Deliciously Organic

Organic, Grain Free, Gluten Free, Paleo Recipes and Thyroid Health

Frozen Yogurt and a Discussion on Feeling Stressed About Food

A homemade frozen yogurt that's very easy to assemble, only requires a few ingredients and is a nice way to cool off on a hot day.

Over the years, I’ve discovered how great an impact food has on my health. I’ve made huge changes in my diet to help me heal from disease, but sometimes I struggle with being too strict. For years I avoided all grains. I never cheated – ever. I didn’t realize how unusual that was until I was at a friend’s house and she offered me a cookie made from wheat flour (we were new friends). I said “No, thank you. She asked, “Don’t you cheat sometimes?” When I said “no” she was taken aback. She complimented me for my self-discipline, but the exchange really made me think about how crazy a 100% pure diet sounds.

I gave up processed foods about 10 years ago. Over the last few years I’ve weaned myself off almost all sugar – dry sugars, honey, fruit, starchy vegetables, and other foods higher in carbohydrates. My goal was to reduce the blood sugar highs and lows as much as possible, thereby reducing inflammation. We’ve all seen the sugar detox books and articles out there. Sugar isn’t a good thing. But can you take it too far?

Add on my desire to avoid eating genetically modified foods and minimize my consumption of nuts and seeds because they contain omega-6 fatty acids and can cause inflammation in excess. I even gave up my one cup of caffeinated coffee per day 6 months ago because of caffeine’s effect on the adrenals.

I eat a very simple diet of pastured meats, grass-fed dairy, vegetables, and healthy fats. While all these changes are good and this diet has helped me repair my body, I’m starting to feel boxed in.

Going out to eat can be stressful when you know about how most food is grown and produced. We live on the Gulf Coast of Florida and while I love the area, there aren’t many restaurants currently offering unprocessed and organic options. When I look over a menu, I often find myself thinking, “Do I get the chicken breast even though it’s probably a feed lot bird? What about the salad – it’s loaded with pesticides. Did they use olive oil or canola for their salad dressing?” You get the picture. Sometimes I just want to forget what I know, order some food and enjoy!

While I’m not a fan of the phrase “all things in moderation”, I do think we need to give ourselves some wiggle room and not get too wound up in eating healthy.

A friend of mine who is a nutritional therapy practitioner recently told me that how you feel about the food can have a profound effect on how it reacts in the body. If you dine out and are stressed that the food might contain gluten, chances are your body isn’t going to digest the food well because of the extra stress.

My mom and I love hitting great food spots when we travel. A few years ago we did a “Best Thing I Ever Ate” weekend in New York City. This weekend we’re traveling to New Orleans to enjoy time together and eat some great food. I will do my best to relax and not feel pressure to eat a 100% pure diet. If I eat a bit too much sugar or the wrong kinds of fats, I’m not going to stress. Monday morning I’ll get back to my routine, but this weekend I’m going to practice the enjoyment of eating.

Have you struggled with being too strict or feeling stressed about your food? Please share your stories and struggles so we can all learn and encourage one another.

A homemade frozen yogurt that's very easy to assemble, only requires a few ingredients and is a nice way to cool off on a hot day.
I posted a Vanilla Pudding Pop recipe a few days ago and while I usually don’t post two similar recipes in a row, I’m trying to not be concerned with being perfect, so today I’m sharing another frozen recipe! I really love this recipe for homemade frozen yogurt. It’s very easy to assemble, only requires a few ingredients and is a nice way to cool off on a hot day.

 

Frozen Yogurt Recipe

You can use pureed fruit or maple syrup to sweeten the yogurt if desired. I’m going to try raspberry puree next!
Serves 4

4 cups whole milk plain yogurt (or plain coconut milk yogurt for dairy-free)
1/3 cup raw honey
Juice of 1/2 lemon
1 tablespoon vanilla extract

Place a piece of cheesecloth over a strainer and pour yogurt in the cheesecloth. Fold the cheesecloth over the top of the yogurt and set in the fridge overnight (this step removes the excess moisture from the yogurt to give you a thick, greek-like yogurt consistency). The next day, place the strained yogurt in a mixing bowl and whisk in honey, lemon and vanilla. Pour mixture into an ice cream maker and follow manufacturer’s directions for freezing. Serve.

