Walking barefoot through the warm summer grass. Who doesn’t feel a bit nostalgic remembering the childhood pleasure of going around barefoot? Almost anyone would agree that it’s enjoyable to kick off one’s shoes every once in a while and feel the earth beneath your feet.

But did you know there are lots of good reasons to encourage your child to go barefoot? Not just occasionally, but as often as possible?

It’s good for all of us, but little ones — whose bodies are growing rapidly — can especially benefit from going without shoes. Going barefoot is just one of the simple things to enjoy in the hot months.

Now that the weather’s warmer, I encourage my three-year-old daughter to be barefoot pretty much all the time, as I am. We keep a pair of sandals for each of us in the van, to slip on before entering a store or restaurant (It can be annoying to get hassled by a store manager for being barefoot).

Otherwise, we’re almost always completely unshod, weather permitting. If I feel like giving my feet a little TLC, I whip up a quick batch of this sea salt exfoliating foot scrub.

Barefoot kids: Why you might want to raise kids without shoes (or less shoe-wearing, at least)

Why go barefoot?

There are several benefits for kids going barefoot. Part of it is a rite of passage in childhood, but it also has some surprising health benefits.

• Feet grow and develop naturally
• Kids learn a natural and healthy gait
• Improved safety awareness
• Shoes last longer
• It’s therapeutic
• Kids sleep better (can I get an Amen?)
• Simply fun
• Overall healthier feet!

Raising kids barefoot: it’s more important than you would have thought

1. Allow Feet to Grow and Develop the Way They Were Meant To

You may never have noticed this, but shoes actually change the shape of our feet over the course of our lives.

At birth, the human foot gets wider as it progresses to the ends of the toes. (If you take a look at a newborn’s footprint, you might notice this feature). But the average adult’s foot is widest at the ball, and the toes pinch inward. Why is that? Because a lifetime of wearing shoes has actually altered the shape of the foot!

Photo via Flickr CC.

People who live in cultures where going barefoot is the norm don’t have feet like ours. The toes remain spread apart, like a newborn baby’s.

But in our culture, we like the appearance of a tapered toe on our shoes. We’ve actually become conditioned to believe that that’s what a foot should look like. So we don’t create shoes that follow the shape of the foot; instead, we create shoes that our feet have to fit into. Even if it means permanently changing the natural shape of the foot.

Beginning in infancy — when bones are still forming — we start putting our children’s feet into shoes that look the way we think they should look, ultimately changing the shape of their feet. And changing the shape will, of course, alter how effectively they work.

“The human foot is a masterpiece of engineering and a work of art.”

Leonardo DaVinvci

I tend to agree. I don’t want to mess with that. That’s why I let my daughter go barefoot as much as possible: to protect her feet, and to let them grow the way they were supposed to! Going barefoot builds great flexibility.

2. Encourage Children to Learn a Natural, Healthy Gait

Wearing shoes changes the way we walk – and it isn’t necessarily for the better.

When we’re barefoot, we naturally walk more gently, with a shorter stride, putting less pressure on our heels. Our knees bend to cushion the shock of each step. Our toes grip the floor and help propel us forward.

Shoes change all that.

The cushioning on our soles encourages us to slam our heels into the ground, which is harder on our knees. The stiffness of our soles prevents our feet from rolling flexibly forward, so shoes are given an upward-curved toe — called a toe spring — to allow them to rock forward onto the next step. This toe spring lifts our toes off the ground, so they can’t help propel the foot forward as they’re meant to. Our feet get trained to use the wrong muscles to move us forward.

All of these things together mean an unnatural gait that is harder on all of our joints.

If you consistently put shoes on your children right from infancy, they learn this unnatural gait from the start. They never get the chance to strengthen their toes and the tendons in their feet that are supposed to do the bulk of the work. These muscles atrophy, so that when kids finally do take off their shoes and try to run around, it can hurt. Foot pain may be avoided by simply starting without shoes. Natural walking is best learned without shoes and leads to the healthy development of the feet.

Give your kids a chance to learn the right way to walk by letting them go barefoot as much as possible. Kids’ feet need a chance to be free.

3. Improved Safety

Going barefoot everywhere

I know, I know, I know. The number one reason most people put shoes on their kids is for their safety. To protect their feet from hard, sharp surfaces. But it’s my opinion that in most situations, wearing shoes is actually more dangerous than going barefoot. Barefoot kids are able to develop motor skills essential to gripping as they climb and run about.

In my personal observations, children are much more likely to trip and fall when they’re wearing shoes – especially flip-flops and Crocs. (In my opinion, flip-flops are the most dangerous thing you can put on your kid’s feet, and they’d definitely be better off barefoot).

Most shoes in general, but especially the slip-on variety, tend to make kids clumsier because they make the wearer less alert to his/her surroundings. They require effort to keep on, and they shift and slide under their soles as they move, making their footing less stable.

I haven’t seen any studies done on children and footwear, but a  1991 paper entitled “Athletic Footwear: Unsafe Due to Perceptual Illusions,” published in Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, noted that athletes who wore fancy, expensive athletic shoes are actually more prone to injury: “Wearers of expensive running shoes that are promoted as having additional features that protect (e.g., more cushioning, ‘pronation correction’) are injured significantly more frequently than runners wearing inexpensive shoes (costing less than $40).”

According to another study, people in expensive cushioned running shoes were twice as likely to suffer an injury than were people who went running in hard-soled shoes. Because we think we’re protected, we move in ways that aren’t safe for our bodies.

What are they going to wear, then?

If you want some sort of shoe, then the ideal is to choose flexible-soled shoes that strap on securely, like leather moccasins, so they can still feel the ground under their feet, but not slip out from under them as they play. This is particularly important when considering children’s shoes.

But what about sharp objects? Don’t barefoot kids’ feet need protection from them?

That’s a valid question, and obviously you need to assess the nuance of your environment. But it’s been my experience that kids (and adults) who are used to going barefoot have a heightened awareness of their surroundings.

When we go barefoot, we instinctively pay attention to where we’re putting our sensitive feet. We watch the ground in front of us and use common sense. And because we step more gently when we’re barefoot, we’re apt to notice if we’re starting to put our foot down on a sharp object and quickly lift it, avoiding puncture wounds and other injuries. The more often you go barefoot the thicker the skin on the soles of your feet becoming creating natural protection.

Going barefoot allows for full freedom of movement and encourages safety.

4. Healthier Feet and Increased Brain Devolpement

Shoes trap fungus and bacteria and hold them against your feet. They also provide a lovely, warm, damp environment for them to grow in, inviting things like athlete’s foot and toe fungus and encouraging ingrown toenails. Ditching the shoes more often creates healthy feet.

So keep your kid’s feet healthy by keeping them bare! Sunshine and fresh air are great for feet, too! Barefoot children may have increased brain development allowing them to build confidence, have better problem-solving skills, social skills, language skills, and better regulation of emotions. (Bridging the Gap)

Spending time barefoot outdoors is beneficial to the nervous system. The feet have over 200,000 nerve endings that gather information. When there is no barrier, the brain is allowed to better connect with the feet and improve cognitive development. This is one of the reasons earthing or grounding is becoming more popular amongst adults.

That sensory connection allows children to be in tune with the world underneath their feet through outdoor play and develop their gross-motor skills.

5. Less Wear and Tear on Shoes

My daughter has only owned a few pairs of shoes in her short lifetime (all second-hand). They aren’t worn often so I will be able to pass them on to her siblings.

This would probably be a silly reason to go barefoot if it was the only one, but it’s a really nice side-effect.

Raising Barefoot Kids: Expert Tips & Tricks

How to start going barefoot

Start off slow. If you have worn shoes inside and outside most of your life your feet are not used to being without them. The muscles in your feet need to be retrained on how to move. The soles of your feet also are more tender because calluses have not been allowed to develop.

Start off going barefoot inside your house or on the grass. You will be amazed at how cathartic it can be to walk barefoot through the grass. Once your feet have accustomed themselves to being barefoot around your home start walking around your neighborhood on the sidewalk or through the dirt.

How to go barefoot in public

I have been going almost exclusively barefoot for the last five years, and my daughter for the last three (except in the colder weather of course), and neither of us has suffered any kind of injury from a sharp object yet. I recently walked all over Toronto and Montreal without incident.

My daughter and I regularly walk all over town and the local parks and walk to and from the library weekly. We’ve never gotten anything worse than a nettle thorn in our feet. Children’s feet grow best when they are able to not be restrained to shoes.

Take a pair of shoes for yourself and each of your children to slip on when you get to a store.

Is going barefoot bad for your feet?

As a whole, no. Obviously one needs to use common sense. If it’s hot outside, you aren’t going to want to walk barefoot on concrete or the blacktop because it will burn your feet. If you live in a developing nation or an area of town where you might be exposed to human and animal waste or drug paraphernalia, then walking barefoot should be saved for the safety of your own home. Similarly, you should avoid going barefoot in public restrooms and locker rooms.

Should babies wear shoes when learning to walk?

Let those little piggies wiggle free. If babies wear shoes while first learning to walk they learn an unnatural gait. It is better to allow them to learn to walk barefoot to strengthen their toes and the tendon in their feet before you introduce shoes. Going bare foot is important for early walkers.

What about when I have to wear shoes?

It comes as no surprise that you can’t go barefoot 100% of the time. There are places, seasons, and times that you have to wear shoes. While the best option is going barefoot, the next best thing may be a minimalist shoe if you are looking for a compromise between going barefoot or wearing shoes. Minimalist shoes are designed to mimic the benefits of going barefoot.

Just because they are called minimalist don’t let yourself interpret that as boring. They are anything but that. I’ve come across a wide range of styles. The only thing you probably won’t find is heels since that defeats the purpose of barefoot shoes.

There are high-quality shoes that you can invest in to encourage your kid’s feet to grow as healthy as possible.

They make sandals, tennis shoes, dress shoes, and everything in between. There are shoes made from vegan materials or other natural materials like suede leather, and all sorts of different colors. So, whether you are looking for minimalist kids shoes or pair of shoes for yourself, you are sure to find something.

Let’s de-mystify some of the terminologies that you might see when you are looking for minimalist shoes:

• Zero drop– Also called zero-drop platform, these are shoes with a heel that is not elevated to aid in proper posture.
• Wide toe box– Allows toes to spread out and relax, just like they were created to do. Many traditional shoes taper at the toes.
• Flexible sole– These soles are low to the ground, allowing feet to bend and flex, increasing balanace and agility in a way that stiff soles don’t allow for. The bottom of the feet are able to feel the ground.

If minimalist shoes aren’t in your budget, prioritize shoes that have thin soles and a wider toe box.

This is one of the more popular, longstanding brands that has been making minimalist shoes for a while, but there are other popular brands. There are also cheaper versions of minimalist shoes without the brand recognition out there that may work for your needs – do a bit of research and read the amazon reviews to sort through them.

The bottom line: Encourage your kids go barefoot

Encourage your kids to go barefoot as often as you feel comfortable. Kick your shoes off and take a barefoot romp through the grass as a family. Soak in the warmth of the summer day and have fun!

Are you raising barefoot kids? What tips do you have?

Resources for Further Reading/Learning

You Walk Wrong by Adam Sternbergh
The Foot Film (trailer)

Original Post written by contributor Kathleen Quiring & published in 2014. It has been updated & expanded by Red & Honey in 2021.

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In my opinion, the one and only downside to summertime are the mosquitoes.

They annoyingly buzz around you until they finally bite, which results in itchiness and welts, swelling, and even allergic reactions. And I do not even want to think about the West Nile or Zika viruses (these will be more or less of a concern depending on where you live) that they could be carrying. Ugh!

I do not know what it is that makes mosquitoes go after some people more than others. Is it blood type? Breath? Body heat? Pheromones? Sweat? Even the scientists have not figured it out exactly. Although – they do say that there is a very large variety of factors at play.

Regardless of the exact reason, I know that I am one of the lucky ones. I can count the number of mosquito bites I get in my adult life on my fingers and toes. Or at least I don’t react to mosquito bites in a typical way so I am unaware it has happened. Please don’t hate me.

My husband, on the other hand, is not so fortunate. Mosquitoes seem to swarm to him, covering him with those itchy welts. Bug bites are no fun. So insect repellent is definitely a necessity in my home, especially when we are out hiking or camping in the summer months. I prefer to use my own homemade mosquito repellent made with essential oils. If we are camping, I’m sure to pack the 6 best essential oils to take camping.

Whether or not you are a mosquito magnet, we all want to be left in peace to enjoy our time outdoors in the summer without any creepy crawlers crawling on us and keeping those pesky mosquitoes at bay.

After romping through the woods, we found that this DIY mosquito repellent works well for us. My husband is grateful not to suffer from so many itchy mosquito bites!

Is DIY Insect Repellent Safer?

If you’re similar to me, you may have some reservations regarding commercial bug sprays. They typically contain chemicals that are fairly toxic to our bodies, and even more so if they contain DEET, known to be toxic to the central nervous system. (source)

Even if the dangers are still being debated, the reality is there have been many toxic and dangerous chemicals that were declared safe for many years… until they weren’t. There are tons that have been later implicated in serious health concerns. Personally, I’d rather err on the side of tradition when it comes to questionable synthetic chemicals vs. natural ingredients with centuries of history and usage. (Is that a fool-proof distinguishing factor? No. Do I still use it as a general rule? Yup, using common sense of course!)

The first solution? Homemade DIY mosquito repellent that we keep on hand all spring and summer.

A DIY mosquito repellent spray made with a combination of essential oils so you can feel good about what you are putting on your body is our first line of defence. There are some natural versions on the market but honestly – homemade bug spray is one of the easiest things you can make!

DIY Mosquito Repellent with Essential Oils is a great way to start with DIY projects…

When you think of DIY you might envision a complicated recipe with lots of steps. The good news is, that that is not the case with this recipe. It may be your easiest DIY yet!

• Safe & Affective
• Simple ingrdients
• Long term savings
• Customizable (can be safe for young children)
• Awesone at keeping mosquitoes away
• One of the easiest DIYs ever!

This essential oil mosquito repellent recipe is a great one to have up your sleeves.

I don’t DIY everything – some things just aren’t worth the time and energy. But this homemade bug spray honestly doesn’t take much time at all, and saves you a ton of money (that you can use to buy safer versions of things that are more time-consuming to DIY). It’s all about making strategic choices, right?

What is the best homemade mosquito repellent?

I personally think that this homemade natural mosquito repellent is the best, which is why I am sharing it with you!

Essential oils used in this natural insect repellent

I have come across so many different DIY insect repellent recipes that use a wide variety of essential oils. I do include quite a few different essential oils here because I want to cover all my bases to ensure they are as effective as possible.

They are my personal favorite essential oil to keep mosquitos away. Each has repellent properties.

