67 Natural Food Bloggers You Probably Should Be Following

If you’re a fan of Cultures for Health, you’re probably a follower of natural foods and living a healthy lifestyle.

This list is by no means comprehensive, but a general guide of some of the top natural food blogs we’ve received as recommendations from our readers.

Think we’re missing someone? Add them in the comments!

Natural Food Stores

• http://ift.tt/1goDE7o
  • In 1975, a “Mom & Pop” store called Dinner for the Earth opened in Asheville, NC, with a simple pledge—make it easy to shop for healthy food. Forty years later, Earth Fare has grown into a full-service supermarket with the highest Quality Standards, and the promise is more simple more than ever, “Healthy Food for Everyone.”
• http://ift.tt/1aQzFGG
  • The official Whole Foods market blog!
• http://ift.tt/1goDEnC
  • The Produce Box delivers fresh, local produce and specialty products like meats, cheese, bread and a lot more to homes and offices all over North Carolina.

General Recipes

• http://ift.tt/1bJMVBw
  • Nourished Kitchen is a traditional foods blog that explores the connection between culinary heritage, health and sustainable farming.
• http://ift.tt/u84rre
  • Inspiring cooks and nourishing homes through daily recipes, tips, kitchen tours, how-tos, news, product reviews, giveaways, and cooking contests.
• http://ift.tt/uDvbXu
  • Ree, also known as the Pioneer Woman, shares anecdotes from her life as her days “spent wrangling children, chipping dried manure from boots, washing jeans, and making gravy. I have no idea how I got here…but you know what? I love it. Don’t tell anyone!”
• http://ift.tt/rtlF9e
  • A home cooking weblog from a tiny kitchen in New York City. The place to find all of your new favorite things to cook.
• http://ift.tt/UGb40U
  • Delivering healthy and easy recipes for every occasion
• http://ift.tt/s23nbK
  • A natural foods recipe journal
• http://ift.tt/17qU0mN
  • Kayln’s blog can help you find healthy low-carb recipes that are usually South Beach Diet friendly and often Gluten-Free, Paleo, or Vegetarian.
• http://ift.tt/1cGylJq
  • A website devoted to sharing recipes for nourishing food, that is satisfying, family friendly and often frugal. She talks about many topics regarding health and food, and eco-friendly products.

Gluten-Free

• http://glutendude.com/
  • This gluten free blog is made up of a celiac community that is knowledgeable, passionate and snarky. Learn the truth about living gluten-free.
• http://ift.tt/1jOTO6d
  • A blog & Online Show where the Diva Team dishes on all things gluten free!
• http://ift.tt/QAbAAM
  • Don’t just settle into living a boring gluten-free life. Let’s talk gluten-free fun… food, restaurants, recipes, and more
• http://ift.tt/15lnK78
  • The sweet life, gluten-free. Love to cook and bake? So do we. Let’s talk.
• http://ift.tt/1tedDZ7
  • No Gluten, No Problem is the blog of Kelli and Peter Bronski. We regularly share new gluten-free recipes, nutrition and lifestyle commentary, and much more. But gluten? Fuggedaboutit…
• http://ift.tt/1gaTzTR
  • The guide to a hip and healthy gluten-free lifestyle featuring gluten-free recipes, gluten-free restaurants, gluten-free menus, gluten-free bakeries and more!
• http://ift.tt/1goDFrN
  • This blog posts info on allergies, cooking and recipes, healthy living reviews of products and restaurants and other things pertaining to a gluten-free lifestyle that might help others!
• http://ift.tt/SrHDoo
  • Author of the New York Times Best Selling cookbook Against all Grain, Danielle Walker provides recipes that are grain-free, refined sugar-free, and lactose-free. Perfect for Paleo, Gluten-Free, SCD, and GAPS.