 

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61 Comments

  1. Michelle

    July 31, 2014 at 12:49 pm

    Yep, guilty as charged! I have in the past have periods of extreme discipline, annoying the heck out of my conventional boyfriend (now husband) with my ongoing efforts to fix some health issues with food (first vegetarian, now more paleo)... And over the years i have been at times on a discipline rollercoaster as certain foods i just cannot eat in moderation (yes that means you chocolate) despite repeated attempts. It is interesting that now my husband, in an effort to fix some of his health issues (specialists can't find anything wrong) is now on a very strict autoimmune diet, self-prescibed...and it is interesting to see his response to being invited to social eating occasions as he realises he cannot go (or rather is not willing to be that social pariah trying to explain his abstinence from almost all foods)... It depresses him...and as much as it is helping me to eat 95% clean, i know feel better about, well, going out socially knowing that i DO eat 95% clean....and i can only do my best to source clean foods when eating out and just be okay with variances from my prefered norm. I watch myself when i encounter foods against my morals (eg battery eggs, grain fed meat) and i see myself becoming annoyed and worked up, and it has an effect on those around me...so i take a deep breath...and let it go....great to think about though and be conscious of our feelings towards foods! Enjoy your journey!
    Reply to this comment

    • Deliciously Organic

      July 31, 2014 at 1:00 pm

      Michelle - Thanks for sharing! It's great to know that others struggle with this as well. I need to work on the 95% clean...I think that's a great goal. I've been more like 99.9% and while it's helped me reverse my disease, I think it's time to start loosening the reigns a bit so I can enjoy!
      Reply to this comment

  2. Stacey

    July 31, 2014 at 3:10 pm

    I too , struggle very much with eating clean and healthy. It all started with experiencing anxiety and depression and cystic acne. I gave up gluten, sugar, and dairy. I ate only real ,unprocessed food. It was a full time job and was very stressful and expensive. I became pregnant and became less and less strict over my diet, eating bread and pasta again as well as cheese and desserts on occasion. I feel a whole lot better over the last 9 months of pregnancy than I did the whole year of strict dieting and I don't have one pimple. I believe my issue is something hormonal but I also feel that all the stress and guilt of eating "right" was not helping me at all! I now just do my best during the week with mostly real food and on the weekends I go out and indulge. I'm not going to lie , I still feel guilty when u do indulge and it do stress about what's on the menu constantly but I've relaxed about too! It's so hard!
    Reply to this comment

    • Deliciously Organic

      August 1, 2014 at 4:14 am

      Thanks for sharing, Stacey. It continues to amaze me how stress can affect our bodies. I'm glad you are doing what you feel is best and are feeling better by doing so! I hope we can all let go of the guilt of indulging and just enjoy food when those times come when we can loosen the reigns a bit.
      Reply to this comment

  3. christina

    July 31, 2014 at 4:32 pm

    While not the same and hopefully not as severe, your post reminded me of reading about another food blogger who recognized she was way too boxed in food-wise and it was having various negative impacts on her health: http://www.people.com/people/mobile/article/0,,20834176,00.htmlI have learned a lot from you and your blog and I thank you for it, but I do think a little moderation can be good for you mentally and physically.Enjoy the weekend in new orleans!
    Reply to this comment

  4. Melanie

    July 31, 2014 at 4:53 pm

    Thanks for opening this discussion. It is a tough issue and one that I know personally. I have an autoimmune condition and despite following it for a year, I haven't experienced relief from most of the health problems. So people ask me when I am going to loosen up my diet but I don't see how I can when I am not feeling better yet. I am actually getting more strict - looking at what goes on my body (beauty products), what is is my water, what is my cleaning products, etc to try to see if that can bring improvement. It can be crazy-making at times but we get desperate for answers and continuing seeking the answers. I have no answer for this but appreciate you giving voice to it.
    Reply to this comment

    • Deliciously Organic

      August 1, 2014 at 4:11 am

      Thanks for sharing, Melanie. I want to encourage you to keep with the diet, as it really can have profound affects on your disease (even if you aren't feeling the affects of it yet). I'm thankful I have walked down the road of being uber-strict, because it changed my health completely, I guess now I need to figure out how to loosen the reigns a bit (and that feels so weird!). I started this week by adding back some fruit and even a bit more honey than I've been eating in the past. I laughed that I felt like I was cheating with fruit and raw honey. ha! Funny how our perspective changes. I think it's great your looking at your beauty products, water, cleaning products, etc. Keep up the work and I hope you'll find the relief you're working so hard to find. :)
      Reply to this comment

  5. Susan

    July 31, 2014 at 5:21 pm

    Okay, here's my issue with being uber-strict. My Dad (and my Mom, as my Dad is the cook, since my Mom is losing her sight) has gone completely vegan and now gluten-free. It is almost impossible to fix something that he will eat and that my semi-picky child will eat, so we no longer get together with my parents for a meal. That makes me really sad! So many holidays center around a meal and I have a really hard time with the fact that my Dad cannot relax his habits for ONE meal. I know that processed foods are bad and I try to eat naturally raised foods, so it's not like I'm going to be serving him Twinkies, either. And a lot of my parents friends don't invite them over any more either...I know my Mom misses the company.
    Reply to this comment