• Citronela
• Geranium
• Eucalyptus
• Lavender
• Patchouli
• Peppermint

• Optional: Get a pre-mixed blend for convenience – just add to distilled water, and you’re done!

If you don’t have these oils, and aren’t sure you want to buy them, Plant Therapy offers a pre-made blend which is targeted to mosquito repellent. I’ve used it, and it works well! (Ingredients are similar to this recipe.)

Here’s the regular version: Shield Me.
And here’s the kidsafe version: Nature Shield

Either way – this DIY mosquito repellent is easy to put together and has you ready for your next adventure!

Citronella ( Cymbopogon nardus)

Buy it: Plant Therapy website | Buy it: Plant Therapy on Amazon

In herbal and folk tradition, citronella leaves have been used as a DIY insect repellent. According to The Encyclopedia of Essential Oils by Julia Lawless, citronella had been a popular choice to deter mosquitoes for many years before DDT was introduced.

It is generally considered to be a gentle oil, safe to use on children older than 7 months topically, or defused. It is also safe for pregnant and breastfeeding moms! Using more than the suggested amount may cause irritation or sensitization.

This does not come as much of a surprise to me considering the popularity of our modern-day citronella candles and torches as well. I should note here that many of those are not effective because they are simply citronella scented without actually containing citronella oil.

Citronella is not considered to be safe for cats. If you have cats, use caution when spraying.

It has a shelf life of about 3-4 years.

Egyptian Geranium (Pelargonium asperum)

Buy it: Plant Therapy website | Buy it: Plant Therapy on Amazon

One of the main components of geranium essential oil is actually citronellol, so it makes sense that it would also be an effective mosquito repellent the way that citronella is. It is often used to help repel ticks.

This oil is considered safe for all ages, including breastfeeding and pregnant women. It should not be used neat (straight on the skin), and it also soothes bug bites. So if you still happen to get a bite or two, geranium is there for that too.

It has a shelf life of about 4-5 years.

Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus radiata and Eucalyptus globulus)

Buy it: Plant Therapy website | Buy it: Plant Therapy on Amazon

Eucalyptus has insect-repelling properties. Field tests in Guinea, have shown that it may provide protection from some types of mosquitos for about 2 hours.

Eucalyptus radiate and globulus are not recommended for children under five years of age due to potential respiratory distress. Generally speaking, radiate and globulus are the most common types available Before you purchase a bottle, check to see what type it is if you intend to use the bug spray for children. (Note: the variety Eucalyptus Smithii should not be used on children under 10.)

It has a shelf life of 2-3 years.

Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia and Lavandula Officinalis)

Buy it: Plant Therapy website | Buy it: Plant Therapy on Amazon

Lavender is the Swiss Army knife of herbs. Instead of asking what is it good for, it is almost easier to ask, what is it not good for? Lavender doesn’t simply soothe and relax. It has been used as an ingredient in diy mosquito repellent for a long time as a folk remedy.

This oil is one of the most gentle oils, yet multipurpose as well. It repels mosquitos and other insects, and it also soothes itchy skin and the occasional bug bite. Lavender can be used neat on adults, but it is recommended to not use it directly on infants under three months, and use it dliuted on older babies and children.

Lavender oil is generally considered to be safe to use around most pets, including dogs, cats, and birds.

It has a shelf life of 3-4 years.

Patchouli (Pogostemon cablin)

Buy it: Plant Therapy website | Buy it: Plant Therapy on Amazon

Patchouli essential oil is another that is linked to mosquito repelling. It is in the mint family. Similar to lavender, it is good for soothing bug bites that if they happen.

It may prevent blood clotting. You should avoid patchouli if you are taking blood thinners or aspirin, shortly before or after surgery, or if you have a bleeding disorder.

It has a shelf life of about 6-7 years.

Peppermint (Mentha x piperita)

Buy it: Plant Therapy website | Buy it: Plant Therapy on Amazon

Peppermint essential oil is an effective spider repellent. In addition to this insect repellent spray, I use peppermint oil bug spray in my house. I spray it along window screens, door frames, baseboards, and corners to keep the spiders away.

It is safe to use on children and adults over the age of six. Like eucalyptus, it can cause respiratory distress for small children and animals. It is safe generally to use during pregnancy but may dry up a breastfeeding mother’s milk supply. If you have GERD, cholestasis in pregnancy, or a G6PD deficiency, you should avoid peppermint.

It has a shelf-life of about 3-4 years.

How to Make DIY Mosquito Repellent Spray with Essential Oils

As far as homemade insect repellent goes, this recipe is pretty straightforward. Distilled water is the main ingredient and essential oils are the active ingredients. Don’t you love it when you have a natural alternative that works? I’m not going to lie, this spray does have a strong aroma, but for a good reason.

Always test a small area of your skin before use to check for skin irritation. This essential oil insect repellent is unlikely to cause any issues however use caution since each individual responds to substances differently.

Here’s what you do:

1. Combine all DIY insect repellent ingredients into small sized spray bottle. Tinted glass is ideal. (This one is very similar to what I use.)
2. Store somewhere cool, dark, and dry between uses.
3. To use, give the bottle a good shake. Then spray liberally over the body, especially any areas of exposed skin. Rub in, if desired. Spray into hands and then gently apply to face to avoid getting it in your eyes.

You will need to reapply more often than a conventional insect repellent, so keep it handy.

*Safety note: Citronella, peppermint, and eucalyptus essential oils are not recommended for use while pregnant by some sources. Check with a professional and always exercise caution.

†Safety note: Peppermint and eucalyptus essential oil are not recommended for use on children under 5-6 years old. For older children, the essential oils should be diluted twice as much.

Like conventional products, there are still potential side effects even with natural products like essential oils.

Homemade Mosquito Spray: Expert Tips & Tricks

Why no carrier oil?

For simplicity’s sake, this recipe only calls for distilled water. Easy recipes are how I roll.

If desired you can add a tablespoon of carrier oil such as fractionated coconut oil, neem oil, or castor oil. You can also add equal parts water to apple cider vinegar, witch hazel, or rubbing alcohol. For example, it would be 1/4 cup water 1/4 cup witch hazel for this essential oil insect repellent.

There is the thought that aloe vera and olive oil when used together, add to the effectiveness of insect repellent. Some people also like to dissolve a couple of tablespoons of Epsom salt into their sprays to soothe the skin and act as an additional carrier for the essential oils. The nice thing is if you have dry skin, these options will help moisturize your skin.

Will it work for more than just mosquitos?

For sure! I created this natural repellent blend with essential oils with mosquitos specifically in mind. The great thing about the oils is that they are good about deterring other pesky insects as well. Some people have found geranium essential oil to help repel ticks.

How well does it work?

The effects of this natural bug spray wear off more quickly than commercial sprays, so it is necessary to reapply every hour or so. It’s been a game-changer for my family. Every region has bugs unique to their area, some people are bug magnets and others aren’t. Each body responds differently to oils. This recipe is a great place to start, but you can customize it to fit your body’s needs.

This type of homemade bug spray works well enough for me without much effort – but others in my family that are super bug magnets tend to apply twice as often.

Are there more bug repelling essential oils?

Definitely! This is the blend I prefer, but other essential oils also have insect repelling properties. If you have bitey jerks (mosquitos & pals) in your area (and really who doesn’t have at least a few?!) here are a few more essential oils for bugs!

• rosemary oil
• ceaderwood oil
• lemongrass oil
• lemon eucalyptus oil
• lemon oil

* Use caution with all citrus, and especially lemon essential oils because they make your skin photosensitive, ie. more sensitive to the sun.

Print

DIY Mosquito Repellent with Essential Oils

This DIY mosquito repellent with essential oils is a quick and easy way to save money and avoid questionable ingredients in commercial bug sprays. And of course – it works super well!

Prep Time 2 minutes

Cook Time 5 minutes

Servings 0.5 cups

Calories

Author Beth Ricci

Equipment

• amber glass spray bottle

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup distlled water
• 10 drops citronella essential oil*
• 10 drops geranium essential oil
• 5 drops eucalyptus essential oil*†
• 5 drops lavender essential oil
• 5 drops patchouli essential oil
• 5 drops peppermint essential oil*† optional

Instructions

• Combine all the essntial oils and water in small sized spray bottle. Tinted glass is ideal to prevent breakdown of active ingredients.

  Store somewhere cool, dark, and dry between uses.

  Shake the bottle before each use. Spray liberally over the body, especially any areas of exposed skin. Rub in. Spray into hands and then gently apply to face to avoid getting it in your eyes.

  You will need to reapply more often than a conventional insect repellent, so keep it handy.

Notes

If you don’t have these oils, and aren’t sure you want to buy them, Plant Therapy offers a pre-made blend targeted to insect repellent. I’ve used it, and it works well! (Ingredients are similar to this recipe.)

Here’s the regular version: Shield Me

And here’s the kidsafe version: Nature Shield 

*Safety note: Citronella, peppermint, and eucalyptus essential oils are not recommended for use while pregnant by some sources. Check with a professional and always exercise caution.

†Safety note: Peppermint and eucalyptus essential oil are not recommended for use on children under 6 years old. For older children, the essential oils should be diluted twice as much.

What brand of essential oils should I use?

There are a lot of poor-quality oils out there and a lot of high-quality oils to choose from as well. Buying essential oils from discount stores and big box stores is not the best choice. Choose a company that is careful with how the plants are grown, harvested, and distilled when you make this essential oil DIY mosquito repellent.

It’s easy to get all in a tizzy over which company is the best. I’ve used and had success with Plant Therapy, and I find their prices to be the best. They have a great organic and kid-safe line. Other people choose to go with doTerra, Young Living, and Rocky Mountain Naturals to name a few. Each of those four companies creates high-quality oils and are based (but not all grown) in the United States.

Need more inpiration for essential oils?

• 50 Uses for Essential Oils
• 13 Ways to Use Tea Tree Oil

Here’s my favorite book to have on hand as a reference guide when working with essential oils: The Complete Aromatherapy & Essential Oils Handbook for Everyday Wellness by Nerys Purchon and Lora Cantele.

Additional Tips to Avoid Mosquitoes Without Nasty Chemicals

An essential oil mosquito repellent is a good thing to have but it’s not the only thing you can do to avoid the pesky bugs. Here are some practical tips that will help reduce your exposure to mosquitoes.

1. Avoid and Remove Standing Water

Standing (still) water is a breeding ground for mosquitoes. The mosquito larvae once hatched, feeds on the organic matter growing in still water. Ensure you do not have any in your yard by checking pet dishes, pails, gutters, and puddles. Keep this in mind as well when choosing campsites.

2. Cover Up

Clothing that covers your arms and legs makes you less appealing to mosquitoes. Of course, it is hot in the summertime, so choose loose, lightweight options. Hats are also a good idea.

3. Install a Bat House

Bats are important members of the ecosystem. One of their roles is consuming insects and pests. In fact, a single bat can eat around a thousand mosquitoes in just one night, so they will keep the population down around your home.

4. Try Garlic Spray

We’ve been using garlic spray around our backyard every spring for several years now, and we find it extremely effective! We use a slightly different brand found in our local Canadian Tire, but this one is basically the same thing.

Whether you want to have a bonfire in your yard, a picnic at the beach, or go camping in the woods (10 Tips For Camping With Young Kids), you are likely to encounter mosquitoes and other pests. Use this DIY mosquito repellent with essential oils for a healthy, natural way to keep the bugs away. Instead of swatting at mosquitoes, you can spend your time focusing on enjoying the great outdoors with the people you love.

If you’re going to be outside battling mosquitos, then you deserve a cold treat, it is summer after all.

• Blackberry Ice Cream Bon Bons
• Chocolate Coconut Milk Ice Cream
• Starwberry Coconut Milk Popsicles

This post was originally written by Grace Furman and published by R&H in 2017. It has been revised and expanded by Beth Ricci & the R&H admin team in 2021.

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Guest post by Nicole of The Gingered Nectarine

At our house breakfast is the first thing on our minds when we get up in the morning. Well, not The Hubby, he is thinking about coffee; but us girls are all about what. is. for. breakfast? Right now it’s the craving for this satisfying chicken and cabbage skillet that’s getting us out of bed quickly.

We have egg sensitivities in our house, so the easy, quick breakfasts that everybody else gets to have are not an option here. As a result, we have had to get creative with the number one meal of the day!

We tend to make homemade hash browns (or fries), bacon or sausage, and some fruit or a sautéed vegetable or fermented condiment. We rarely have smoothies because I like a hot breakfast. (We save those for snacks.)

But that gets kinda repetitive, and I have been branching out into non-traditional breakfast foods. Soup (this breakfast soup is great if you can do eggs!), leftovers from dinner, sweet potato fries…um, yes because if the kid will eat sweet potatoes I ain’t gonna stop her, alright?

I first created this simple chicken and cabbage recipe trying to decide what veggie I could sneak into the family at 7 am. We tend to eat breakfast as a family more often than dinner, so I try to make it more filling and a bit more “special.” Not that I am getting up at 4 in the morning to make it, though!

This is quick enough to put together, and it would be even quicker if you use a fast-cooking chicken cutlet instead of chicken thighs. We just love our dark meat over here.

What to Make With Chicken and Cabbage

This recipe is so simple, which makes it really easy to dress up. If you aren’t a fan of smoked paprika, use regular. You could also switch up your fat and try butter flavored coconut oil. Olive oil, sesame oil, or avocado oil can also change the flavor if you aren’t a fan of coconut oil.

You could easily add other veggies like some shredded carrots in with your cabbage. Time-saving items at the store like already-prepped vegetables are a great way to get more nourishing ingredients on the plate. It is sometimes worth the extra cost of shredded cabbage in a bag when you are saving time.

Think of this chicken & cabbage skillet meal as a stir fry base. What else does your family love? Snow peas would cook up in the same amount of time, as would thinly sliced bell peppers. You can make this dish as colorful as you’d like!

(Need a good stir-fry recipe? I love this one from my friend Tiffany at Don’t Waste the Crumbs.)

Feel free to swap out your chicken pieces as well. If you aren’t fans of dark meat, you can easily use boneless skinless chicken breasts or chicken strips, which are also called chicken tenders (the “finger” that is underneath the breast). Just watch your cooking time and use a thermometer to make sure the chicken is completely cooked.

Enjoy This Recipe Any Time!

If you aren’t a fan of savory meals like this for breakfast, turn it into a quick dinner stir fry. Instead of water to deglaze the pan, try a splash of soy sauce or apple cider vinegar. If you prefer, you can keep it low carb with cauliflower rice.

Top your finished bowl with green onions, sesame seeds, or caraway seeds, and enjoy!

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Chicken and Cabbage “Noodle” Skillet

Chicken and cabbage are a great pairing for a quick and easy meal. It's a super flavorful and satisfying way to get your protein and veggies!