Paleo (and AIP)

• http://ift.tt/ws7rxK
  • Author of New York Times best-selling cookbook Paleo Cooking from Elana’s Pantry.
• http://ift.tt/1dH0m2v
  • Blog about all things Health & Nutrition, Future Doctor looking to change the way people eat.
• http://ift.tt/1iugdol
  • Information about an allergen-free approach to managing chronic illness.
• http://ift.tt/160YpeH
  • Sarah Ballantyne, Ph.D. is the creator of the award-winning online resource ThePaleoMom.com; cohost of the syndicated top-rated The Paleo View podcast; and New York Times bestselling author of The Paleo Approach and The Paleo Approach Cookbook.
• http://ift.tt/1uvfuez
  • A Clean Plate offers simple allergen-free recipes and lifestyle guides to help recover from chronic illness.
• http://ift.tt/zxCBD6
  • Serving up health and fitness insights (daily, of course) with a side of irreverence.
• http://robbwolf.com/
  • Robb Wolf, a former research biochemist, is one of the world’s leading experts in Paleolithic nutrition. A student of Prof. Loren Cordain, author of The Paleo Diet, Wolf has transformed the lives of tens of thousands of people around the world via his top ranked iTunes podcast and wildly popular seminar series.
• http://ift.tt/15dY6M3
  • The Paleo Diet is based upon the fundamental concept that the optimal diet is the one to which we are genetically adapted, in theory.
• http://nomnompaleo.com/
  • Michelle Tam is the food nerd and working mom behind Nom Nom Paleo, a leading food blog. The Kitchn has heralded Michelle’s recipes as “often Asian-influenced, often California-inspired, and always popping with flavor,” and in 2012, Saveur Magazine recognized her site as the world’s Best Special Diets Food Blog.
• http://paleomg.com/
  • PaleOMG was created to inspire, make you smile, and change your meals for the better. If you are not laughing during a post or feeling uncomfortable when I talk about my love life (lack there of), I am doing something wrong. This blog is here to help you believe in your health, believe in your abilities in the kitchen as well as the gym, and believe in yourself during your quest for personal excellence.
• http://ift.tt/110iIY3
  • Real-food and healthy living obsessed. This blog shares paleo and gluten-free recipes, tips and general heath and wellness information.
• http://realfoodliz.com/
  • Nutrition, natural skincare & healthy baby makin’! Grab her best-selling book Eat the Yolks & look for the Baby Making & Beyond program in late 2015!

Vegetarian

• http://ift.tt/zN0VUh
  • Healthy vegetarian recipes by David, Luise and Elsa.
• http://ift.tt/Ky6aUy
  • Earthsprout is a company full of inspiration and motivation that hands you keys for living in your fullest potential! Natural nutrition, Gardening, Raw Foods and Holistic health. Playful and full of passion for You and our Mother Earth!
• http://ift.tt/TFhwV5
  • Spreading vegetable love. Digitally.
• http://ohmyveggies.com/
  • Oh My Veggies is a vegetarian food blog with a focus on easy recipes made with fresh, seasonal ingredients.
• http://ift.tt/x5Iu8W
  • Cookie and Kate is a healthy food blog that celebrates whole foods with fresh vegetarian recipes.
• http://ift.tt/13sCOgI
  • Healthy recipes for every season.
• http://ift.tt/16TtJ02
  • Mother and Daughter, Janey and Bibi, writing delicious veggie recipes for fuelling your life, along with training tips and running tales.
• http://ift.tt/A1iSaw
  • A whole foods focused blog with the intention of encouraging people to eat real foods.

Vegan

• http://ift.tt/X2gZya
  • The Gluten-Free Vegan Girl is on a mission to make healthy, vegan and gluten-free cooking exciting, easy, affordable and above all: TASTY!
• http://ift.tt/AaplxI
  • Fat-Free Vegan Kitchen is a food blog focusing on using natural, whole foods to create healthy recipes so Sinlessly Delicious that you’ll never miss the fat!
• http://ohsheglows.com/
  • An award-winning vegan recipe website that will please vegans and omnivores alike.
• http://ift.tt/1hjZNj9
  • A blog about mainly raw, always vegan recipes; and the awesome lifestyle that comes with eating plants.
• http://ift.tt/1d6sGNu
  • Healthy Easy Delicious Gluten-Free Vegan Vegetarian Recipes by Cookbook Author and Food Photographer Allyson Kramer.
• http://ift.tt/17BTJgS
  • Author of My Sweet Vegan has created this blog to share some of her favorite dessert recipes.
• http://ift.tt/1oLU8FH
  • Promoting Veganism and enhancing the Vegan lifestyle choice by sharing information and products that are useful, enjoyable and animal free.
• http://ift.tt/15POkpc
  • Choosing Raw is a website devoted to simple, nourishing, and delicious vegan and raw food recipes, compassionate living, and healthy body image.
• http://ift.tt/XV8PMV
  • Unbleached, unprocessed and cruelty-free: Unrefined plant-based recipes to nurture body, brain, and conscience.
• http://ift.tt/1gJKbES
  • The personal lifestyle blog of a vegan lady passionate about leading a healthy, beautiful, cruelty-free life.
• http://ift.tt/ZpOamI
  • Vegan cooking blog specializing in homemade meals and desserts inspired by the classics.
• http://ift.tt/11KzZbY
  • Weekly recipes for delicious food that happens to be good for you!