    • Toni

      August 3, 2014 at 12:11 pm

      Hi Susan - I just wanted to say that I appreciate your struggle and the tension between meal time and family! I can relate on a lot of levels, and it can be quite difficult!!One of the ways that I found to help ease this tension - and not isolate myself from my family during meal time - is to take my own food during a get together. I opened up the door of conversation by saying that if it was alright with them, I would bring my own food, and they didn't need to worry about preparing a portion for me. I expressed that I still wanted to come and enjoy our time together, but this would work better for me and some personal changes I was trying to make. It felt strange and awkward at first, but this is not an issue any more! As a matter of fact, without even trying, it has opened up the door for conversations, and interestingly enough, by sampling my meals, my nieces and nephews have grown to like things I am eating more than what was prepared for them :). And, my dad who was recently diagnosed a diabetic asks all kinds of questions and has now lost 20 pounds!! Yes, I get teased about it from time to time, but I have grown too...and I don't care :).Anyways, I understand and hope you will be able to find a way to connect in a way that works for both of you!!And Carrie - Thanks for the transparency and keepin' it real! :)
      Reply to this comment

  6. Kristi Goldsberry

    July 31, 2014 at 5:46 pm

    Thanks for your honesty about the topic. In the past few years I have made several changes to my family's diet but I am still not satisfied with where we're at. I feel like there isn't much more I can do--particularly while I am raising five kids. It is so depressing to me that this past week I have decided I need to stop reading/thinking/obsessing about it for a while and be content with where I am at.
    Reply to this comment

    • Deliciously Organic

      August 1, 2014 at 4:07 am

      Thanks for sharing, Kristi. I do believe that sometimes taking a step back and letting things sink in can be a great thing. Maybe after some time off, you'll get the energy once again to make some changes. I applaud you for the changes you've made and for your desire to feed your family a healthy diet. That in and of itself is a great thing!
      Reply to this comment

  7. Kelly @ The Nourishing Home

    July 31, 2014 at 5:56 pm

    I can most definitely relate to this and am the type of person who can become very obsessed with every little thing I eat, if I allow myself to. I really do think this is a common issue among those who have experienced severe, chronic illness and then found relief by clean eating. Once you begin to see how food can impact your health for the positive or negative, it can be very easy to become overly preoccupied with everything you eat, to the point of it causing stress - physical, mental and relational.Similar to your friend's wisdom on how stressing-out over what you eat can cause digestive issues, stress in general causes many health issues. So I believe the constant stress of trying to be perfect and eat perfectly can undermine your health as well. There has to be a balance between eating what you know helps to heal and maintain the best degree of health you can, yet not becoming so consumed by every little thing you eat that you are stressed out over it (or stressing out your family).Also, as a Christian, there's a fine-line between making wise choices in eating healthy and allowing food to become an idol in your life that you begin to trust in more than the Creator who made these healthy foods for our nourishment. This can happen so subtly, as I can attest.In the past, when I had relapses in my health, I would rack my brain wondering what did I eat - did it have gluten in it - and I'd be completely stressed over the relapse and go on cleansing regimes, etc. Of course, there is nothing wrong with questioning what may have made me ill or seeking to reverse it, except that I wasn't praying to the Lord over my health - trusting in Him and His grace first. Instead I was first resorting to my own efforts, because food was becoming my "savior." I am so thankful to God for his patient grace in revealing this to me and allowing me a platform through my blog to help others to not fall into this trap, but to keep entrusting their health to the true Healer and Savior.I want to be transparent about this anytime I have opportunity, because it seems so many struggle in this too. It can be hard to stay balanced. And so, I continue to pray that God will keep me centered on trusting in Him, while using the discernment He's given me to make wise choices.Hopefully, I'm making sense here and this encourages others, as it's intended to. I so appreciate you, Carrie, and your openness and honesty to share your personal struggles with us, as well as open up the dialog so we can all be encouraged by one another. Blessings to you, sweet friend! :) Kelly
    Reply to this comment

    • Amy

      August 1, 2014 at 7:34 am

      Kelly, I would really love to chat one on one with you. I am a christian as well and I am stuck in the very situation that this particular blog talks about. I have prayed to God every single day for the past year to please reveal to me the reason behind my mysterious health issue (i'll explain in our chat); however, I haven't received an definitive answer yet, and that stresses me out and frustrates me because I keep thinking that I am the one contributing to my pain except I don't even know what it is I am doing (or no doing). I have tried EVERYTHING and am currently seeing a wonderful christian doctor who has helped me more than any doctor so far, but switching to a paleo diet has barely had an effect on my health and I feel like everything I am doing is in vain because the progress is stagnant. Hope to speak to you soon.
      Reply to this comment

      • Kelly @ The Nourishing Home

        August 6, 2014 at 8:50 am

        Hi, Amy. I praise God that our online communities can serve to encourage us all. You are more than welcome to contact me. Just pop over to my site (TheNourishingHome.com) and leave a comment or select "contact" in the About section and I would be happy to chat with you! Blessings to you, Kelly
        Reply to this comment