Course Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Cuisine American

Prep Time 5 minutes

Cook Time 45 minutes

Total Time 50 minutes

Servings 4 people

Calories 435kcal

Author Beth Ricci

Ingredients

• 1.5 lb boneless skinless chicken thighs (or 2 chicken breasts cut into 4 thin cutlets)
• 2 tablespoons solid cooking fat like lard, ghee, or coconut oil
• ½ head medium sized cabbage sliced thinly with a large knife, or with a spiralizer
• ½ onion thinly sliced
• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
• ½ teaspoon cumin
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ⅛ teaspoon black pepper

Instructions

• In a large skillet (about 12 inches) over medium high heat, melt the cooking fat of your choice. Season your chicken with salt and pepper, then place in the very hot pan to brown well, about 3-6 minutes per side depending on your choice of meat. Chicken thighs will take longer. It must brown well for it to release from the pan so you can flip it and brown the other side. Cook your chicken till done, about 165 degrees F tested with an instant read thermometer.
• Remove the cooked chicken to a plate and keep warm. Add your sliced onion and cabbage to the pan, and add a splash of water to help remove the delicious browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Cook and stir your veggies until they are softened and browning, about 6-8 minutes.
• Add in your cumin and paprika, and season with salt and pepper to taste.
• Serve a pile of cabbage noodles with the chicken. Serves 3-5, depending on how hungry you are!

Nutrition

Calories: 435kcal | Carbohydrates: 11g | Protein: 53g | Fat: 19g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Cholesterol: 168mg | Sodium: 527mg | Potassium: 1147mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 475IU | Vitamin C: 56.8mg | Calcium: 76mg | Iron: 2.3mg

Nicole is a former pastry chef-turned stay at home mom of two little girls with a love of cooking, baking, sewing and crafts. Striving to feed her little family nutrient dense foods while adhering to a loose Paleo diet and handling several food sensitivities takes up much of her free time. She calls Seattle her home and loves everything about the weather there, no matter what you may have heard about the rain.

This post was originally published in 2014 and guest written by Nicole Stoddard, and has been revised and expanded in 2021 by Beth Ricci, Red & Honey.

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Like many others who grew up eating a lot of canned veggies in the 80’s and 90’s (and fresh during garden season, of course), I wasn’t properly introduced to roasted vegetables until adulthood.

And BOY OH BOY was it love at first bite!

I’m a lifelong veggie lover already (me and canned green beans were in a long-term committed relationship for years) but the flavor dynamics of roasted veg? A whole new level of obsession, for real. They’re just so perfectly crispy, salty, greasy, with the sweetness of the veg (especially those root veggies, oh man) coming out in an amazing new way when you roast them.

Unfortunately for my tastebuds, roasting a nutritious vegetable to perfection in the oven takes three trillion years while steaming up some frozen bagged veg takes 3 seconds. (Rough estimate.)

*Cue dramatic music* So… we got an air fryer! YOU GUYS. We are now fully obsessed with our air fryer, and have been using it like a total workhorse for four years now. At first we questioned if we’d “use it enough” to justify the counter space, but we apparently had little to fret about because we use it just about every dang day… and now it’s an absolute non-negotiable in the quest to serve my family quick healthy meals from scratch 99% of the time.

We love our air fryer for plenty of healthy dinners and meals (and I plan to share more air fryer new recipes down the road) but I had to start off with my absolute favorite use for it: perfectly roasted vegetables! Today I’m sharing how to cook broccoli in the air fryer (my favorite way!), and I’m already hungry again just writing this. It’s a great way to roast broccoli fast for a healthy side dish.

Perfectly Roasted Broccoli in an Air Fryer

Easy air fryer broccoli is the height of crispy, golden, just-shy-of-burnt-but-actually-perfect, deliciousness to the max. It’s everything your oven-roasted-broccoli-lovin’ heart could ever ask for, and then some… because it takes like way less (like 75% less!!) time! (I feel like that statement deserves more exclamation marks but I’m trying to be chill.)

Now, the only reason I’d ever want to roast crispy broccoli in the oven again is if I need to do more than what my air fryer can hold for feeding the whole family! (Or… I could just get another air fryer… ?? Hmmm… lol.)

Air Fryer Broccoli Tips & Tricks for Perfect Results

Cooking broccoli and other vegetables in an air fryer is a super easy recipe and fairly straightforward process but there are a couple of little things you should know to get the very best air fryer broccoli results.

The preparation for how to make broccoli in the air fryer is the same as oven-roasting: wash, chop, and drizzle your oil, salt & pepper, and any other seasoning you want. Stir to combine, and dump that gloriously simple mixture onto your pan or tray. Cook it up in a fraction of the time you would have needed for oven-roasting (specifics below in the recipe card) and enjoy!

Can I Use Frozen Broccoli in an Air Fryer?

Heck yes, you can! Frozen vegetables save my booty on a VERY regular basis and I doubt that’ll end anytime soon. I love using fresh broccoli in my air fryer (and in general) but when I’m low on fresh stuff in the fridge I always have frozen on hand to back me up.

I gave some specific tips in the recipe notes below for great results using frozen broccoli instead of fresh. Basically – you cook air fryer frozen broccoli just a bit lower and slower so the excess water can steam away and the broccoli can cook properly. See below for deets!

How Long to Cook Broccoli in an Air Fryer?

It generally takes about ten minutes with averagely-cut broccoli florets, but timing can vary depending on your type of air fryer, and the temperature you cook it at.

Can You Put Water in an Air Fryer? Steam Things in an Air Fryer?

You can, I guess, but you don’t really need to. If you want to straight-up steam your broccoli without any of that perfect crispy golden roastiness, I’d probably just go ahead and use a pot and lid on the stovetop. Makes more sense.

Some people have advocated for adding a little water to your air fryer tray when cooking frozen things for the hot air and steam to theoretically help it defrost easier, but I haven’t found that to be necessary as long as you cook it a bit longer and at a slightly lower temp.

Can I Freeze Air Fryer Roasted Broccoli?

Nah man, don’t do it. That’s weird and it will be mush. Cook it up fresh and get it in your belly pronto! Raw broccoli can be frozen, though, so that’s an option if you have some you can’t use up before it goes bad. (I’d blanch it first.)

It does store fine in an airtight container in the fridge if you have leftovers. I recommend eating the leftovers within 2-3 days.

Fun Variations to Try for Roasted Broccoli

I love roasted broccoli just as it is 99% of the time with olive oil, salt & pepper. It’s amazing what kind of magic you can make with a handful of ingredients and a little know-how. However – if you want to add little extra oomph, these suggestions for different ways to flavor it would be super delicious:

• drizzle of lemon with the oil
• sprinkle of parmesan cheese on top
• balsamic vinegar (mix with the olive oil before tossing broccoli in it before cooking)
• nutritional yeast (sprinkle on after roasting, before serving)
• everything bagel seasoning – sprinkle on before cooking
• a sprinkle of sesame seeds on top after cooking
• garlic – whichever way you want: dried or fresh, added before cooking

And/or, serve with a homemade cheesy sauce. (I don’t have my own recipe for this yet, but there are a few good ones online. My mom used to make a wickedly awesome cheese sauce when we had broccoli in my childhood, which totally makes up for never introducing me to roasted veggies.)

Recommended Tools & Equipment

This is the Cusinart Air Fryer that we’ve owned and loved since 2016. (Pictured above.) I love that it serves multiple functions: air fry, convection bake, convection broil, bake, broil, warm, and toast. We got rid of our toaster… and we still have a microwave that we use occasionally, but the air fryer is better for reheating leftovers that don’t turn out mushy.

We use this thing just about on a daily basis. I think we use it more often than the oven, actually! The only downside to this model is that the tray has gotten pretty roughed up and a bit warped from frequent use and having to scrub it with steel wool (it’s usually a baked on greasy mess).

We put it in the dishwasher, too, which may not have been recommended. Bottom line – apparently the tray needs to be babied a bit, which is so not happening in our household with tweens doing dishes. We’re probably going to cave and just buy a replacement. Thankfully, the air fryer basket is still going strong.

Another downside to the tray is that I’m pretty it’s coated in a synthetic non-stick, which I typically avoid. I prefer to get my non-stickability from things like naturally seasoned cast iron and stoneware.

Overall though – I still highly recommend this air fryer. I think most brands and models will have a non-stick coating on their trays, unfortunately. The pros of air frying totally outweigh this one con, in my opinion!

Okay now. Less talk, more chop! Get cooking! (I mean roasting. Er, I mean air frying!) Perfectly roasted air fryer broccoli with that irresistible and wonderful crispy texture awaits!

A few others you might also love

• Perfect Homemade French Fries (Oven, Stove-Top, or Air Fryer)
• Harvest Roasted Fall Vegetables
• Frozen Whole Chicken in the Instant Pot (air fryer broccoli goes beautifully with a nice roast chicken – one of my favorite main dishes!)

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Air Fryer Broccoli

This air fryer broccoli recipe is simple and perfectly delicious! Get that perfectly crispy roasted broccoli taste in a fraction of the time by using an air fryer. You'll love it!

Course Side Dish

Prep Time 5 minutes

Cook Time 10 minutes

Servings 4 people

Calories

Author Beth Ricci

Equipment

• Air fryer

Ingredients

• 2 heads broccoli
• 3 tbsp olive oil
• 1/4 tsp black pepper
• 1/2 tsp sea salt

Instructions

• Wash and cut broccoli into spears, and add to mixing bowl.
• Drizzle oil, salt, and pepper over broccoli, and stir to combine thoroughly.
• Add to air fryer tray or basket in a single layer, and cook on "air fry" at 400F until crispy and edges are dark brown, but not burnt. (It takes 10 minutes in my air fryer, but results may vary depending on the brand and model you have.)
• Optional: stir and flip the broccoli halfway through cooking for a more even roast. (It'll still be tasty if you don't, though!)
• See note below if cooking from frozen.

Notes

To get great results using frozen broccoli:

Lower temperature slightly to 375F, and cook for approximately 15 minutes instead of 10. (Keep an eye on it, as various air fryer brands and models will vary slightly in timing, etc.)

This variation helps ensure the broccoli is all the way defrosted and has time to roast properly before the cooking time is done. (Trying to do it faster will likely result in uneven texture with some bites maximally crispy and some mushy and unpleasant.)

Also, if using frozen broccoli, I definitely recommend stirring up and flipping the broccoli halfway through cooking to also help ensure even roasting.

Fresh or frozen broccoli (and other veggies) both work great in an air fryer!

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“A daily detox drink? Seriously, Beth?!”

Just hear me out, ‘kay? I’m weirdly passionate about this post and if we were together in real life you’d be subjected to a whole lot of wild arm gesturing and dramatic facial expressions accompanying a TED-talk-level speech, filled with answers to questions you probably didn’t ask but OBVIOUSLY should know.

I know that the word “detox” is a bit controversial these days. It has been widely hijacked by fad dieters and sketchy quick-fix gurus. Critics have reacted strongly in the other direction by claiming things like “detoxing is a myth” and “you don’t need to detox or cleanse anything – that’s what your liver is for!”

And to that, I say – EXACTLY! Our detox organs are the star players here, not your weird sludge drink made from 45 lemons, chicken guts, and and broken promises.

Yup – your beautiful, wonderful liver, gall bladder, and kidneys are the superstars when it comes to detoxification – that’s literally their job… and they are the professionals.

It might sound like a distinction without a difference, but focusing on supporting your detox organs is a way different intention than “doing a detox”. It’s a mindset shift, as well as an expectation shift, and it makes a huge difference in your expectations. (That flashy, quick-fix mentality is so ingrained in our culture!)

On the other hand, to respond to the critics: just because we have a liver and its job is to detox doesn’t mean that it’s functioning optimally.

Why Did I Start Drinking This Daily Detox Drink?

Okay, here’s my back story for what led me to making and drinking this particular daily drink to support my body – and especially my liver and kidneys.

Heads up, it’s not short. (I warned you about the passionate TED Talk monologue, ha!)

Among other frustrating “minor” health concerns, I’ve been dealing with eczema for 5+ years now. When it first showed up, I was already quite well-versed in natural and alternative health. I saw a dermatologist (mostly just for due diligence) who wrote me a prescription for steroid cream, and that was it. Even going in, I knew that there was more to the story, and that I wasn’t going to get help from the conventional medical system. I knew that the root cause of eczema is usually internal, not external.

(Side note – the often-recommended natural topical solutions for eczema (natural creams, oils, etc) are not usually addressing the root cause either, unless the cause is actually more of an allergic reaction or sensitivity to a chemical in something like household or personal care products. In desperation, I tried dozens of different topical things anyway, but none helped.)

Healing Diets for Detoxing?

For a few years, I put all of my efforts into trying to heal my body through a so-called “perfect” diet. I’ve done AIP, Whole 30/Paleo, and GAPS. I was egg-free for 9 months (which maaaaaybe helped a tiny bit), and I’m already gluten-free due to Celiac.

Did they help? Short answer: not really.

None of those types of diets are inherently bad (nutritionally). They are full of nutrient-dense, healing, wonderful foods – while restricting certain others believed to be more difficult to digest, causing inflammation, and thus ill health.

However, after years of personal experience with various dietary restrictions, I can safely say I strongly believe that some people really don’t necessarily need to cut that many foods out of their diet to see their health improve, despite the advocates of these diets presenting them as a non-negotiable for true healing. Can they be helpful for some people? Absolutely, yes. Would I still consider using them for certain situations? Depending on the issue – probably. But – they aren’t the entire story.

Let’s remember the goal here: holistic health. (Holistic is defined as “relating to the complete whole or system, rather than parts.”)

Let’s be honest here – if focusing on pharmaceuticals and “bandaid” solutions is antithetical to holistic health, then so is focusing solely on diet.

Also – restrictive eating can be super stressful, and while yes, absolutely certain foods can be triggers for eczema, guess what else is a trigger too: stress! (I know, it can start to feel a bit hopeless at times… a kind of damned if I do, damned if I don’t kinda thing. I get it!)

(Note: restrictive healing diets also carry the risk of orthorexia, which is a big topic, and something I’d like to address in a future post.)

Expanding My Horizons with Herbalism

Fast forward a few years and I’m still itchy with eczema, fatigued, anxious, and dealing with a variety of other annoying health complaints – like low progesterone, random aches and pains, wonky iron/hemoglobin, inattentive ADHD (diagnosed in 2020), and fungal overgrowth. For years I had mostly focused my alt health efforts on diet & food as well as making low-tox lifestyle choices (personal care products, home supplies, etc) but had been gaining more and more interest in other strategies, too.

One day in early 2020 I saw that the Herbal Academy was having a sale on their courses. I am a lifelong learner (aka intensely curious and obsessed with collecting information) so with a vague curiosity I took the plunge and bought both the introductory and the intermediate herbal courses. I’m not finished with them yet (hello, ADHD), but what I’ve learned so far is rocking my world in the best way.

