Wellness Mama®
Simple Answers for Healthier Families
I learned early on that when you get married, you also marry your husband’s sports teams (at least with my guy… go Reds!). This extends to cultural traditions too, especially if he comes from a strong cultural background. That’s where one of our favorite Christmas traditions called “Feast of the Seven Fishes” finds its roots. If you’re …
I’m not a fan of the chemicals, artificial flavors, and preservatives in microwave popcorn (actually, we don’t use a microwave at all… here’s why.) However, we do like popcorn as a crunchy, savory snack on family movie or game nights. We decided to look up the old-fashioned way to make popcorn and discovered it’s actually not …
Sweet potato casserole is beloved (by some) as a classic holiday recipe. If I’m being honest, I’m more of a plain baked sweet potato kind of gal, but since some of our extended family prefer the marshmallow-topped type, I decided to concoct a healthy version. Homemade Sweet Potato Casserole To make the sweet potato part …
Any chocolate junkie knows… not all chocolate is created equal. There can be a huge difference in quality depending on the brand and the ingredients. There may not be sweets around my house too often, but when we do have dessert, I want it to be amazing! Like my homemade chocolate recipe, it took some …
Oh, chicken soup… they call it food for the soul, and it certainly hits the spot on a cold winter day or when I’m under the weather. I also just love making this chicken soup (and other soups) during the winter to get some extra homemade bone broth into my diet. It seems like even …
Although it’s been several years since salted caramel became all the rage, it continues to be a popular choice for coffee drinks and desserts today. I’ve shared my recipe for my favorite way to drink coffee, but I realized that it could be easily adapted to be a salted caramel latte and still be healthy! If …
Holidays are a time to honor traditions, break out our best recipes, and celebrate in high style. Still, it can’t be denied that the usual Thanksgiving menu is rough on those with dietary restrictions, and generally leaves most of us feeling as overstuffed as the turkey! Years ago I decided to take our Thanksgiving menu …
I’ve been thinking for a while that it’s high time for a new dessert recipe! I know ice cream is a popular summer dessert choice, but does cold weather really make it any less delicious? Obviously not, since snow cream is a thing! Add coffee and you have the perfect treat for any time of year. If …
My love of Chinese food isn’t a new thing nor is my hobby of recreating favorite restaurant Chinese dishes at home. Sweet and sour chicken was one of my first recreation attempts. This kung pao recipe is the most recent, and absolutely delicious. Traditional Kung Pao Chicken Kung pao chicken is a Chinese stir-fry dish of chicken, …
Our family loves Halloween! It’s true, in the early days we were trick-or-treating holdouts (all that sugary artificial candy… shudder!). Now that my kids are older and we’ve figured out a healthy balance, times have changed. We just buy candy with better ingredients (and make sure to have non-candy treats too). Reinventing our dinner plan is another way …
Update: Since the original writing of this post, I acquired an Instant Pot with a yogurt making function. It makes yogurt-making a breeze and I can do a whole gallon at a time. For the most part, the process is the same as what’s listed below. In step three I leave the warmed milk in the Instant …
The right kind of wine has some major health benefits, but what if I told you it could be even more delicious? This homemade mulling spice blend makes for a great mulled wine or cider. Mulled spices are warming, flavorful, and make the house smell amazing! Not only do mulling spices taste delicious, but they also …
My family enjoys hitting the local taco truck once in a while for a fun dinner idea and a break from cooking. We especially love their chicken tacos which come with a delicious taco slaw on top. You probably know how much I love recreating restaurant (or food truck!) favorites at home, and this one …
I absolutely love the flavors of a Philly cheesesteak. Soft, toasty bread, tender beef, and melty cheese. Mmmm… I first had Philly cheesesteak when we visited my aunt and her family in Philadelphia. Let’s just say it wasn’t a grain-free or sugar-free trip. When we got back home I wanted to find a way to enjoy the flavors …
I’ve been using coconut products for years and now you can find everything from coconut cream to coconut flour in your grocery store baking aisle. Coconut milk is a wonderful alternative to pasteurized cow’s milk or to rice, almond, soy, or other plant-based milk, and you can find this at most stores as well. Unfortunately, …
I love the light, freshness of Caprese salad, especially when I have more tomatoes and basil in the garden than I know what to do with! However, it isn’t very high in protein or fat, two things our family makes sure to get in the morning. Enter the Caprese omelet! What Is Caprese? Caprese is an …
I love oregano for its medicinal qualities as well as its amazing flavor. So whenever I can use it in a recipe, I’m happy to. This Greek salad is a simple way to use oregano and other Greek flavors in a tasty dish that satisfies the whole family. We love making this when the tomatoes and cucumbers …
Soups have got to be one of my favorite things to make. They fall into that wonderful one-pot meal category — proteins, veggies, everything you need all in one bowl. Granted they don’t always work year round (no one wants to eat a steaming bowl of mulligatawny soup in August), but for several seasons of the …
I love spinach artichoke dip at restaurants. However, like many other restaurant favorites, I’m not too crazy about some of the ingredients used (like corn chips made with vegetable oils). Luckily, one of my favorite hobbies is to figure out how to make these recipes at home using ingredients that are more wholesome. I love my …
Ever heard of aioli? It has a fancy-sounding French name, but it’s really just mayo with a couple of extra ingredients. I frequently make my own mayonnaise and use it in all kinds of things, so making aioli was no big deal. And you all know how much I love no-fuss recipes. So if I say it’s …
With a big family, homeschooling, and a home business, I’m always looking for quick meals. I like to make this oyakodon bowl as a perfect meal for busy nights. I make it in one pan and add snow peas to an already pretty healthy dish for significant nutrition. If you make Asian food often, chances are …
Kids are snackers. I make sure they have a filling and nutrient-packed breakfast every morning and I don’t encourage snacking near mealtime. However, when they’re playing outside and burning off energy or going through a growth spurt they’re going to need snacks from time to time. These chocolate coconut energy bars fit the bill perfectly. They’re tasty, …
Ever miss that crunchy texture that foods like chips and crackers used to provide? This easy cheese crisps recipe will hit the snacking spot! Best of all, unlike most storebought cheese crackers, the one ingredient is 100% real food! The next time you need a healthy alternative to crackers or a break from carrots and celery …
Need a delicious summer treat without added sugars and preservatives? Make this real fruit smoothie sorbet. It’s a simpler recipe than my strawberry coconut milk ice cream. I use coconut milk and fresh fruit to make a cool sorbet that tastes like a fruit smoothie. What’s a Fruit Smoothie Sorbet? Well, it’s really the same …