      • Christine

        January 14, 2015 at 4:25 pm

        Hi Amy! I know your post is from last year and I'm not sure if you'll even see my reply now, but I was wondering if you ever uncovered the source of and/or healed from your mysterious illness? Your post sounds exactly, word for word, like the same situation I am in now. (I've been sick for a year now with a mysterious illness and I've prayed with no answer about the illness or how to "cure" it.) I have also seen doctors, tried all different combinations of diets, to no avail. The Lord keeps telling me to trust Him when I seek Him, but I keep thinking there has to be something I can do to help this illness!! Thank you.
        Reply to this comment

        • Amy

          January 15, 2015 at 4:41 am

          Well praise God. Yes I actually signed up to get notifications on any reply from this posting. I would love to hear your journey as well as explain where I am at on my journey right now. Email me at Techsavvy87@embarqmail.com.
          Reply to this comment

  8. Elizabeth

    July 31, 2014 at 6:32 pm

    Carrie,I can completely relate to what you go through. Being 55 years old now and having raised 5 children my eating habits have changed dramatically in the last 10-15 years. We have 15 grandchildren to set good examples for so it is not only about my health it also concerns all of them. We have a small farm and we do our best to try and raise everything organically and as natural as God created them. We are stewards of these bodies and we have an obligation to try and care for them the best we can in a fallen world.I can honestly say I do not like to travel due to the very fact that we will have to consume toxic food. God gives grace to do what we can and get back to our lifestyle as soon as we can. But it is stressful to me because I have to chose options I am not comfortable with. So I give it to the Lord and trust He will lead me to where I need to be and continue to be my Great Physician when I need Him. So enjoy your time with your momma and let God take care of you.Elizabeth Didaskalos Farm Donalds, SC
    Reply to this comment

  9. Meg

    July 31, 2014 at 6:38 pm

    I can definitely relate! I have three little children and have been breastfeeding and/or pregnant for the past 6 years. Everything I eat I think of not only how it will affect my health, but also the health of my young children. Then there is trying to find a balance between cooking 3 healthy meals a day and enjoying time with my family. That balance has seemed non-existant lately and I feel like summertime is passing us by while I am in the kitchen most of the day cooking and cleaning up. I should add, we started eliminating gluten and limiting grains in June so I am still adjusting to that new routine. Lately the lack of healthy food options outside of our home, as well as friends and family that are on a completely different page when it comes to healthy living, has been really getting to me. Every function or activity my kids are involved with seems to revolve around some processed, dye filled, gmo snack, and I find myself stressed over allowing them to participate and not limit them from everything their friends are doing. It is a balancing act for sure! Thanks for the chance to vent. Glad to have an online community that I can relate to!
    Reply to this comment

    • Deliciously Organic

      August 1, 2014 at 4:01 am

      I'm so you shared your story, Meg. I think it's great that your family is making healthy changes (I hear you on being in the kitchen all day during the summer!). You're doing such a great service for them! And yes, trying to find that balance where you teach your kids about healthy eating, but then let them make choices and not be stressed about the outcome can be really hard! As a parent we want what's best for our children, and when we know food dyes and GMOs (for example) aren't a good choice it's hard not to get stressed over it all. I'm so glad we are all sharing our struggles! It really helps to know others feel the same. :)
      Reply to this comment

  10. Kerry

    July 31, 2014 at 7:27 pm

    I can 100% relate. My son is almost 5. For his entire life he has been allergic to dairy, eggs and peanuts. We are finding his tolerance to dairy and eggs is now far better than before. His allergies are what forced us to dig into what's in our food and eat far better than ever before. It also allowed me to really keep tight reigns on what we ate. Now that that's opening up, I fear what that will mean for the people around him who use food (namely sweets) as a reward and a bonding opportunity. I want my kids to be as healthy as possible and KNOW the difference between healthy and not healthy. It's a fine line, so although our story is different, I understand the struggle!
    Reply to this comment

    • Deliciously Organic

      August 1, 2014 at 3:55 am

      Thanks for sharing Kerry. I've often thought how hard it would be to have a peanut allergy, since that ingredient is everywhere. I can only imagine how difficult that must be. I hear you on the "reward" food...that's a tough one. I think it's fantastic that you're educating your kids about healthy foods. That's a huge gift!
      Reply to this comment

  11. Heather

    July 31, 2014 at 7:27 pm

    It isn't cheating to eat a wheat based anything...or I don't look at it that way. I'm slowly but surely 'training' my extended family to understand my food 'choices' are really food needs (and many area embracing real food!!). I can't go back...the way I felt....I'm not jeopardizing the tenuous grasp I have on feeling 'good' with food I don't need. HOWEVER....I do, now, have food paranoia (as I call it). What can I eat, how much, when.... after a year of no grains and sooooooooo much bone broth... I can't seem to find a new 'norm' society used to dictate for me (serving sizes, meal times, etc.). I'm extremely grateful my husband and kids have been clear of symptoms and tolerant of the diet changes (they aren't zero grain....but down to perhaps 25% of what we used to consume)... it just amazes me that after a year, food still possesses me so completely.
    Reply to this comment