Nutrition Science News

• http://ift.tt/1xKVTsf
  • Medical Research News. Health news on everything from cancer to nutrition. Updated daily.
• http://ift.tt/kfov5b
  • Health resources and personalized health tools. Information and news on depression, digestive health, diabetes, breast cancer, cardiovascular health, and more.
• http://ift.tt/TVmXBD
  • Information on the benefits of nutrient-dense foods and the foundation’s agenda in the areas of education and research.

General Wellness

• http://ift.tt/1mtKRDu
  • Food & Nutrition Magazine is published by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, the world’s largest organization of food and nutrition professionals.
• http://ift.tt/1goDFIc
  • Practical articles on homemade, natural living that help you create your own cleaning and beauty products, grow better gardens, make better food, and more.
• http://ift.tt/1FoHZ1b
  • Wellness Mama provides simple answers for healthier families through her health articles, DIY and beauty tutorials, recipes, natural remedies, and podcast.
• http://ift.tt/15Cc92T
  • Traditional diet and holistic wellness blog.
• http://ift.tt/1F0aKGy
  • A blog about Organic Food, Nutrition and Healthy Living.
• http://ift.tt/1khFxjr
  • Busting “politically correct” health and nutrition myths.

Personal Favorites

• http://ift.tt/1kmfVpd
  • (Disclaimer: Shannon does a wonderful job coordinating the CFH blog but also has her own!) Interested in sustainability, homesteading, raw milk, pastured animal fats, fermented foods, and off-grid living? So are we…
• http://ift.tt/1ePnkbl
  • Challenging politically correct nutrition.
• http://gnowfglins.com/
  • Raise, save, and prep “God’s natural, organic, whole foods, grown locally, in season.”
• http://happyolks.com/
  • Recipes & Stories for Happy Folks.
• http://ift.tt/11NuDYj
  • Warning – NSFW language! Verbally abusing everyone into a healthier diet.
• http://ift.tt/RTW95H
  • A family with 2 young children in Charlotte, NC took a 100 Days of Real Food pledge. They didn’t eat a single ounce of processed food or refined ingredients for 100 days in the hopes that they would inspire people to follow suit.
• http://phickle.com/
  • Helping people make safe, naturally fermented foods like kimchi, kefir, sauerkraut, pickles, miso and vinegar.

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A Closer Look: Body Ecology Starter Culture

Today we are going to take a closer look at the Body Ecology Starter Culture.

Product Highlights

Use this starter culture as an alternative to culturing vegetables with salt or whey. Learn more about culturing vegetables with our collection of Cultured Vegetable Expert Advice Articles.

• Each box contains 6 packets of starter culture. Store extra packets in the freezer until ready for use.
• Use to culture vegetables or to culture cream for making cultured butter or creme fraiche (see below).
• Instructions and recipes are included.
• Not appropriate for culturing fruit, according to the manufacturer.

I am very happy with the taste and texture of my veggies: celery, red cabbage, broccoli, onion, and carrots. This is my first attempt at fermenting veggies, and I will will be fermenting more when these have been gobbled up. ~Mickey

Body Ecology Starter Culture Instructions:

• Add 1 packet culture to any vegetable ferment.
• Follow recipe instructions or ferment each batch at 70°F for several days.
• To make crème fraîche, add 1 packet starter culture to 1 pint heavy whipping cream. Culture at 72-75°F for 24 hours.
• To make cultured butter, make crème fraîche and follow the instructions in our article How to Make Cultured Butter.