I used to secretly be entirely unimpressed by herbalism. I would think things like, “a cup of chamomile tea may feel soothing, but it isn’t going to solve anyone’s anxiety and panic attacks in real life, and I’m dealing with real-world problems here, not a Hallmark movie story arc…”

Whoa, baby, how wrong I was!!

What is Herbalism?

Herbalism, at its core, is about expertly using the full strength and synergy of plants to support the body and bring it back to a state of homeostasis so that it can function optimally. It’s not just “conventional medicine, but with herbs instead of pills”, it’s something else entirely – a whole new paradigm.

Herbalism doesn’t just ask “what?”, it asks “why?” and then addresses the latter instead of the former. Instead of saying “eczema is caused by inflammation, so do things that are anti-inflammatory”.. it says “what is causing the inflammation? How can we address that and bring the body back to homeostasis so that it corrects itself?”

Important caveat that must be said: not every ill is able to be “fixed” (either with herbs or conventional meds), and this line of thinking is meant to be open-minded and highly individualized. It does not necessitate the outright rejection of conventional medicine, either. Most advocates of holistic health agree that conventional medicine can be respected for what it offers, while also acknowledging that it doesn’t have all the answers… and is even wrong sometimes. (*cough cough, eczema, ahem*).

Supporting the body’s various systems (such as digestive, lymphatic, nervous, endocrine, respiratory, and more) is something that happens holistically, i.e. from a wide variety of efforts, like optimizing diet, mental care and stress management tactics, personalized use of medicinal herbs, proper rest and regular body movement, and more.

This process is not found in a supplement bottle quickly ordered online – it’s an intentional and usually-slow process that requires effort, digging, advocating, and patience.

Supporting the Body’s Detox Organs

The digestion & detox systems are my personal favorites when studying anatomy. It’s absolutely fascinating to me how our bodies take in (air, food, liquid, and other things in our environments such as pollution, toxins, etc), process, and then release.

The complexity of it all is mind blowing, which is why I find it so baffling when someone (usually anti-alternative health folks) waves off any mention of the word ‘detox’ simply because “that’s the liver’s job” – as if literally nothing could go wrong with the process. (Yikes – how naive!)

An Analogy: A Polluted Swimming Pool

When we lived in the suburbs, we used to live next door to a lady who had an in-ground swimming pool in the (thankfully fenced) backyard. We could see it from our upstairs window, and it was – no exaggeration – a cesspool of dark green/black growth and nastiness. It was clearly untended with all kinds of nasty pathogen growth and pollution, a partially submerged old tarp with algae all over the place, and a ton of assorted tree/leaf debris in and around the pool.

What would happen if you simply added some super pure, perfect water? Would that fix it? Nope. How about if you poured in whatever jug of cleaning chemicals were hanging in the garage? Probably not gonna cut it. What if you drained it, cleaned it, refilled it… but totally ignored the pool filter? The problem will just repeat itself, most likely.

Or… what if you did the research, figured out the actual problem (is the filter broken? clogged? is there an overgrowth of a particular pathogen that would respond to a particular solution?) and then targeted your response to that? Your approach would probably involve two things: initial efforts in cleaning up what’s there + focusing on the pool filter to ensure it can effectively do its job both now and moving forward.

When the body can’t effectively eliminate the toxins it takes in, we have a problem. Thus, my mission to focus supporting my liver, kidneys, and other detox organs to do their jobs more effectively – while continuing to eat a whole foods, healthy diet 95% of the time, avoiding other sources of toxins as I’m able, and working on the other pillars of health like sleep, movement, and plenty of outside time.

What are the Ingredients in the Daily Detox Drink?

Okay, so at this point I’m sure you’re wondering if I’ve gotten off track. I may be the queen of rabbit trails and distractions (ahem – aforementioned ADHD…) but nope, I swear all of this ties together!

Now that I’ve covered a bit of backstory, I can tell you this: this daily detox drink was the first thing I started doing on a regular basis when I began my deep dive on learning how to support my liver, kidneys, gall bladder, and beyond – which I am doing in an effort to get heal my eczema (and an assortment of other annoying health issues).

Here are the starring ingredients in this daily detox drink:

1. Carbonated water

We’ve had a SodaStream for years and we LOVE it. We carbonate 4-5 quarts of water a day with it, and use it in various ways: this detox drink, homemade root beer, and just drinking it straight up as sparkling water.

The carbonation is key for me because I don’t taste the mineral drops at all when it’s bubbly. When I make this same drink, only with still water, I taste the salty aftertaste of the drops. I don’t know why it works, but it does. Nonetheless – the carbonation isn’t necessary for any health reasons so if you use regular water that’s fine.

2. Tart cherry & cranberry juice

Both of these pure juices are low in sugar and pack a punch in the vitamin department. They’re both great for the detox system including the kidneys, liver, and beyond.

I had them both on hand to try to incorporate them into my days for monthly hormone cycle support (from what I learned in one of the programs from Zesty Ginger), so I just decided to use them. I alternate them, but you could also do a splash of each – it’s totally up to you!

Added bonus of tart cherry: it helps your body to produce more natural melatonin, which helps you get better sleep. I talked about using tart cherry for sleep in this blog post: Anxiety at Night: 12 Holistic Ways to Reduce it and Sleep Peacefully.

3. Lime or lemon

I prefer lime, but my husband prefers his daily detox drink with lemon. We buy them pre-sliced and frozen (lemon and lime mix) and it’s one of the BEST convenience buys I make regularly. I love that this step is super quick and easy because that helps ensure I actually consume this drink each day!

Lemons and limes are high in Vitamin C, and are acidic, which is helpful for digestion. (And what’s helpful for digestion is helpful for your detoxification system, of course. It’s like a pre-game warmup.)

4. Mineral drops

I add mineral drops to my daily detox drink for a couple of reasons:

1. Minerals helps the water be absorbed into your body and cells more effectively (i.e. more effective hydration) so you don’t just pee it all out right away. (This is the basic idea of an electrolyte drink, by the way. I have a DIY electrolyte drink on the site that would work similarly if you prefer that, but in my opinion it doesn’t taste quite as good as this one.)
2. Hydration is really important for your detox organs to function at their best. (source)
3. Mineral levels also directly impact a number of health concerns that orbit around many of the things mentioned here, like anxiety and brain function, energy levels, and more.

This is a great brand of mineral drops, available on amazon.

Mineral drops that you buy (like these) are typically made from ancient sea bed deposits. And… do you know what else is made from ancient sea bed deposits? Sea salt! I’ve used purchased mineral drops so far, but am experimenting with making my own salt solé (water saturated with unrefined sea salt), and using that instead – I think it will be way more cost-effective. If I end up writing a post on that I’ll be sure to come back and update here.

How Does the Detox Drink Taste?

There are a number of different “detox” drinks recipes out there on the internet, but this is the winner for me because I actually really enjoy drinking it. I find it tasty and refreshing! It reminds me of a La Croix or other flavored sparkling water. It’s way more fun to sip on this all morning instead of just plain ol’ water.

You could even add a drop of stevia extract if you wanted to sweeten it a little. However, unless you’re used to only consuming sweet drinks that probably won’t be necessary. Personally – I enjoy it as it’s written below, and I find it yummy and refreshing.

Plus – it’s intentionally gentle enough that it can be a daily thing, as opposed to some of those crazy intense short-term programs out there. (I’ve never tried those – I like food too much!)

What Are My Results?

Maybe you’re thinking, Okay, so it’s just… water… with a couple of things added? Yup! That’s why it’s gentle and suitable for daily consumption. I’m not trying to detox my body with an atomic bomb, here. I was just trying to get into the daily habit of staying hydrated, improving my digestion, and ingesting a food source of Vitamin C – all so that my detox organs can operate more effectively.

And the verdict? I’ve been drinking this daily (honestly – I’ve hardly ever skipped a day!) for about six months now. Here’s what I’ve noticed:

• My eczema stopped flaring to the point where I’ve avoided steroid cream for nearly 4 months now – this happened with the daily detox drink alone – no other changes. I previously hadn’t been able to go longer than 2 weeks without being in absolute agony and succumbing to the prescription cream. This step was MAJOR.
• My eczema patches are actually shrinking! (I started the use of a couple of specific liver-targeting herbs a few months ago as well, which really helped here. I’m using burdock root, dandelion root, yellow dock… as well as astragalus, an adaptogen.)
• Recently I noticed that I’m almost *never* thirsty. I wasn’t expecting that one, but it makes total sense! I drink a quart of this every day, plus my morning coffee, nightly tea, and a few cups of herbal infusions per day. Rhe only new part is this detox drink, and I noticed that I haven’t felt that “super thirsty, parched throat” feeling that I used to get often. This alone tells me that I’m staying hydrated way more effectively than before.
• My digestion and elimination is great and feels more regulated than ever. (I’ve previously really struggled with constipation and irregular digestion.)

Daily Detox Drink – Let’s Recap What It Is (& What It’s Not)

The term “detox” has been hijacked, but we need not throw the baby out with the bathwater. In our modern world there are plenty of toxic additions to our environment, our household products, our body care, and our food supply.

This drink is not a gimmick, or a magic bullet solution to anything. It’s simply part of an overall effort at tending to your eco-system – the beautiful and mysterious human body you’re privileged to have.

After more than a decade immersed in the alternative world world – learning and reading and experimenting – I finally realized just how many of my natural health peers are still caught in the Western medicine framework. I know because I was there for years, too. When you’re first learning about how natural remedies really can be powerful, it’s tempting to just jump on the latest “big thing” that you hear about – whether that’s drinking bentonite clay, the wonders of bone broth, the apple cider vinegar drink that your friend swears was life-changing, or a million other things that we share with each other.

Thankfully, however, I’m widening my perspective and learning the art of patience. I’m fascinated by the subtleties of holistic health and herbalism, and this daily detox drink is a perfect example of that.

I highly encourage you to try adding this delicious drink (or a variation that suits you!) to your daily routine… and I encourage you to ditch the magic bullet mindset and embrace the pursuit of a holistically-found homeostasis. It’s well worth your while!

Cheers to small steps with big impact!

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Cranberry Daily Detox Drink

This detox drink kickstarted my eczema healing journey, and has turned out to have even more benefits than I predicted. It's 4 simple ingredients, whips up in minutes, and is deliciously refreshing!

Course Drinks

Prep Time 2 minutes

Cook Time 0 minutes

Calories

Author Beth Ricci

Ingredients

• 4 cups carbonated water
• 2-4 tbsp cranberry or tart cherry juice
• 1-2 slices lemon or lime
• 1/4 tsp mineral drops

Instructions

• Carbonate your water (or use store-bought)
• Add water to glass of choice (I use a quart jar – perfect for the amount of detox drink I want to consume every day)
• Add juice, mineral drops, and lemon or lime slices

Notes

Feel free to tweak the ratios, and experiment with different additions. Comment below to share your ideas!

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Guest post by Andrea Vandiver

We all hate warts. We don’t even like to talk about them.

But could there be a more unifying topic? We hate them and want them to die. For our sake, we wish not a slow and painful death but a quick and easy one. Unfortunately, that is rarely the case.

Growing up, I thought warts were for children who played with frogs. Turns out that’s some sort of weird myth we all believe. Warts actually come from certain strands of HPV, human papillomavirus. I know HPV sounds scary but relax a bit. We come into contact with it all the time, and thankfully – most forms are completely harmless.

The fact that most warts are harmless skin lesions doesn’t diminish the irritation or embarrassment they cause. Although some warts go away on their own after a few months, some linger for years. Sometimes they are a sign of a weakened immune system.

When I Got a Wart on My Finger…

And that’s what happened to me. I got a common wart. Yes. Me. A grown woman. I don’t know how I got it. I don’t know where I picked up the virus. But I did. On the pad of my middle finger. Right hand.

I hated it.

It embarrassed me. It grossed me out. I mean – I eat with that hand! (Please tell me you understand. I’m feeling a little vulnerable right now.) I tried everything.

First, I waited. Dr. Google told me that most of them go away on their own. So, the minimalist that I am, I waited. A while. No dice.

***Before I go further, let me tell you that this was before my come-to-the-natural-side light bulb moment. I was all about those toxic chemicals and didn’t think much about it.***

I Tried Over-the-Counter + Even Prescription Medication For My Wart…

Next, I bought about every over-the-counter treatment I could find. I tried each of them several times. Fail. Feeling even more desperate, I went to see my primary care doctor. After multiple painful treatments of liquid nitrogen I still had a wart. And sometimes I even thought it looked a little bigger.

You might be thinking – what’s the big deal? But if you’ve dealt with warts before, you know how frustrating they can be.

This is the part that still makes me shudder. After realizing the nitrogen wasn’t working, my doctor prescribed Tagamet. Why would he give me something meant for stomach ulcer treatment? Apparently this is somewhat common. But the studies I’ve read have shown conflicting results, it not a great idea to take it if you can avoid it. Mostly it didn’t help.

And me? I ended up in the emergency room because of a “rare” side effect – urine retention. Kidney issues. Imagine kidney stones (I’ve had them) but a little worse. Yeah, to get rid of a wart. Lovely.

Except, you guessed it, I still had the wart. I tell you my long, dramatic story to express how absolutely fed up I was. Honestly, it was this experience that started my journey to natural living. Because the chemicals were legitimately hurting me. And they didn’t work.

I have good news for you. The story ends well. I found a home remedy that healed like a charm. It’s simple, quick, and natural. And you can try this at home.

The secret? Apple cider vinegar. I am all about home remedies. I use ACV as part of a natural remedy for strep throat, so is it any surprise that I would have a simple hack like using it for warts too?

Apple Cider Vinegar for Warts: Safe, Effective, and Affordable

The use of apple cider vinegar for warts is a safe, affordable, and effective treatment. You might be thinking, ACV for warts on warts – really?!

Yes, really. The apple cider vinegar method typically offers timely results in a couple of weeks compared to months of treatment.

Why not at least give it a try before spending money on expensive treatment? There has not been a lot of scientific research done on natural wart removal (like most simple home remedies, due to lack of profitability for the drug companies) but first-hand experience has shown me how well it works.

Why Use Apple Cider Vinegar to Get Rid of Warts?

• Safe and non-toxic
• Effective
• Simple to use
• Uses inexpensive ingredients
• Avoid expensive treatment
• Save you a trip to the doctor’s office

Different Types of Warts

Warts can occur on all areas of the body. They may be harmless raised bumps but you still don’t want them sticking around. Warts occur when access human papilloma virus takes over skin cells causing them to produce more HPVS, resulting in warts.

The type of wart is in part, going to depend on how you treat it. Apple cider vinegar is may not be the best option for genital warts. If you have a wart on your face you will want to use extreme caution. It might not be a good idea to use full-strength vinegar on areas with such sensitive skin.

Most often we seem to encounter common, plantar, and genital warts. Listed below are just some of the types of warts people get. I’m focusing on using apple cider vinegar for common warts since that it what my personal experience was.