    • Deliciously Organic

      August 1, 2014 at 3:50 am

      Thanks for sharing your struggle, Heather. Yes, after eating a specific way for so long to battle health issues, it's hard to find the new normal. I know I need to eat more carbs, and it's been almost comical how it's been a struggle to figure out how to add them back! :) For me, wheat could cause my thyroid to start attacking itself again, so I do need to stay away from that food, but I'm slowly adding back more soaked legumes, some fruit and trying not to be too strict, but just enjoy. Maybe I need to write a book next about how to get back to a "new normal" after healing from health issues. :)
      Reply to this comment

  12. Dena Norton

    July 31, 2014 at 7:41 pm

    First of all, no need to worry that readers will be disappointed by two dessert recipes in a row! :)Also, I really appreciate you pulling back the curtain a bit on your own journey with the emotional and relational aspects of healthy eating. I spent far too long clinging to rigid, self-imposed rules about what to eat, when to eat and how much to eat. As a college and post-grad student, and even as a professional, my studies and career centered on food and nutrition, so I received all the more praise for my extreme adherence to a "perfect diet."I have to second Kelly's comment above. It wasn't until God revealed the root issue of idolatry to me that I recognized just how disruptive my diet had become to emotional, spiritual and relational life. It's so easy to zoom in on the physical effects of food that we forget that extremes in any direction will compromise our whole health."To all perfection I see a limit..." (Psalms 119:96)I'm so grateful that He delivered me from myself and taught me how to embrace food, health and my body as gifts to be enjoyed and stewarded rather than manipulated and controlled.I realize your diet overhaul, unlike my own obsessive and restrictive patterns, was born of necessity and has greatly benefited your health (and, through this blog, the health of countless others!). But thanks for opening the conversation for some of us to share our own stories to encourage one another.
    Reply to this comment

    • Deliciously Organic

      August 1, 2014 at 3:47 am

      Thank you for your kind words Dena. I appreciate you sharing your story as well. It can be a hard balance and for me, I had to eat this way for so long to heal and now I need to start loosening the reigns just a bit. There are specific ingredients (mainly gluten) that I won't eat because of what it could do to my thyroid, but I think finding a nice balance is what is now needed. That's hard to do after you've eaten a specific way for so long!
      Reply to this comment

  13. Kristin

    August 1, 2014 at 4:55 am

    The timing of this is particularly interesting as I've been wrestling with this myself the last 10 days or so. I've tried every food restrictive plan out there to try to heal my inflammation and allergies. I can't eat a bite of food without worrying about what's in it and how will I feel later. This is a terrible loss for me as I truly LOVE food. I love rich, delicious, flavorful food...I love the whole experience of GOOD food.I am also constantly reading about healing with food. In the process I came across a blogger who believes if you fix your metabolism many of the chronic issues we (I) face would work themselves out because our bodies/hormones would be working at max capacity...and that many of these restrictive diets only contribute to a damaged metabolism in the long run. His theory has totally rocked my world!I'm not ready to start eating so much of all kinds of food to kick start my metabolism...but, I have had to step back and take notice of my relationship with food and how obsessive and unhealthy (ironic) it's become. I'm going to take a break...enjoy each meal...not be restrictive. I might come around... buy into his ideas and give his theory a try. But for now...I'll relax. Or do my best to relax. Old habits die hard. I don't think I'll go back to gluten but the rest is fair game for a bit.Thanks for the opportunity to read other people's stories and share my own. It's a relief to know we're not alone.
    Reply to this comment

  14. Mollie

    August 1, 2014 at 7:43 am

    Our entire family of six went strict paleo for four months last year to see if it would help our eleven year old son. We found that it did not improve his condition and he was not getting enough calories and needed carbs. I agonized and cried over what to bring back into our diet. It was so much easier to say no to EVERYTHING than yes to SOME things. I even went to a dietician to seek help in re-integrating food. Unfortunately the dietician was only used to dealing with obese children and had no idea what to do with my underweight child which only furtherd my frustration. Ultimately, we slowly added back 100% whole grains and legumes and we seem to be moving in a positive direction.
    Reply to this comment

