behavior led to higher anxiety levels in children, and that’s just one example of how parental actions can have a negative impact. That’s why you need to be mindful about your behavior, ensuring you’re not modeling what you don’t want by mistake. Instead, make sure you focus on modeling good behavior at all times.
You could start by speaking with your children about their goals and education. Then, consider how you can model making a smart choice. For example, if you’d been putting off earning your degree to get into your dream job, sign up for an online degree program. You’ll have the flexibility you need to balance your personal and educational responsibilities, ensuring you can work at your own pace along the way. Plus, by going with a BSED, you can open up opportunities to work with preschoolers or elementary-aged children, all while showing your children the benefit of furthering their education.
]]>Some allergies are severe, like swelling, itching or irritation of the throat. Other common severe allergy symptoms include hives, nasal congestion, nausea and in some cases, anaphylaxis. However, not all food allergies are severe, but they cause enough discomfort, such as bloating, low energy, or headaches that we often mistake food based allergies for just feeling run-down.
Wheat allergies occur when your body produces antibodies to proteins contained in wheat. Usually this occurs through eating wheat, but in rare cases these allergies can be triggered by inhaling wheat flour, so if you know you have a severe wheat allergy it’s best to avoid situations where wheat flour is being used.
Some common foods containing wheat are bread, cakes and muffins, breakfast cereals, pasta, crackers, soy sauce, processed meat such as hot dogs, and even natural flavorings.
Milk allergies are one of the most common food allergies in children, and luckily most outgrow it by adolescence. However, this allergy also affects adults and, in fact, millions of Americans with dairy allergies don’t realize they have them unless the reactions are severe. The two main proteins in milk that cause reactions are casein and whey, which are also used as additives in many foods. Avoiding milk and milk products is the simplest and most effective plan here.
Some foods that may trigger milk allergies are cow’s milk of any form, butter, yogurt, ice cream, and cheese. Milk as an additive is often a hidden form of allergy causing dairy, and some foods that contain these products are protein powders, artificial butter and cheese flavors, any ingredient spelled with the prefix “lact” - such as lactose and lactate - and even candies like chocolate, nougat, and caramel.
As with most allergens, reactions to tree nuts can range from mild to severe, and even life-threatening. You can be allergic to just one type of nut, or to many, so it’s best to get tested to know for sure what you need to avoid.
Common tree nuts include almonds, walnuts, pecans, hazelnuts, and pine nuts. These nuts are used in all kinds of foods because they are known to have good nutritional profiles. Unfortunately for people with tree nut allergies, this means you are more likely to come into contact with them unintentionally.
Nuts will usually be labelled clearly in ingredient lists, however there are some hidden sources of tree nuts including cookies, cereals, crackers, energy and protein bars, candy, chocolates, ice creams, flavored coffees, and alcoholic beverages and liqueurs. Additionally, watch out for personal products that also use nuts commonly, like lotions, shampoos, perfumes, and soaps.
Here’s a big one. Soy is hard to get away from because it is one of the most prominently used ingredients in food production. Allergic reactions to soy include hives or itching in and around the mouth, swelling of the lips, tongue and face, abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting as well as anaphylaxis.
Products that may contain soy range from meat products, bakery goods, and chocolate, to breakfast cereals, all types of condiments, and common vegan meat and cheese replacements such as tofu, and tempeh. Avoid foods that are made with hydrolyzed vegetable and plant protein, textured vegetable protein, monodiglyceride, monosodium glutamate, and natural and artificial flavorings.
It’s thought that up to 2.5 percent of people in the U.S. have a shellfish allergy, which includes crustaceans and mollusks. This allergy is more common in adults than children and affects slightly more women than men. Symptoms range from mild to severe and include hives, facial swelling as well as other parts of the body, wheezing, shortness of breath, dizziness, fainting abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, and anaphylaxis.
Types of shellfish to avoid include crabs, lobster, crayfish, shrimp and prawn, squid, snails, clams, oysters, and scallops. If you have a shellfish allergy, be cautious when dining out and make sure to ask if shellfish is prepared on the same station as any other food because cross-contamination is a common source of reactions here. Read labels carefully and maintain distance if you’re eating with others enjoying shellfish.
Getting tested for allergies and understanding your individual risks with certain foods, as well as reading food labels carefully are good methods for allergy prevention. Until recently, choosing safe and healthy foods for people with allergies has been yet another full-time responsibility. By choosing All Clean Foods you can avoid all of the most common allergens while eating organic, clean, and totally delicious meals. Our foods don’t contain any junk or fillers, ensuring worry-free and nutritious meals for you and your family. Find one of the many markets that stock our products, or shop our full range at Allcleanfood.com.
]]>
During the summer, farmers markets are plentiful and can be found in many cities and towns. During the winter, you can usually find indoor markets. To find a market near you, try sites such as localfarmmarkets.org. Many farmers markets accept WIC and SNAP. Since the fall is often the transition time between outdoor and indoor farmers markets, there may be a few weeks where you don’t have a local farmers market, so check out a local farm store for fresh produce instead. Some grocery stores carry local produce as well. You can also shop at All Clean Food for organic, plant-based meals that are easy to prepare.
The spring and summer are great times to start your own garden. Eating healthy is easier and more affordable when your options are literally in your backyard. Your geographic location will affect how successful your plants will grow, so check your gardening zones before deciding which plants to grow. In the summer, you can start canning and freezing your produce. Likewise, in the fall, use fresh vegetables to make freezable meals, such as soups and stews, to eat during the cold winter months. Root vegetables can be stored through the winter in dark, dry places.