• common warts
• plantar warts
• genital warts
• flat warts
• filiform warts
• periungual warts
• mosaic warts

Wart Removal at Home is Easy When you Make your Own Wart Bandaids…

A wart bandaid is simply a bandaid with the wart medicine already applied – usually with a thicker pad area to hold a good amount of the medicine so that it’s effective.

You can buy wart bandaids from the store, or you can make your own with a few simple items you might already have around your house. Why buy something when the DIY version is so simple and inexpensive?

How to Make DIY Wart Bandaids

Supplies:

• Scissors
• Cotton balls or cotton pads
• Bandaids

Ingredients:

• Organic coconut oil 
• Organic apple cider vinegar

That’s it. No harsh chemicals. And better yet, it works. Natural home remedies for the win!

DIY Wart Bandaid Instructions:

1. Cut your cotton ball into fourths or smaller. The goal is to completely cover the wart and the skin around it. You also want to cut the cotton ball small enough so it’s not completely obvious and annoying. Keep the leftover small pieces for your next treatment.
2. Soak your sized-down cotton ball in apple cider vinegar. You’ll want it wet enough to stay damp for a while but not so wet it drips. If you feel like the vinegar is strong you can mix it with a little water.
3. Place the piece of the cotton ball over the wart and secure it with a bandage. The tighter the better. Eventually, it will start to burn. This is good. Feel the burn. Embrace the burn. Leave it on as long as you can. Rapid results rely on this.
4. When you need a break, remove the cotton ball and bandage. Apply coconut oil to the wart and treated area and cover it with a new bandage.
5. As soon as the burning sensation leaves and you feel comfortable, start the process over again. I ended up alternating between coconut oil and vinegar 2-3 times a day. Toward the end, when the wart is down to its root, it will be more sensitive. At that point, you may want to switch more often.

Essential oils for warts

If you want to double up the healing power of your homemade wart remover, try adding an essential oil. Here are a few that can be beneficial to add to the AVC:

• Lavender
• Tea Tree (Read my post on 13 Practical Ways to Use Tea Tree Oil)
• Frankincense
• Oregano (not child safe)

If the wart is on the face or another more inconvenient area, obviously use your best judgment as to when and how often to do this. Don’t use oregano on your face or other sensitive areas.

SAFETY NOTE – please never use essential oils without diluting. They’re incredibly potent, and desensitization or harmful reactions can occur with overuse or misuse.

Related: How I Healed My Infected Finger Without Antibiotics (with one of the essential oils listed above!)

10 Days Later

After about ten days, there was a tiny bit of the wart still hanging on. I took some tweezers and pulled it off. I highly recommend keeping a close eye on the area for the next month or so. If you see any signs of return, immediately begin the remedy again.

Note – if for any reason you experience symptoms of an allergic reaction, immediately cease trying to remove the wart. Just because apple cider vinegar is safe for most people doesn’t mean that some won’t be allergic. Allergic reactions are fairly rare.

It’s been almost three years since I did this myself and I’m still wart free! I have no scarring at all.

Apple Cider Vinegar for Warts: FAQs + Tips & Tricks

Does Apple Cider Vinegar Get Rid of Warts for Real?

Yes, despite the fact that there’s not a ton of modern research on this simple home remedy, thousands of personal stories as well as my own experience give me confidence is using apple cider vinegar as a safe and effective method for home wart removal.

Isn’t it awesome when a natural product can be just as effective as its over-the-counter counterpart? Home remedies often work just as well, and they often have far fewer side effects. Natural wart removal is a no-brainer option to try!

Why Apple Cider Vinegar is Effective

Apple cider vinegar is made up of acetic acid, as well as malic, citric, and lactic acid. It has been used for thousands of years to treat a variety of different ailments from stomach aches to sore throats. It is a weak acid that slowly destroys the skin around the affected area, causing the wart to fall off. Using vinegar for a short period of time on a daily basis is gentler on your body than some modern treatments.

Some modern wart treatments call for surgical removal of a wart, unfortunately, they can come back. It may also necessitate the use of a local anesthetic. In some cases, you are prescribed strong drugs like I was that can have adverse effects and cause unnecessary medical conditions.

Topical salicylic acid treatment is a more natural method but can be on the more expensive side. It acts similar to apple cider vinegar, so why not simply use vinegar that costs pennies instead?

Apple cider vinegar can save you a trip to the doctor’s office and quite a bit of money. It slowly breaks the wart tissue down. There is some evidence that treating a wart can stimulate an immune response, aiding the body in eliminating the wart. (Our bodies are so cool!)

What Type of Apple Cider Vinegar is Best for Warts?

Organic apple cider vinegar with the mother is the best type of vinegar to use for warts. Apples are a highly sprayed crop, so avoid the extra toxins is a good idea. When the vinegar has “the mother”, more health benefits will be retained.

Can I Use White Vinegar Instead?

Apple cider vinegar has a low acidy of 4-6%. It also has numerous health properties. White vinegar is the strongest of all vinegar with an acidity of 5-10%. It’s not harmful, but if you have it available apple cider vinegar would be the best acid to start with, followed by lemon juice before turning to white vinegar. Natural acids are a good choice instead of over-the-counter options.

How Long Does This Process Take?

Depending on the wart’s location and your motivation to get rid of it, removing a wart with apple cider vinegar can be complete within a week or two. Your pain tolerance will play a role. Wart removal is not for the faint at heart.

Change your homemade wart band-aid at least twice a day. Listen to your body. If the pain from the vinegar is too great, back off a bit. You can also dilute the vinegar, or leave it on for a shorter time.

Does This Method Hurt?

There is a little bit of pain involved. But it is nothing – NOTHING – compared to traditional treatments. The vinegar does cause skin irritation, which is the point. Mild irritation is to be expected. The apple cider vinegar is eating away at the wart.

My Finger is Blistered Around the Wart, Should I Be Worried? 

A blister forming on or around the wart is completely normal. Vinegar burns, but in a good way. If you are experiencing a lot of pain, you may need to leave the vinegar on for less time and apply coconut oil more frequently.

Minor chemical burns are a natural result of wart treatment. If at any point you think you have infected skin, cease treating the wart with vinegar. Once the wart falls off you should have healthy skin within a couple of weeks. When I treated the warts on my hands, I had no scarring.

Of course, if you’re really concerned by any blistering that seems excessive – it’s always wise to consult with a trusted healthcare practitioner.

My Warts Aren’t Burning at All. Does That Mean it Isn’t Working?

No, you might just need to leave vinegar soaked cotton ball on longer or change it more frequently. Apple cider vinegar wart removal is going to look different for each individual. You may also have a high pain tolerance.

Does a Wart Have a Root?

Contrary to popular belief warts do not have roots. They form in the top layer of skin – the epidermis. Over time they can grow down into the dermis, the second layer of skin. The bottom of a wart is smooth.

Is Apple Cider Vinegar Good for Genital Warts? Plantar Warts?

I have no experience with these types, but according to most sources, you can use apple cider vinegar to treat genital warts but extreme caution needs to be used. Several people have reported it being effective for plantar warts (foot warts) as well.

As these are more complex wart types, I recommend checking with your doctor before trying. If you have experience, please comment below.

Considerations for How to Use ACV for Face Warts

Your face is a very sensitive area. You have to decide which is worse, the short-term self-consciousness of having a bandaid on your face, vs. having a wart on your face… you decide.

If you decide to try this remedy on your face, ,make sure the piece of cotton ball is so small that the surrounding skin does not get too affected. It might be a good idea to apply coconut oil to the surrounding skin to lessen the possibility of skin irritation.

You might want to use a very small, circular bandaid, so that it is less noticeable and less irritating to the skin.

Other Possible Natural Methods for Removing Warts:

Apple cider vinegar while my preferred method, it is not the only possible treatment. Listed below are some other natural remedies that some people have found effective.

There are different ways to get rid of warts naturally. I love the apple cider vinegar method but that doesn’t mean that there aren’t other natural solutions out there.

Please note that I have no personal experience with these. Be smart when considering these alternative treatments by researching them first, and don’t apply any of them to open wounds. If you have tried one of these home remedies for warts please let us know in the comments.

Other Home Remedies You Might Hear About

• Inside of a banana peel. Remove a few strings from the inside of the peel and arrange them on the wart. Cover with a bandaid.
• Pumice stone and an emery board. Some people gently sand their warts down. (This does not remove the root, so potentially the wart can grow back.)
• Duct tape method. The basic thought is that a piece of duct tape covering the wart will suffocate it, causing it to die and fall off.
• Raw garlic. Raw garlic can be used to effectively treat warts. Unlike apple cider vinegar, garlic can only be left on for about an hour at a time. Otherwise, severe blistering can occur. Garlic contains antiviral and antibacterial properties which may be one of the reasons it works. Garlic extract is another option that many see positive results with. Place a small amount of crushed raw garlic directly on the wart. Cover with a bandaid, leaving on for about an hour. Remove the garlic and cover the wart in coconut oil to soothe the skin.
• Lemon juice. Similar to apple cider vinegar, lemon juice is a mild acid that can aid in helping break down the wart.
• Essential oils. There are essential like tea tree oil, oregano, and frankincense that can be added to the apple cider vinegar or carrier oil such as coconut oil. They will aid in the healing process.
• Castor oil. Apply it to a cotton ball and cover it with a bandaid.
• Soaking in warm water and vinegar. Soaking the affected areas in warm water and AVC can soften the wart and speed up the process.
• Aloe vera. Full of malic acid, aloe vera also has antibiotic properties. It helps heal and dry out the wart. It can be applied at least once a day. It’s best straight from the plant.
• Vitamin C tablet. Crush a tablet and make a thick paste with water apply it to the wart.

These are just some of the wart removal home remedies you can find when you look around the internet – feel free to comment below if you’ve tried any of these methods, or if you have another home remedy to add to the list!

I couldn’t have guessed this would be the thing that sparked my interest in natural medicine, but I’m so glad it did. Our cabinets, right now, hold powerful, medicinal tools that are full of natural remedies.

Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food. – Hippocrates (attributed)

You may also enjoy these other home remedies:

• Using bentonite clay water internally
• How I Healed my Infected Finger
• Debloating Tea Remedy (How to Debloat)
• How to Stop a Cold in its Tracks

Print

How to Use Apple Cider Vinegar for Wart Removal Naturally at Home

Warts are common, but super annoying! Try our tips on using apple cider vinegar for warts for an easy and effective home remedy that really works.

Calories

Author Beth Ricci

Ingredients

• apple cider vinegar
• coconut oil
• cotton balls
• bandaids

Instructions

• Cut your cotton ball into fourths or smaller. You want to completely cover the wart and the skin around it.
• Soak the sized-down cotton ball in apple cider vinegar. It needs to be wet enough to stay damp for a while but not so wet it drips.
• Place the piece of cotton ball over the wart and secure it with a bandage. You will start to feel a burning sensation, this is normal.
• After a few hours or when you need a break, remove the cotton ball and bandage. Apply coconut oil to the wart and treated area and cover it with a new bandage.
• As soon as the burning sensation leaves and you feel comfortable, start the process over again. Do this 2-3 times a day until the wart falls off. You can incease freqency if desired.

Andrea Vandiver is a work-at-home mom and freelance writer in Oklahoma. She spends her days imitating animals and blowing bubbles. Her favorite things are those that taste, smell, feel, sound and look wonderful. The stuff that romance is made of.

This post was originally written by Andrea Vandiver and published in November 2016, and has been updated and expanded in 2021 by Beth @ Red & Honey.

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Certain foods just remind me of my childhood. Chili is one of them. I love chili so much I’d marry it. (Also filed under “things that used to be cool to say in middle school.”)

Fantastically, my hubby and kids do too (spoiler alert: I ended up marrying a hot Italian pilot instead of chili. Alas.) Aliza, my two-year-old, ate three grown-up-sized portions when I made it last week. So did I. Gracious, I’m getting hungry just writing this post. Good thing I have some of this simmering on the stove as I type.

So. I’ve been searching for the perfect chili recipe for years now. YEARS, I tell you! I just wanted a basic recipe that doesn’t call for any strange ingredients I don’t already have in my cupboards. I wanted it to taste good. Like really gooooood. Ya know what I’m sayin’?

I wanted it to be the kind of recipe I could throw together in 20 minutes, or I could dress it up and experiment with it when I felt like having fun. And did I mention it has to taste amazing?

Side note: I first published this post back in 2012, and that little daughter of mine is now nearly 11. (Holy moly, that was fast!) She still counts my chili recipe as one of her top all-time favorite meals (as do we all), and we’ve made it hundreds of times in the years since!

I Finally Found It – The Perfect Chili Recipe

At long last – I’ve found it.

Or, rather, I sorta made it up.

There are a bajillion ways to make chili, and probably many of them are really good. This recipe hits the sweet spot for me, and I will make it over and over again for years to come. I’ll share it with y’all here in case you, too, are in the middle of a noble quest for the best bowl of chili.

How to Make the Best Chili

Chili is one of those dishes that is 0% pretentious. It’s not fussy about your cooking method. As long as you get those chili ingredients in there to simmer cozily for a bit so everything can cook and the flavors can meld, it’s going to taste amazing.

I most often make it on the stovetop with my two big stock pots (so I can freeze some for later, which is one of my all-time fave strategies for quick healthy meals.)

Related:
>> Quick Healthy Meals Guide (101 Tips, Recipes, & Strategies)
>> One Small Tweak for Simplified Freezer Cooking

Can I Make it in a Slow Cooker?

You can make it in the slow cooker if you want – just brown the ground beef first, then add all ingredients and cook on high for 6-8 hours.

Can I Make it in the Instant Pot?

Of course you can! You can brown your meat, onions, and peppers together with the sauté function, then add all other ingredients and cook on manual mode for 10 minutes.

Or, you can even make this chili with dried beans without pre-soaking! That method is a huge lifesaver when you don’t have canned beans on hand but have a hankering for chili. Head over to that post for full directions.

What are the Best Secret Ingredients?

I think what makes everyone call something their Favorite Chili Recipe is the secret ingredient! Some may add mole sauce or cinnamon, and of course everyone will vary their spice level by choosing to use bell pepper, chili pepper, or even chipotle pepper. My preference is to use sweet bell peppers and get my medium spice level that ALL will enjoy by using chili powder and my own addition of coriander.

I find that one tablespoon of cocoa powder is great for the two pounds of ground beef I use because it adds just enough warmth (without spice) to have you wondering what it is that tastes so good paired with the brightness of the tomato.

Note: If you add much more you will definitely notice a chocolate flavour which is a bit off-putting, so this is definitely one of those ingredients to measure carefully rather than just sprinkling it in.

My other starring ingredient is honey. Tomatoes can be sweet on their own, but they are also acidic. Honey gives just enough sweetness to balance the acidity and spice.