  15. Heather

    August 1, 2014 at 8:13 am

    I definitely eat differently then my family. My husband's passion is fishing and all the while I reap great benefits of feeding my family wild caught salmon at least once a week, I find Burger King parafanilia (sp?) in the truck from where he and our son had dinner (even though I take the time to pack them enough food for two days!) Grrrrrr!! It makes me so upset! He is the opposite of me with summertime s'mores, candy treats from the gas station, etc.... And don't get me started on the grandparents houses. I'm pretty vocal (in a respectful way) on how I want my children (and wishfully) my husband too how to eat. My kids are young now, but will go off into the world of peer pressure at the lunch table or friends houses. I don't want them to choose the blue frosting cupcakes or the Aunt Jamima syrup soaked Bisquick pancakes, but what do I do? Not let them be kids? I hate the idea of the movie theatre! My son recognizes how I eat, he's 7. I see a little glimpse of caution in him when offered certain things, but when it comes to dad offering it, it seems ok to him to indulge. I would love to rid our pantry of the crap, but it think I will forever struggle with the balance and fear I am creating fear of food in my kids. Sometimes I wonder if this is a new kind of eating disorder and I'm in it! Because I too avoid all sugar (except wine ;) ) and pay attention to the "dirty dozen" in produce. So I'm not perfect, but there is NOTHING artificial in my body and I too have a hard time going out to dinner but will indulge on a special occasion. So I definitely struggle each day, am I doing enough? Am I not doing enough? Am I ruining the trust of my kids....? I guess I've needed to vent this out for awhile, I apologize for the lengthy post. Thanks for listening! You are an inspiration! I LOVE you recipes!!
    Reply to this comment

    • Deliciously Organic

      August 1, 2014 at 1:49 pm

      Thanks for sharing, Heather. I'm glad you could come here and vent. We all need to do that sometimes! :) I don't have any answers for you, but think the changes you are making for your family will only benefit them in the end. I personally think teaching the kids why we eat what we eat (what it does to the body, how it's made) can make a difference in how they think about food. Michael Pollan's book, "The Omnivore's Dilemma Youth Edition" is a great book for kids. I read the book out loud to my girls and they learned a ton. That's not to say they always make the best choice, but I think it made them think a bit more. I loved how you said this may be a new kind of eating disorder. Ha!! I think all of the information to eat healthy is positive, but we have to be careful we don't take it too far. Keep up the good work! :)
      Reply to this comment

  16. Lisa Leake

    August 1, 2014 at 8:55 am

    I agree feeling relaxed about what we eat can be healthy for us in its own way too - stress never did anybody any good! I hope you can let loose (just) a little in New Orleans and not feel guilty. I think it will be worth it for just a couple days :) Safe travels!
    Reply to this comment

  17. Nicole d

    August 1, 2014 at 5:30 pm

    Having recently moved from living in New Orleans for 4 years, I have to say there are so many good foods and restaurants, almost none of which would be considered "clean", but all so delicious. You may just have to say " what happens in New Orleans, stays in New Orleans ":). There is a whole foods downtown now though...good luck and do enjoy a little!
    Reply to this comment

    • Deliciously Organic

      August 4, 2014 at 9:55 am

      Thanks, Nicole. We had a great weekend and ate at some fabulous places! One of my favorites was the whole baked fish at Peche. I hope to recreate that recipe at home one day! ;)
      Reply to this comment

  18. Gail

    August 2, 2014 at 10:49 am

    This has been on my heart for some time too...thank you for opening up the discussion! It's nice to know others are thinking about this too. :) Here are my thoughts: the longer I live (I'm 30), the more I am convinced that the most important thing in life is relationships. I am a Christian and my first priority is my relationship with the Lord, then my family and others after that. I would say we do eat much more strictly than most of our family & friends (really simple, almost all organic foods) and we're starting to find other areas where we can make changes too as we learn. It's fun and I like being healthy! I agree we are all to be stewards of our bodies and we have 2 young boys that we are now stewards of too....but I try and not make my health of that of my family's my Ultimate. The Lord should be my Ultimate! With the relationships goal in mind, we are pretty loose when we go out or are around our family & friends. There are times when we certainly say "no" to certain snacks, party favors, or dining out choices, but not all the time. It's just one of those areas I want to be really sensitive to the Lord about and I'm not saying I'm perfect...but to me, if I eat a piece of processed cake and am a blessing (maybe that person needed some encouragement that day and somehow God used that act to bless that person) then it would be better to eat the cake. Its a Walk, moment by moment. It's certainly not easy though....especially when you throw allergies and diseases into the mix (lots of prayer to know what to do!). As a Christian, I am hoping that the Lord would use my eating choices to further His Gospel...and for me that includes what I choose not to eat, as well as what I loosen up about and eat anyway despite reservations. If we are all to be stewards, then a good question is, a steward for what? If we are all perfectly 100% healthy, but perhaps pushing people away from us, being too stressed out about food choices, etc...then what has our health benefited us? I am seeing this more and more in Dallas where being "green" and organic is pretty popular, yet it has become such a divisive issue...and to me it's just another tool of the Enemy . Food is a blessing, but it can be a hard thing, too. I love talking health, spreading the word on health...but I have to be careful. Its such a balancing act! Again, if I focus on relationships as the goal, and being sensitive to the Lord's spirit, it all seems to fall into place and less stress too!To wrap it up: I really appreciate your blog and your efforts to encourage people in their health, your wisdom in this post, and also admitting where you struggle with food. I hope I haven't sounded too preachy...certainly my thoughts were not directed towards you!! Just thoughts and general...as I said, it's been on my mind because I have seen this divisive issue from personal experience. Anyway---I'll stop my rambling! Thanks for all you do!Hugs, Gail
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    • Deliciously Organic