Broccoli, peas, and asparagus are spring vegetables and can be used together in a stir-fry or salad. In the summer, berries, squash, lettuce, cucumbers, and tomatoes are abundant. Grilled squash, salads, and berry smoothies are healthy ideas for these summer plants.
During the fall, look for apples, pumpkins, root vegetables, and cranberries. Incorporate fall vegetables into soups, bisques, and stews. Cranberries and apples make great jams, sauces, and side dishes. Leeks, leafy greens, and squash are plentiful in the winter. Stuffed squash with quinoa or brown rice is a healthy and filling meal. Stews and pot roasts are also great winter ideas.
Make the most of eating healthy by learning some new recipes. There are tons of free recipes and cooking tutorials that you can access online right from your smartphone. If you’re going to use your smartphone when cooking, make sure you purchase a screen protector to shield your screen from drops and bumps.
Switching up your exercise routines with the seasons reduces the chances of you becoming bored or burnt out. In the spring and summer, take advantage of the many outdoor activities available. Being outside helps you stay active and promotes mental health. Go for a hike, ride your bike, surf, or kayak. Swimming is a great activity that works all your muscles as well as your heart and lungs.
The spring, summer, and fall often mean it’s time to amp up the yard work. Instead of using a riding lawn mower, mow your grass with a push mower to get in some walking while you mow. Pulling weeds and planting flowers and plants is good exercise. Likewise, raking leaves in the fall is a solid workout too.
Even though winter brings lower temperatures, that doesn’t mean you have to stay indoors. You can go hiking in the snow with snowshoes. Skiing and snowboarding will work your legs and torso muscles. If you need to shovel your driveway, go ahead and help your neighbor too; shoveling snow is an intense physical workout. Even building a snowman, partaking in a snowball fight, and making snow angels will keep you active in the winter.
Of course, if you’d rather stay indoors, you can pop in a workout video or head to your local yoga studio for a lesson. There are many other indoor workouts too. As long as you’re staying active and having fun, it doesn’t matter if you’re inside or outside.
With the food and fitness choices above, you’ll be able to stay healthy no matter the season!
]]>
Made for busy families, All Clean Food offers affordable organic, plant-based meals you can prepare in minutes.
At All Clean Food, we know that helping your kids grow and thrive at every age is a big job. As a parent, you need to meet your kids’ emotional, physical, and educational needs. Instilling healthy habits and a love of learning is one of the most important things you can do to help your kids both now and in the future. Below, find resources for helping your kids make healthy choices and have fun while learning.
Healthy habits start at home, and with these tips, you can provide a foundation for your children that promotes lifelong wellness.
6 Ways Parents Need to Lead by Example
Best Ways to Help Children Fall Asleep at Naptime
5 Strategies to Get Kids Into Exercise
8 Proven Tips on How to Get Kids to Eat Healthy
Cook All Clean Food Organic Meals, Which Are Picky-Kid Approved
5 Fun Ways to Get Your Kids to Brush Their Teeth
9 Tricks to Get Your Kids to Drink More Water
How to Teach Your Child to Get in the Habit of Hand Washing
Keeping your children active learners can be as simple as finding fun educational activities you can enjoy as a family.
10 Helpful Ways to Make Homework Fun and Engaging
5 Fun Language Learning Activities for Children
Make Reading Fun with These 3 Easy Tips
7 Educational and Entertaining Activities for Young Children
Learn How to Safely Observe Wildlife from Your Home
10 Simple and Fantastic Activities for Teaching Your Kids Art
5 Types of Musical Activities for Kids and Adults to Learn Together
8 Ways to Keep Learning Fun for Teens and Tweens
When kids form a good foundation of healthy habits and see how much fun it can be to learn, they’ll be set up for success for life. Leading by example and finding creative ways to instill good habits is a great way to help your children be happy and healthy at every stage of development.
]]>I’d like to introduce my family to you, my husband Michael and our 3 kids –
my heart, my why, my motivation to be a better person every day.
My husband supports and encourages me ALWAYS. He loves me unconditionally and I love him more every year. Heavy, I know, (haha) but 100% true.
My kids are energetic, joyful and loving. They are my main “tasters” in the kitchen and sooo excited to help sample our food in stores.
My girls were able to learn a lot about food, at an early age, due to having severe food allergies.
While it, honestly, felt devastating in the beginning, it ended up being a blessing in our life AND taught my daughters that
Eating well has allowed their bodies to calm and allergies to improve.
What I’m the most thankful for, is that eating well has helped my children THRIVE and be the energetic, joyful and loving little sweethearts that they are.
I hope you, as well, can embrace all you have to be thankful for today.
Feed that family well.
Purchase Organic. Dinner. Done. Pasta and Quinoa Meals here!
You work hard (even when no one notices).
You keep trying (even when you're not immediately rewarded)
You love your family unconditionally (even when you don't feel appreciated).
Healthy Food to THRIVE and KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK.
Have a great weekend.
P.S. If you haven't already, check out our Organic Pasta and Quinoa Meals here!
]]>
My name is Laura, Co-founder & CEO at All Clean Food. I created these recipes in my kitchen because I could not find a single Organic, Clean-Ingredient Meal to keep in my pantry.
]]>I created these recipes in my kitchen because I could not find a single Organic, Clean-Ingredient Meal to keep in my pantry.
All Clean Food is Real Food!
FREE FROM:
additives,
preservatives
chemicals &
the top 14 allergens!
From my family's table to yours…
The First Clean-Label Boxed Meals on the Market!
Fast, easy-to-make, healthy Pasta & Quinoa meals for ALL around your table.
LEARN MORE HERE!
Enjoy Healthy Simplicity!