When I first published this recipe in 2012 (after trying to perfect it for nearly a decade!), these weren’t popular chili ingredients. Today, more and more people are catching on to the “wow factor” that these secret ingredients provide!

What Are the Best Beans for Chili?

Everyone has their own preference of what kind of bean to add to their pot of chili. I like to stick with classic red kidney beans, as it just screams traditional comfort food chili to me. I have also been known to use navy beans, black beans, or even chickpeas if I’m short on kidney beans. They all taste delicious to me, and because this recipe uses 2-3 cups (about two cans, drained) of cooked beans, you can easily sneak in two varieties at once to see what your family thinks of the flavour profile.

I haven’t stuck lentils into my classic chili, but I do make really frugal Cheesy Chili Lentils when I want to use them. It all comes down to what you have in the freezer (if you make your beans from dried and freeze portions!) or the cans in your pantry. Chili is one of the best “use what you have” meals.

And of course – some people insist that “proper chili” doesn’t include beans at all, but I can’t possibly agree! I will say that I like my Creamy Green Chili Beef which has some of the great chili flavor profile without the beans.

What is the Best Meat for Chili?

I stick to ground beef for my chili recipe. It is one of the most economical meats, and the one that most people can agree on as being best for chili. If you are purchasing a part of a cow then you will often have quite a bit of ground beef as well. Over the years I’ve had many commenters that use ground turkey or chicken. These are great options because they are lean if that is something you need to use, and because they have less flavour than beef on its own, they “soak up” the strong flavors of chili quite well.

I’ve also heard of hunters using up ground venison just about anywhere they would use ground beef, and sausage is always an option, too. Just watch that any sausage you use isn’t already seasoned so that it competes with your chili flavour. Really just about any ground meat will do.

What is the Best Type of Tomato for Chili?

Many people stick to canned tomatoes in their chili ingredients. They are very easy to have on your pantry shelf for when the craving hits. Many people will also freeze garden tomatoes when they are either tired of canning or have run out of time when the season ends and loads their kitchen counter with fresh tomatoes. It all depends on what your whole family enjoys.

I’ve recently started using about a 2:1 ratio of diced tomatoes to tomato sauce (or strained tomatoes), and my kids like this better because some of them are picky about the texture of diced tomatoes. They’re fully obsessed with my chili recipe, so they’ll eat it regardless, but they do prefer it the new way.

Favourite Chili Toppings

I know there is a lot of discussion over what goes under chili (are you a chili mac person, do you like it over baked potatoes, homemade cornbread, maybe over rice?) but really the key to a personalized bowl of chili comes down to the toppings. I like to set out bowls of whatever we have so everyone can add what they like to their individual bowls.

• shredded cheese
• fresh cilantro
• sour cream
• crumbled tortilla chips or corn chips
• tortilla strips
• guacamole

Finally, while a hot bowl of chili is great on its own on a cold winter evening, you can add Chickpea Flatbreads on the side for a little extra fun. They are great for sopping up every last drop of chili from the bowl!

I also often pair chili with a light side salad – this Apple Kale Walnut Salad is a perfect option – because while I may have eaten three bowls of chili in one sitting in the past, I likely shouldn’t do that every time! Plus, there’s nothing better than leftover chili. As it sits, the flavours simply get better.

Print

The Best Chili Recipe Ever

It took many years and hundreds of pots of chili, but I finally found THE ONE. Seriously – this is the absolute best chili recipe out there, thanks to the secret ingredients + perfect spice profile.

Course Main Course

Cuisine American

Prep Time 20 minutes

Cook Time 3 hours 30 minutes

Total Time 3 hours 50 minutes

Servings 10 servings

Calories 264kcal

Author Beth Ricci

Ingredients

• 3 tbsp butter or cooking oil of choice
• 1 cup diced sweet peppers red, yellow, and/or orange
• 2 medium onions diced
• 6 cloves garlic minced
• 1.5-2 lbs ground beef
• 2-3 cans diced tomatoes 28oz each
• 2-3 cups cooked kidney beans (or 2-3 cans 15.5oz each)
• 3 tbsp honey
• 1 tbsp cocoa powder
• a few shakes of black pepper
• 1 tbsp unrefined sea salt
• 2 tsp paprika
• 1 tbsp cumin
• 2 tsp coriander
• 4 tbsp chili powder or more to taste

Instructions

• Heat up your pot to medium-low and add butter. When it’s melted, add diced onions and peppers. Cook until soft and translucent, stirring every few minutes so they don't burn. Add garlic and stir.
  
• Add ground beef and cook it until it’s browned and cozy with the onions, peppers, and garlic.
• Add all other ingredients and simmer on low until dinner. (At least 30 minutes for best flavor.) Be sure to stir every 10 minutes or so so that it doesn't burn on the bottom – especially if your stove's "low" equals a bubbling simmer.
  

Notes

For best results, a nice long simmer is best to help bring out the flavor. I always aim for at least an hour, but you can serve it earlier if absolutely necessary. (The leftovers will taste even better!)

Nutrition

Calories: 264kcal | Carbohydrates: 19g | Protein: 15g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 48mg | Sodium: 1007mg | Potassium: 590mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 1715IU | Vitamin C: 29.3mg | Calcium: 74mg | Iron: 3.8mg

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Sweet, a tad spicy, and full of flavor. Why settle for a plain old iced tea when a creamy iced chai tea latte is a far tastier option?

I love a creamy bulletproof chai latte but when it’s hot out, I need something to beat the heat. This tasty drink fits the bill.

Oh, and you don’t even have to leave your house. When you whipped one of these babies you will be getting all the flavors of a coffee shop from your kitchen. It’s so easy to make I can hardly call it a recipe. You’ll have it made in less time than it takes to wrestle a toddler into a car seat.

Iced Chai Tea Latte (My Personal Fave)

I first fell in love with the distinct and delicious taste of chai (or more accurately – masala chai, aka “spiced tea”. The word chai on its own simply means “tea”) when I spent 3 months in Kenya and Tanzania in my twenties. Most people know that masala chai originated in India, but with the significant migration of Indian people to East Africa over the years, chai has become a cultural standard there too.

Chai tea is offered at every gathering and consumed daily by most, which is prepared the same way every time: with water, milk, spices, and plenty of sugar. A good cup of warm chai tea (plus those tiny little bananas that taste like candy) were my personal favorite flavors from those trips!

In the years since my travels, I’ve incorporated that masala chai flavor as often as possible in my life – there’s just something about it that I crave! This iced chai tea latte recipe is a perfect addition to my roster, and it’s the perfect drink to cool off with.

The great thing is that this is completely customizable. If you don’t like the sweetness level, adjust accordingly. If you want a stronger chai flavor, use more tea and less milk (or steep your tea for longer). It is such a flavorful drink that you might forget about your favorite coffee drink, or at least love it equally as much!

Why Make Your Own Iced Chai Latte?

1. It’s delicious
2. You will save money
3. Uses less sugar
4. Less caffeine than iced coffee
5. Customizable
6. Might just be better than your favorite drink at local coffee houses and the best tea you will drink.

Health Benefits of Chai Tea

This drink is pretty much guilt free and it’s a great way to curb sugar cravings with a slight sweetness without overdoing it.

Chai is black tea mixed with varying spices, most often cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, ginger, and black peppercorns. It is the perfect balance of sweet and spicy. The tea’s antioxidants mixed with the healing properties of the spices make chai an undisputed health drink. For those who avoid caffeine, a cup of coffee has about 5 or 6 times more caffeine than chai.

All those benefits kind of sort of go out the window when you order a chai at standard coffee shops though.

A grande chai tea latte at Starbucks has so much sugar – in fact – there’s a whopping 42 grams of sugar! Add in the $4 to $6 price tag and that makes me pretty excited to share with you this cheap, easy, healthy alternative.

How to Make an Iced Chai Tea Latte

Cold drinks are a must on a hot day. And the best thing about it – it’s easy. Like super easy. You are making a strong cup of tea (or concentrate), adding sweetener, milk, and ice. That’s it!

1. Brew tea. I like to boil water in a kettle. Then add the hot water and two chai tea bags to a mug. No microwaving over here! Or you can make your own homemade chai concentrate.
2. Stir in honey. If you can, find some raw honey from somewhere close to you. It’s so much better for you and here’s why. You can adjust the amount of honey if you want it sweeter or less sweet.
3. Cool. Allow the chai tea to cool on the counter or in the fridge.
4. Add milk and ice. Fill your glass with ice cubes and cold milk. Raw whole milk is an amazing and healthy choice. Lots of Red and Honey readers are dairy-free and if you are too, simply use whatever milk you prefer. Then pour in your chai mixture.

Simply increase the amount of water and tea bags and you are in business. Store the extra in a sealed container or jar for up to a week… because I mean, when it comes to a cool, refreshing iced chai… I don’t like to wait.

Heads Up: Make sure you add the honey when the tea is still hot or warm, as it’ll melt and mix in. If you add honey to a cold liquid it will most likely stay in a blob and be difficult to combine!

Expert Tips & Tricks

Starbucks Iced Chai Latte Recipe Copycat

Given the depth of my love for a good cuppa chai, over the years I’ve definitely consumed my fair share of hot or iced chai tea lattes from Starbucks. Is that my first choice? Nah. Do I guilt myself over it? Life is too short for that, people. But I DO love having this simple and perfect chai tea latte recipe in my back pocket that I can use as my ideal for when those iced chai tea cravings hit.

What Kind of Chai Does Starbucks Use?

Starbucks uses tea bags for hot tea, but a pre-made syrup for their iced and hot lattes, which makes it much less customizable. (More on that below.)

Why is this Recipe Even Better Than Starbucks?

This is not an exact Starbucks chai tea latte recipe. It’s even better.

1. Sugar

When you order an iced chai latte at Starbucks, they are using a pre-made spiced syrup as their base. It includes the tea, the spices, and the sugar all in one shot, so customizing this drink gets tricky. If I order a syrup-based drink at Starbucks, I always order it half sweet, but if you order a chai latte half sweet it doesn’t turn out well at all!

The spices really play a starring role with chai, and by ordering half-sweet, you are also only getting half the spice, too. Bummer! Making this iced chai tea latte recipe at home instead allows you to spice it up while avoiding a massive sugar bomb (like most Starbucks fancy drinks).

2. Cost

Another great reason to make it at home is obvious: the price! If I were going to use Starbucks to fuel my love for iced chai tea lattes, I’d have to figure out how to grow a money tree in the backyard first. I don’t have $4-5 to spend on something that I crave daily, that’s for darn sure.

3. Simplicity

Not all popular Starbucks drinks happen to be this dead easy to make at home. One of my winter faves, for example, is my Gingerbread Latte recipe, and it requires making the syrup ahead of time, as well as steaming the milk when serving. Iced tea lattes don’t require steaming the milk, and you can choose to make the tea from scratch or just use pre-made chai tea bags – both work.

When you have a simple recipe like this on hand, you’ll head out for a Starbucks iced chai latte less often.

What Spices Are Used in a Chai Latte?

Every chai tea recipe is going to vary a bit when it comes to the blend of spices. Most recipes call for a basic masala chai spice blend- cinnamon sticks, black peppercorns, allspice berries, whole cloves, green cardamom pods, and ginger root blend with black loose tea leaves. Sometimes you will find star anise and even a bit of ground nutmeg added.

You can totally make your own chai spice mix and add it to black tea bags or black loose leaf tea. Traditionally, you start with whole spices and grind them yourself. Chai ingredients vary a little but not a lot. Not every recipe calls for each spice but they will use some variation of those spices.

You can make your own chai concentrate from several tea bags or from your own blend of masala chai spices to keep on hand in the fridge. Whenever you are ready for an iced chai latte all you have to do is pull it out of the fridge and pour over ice, and add milk.

When you grab a box of chai tea bags be sure to check the ingredient list. You want to see a simple list that only has black tea and some variation of those spices. Some companies like to sneak natural flavors, which is the code for things like hidden addatives and secretions from a beaver’s behind. (Fair warning: clicking that link may result in a feeling of horror.) Not my cup of tea if you know what I mean…

You could also use the premade Tazo chai concentrate (which is similar to Starbucks chai concentrate) in a pinch, the drawback is that there are natural flavors and of course, added sugar.

What Type of Tea is Used in a Chai Latte?

Generally, chai tea is made with black tea. You can sometimes you can find a caffeine-free version made with rooibos and chai spices, such as this one, which is my ultimate favorite non-caffeinated tea. (In fact, I love it so much that I bought all of the loose tea and spices, and I’m planning to create my own copycat blend.)

I’ve also bought decaf chai tea in the past, although it can be harder to find. It’s the exact same chai tea, except that they use decaf black tea instead of caffeinated.

Is Iced Chai Healthy?

If you make it yourself, you bet! You are in control of what type of sweetener and how much you use. The milk is flexible according to your preferences, and you can use as much little sweetener as you prefer. This is better than a Starbucks copycat recipe.

What Substitutions Can I Make for This Recipe?

Can It Be Made Dairy-Free?

Yes! That is the beauty of the simplicity of this chai tea recipe. You can use whatever milk you prefer. Raw dairy is a great option for some people. Here are a few dairy-free milk substitutes that work well. When you buy non-dairy milk it’s always a good idea to look for the brands with the least amount of additives. The main substitute that I try to avoid is soy milk. Just don’t leave it out entirely or you will be missing that creamy latte taste.

Here are some great options:

• Almond Milk
• Oat Milk
• Coconut Milk
• Macadamia Nut Milk
• Hemp Milk

What Type of Sweetener Does this Iced Chai Latte Use?

This healthy chai latte recipe calls for honey. Here are a few other sweeteners that would work while still retaining some health benefits:

• maple syrup (may give a slight maple taste but would be ok if the spices are strong enough)
• coconut palm sugar
• stevia

You can definitely use a different sweetener, just know that they might not be as healthy.

Fun Variations & Additional Flavors for Your Iced Chai Tea Latte

• Iced Vanilla Chai Latte – Add a splash of vanilla extract or homemade vanilla syrup.
• Dirty Chai Latte– add a shot of espresso or 1/4 cup of strongly brewed coffee
• Frappe– Blend the chai tea with ice, milk, and sweetener. Or better yet, make the tea into iced cubes and blend that with milk and a sweetener.
• Make a simple syrup from honey or coconut sugar to drizzle in instead of adding honey.

Fun and Useful Tools

These mason jars are the perfect size for an iced chai latte. You can go all out and add a lid, a stainless steel straw, and a cute sleeve. Your iced chai tea latte will be ready to go where ever you do!

More Fun Cold Drinks & Tea Recipes to Try

Here are some tasty and popular recipes to try if you are in the mood for a new recipe. There is something for the tea drinker, coffee lover, and kids too.

• Cherry Vanilla Italian Soda
• Homemade Lemonade
• Floral-Infused Iced Coffee
• Hibiscus Iced Green Tea

Between those drool-worthy options and this iced chai latte, you’re set for a deliciously indulgent summer!