Body Ecology Starter Culture Ingredients:

Lactobacillus plantarum, pediococcus acidolactici, leuconostoc cremoris, and inulin

This product contains no GMO ingredients

Body Ecology Starter Storage and Shipping Information:

Store in refrigerator or freezer. This product is shipped in a dehydrated state and keeps

• In the refrigerator (40° to 45°F): 12 months
• In the freezer (0° to 25°F): 12 months or more

Body Ecology Starter Allergen Information:

• According to the manufacturer, this product is dairy-free, soy-free, and gluten-free.
• May contain trace amounts of dairy.
• Inulin is derived from chicory root.

Product Q&A

Q. Are these packets reusable or are they just 1 time use?

A. Although it is quite common for people to reuse the starter, the acidic environment can be a little tough on the bacteria so we recommend using a fresh packet with each new batch.

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Q. Before these scientifically formulated fermentation products were developed, what was used to ferment veggies?

A. Natural fermentation methods include brine (salt + water) and/or whey. The starter cultures are useful because they contain more bacteria than are commonly found on the plant surfaces, so they get the fermentation going faster.

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Learn more about Body Ecology Starter Culture.

 

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The Winter is Coming The Winter is Coming

It is such a lovely day outside today with the sun shining brightly and a slight breeze drifting through the trees. But all too soon Mr. frost will rear his ugly head and all my beautiful basil plants will feel it right down into their bones.

And, alas I will as well. Besides battening down the hatches in the garden there are a few things I plan to do to prepare for winter.

1. Duct tape the handle of my snow shuvel. (first learn how to spell shovel) After a vigorous end of the year snow storm last year my trusty old shovel needs a bit of tender loving care. We have been through a lot together after-all.

2. Seal a few cracks in the faux brick facade in front of my house so they don’t look like the fall of Montezuma and crumble all over the driveway.

3. Pull out the long underwear. Enough said.

4. Stock up on all my immune boosting supplements: probiotics, vitamin D drops, and vitamin C to name a few.

5. Prepare for hibernation: ie.. Stock up on chocolate!

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Weekly Recap – September 12th Edition

It’s time for the weekly recap.  Leave your favorite links or ideas in the comments below!

This Past Week on the Blog

In case you missed them, here are a few highlights from this past week:

A Closer Look: Bulgarian Yogurt Starter

Crumbled Buttermilk Cheese – This cheese, because it is heated, is fairly dry in texture and can be tossed into a salad or sprinkled over casseroles with delicious ease.

Sourdough Starter Pancakes – Join Erin as she saves breakfast with a sourdough starter she hasn’t fed in a week!

What’s New at CFH: Back to School Sale & Natural Oil Facial Cleanse

Getting Started With Viili Yogurt: Making a Starter from Raw Milk – The very first cultured food I ever made was yogurt and I would guess a lot of us start there. It is familiar and comforting and versatile and delicious. Plus, it’s a fairly simple ferment to make.

 

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Getting Started With Viili Yogurt: Making a Starter from Raw Milk

The very first cultured food I ever made was yogurt and I would guess a lot of us start there. It is familiar and comforting and versatile and delicious. Plus, it’s a fairly simple ferment to make.

I had been making it by heating milk and waiting for it to cool before placing it in a cooler of warm water or blanketed in an oven with the pilot light switched on. So when I found out I could throw it together on the counter top without heating or keeping a steady 110 degrees, I was more than intrigued.

It is called mesophilic yogurt and, besides keeping a separate culture from pasteurized milk, it can be made on the counter top using our beloved raw goat milk. I haven’t made it in a while, as milk kefir sort of stole my heart a few years back, but recently I started up the Viili Yogurt Culture.

I think I had been hesitating due to the fact that I knew I had to pasteurize a little of our milk to make the starter culture. Sometimes I get these road blocks in my head when it comes to something unfamiliar or seemingly, but not factually, complicated. So one morning I decided to just go for it, with helpers in tow of course.

It took all of 10-15 minutes – only two of which were really hands on.