      August 4, 2014 at 9:58 am

      Thanks for sharing your words of wisdom, Gail. I agree that we can't make it the "ultimate" and we need to be flexible and make The Lord and relationships our top priority!
      Reply to this comment

  19. Connie

    August 2, 2014 at 2:39 pm

    I am 65 and have had autoimmune issues for many years. I am now going to a nutritionist/ chiropractor 100 miles from home, once a month. She has helped me more than any MD I ever went to.I am on the Paleo by choice because I have immune responses to gluten products, oat, milk and soy. Also others. I also have some OCD. I was getting very "crazy" about how toxic food is and how limited our actual organic resources are. I hated to eat out. Then I realized that God is on control. Nothing is going to happen to me without His permission, I gave up the spirit of fear that I had let take me over. Nothing changed except my fear of food. Whenever I experience anxiety about eating, I start searching for a new recipe, it gets my mind back doing something constructive! I do not feel a lot better in the 7 months that I have been seeing her, but my blood work has improved remarkably. So I know there is light at the end of the tunnel. I cannot quit eating this way because I believe in it. We should have never bought into the junk food mentality that we are fed by the media. I feel for you moms who are battling trying to get your children to eat well. I guess we all face different obstacles. FYI If you know anyone with Sjogren's Syndrome, lupus or Multiple Sclerosis, please tell them to look up Butyrophilin. It is why I cannot drink milk or eat any milk products. I was very depressed about giving up cream cheese and sour cream and cheese, until I read what it is doing to your brain if you have one of these diseases. It is where the dementia comes from. Blessings.
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  20. Mel

    August 3, 2014 at 7:30 am

    Thank you so much for your open and candid discussion, Carrie! I struggle with feeling guilty also. We have six children and I try to do everything from scratch but get torn between being a full-time cook and enjoying my kids while they are all little. I try to have them help in the kitchen but the oldest is 11. They are all aware of good food options but then I stress out when they have conventional food and candy and not enough vegetables. My husband and I also have decided that in the end it is all in God's hands. We can do what we can do and we pray and ask for his blessing upon the food before we eat and trust that He will make it good for our bodies. We try our best but also, like Kelly, try to maintain that balance of eating healthy without obsessively making food our idol. I really do not need any additional anxiety over food!! (Easier said than done). I have friends that do not really care to know about the food system and have no stress whatsoever over what their kids eat and I can't judge them and am sometimes envious of their "ignorance is bliss" attitude. However, once you know and read all about it, there is just no going back.
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  21. Michelle @ Vitamin Sunshine

    August 4, 2014 at 3:42 am

    I often feel a bit boxed in by my diet as well. I have tons of food allergies, avoid sugar, am intolerant of lactose and gluten, and also avoid processed foods. I can't eat out very many places! I tried Paleo, because I believe it really is a smart, healthy way to eat, but it was too limiting. I need grains and beans once in a while, so I have just changed the proportions of the things I used to eat- more meats and vegetables, fewer portions of grains and beans. I'm much happier than when I was cutting everything out-- and can actually find things at some restaurants once in a while!
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  22. Maria

    August 5, 2014 at 8:32 pm

    Hi Carrie,So glad to hear that your weekend was enjoyable with your mom. I'm sure the foods in New Orleans were amazing. Food is so much more than the nutrients, vitamins and minerals that nourish us. It can be about tradition, culture and celebration. As a person raised by Italian parents I can attest to food being a way of life. I would like to pass on new eating traditions on to my girls, just with a different healthier twist.I've followed the Paelo way of eating for a few months last year and I felt great, but it was really difficult to determine how to make it my new normal. But I managed...until, due to back pain issues which led to not exercising, I had succumbed to the "addictive drugs" of processed foods again. I still try to eat mostly healthy foods, but I'm off the wagon. I love reading about real foods (including your awesome blog) and I know everything there is to know about what to eat and why (to the point of obsession), but it's so darn hard to be a part of this world and not eat that stuff they call "food"!! I feel incredibly guilty eating the wrong foods (because I have the knowledge of what real food should be). I've recently had food sensitive blood tests done and of course gluten and dairy are high on the list of what not to eat for me. I plan to start my new normal (again) in September. I'm hoping I can find the right path this time. I totally admire those of you that can stick to a heathier lifestyle. Especially when our choices are big food companies, fast food chains, school cafeterias, government not doing the right thing for the consumers, GMOs, most restaurants, 90% of the food in grocery stores, etc. It can be a very lonely place when you feel no one around you is walking on the same path. It's like everyone around me is on this super fast super-highway together. Just cruising along eating whatever they want, not knowing or possibly not caring what they are consuming...and I'm walking on this parallel path that's hardly worn and unfamiliar ...but I know it suppose to get me to a better place. If only I could stop veering onto that super highway and taking the occasional detour of poor eating choices.Regardless of my dilemma, I applaud you for being true to yourself and your health and standing for what you feel is best for your body, just keep it real and don't freak out about the small stuff. We all take a detour once in awhile. Some (me) more than others.
    Reply to this comment