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Iced Chai Tea Latte

This iced chai tea latte recipe is so quick and easy you'll never want to waste your money buying it again! Plus, it's honey-sweetened!

Course Drinks

Cuisine Global

Prep Time 5 minutes

Total Time 5 minutes

Servings 1

Calories 278kcal

Author Beth Ricci

Ingredients

• 1 cup boiling water
• 2 bags chai tea or two teaspoons loose leaf tea
• 2 Tbsp honey
• 1 cup milk of your choice
• 1 cup ice

Instructions

• Pour boiling water over the chai tea and steep for 10 minutes.
• Remove tea and stir in honey.
• Leave out or put in fridge until cool.
• Serve in a large glass over ice with the milk.
• Drink and be happy.

Notes

Quadruple this recipe to make a tea concentrate to have on hand for whenever an iced chai craving hits. 

Nutrition

Serving: 0g | Calories: 278kcal | Carbohydrates: 47g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 24mg | Sodium: 113mg | Potassium: 409mg | Sugar: 46g | Vitamin A: 395IU | Calcium: 276mg

This post was originally published in 2017 by Andrea Vandiver. It was expanded & revised in 2021 by Beth @R&H.

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For quick and natural relief, this is how to debloat your stomach FAST – just what you need to soothe and calm a troubled tummy easily using simple ingredients you probably already have.

I just love having a bloated belly and looking six months pregnant, said no one ever. Mmm kay, good to know that I’m not alone in that…

Guess what? There’s a simple secret for when you want to know how to debloat and have a flatter, more comfortable belly. One of the very best ways is to make a tea with ingredients that you probably already have at home.

Side note, even if I don’t have ingredients for this one, I like to keep some of the best herbs for tea on hand for moments like this. Cause when you are feeling lousy you don’t want to do a run to the store for one or two items. 

Being bloated is such an uncomfortable experience. People often feel self-conscious about their appearance and are usually also dealing with physical discomfort. Gas and other unpleasant symptoms may accompany bloating as well. I know that when I get bloated, not only does my stomach stick out, but it’s also hard and tender to the touch. 

After you drink it and allow it to do its job, you should feel more comfortable and have a flatter stomach as well. Sometimes we think that the uncomfortableness that we feel is actual fat gain, in reality at times it’s water weight from bloating. 

What Causes Bloating in the Stomach? 

Another frustrating aspect of bloating is that there are so many different causes of it. This makes it hard to pinpoint exactly what is the trigger, especially since a person is likely experiencing different triggers at different times. Here are a number of possible causes of a bloated stomach:

• Overeating
• Eating too fast
• Water retention. Sometimes this is, counter-intuitively, caused by dehydration or too much refined salt.
• Intestinal gas
• Indigestion
• Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Fermentable sugars are poorly absorbed in the small intestine and passed through the intestinal tract where they create gas.
• Celiac disease, other diseases of the gut, or other medical conditions
• Constipation
• Sodium-rich food. Too much sodium from refined salt and processed foods should be avoided.
• Rich and fatty foods without veggies/starches/etc. to balance. Fat delays the digestion process. 
• Food allergies
• Food intolerance and sensitivity
• Stress
• Hormonal changes. Commonly occurs alongside PMS
• Swallowing air. From drinking through a straw, chewing gum, carbonated beverages, or hard candies
• FODMAP foods. Specific kinds of carbs and sugars that some people have a hard time digesting.
• Consuming dairy. Especially non-fermented dairy. 
• Abruptly increasing fiber intake. Fiber is good for you but too much fiber, especially when your diet has been low in fiber can have the opposite effect. 
• Inflammation. It may be brought on by spicy foods or additives, or eating intolerant foods.
• In rare cases, it can be a sign of Gastroparesis (delayed gastric emptying)

During the holiday season or on a special occasion it’s common to eat large portions and eat meals that are high in poor quality fat and increases your sodium intake. It’s fine to celebrate – food is meant to be enjoyed! Unfortunately, a salty meal that is full of refined table salt can cause excess water retention. 

Whatever the cause may be, this debloat tea should be able to help you find quick relief from the discomfort of a bloated belly. A kind word of warning, there is over-the-counter medicine for bloating but long-term use can cause more complications. There’s no need to go that route when certain foods and herbs are powerful home remedies for this issue!

Don’t suffer for a long time, learn how to debloat with this easy and natural recipe.

How to Debloat: Expert Tips & Tricks 

You can really drink this tea for bloating any time of the day that you are feeling bloated, or you can drink it preventatively before a meal you suspect will cause bloating. I find it especially effective first thing in the morning after overindulging the night before if my body is having a hard time. I also enjoy drinking this debloat tea cold in the summertime.

So how does this debloat tea reduce bloating?

Here is why the ingredients in this tea work so effectively and answer the question of how to get rid of a bloated stomach. 

Green Tea

Green tea has been a part of traditional Chinese and Indian medicine for centuries, and now modern studies have shown it to have a great number of health benefits due to its high antioxidant content.

For the purposes of debloating quickly, green tea acts as a natural diuretic. This helps to eliminate any excess water your body may be retaining. Green tea also improves digestion and reduces gas.

Related: 5 Incredible Benefits of Matcha Green Tea

Ginger

Ginger is known for aiding in digestion which is beneficial to reducing bloat. Considered a carminative spice, this means that ginger relieves gas. It is also anti-inflammatory and a muscle relaxant.

Bloating is sometimes caused by tension or spasms, so ginger helps with this. Ginger is a natural pain reliever meaning it will also relieve any cramps or discomfort that commonly accompanies bloating.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple cider vinegar is another digestive aid. This is at least in part because it balanced the pH levels in the intestine. Also, apple cider vinegar particularly helps break down the fats which I mentioned above as a possible cause of bloat because fats take so long to digest.

A tablespoon of acv in warm water on its own is a helpful remedy if you don’t have the other ingredients for this tea.

Lemon

Lemon juice is another diuretic that will help relieve water retention. It is also a gentle laxative that will help keep your digestive system moving along and alleviate the cause of the bloating if it is related to constipation.

Water

Even just drinking the water content in this tea can be helpful in reducing bloating. As I mentioned above, dehydration can play a factor whether it is causing water retention, constipation, or something else. Just be sure you are sipping and not guzzling or chugging which will only cause you to swallow more air and make matters worse.

Other Bloated Stomach Remedies

If you don’t have all of these ingredients on hand and need relief ASAP, herbal teas like peppermint tea and ginger tea will aid in relieving bloating. You could even munch on a few fennel seeds. Natural bloating remedies don’t have to be complicated. Activated charcoal capsules work wonders for stomach discomfort as well, as does bentonite clay water.

Related: The Super cool Benefits of Drinking Bentonite Clay Water

The combination of the ingredients in the debloat tea will have the strongest effect, but it’s still nice to have a variety of handy tricks up your sleeve. Even hot water on its own is a great option when you aren’t able to make tea. Most of us can use extra water in our day. 

How to Get Rid of Bloating Overnight?

Drink this tea, and consider taking some magnesium before bed as well, if your bloating is possible related to constipation or difficulty in fully emptying the bowel. An Epsom salt bath will offer comfort from the warm water while allowing your body to absorb magnesium from the salts. The next day you should notice the difference.

How to Get Rid of Bloating Fast?

The key to debloating quickly is to stop eating and drink a big mug of this debloating tea (sips, not chugging) and then let the ingredients do their work. It is one of the best things you can do. Don’t eat anything else until you find relief from your bloating symptoms. Your digestive tract needs time to focus on the issue at hand, and adding more work for it to do will make it take longer. If you’re feeling hungry, a mug of bone broth is an excellent choice until your stomach feels “back to normal”.

Proactive: How Can I Prevent Bloating?

If you tend to get bloated often and easily, consider adding digestive support to your daily routine to give your digestive system a helping hand. Natural great digestive aids are a good way to start when you are wanting to know how to relieve bloating fast.

Here are some effective options:

1. Drink water with lemon, lime, or a splash of apple cider vinegar before a meal.
2. Drink this tea before a meal you anticipate may cause bloating (such as social gatherings or restaurants).
3. Digestive enzyme supplements, such as betaine and HCL.
4. Digestive bitters (herbs that stimulate the digestive system due to their bitter flavors on the tongue).

Foods to Reduce Bloating

There are several anti-bloating foods that you may already have at home or can easily find at the grocery store. There might not be a quick fix but sipping this debloating tea and adding some of these foods to your diet is going to make a long-term difference.

• bone broth
• ginger
• peppermint
• cayenne pepper

Gut health is important, so adding foods with healthy bacteria is a must when trying to reduce bloating. Probiotic-rich foods aid in the digestive process because they are loaded with good bacteria. They are a great way to have a healthy gut. The fermentation process that these foods go through makes them superfoods.

• homemade yogurt
• kefir
• raw sauerkraut
• fermented dill pickles
• kombucha
• easy fermented homemade ketchup

Related: Fermented Food & Drinks for the Holidays

Many of us are lacking in fiber in our meals. According to the Mayo Clinic, Women should try to eat at least 21 to 25 grams of fiber a day, while men should aim for 30 to 38 grams a day. Often it’s easy to overlook potassium-rich foods. That’s unfortunate because potassium-rich foods help reduce bloating that may come from preprepared foods made with excess sodium.

Acquaint yourself with everything your produce aisle has to offer. You may need to avoid certain vegetables, for a time that cause discomfort. The good news is that there are so many other options that help aid in digestion!

• Tropical fruit. Papaya is high in water content and fiber. Papain, a digestive enzyme found in papaya, makes it a great option. Pineapple is approximately 85% water and contains the enzyme, bromelain that helps break down proteins. Bananas and avocados are two potassium-rich foods that help to balance the effects of bloat due to salty foods.
• Water-rich fruits. Citrus fruit and melons such a cantaloupe and watermelon are mostly water. They help hydrate the body and reduce bloating. Cantaloupe is another food that is high in potassium.
• High water content vegetables. Cucumber and zucchini are a good option when you have been experiencing bloating because they contain a lot of water.
• Lean proteins. They can be good if your body is currently sensitive to high fat, even the healthy ones.
• Whole grains. Still containing their bran, whole grains are in high in fiber and a good addition to your diet if you are able to eat grain.

Foods to Avoid or Enjoy in Moderation

Everyone’s body is different but there are specific foods that are known to cause bloating in many people. Fatty meals, especially those made with poor quality fats, while tasty can be a culprit. That’s why it’s great to add some sauerkraut, kombucha, or another fermented food to aid in digestion.

If you are experiencing chronic discomfort, even healthy foods like broccoli or white onions that normal circumstances are great for you, maybe ones you need to avoid until you pinpoint what foods are causing the bloating.

If boating is a consistent issue you may have to look at your eating habits to see what foods, may be triggering it. Sometimes our eating habits have to be modified to get ourselves feeling like our best selves.

• artificial sweeteners and sugar alcohols ( Specifically xylitol is notorious for causing discomfort in the gut for some)
• dairy products (unless fermented)
• brussels sprouts, broccoli, cauliflower, and other cruciferous vegetables
• white bread
• Refined white flour
• white rice
• natural sweeteners
• fatty meals
• salty foods

Healthy Habits (other than food and herbs) to Ease Bloating

Healthy foods aren’t the only solution. There are healthy habits that will help you learn how to debloat and improve digestion. Here are just a few that you might want to start incorporating. You may even notice that you get better sleep and have more energy!

• a brisk walk
• good quality sleep
• reasonable portion sizes
• deep breathing
• drink lots of water

If you pay attention to what you are eating and how you are eating that should help you hone in on what your bloating triggers are. Remember to stay hydrated and be active to keep your digestion moving along smoothly. And the next time a bloated belly hits, I encourage you to drink this debloat tea so you can feel better quickly.

Recommended Equipment

• Stainless Steel Tea Strainer – One like this works great for making a single cup of tea with any loose ingredients. No need to buy a special loose leaf tea pot unless you want to. (Personally, I own both because I *love* my herbs!)

Other home remedies to tuck away for later:

• Essential Oils for Digestion (DIY Roll-on Recipe)
• Natural Constipation Remedies
• How to Treat Acid Reflux with One Single Ingredient
• Super Cool Benefits of Drinking Bentonite Clay Water
• How to Use Apple Cider Vinegar for Wart Removal Naturally at Home
• How I Healed my Infected Finger
• How to Stop a Cold in its Tracks

In all honesty, this tea is a bit of an acquired taste if you are not used to consuming these ingredients already. I really do enjoy it now, but I did not my first time making it. If you find it less than palatable, include the optional honey to add a bit of sweetness.

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How to Debloat Your Stomach Quickly (Easy Tea Remedy)

This home remedy for bloating uses simple-but-powerful ingredients to relieve your bloating and indigestion quickly and naturally.

Course Drinks

Cuisine Global

Prep Time 1 minute

Cook Time 13 minutes

Total Time 14 minutes

Servings 1

Calories 28kcal

Author Beth Ricci

Ingredients

• 1-1 ¼ cup water
• 1 bag green tea or 1 teaspoon loose leaf
• 1 inch piece of fresh ginger minced
• ½ tablespoon apple cider vinegar
• juice of half a lemon approx. 1 tablespoon
• Optional: 1 tsp honey or sweetener of choice

Instructions

• Place a tea strainer in a mug and add the ginger. Pour boiling water over the ginger. Allow to steep for up to 10 minutes.
• After the ginger has been steeping for about 7 minutes add the green tea to the strainer. Green tea should steep for no more than 3 minutes.
• Remove strainer. Compost or discard the ginger and tea/tea bag.
• Add apple cider vinegar and lemon juice. Stir in honey if including.
• Sip away.

Notes

This could be made with dried, powdered ginger if it’s fresh, but the medicinal quality of any herb degrades over time. The fresher the better for this recipe! (Aka your results may be disappointing if you use powdered ginger that has been in your spice drawer for years.)

 

Nutrition

Serving: 0g | Calories: 28kcal | Carbohydrates: 7g | Protein: 0g | Fat: 0g | Saturated Fat: 0g | Cholesterol: 0mg | Sodium: 17mg | Sugar: 5g

This post was originally written by Grace Furman in 2017, and was updated and revised in 2021 by Beth @ Red & Honey.

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Let me guess – you’re reading this post because you’re not the type of person who has several unhurried hours every single afternoon to spend slaving away over a hot stove. Am I right? At the same time – you don’t want to serve cereal for dinner every busy weeknight.

Don’t get me wrong! I love a good long cooking session once in a while. There’s something kind of magical about a glass of wine (ok, sparkling lime water for me because I’m weird), a great playlist, and fresh, quality ingredients being chopped and simmered into something truly delicious and nourishing (like this Bolognese Sauce, inspired by Chris’s Italian Nonna.) I find it so satisfying and relaxing… when I’m not feeling rushed, that is.