First I took a quart of fresh goat milk and dumped half of it into a small, clean saucepan. I put it over a low heat and just walked away. I washed some dishes, supervised our young children, and checked on it periodically while giving it a little swirl.

After about five minutes small bubbles were forming at the sides of the pan, a thin skin had formed on top of the milk, and bubbles were just starting to pop up towards the center of the pan. I turned the heat off and walked away for another 5-10 minutes to allow the milk to cool down.

Once I could comfortably touch the milk without feeling as though it would burn me, I knew it was ready. I removed the skin carefully with a fork, poured it into a quart jar, and added the culture packet. The box of Viili Yogurt Culture came with two culture packets which put my mind at ease a bit, knowing that if I botched something somewhere there was a backup at the ready.

I just gave the milk and powdered culture a quick stir, covered it with a coffee filter and canning ring and put it up on the culturing shelf – a bit away from my sourdough starter and water kefir – to culture.

Next time I’ll share with you how the raw goat milk yogurt turns out.

Have you worked with the Viili Yogurt Culture?

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What’s New at CFH: Back to School Sale & Natural Oil Facial Cleanse

This week’s sale is 20% off everything. Use coupon code SCHOOL at checkout… expires 9/10/15!  Also, check out our new Natural Oil Facial Cleanse article and recipes.

Natural Oil Facial Cleanse

While cleansing your face with oil may seem counterintuitive, it is surprisingly effective at binding with the oil and dirt in your pores, leaving your skin deeply cleansed, glowing and supple. Unlike the typical soap and detergent-based face washes, a traditional oil cleanse restores health and balance to your skin.

Ingredients for Natural Oil Facial Cleanse:

An oil cleanse is beneficial for all skin types, including oily skin. Choose the mixture that fits your skin type.

Oily Skin:

• 3 cups olive oil
• ½ cup castor oil
• 2 drops tea tree or lavender essential oil

Combination Skin:

• 3 cups olive oil
• ½ cup castor oil
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 2 drops lavender or geranium essential oil

Dry Skin:

• 2 cups olive oil
• 1 cup sweet almond oil
• 1 Tbsp honey
• 2-3 drops vitamin E oil (optional)
• 2-3 drops lavender, geranium or rose essential oil

Instructions for Making Natural Oil Facial Cleanse:

1. Mix all ingredients together.
2. Pour into an amber glass bottle.
3. Store in a cool, dark place.

How to Use Natural Oil Facial Cleanse:

1. Pour a small amount onto palm and massage onto dry face in gentle, circular motions.
2. Massage for about a minute to allow oil to penetrate.
3. Apply hot, steamy washcloth to face to open pores and remove oil. Leave cloth on face until cool.
4. Repeat the washcloth application 1-2 more times, or until face feels clean.
5. Follow with a splash of cool water to help close pores, and pat dry.
6. Enjoy the natural glow!

Makes approx 24-28 ounces depending on skin type mixture selected.

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Sourdough Starter Pancakes

Some mornings it’s just hard to think about anything. Breakfast seems inconceivable when you open your fridge to see bare shelves. However, I do always have my sourdough starter. *whew*! Pancakes! But wait, I hadn’t fed my starter in a week… could pancakes still be made? On this particular morning, I decided to find out.

I used this recipe from the CFH website (except that my starter wasn’t ‘freshly fed’) and substituted honey for the sugar. My starter is about 100% hydration, so I didn’t need any milk at all to get it to the right consistency.

I must admit, I have tried using plain starter for my pancake flour in the past and it always produced a rubbery thick pancake. I was wary, but for the sake of a timely breakfast, soldiered on.

Then came the magical moment, as I mixed in the baking soda the batter became puffy and bubbly! A reaction between baking soda and the somewhat vinegary acidity of the sourdough starter perhaps? If you have any insight in this, I would love to hear it in the comments below.

See how fluffy the batter is?!

When I dropped the rounded ice-cream scoop fulls of pancake batter on to the griddle, they immediately became bubbly lacy looking pancakes.

They were light, fluffy, slightly sweet and a huge hit with the family! If you are a pancake aficionado, you may refer to these more as crepes, but either way, they were gone in minutes. Breakfast was saved and a new recipe found!

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