  23. Joan

    August 6, 2014 at 9:42 am

    To echo all the others, and to all who have shared, thank you for being so candid. I am beginning this journey, and it's overwhelming! I have a question on the recipe :) Can I just substitute Greek yogurt rather than wait for regular yogurt to drain overnight?
    Reply to this comment

  24. Vero

    August 9, 2014 at 2:48 pm

    Thank you for sharing, this is so me!!! I was going very strict on my diet, but I ended up at a point where it was very stressful to enjoy a night out, specially with friends. Even my husband, who is very patient, was starting to be a little frustrated. I was stressed, unhappy and my world was going around food issues. So, I decided about a month ago that maybe if I stop stressing about food my digestive problems will decrease. I am glad I read your post, now I have a professional opinion that it might be like that.Trying to adapt to a more relaxed diet now :)
    Reply to this comment

  25. Francesca

    September 20, 2014 at 7:40 am

    Hi Carrie,I'm more or less on a Primal or better Perfect Health Diet, I eat white rice. I don't have any gluten intolerance, it was more for self experimentation that I went gluten free and mostly grain free. I noted that my joint pains are all gone since I took off gluten but my children are eating it. My husband is the one how always bring me back to reality and point to me if I'm going a little crazy... He is a natural Paleo eater, meaning that his natural food preferences are for real food, unadulterated in the purest form. Doesn't care for sweets except ice cream and LOVES wine. He always reminds me that we are such complex creatures and the way our body works and all the interactions so unknown that nobody, nobody can be sure of what is really good or bad for us. Caffeine is bad? really, maybe it's not...wine is bad? maybe yes maybe no. Is really omega 6 so bad? Or there was a recent study where antioxidant are not so good. We cannot really be sure. Nothing is written in stone. I have been trained as a chef, I lived most my adult life in Europe, only one year back to the US, after 4 years in the South of France. I had the best offal dishes there, people eat them because they love it, it's a tradition, not because they are trying to swallow them because the paleo diet says it's good for them. I really try my best to eat the best food I can afford (and besides kids education is where we spend most in our house) but I also try to enjoy as much as I can. A roasted bone marrow with fleur the sel it's just a treat to me, like my liver, or sweetbreads. Am I going to have it with a glass of wine? Absolutely. The one thing I'm trying to learn from my husband- and men are better than women at that, in my opion- is to control my emotional eating. It's hard when you have young children and you don't sleep well or trying to feed everybody and you are the last to sit at the table and maybe you are eating while you are cooking. But food is good and should be delicious and we should try to enjoy it especially in the company of family and friends. I do cheat sometimes, when I go to people houses I usually don't tell them I am on a special diet. But I guess I don't have really autoimmune issues as many writing back to you. Generally I think people who live life more lightly (I'm a worrier instead) are much better off.
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  26. Frankie

    November 26, 2014 at 11:18 am

    I am so happy I just saw this post! I get so stressed about food sometimes. I am very strict with what I eat and tend to be very hard on myself if I slip up. Sometimes I find myself actually being scared of my food. Your example of eating out is perfect, if I order a salad I stress about the pesticides that were likely used on the vegetables. I won't let myself order something that sounds good because I don't have complete control over the ingredients. When we are too hard on ourselves it takes the joy out of eating. I think if we try our absolute best 99% of the time, the occasional non-organic salad or feed-lot raised chicken breast won't lead to sudden death.
    Reply to this comment

  27. Holly

    July 22, 2015 at 2:18 pm

    Thank you for this! I am currently on a fairly strict prescribed diet, and getting ready to the see the Integrated doc again. There is a board on facebook for those following and at times I just want to scream "LIGHTEN UP" lol. I can see the benefits of the diet, making lifestyle changes,etc but I also see red flags of people creating an eating disorder by being sooooo fixated on food and forgetting to enjoy it.
    Reply to this comment

  28. Beth

    April 15, 2018 at 10:12 am

    I have a question about the recipe. Can you simply use Greek style yogurt? If so, what would the amount used since the amount that you recommend for yogurt includes the whey.Thanks! Beth
    Reply to this comment

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