Despite my appreciation for cooking, the reality is that there are plenty of times when easy and quick healthy dinners is what saves my bacon. This is going to make me feel super old, but… I’ve been married since 2003 (I was 19!) and a mom since 2008.

Today, as a busy work-from-home, homeschooling family of six, we rely on the ol’ quick and easy standards pretty dang often, but as healthy living nerds we have zero desire to regularly rely on foods that make us feel yucky and don’t nourish us. A delicious meal that is quick and healthy is the ultimate win around here!

Thankfully, I’ve spent almost two decades gaining experience in how to serve our family nourishing and easy meals without being a slave to the kitchen or sacrificing our healthy eating preferences, and I finally feel like we’re crushing it.

Quick Healthy Meals Without Stress: What’s the Secret?

To be honest, it’s not so much a secret as it is strategy. I’m not a Type-A person, which means that most practical, detailed skills and habits are an uphill battle, but my biggest superpower is strategizing. (My saving grace!)

I apply my analytical and strategic brain to literally anything practical (then I apply my stubborn and obsessive streak to get ‘er done) because that stuff doesn’t come naturally to me. The upside is that because I’ve typically failed a thousand times, considered all angles, analyzed it to death, and gone deep into the obsession rabbit hole… once I master something, teaching it to others is a breeze.

That’s the case with this topic, for sure. My entire family now benefits from years of refining my strategy and skill in mastering quick dinner ideas that are perfect for our goal of a healthy lifestyle. I’m pumped, obsessed, and (if I do say so myself) absolutely full of great advice here. ?

Let’s get down to it!

? Strategy #1: Quick & Healthy No-Recipe Meals

A great way to save time is to keep a list (mentally, or written down somewhere) of meals that don’t require recipes and use ingredients you always have on hand. Don’t forget to think outside the box – healthy dinner recipes (and easy lunch ideas) can be breakfast food, snack plates, and other less conventional options. All of these can easily be 10-20 minute meals.

I’m always looking to add to my list, but here are our family’s go-to ideas in this category:

• Eggs & bacon – or any typical side – salad, smoothies, sausages, hash browns, etc.
• Sandwiches – keep homemade chicken lunchmeat in the freezer, or did you know that you can freeze store-bought deli meat? Yup!
• Smoothies & popcorn – here’s my Quick Homemade Kettle Corn recipe if you like it sweet, and make sure you add some healthy fats like avocado or coconut oil – and collagen for protein – to your smoothie to balance the sugar levels.
• Snack plates: cheese and crackers, nuts, fruit, sliced meats, etc. Serve it in a muffin tin if you have kids – trust me on this.
• Spaghetti – can be done with sauce like my Italian Nonna-inspired homemade bolognese sauce (especially if you batch cook your sauce and freeze in meal-sized portions), or it could be as simple as dumping a jar of seasoned tomato sauce into browned ground beef, and serving over pasta.
• Quesadillas – these whip up in a flash with store-bought (or homemade and frozen) corn tortillas, a little oil, and a frying pan. Use simple fillings like salsa, cheese, leftover chicken (that you shredded in your meal prepping, as per Strategy #2 below!) black beans or refried beans, fresh tomatoes, and serve with a side of sour cream.
• Salads – Read this post for How to Make Main Dish Salads that Aren’t Boring.

? Strategy #2: Meal Prepping Hacks (That Don’t Require Several Hours Set Aside)

Some people think meal prep means taking all Sunday afternoon to prep what you need for all lunches and dinners for the week. While that can certainly be a big help if you are sending kids to school or making work lunches, it doesn’t have to be that big of a process.

There are plenty of simple and easy meal prep hacks you can slip in to your normal routine without a big time commitment to make quick healthy meals a breeze. Here are my favorites to turn regular recipes into easy dinner ideas:

• Cook a whole chicken
  • Shred the meat to pull out for quesadillas, soup, salads, BBQ chicken. Save even more time by doing this when you’re cooking a whole chicken as that night’s meal. Simply cook a 2nd one to shred!
  • Here’s my post on How to Cook a Frozen Whole Chicken in the Instant Pot, one of my top favorite time savers!
• Slice up your produce when you bring it home
  • People are more likely to snack on veggies when they are ready to eat… plus it’s easier to hand a quick, healthy snack to your kids when they are hungry for the eleventy-billionth time that afternoon.
  • Berries and grapes are perfect to have washed and ready, as are lots of veggies like carrots, peppers, celery, and more. Lime and lemon slices can be frozen and added to your daily cups of water for a healthy upgrade.
• Cook up your ground beef before freezing
  • Whether you keep it plain or make things like chili, spaghetti, or taco seasoned meat, it is much quicker to grab cooked meat from the freezer than to thaw a raw block.
• Chop ingredients like onions, bell peppers, celery, mushrooms, and carrots and freeze them in bags.
  • Save a ton of time when making recipes like taco soup, chili, pizza, etc. Especially helpful for vegetarian recipes!
  • I always have a bag in the freezer of my “soup mix” (carrot/onion/celery) and one of my “pizza mix” (onion/pepper/mushrooms), at minimum!
  • You can also pre-grate cheese to store in the freezer to use as toppings on various dishes, such as mozzarella, cheddar, and parmesan.
• Make double the amount of rice
  • Freeze extra in quart bags for fried rice. (Add some egg, some soy sauce, and some frozen veg and you have a super simple meal.)
• Bake a big batch of bacon (here’s how my friend Tiffany does bacon in the oven)
  • Freeze for mess-free reheating, or freeze as crumbled bacon to top salads or go in soups or other dishes.

By the way, my favorite mantra that I repeat to myself when taking a few extra minutes on these things is this:

“A gift to my future self.”

Get more meal prep tips for quick healthy meals in these posts >>>

• 18 Totally Brilliant Ways to Use an Ice Cube Tray
• One Small Tweak for Simplified Freezer Cooking

? Strategy #3: Time-Saving Small Appliances for Quick Healthy Meals

1) Instant Pot

Do you have an Instant Pot yet? It may seem like it’s a fad, but I promise that a pressure cooker is a great way to save time for an easy weeknight meal. It may not be “instant” as the name implies, but once you get everything in and turned on, it’s completely hands-off which means you can fold laundry while a healthy dinner cooks. Plus, many things really do cook way faster, such as squashes, dried beans, beef, chicken, pork chops, white or brown rice, and more!

All of these ones are here @ R&H:

• Instant Pot Shredded BBQ Chicken – this easy instant pot chicken recipe can be the base of multiple meals, such as a simple salad or buffalo chicken tacos. Even if you don’t have the ingredients for this one, it can be as simple as boneless skinless chicken + barbecue sauce.
• 30-Minute Instant Pot Green Lentil Chili – this one’s a family favorite, and I always double or triple it. You can serve over rice or rice noodles to switch it up for leftovers.
• How to Cook a Whole Frozen Chicken in the Instant Pot – the ultimate in last-minute quick meals that look like you cooked all afternoon. #winning.
• Best Ever Instant Pot Chili – chili comes together fast in the instant pot, or even faster if you batch cooked and froze a meal-sized portion for the whole family.
• Instant Pot Shredded Beef – another fantastic way to cook once, eat many times. Find various easy dinner ideas in the post to make with the shredded beef as the base. This shredded beef (and the shredded chicken above) are both especially great for those trying to eat low carb.
• Easy Chicken Curry in the Instant Pot – a delicious and fragrant recipe with coconut milk and a mild curry sauce that my family has been making for my whole life. (pictured below)
• Instant Pot Maple Pork Stew – this is a delicious change of pace from our go-to chicken and beef, and it cooks up fast in the instant pot.

More instant pot hacks and tips for delicious dinners in these posts >>>

• 4 Things I Learned About my Instant Pot in the First 6 Months
• 19 Easy Real Food Instant Pot Recipes for Hesitant Beginners

2) Slow Cooker (Crockpot)

The Instant Pot may be the new thing, but you likely still have a slow cooker hanging around. It does take a little more cook time, and of course you have to be prepared to turn it on in the morning, but it is another great way to have a simple dinner cooking while you do housework or are at work.

If late afternoons are your busy time (aka the “witching hour” if you have small children) then having no hands-on work in those hours is worth its weight in gold, and can really make the difference between a healthy, homemade meal or some

Note: The Instant Pot has a slow cooker setting also, but I find it runs hot, so keep an eye on it when using it the first few times until you get a feel for it.

• Crock-Pot Bolognese Sauce here @ R&H – the best spaghetti sauce is always made with a long simmer. Nothing beats it!
• Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken Chili (via The Humbled Homemaker) – packed with flavor and makes your house smell great.
• 15 Freezer to Crockpot Meals (Gluten-Free) here @ R&H – the best of both worlds: freezer meals + crockpot cooking!
• Easy Crockpot Black Bean Soup (R&H guest posted at The Nourishing Home) – this meatless option is frugal, but super tasty.
• Crockpot Un-Stuffed Cabbage Rolls (via Kitchen Stewardship) – cabbage is such a great, frugal, and under-appreciated vegetable, but I love it!
• Classic Slow Cooker Pot Roast (via Don’t Waste the Crumbs) – the best way to make a tender roast that falls apart.

3) Air Fryer

I got my air fryer in 2017 and am in love with it! The time it saves me on roasted veggies alone is worth the counter space it takes, but it also does a fantastic job on homemade fries, sweet potatoes, bacon, roasting a while chicken, and so much more.

I have several quick dinner ideas in the queue that are specific to the air fryer, and I’ll be sure to add those here when they’re published. (Leave a comment below if you have air fryer questions – I’m currently developing several air fryer recipes and I’d love to answer any questions you might have).

Here’s the one I have: Cuisinart Air Fryer Convection Oven.

? Strategy #4: Meal Plan Like It’s Your Job

I’m sure you’ve heard it over and over – but meal planning really does make the days less hectic! You won’t be as tempted to grab takeout or be in a panic at dinner time when the kids are hungry and nothing’s ready if you take some time to plan your week or month ahead.

In my experience, quick healthy meals for the whole family are a total breeze when you meal plan because you can match up your strategies to your busy nights (i.e. a crockpot meal planned for a day that you have appointments in the late afternoon… a batch of instant pot shredded beef the Sunday before an extra-busy week… an easy midweek meal like bacon and eggs for a day that your partner works late and you’ll be solo for the kids’ dinner/bedtime routine… etc.)

By pacing yourself (your time, your energy…) you can stay serve a balanced variety of quick healthy meals without burning out – always a good thing to avoid.

• Meal Planning and Procrastination
• 4 Meal Planning Tips for When You Want a Break From Cooking
• Meal Planning for the Spontaneous-at-Heart Types
• 4 Reasons Meal Planning Will Change Your Life
• Don’t Be Fooled. Meal Planning is Hard Work

Meal Planning Pro Tip: Make sure you plan REALISTICALLY.

A week’s menu plan is not an opportunity to try seven nights of a new recipe from Pinterest. (Please don’t do that to yourself!) Plan some family favorites, some quick healthy meals like those in this post, and even one or “easy button” meals, such as a pack of nitrate-free hotdogs and rice, with carrot sticks.

A healthy dinner meal plan should be realistic to your lifestyle, above all else, or it won’t be sustainable. (And don’t forget my #1 favorite: doubling what you make, and enjoying leftovers the next night! The ultimate in quick and healthy meals.)

? Strategy #5: Quick Healthy Shortcuts from the Grocery Store

Takeout may seem easy in the moment, but often it isn’t nourishing to our bodies and we pay the price later. (Plus, the food quality is low.) A simple solution when your options at home are sparse, or even a simple recipe is just not in the cards? Head to the grocery store instead.

There are plenty of quick healthy meal options you can grab and bring home and have on the table in under 15 minutes when you have nothing else planned.

• Buy sausages (or nitrate-free hotdogs, chicken breast to slice and pan-fry, etc)
  • Cook them in the oven or frying pan while you steam up some rice as a simple side. Add veggies (quick options include steaming frozen veggies, like green beans, or using your air fryer), and you’re done in 15-20 minutes with a balanced meal. Check out Air Fryer Broccoli (Crispy & Perfect)!
• A store-cooked rotisserie chicken
  • A great option, and already hot. Add whatever sides you want for the easiest wholesome dinner!
• In a pinch, you can grab pre-sliced fruit and vegetables, individual cheeses or cottage cheese cups, crackers, hummus, and nuts
  • While they cost more, sometimes the convenience is worth it! You can also usually trust that plain fruit and vegetables don’t have strange ingredients added to them. (This is a common quick healthy meal on the go for us when we don’t feel like paying restaurant prices for our family of six.)
• Check out the deli counter
  • Depending on what sort of grocery store you have, they may even have ready-to-go soups and salads that are made with whole (at least mostly) simple ingredients.
• Buy convenience foods that make a big impact without compromise
  • After 17 years of chopping every onion and garlic clove we used, I discovered bags of frozen diced onions at the grocery store and it has been revolutionary! (I don’t know why it took me so long to embrace this!)
  • Last year I also started buying minced garlic in a jar, which saves a ton of time too. I do keep fresh onions and garlic on hand for certain uses, but not having to dice or mince these things every single time is awesome, and doesn’t require compromising on unhealthy ingredients.

? Strategy #6: One-Pot (or Pan) Meal Ideas

What could be easier than putting everything in a single pot or pan and popping it in the oven? One of the best ways to create a delicious weeknight dinner that’s easy and simple is by combining your meat, veggies, and carbs all in one pan. Grab some rolls or chips and call it a complete meal.

Some of these delicious recipes won’t necessarily be as quick-cooking as, say, bacon & eggs with a side of sliced sweet tomatoes, but they typically involve simpler prep and cooking steps (which saves you time), and of course – they dirty fewer dishes, which is always a win in my house.

• Creamy Green Chili Ground Beef (here @ R&H) – pictured below
• Sheet Pan Mini Meatloaves and Veggies (via Live Simply)
• Sheet Pan Hawaiian Shrimp (via Don’t Waste the Crumbs)
• Chicken Sheet Pan Dinner Kids Can Make (via Kitchen Stewardship)
• Sheet Pan Salmon with Garlic & Rosemary (via All The Nourishing Things)
• Chili Lime Sweet Potato & Chicken Skillet (via Sweet Peas & Saffron)
• One-Pot Greek Chicken & Rice Pilaf (via Little Spice Jar)
• Spicy Eggs & Potatoes One-Pot (via Pinch of Yum)
• One-Pot Quinoa Enchilada with Shredded Chicken (via Pickled Plum)
• Chicken and Cabbage “Noodle” Skillet (GF, DF) (here @ R&H)

? Strategy #7: Batch Your Breakfasts

Breakfast is a hectic time of day, whether you are heading out to school or work, or settling in for a day of homemaking. Starting the day off with nutrition just makes things go more smoothly. Resist the urge of a box of cereal and have these on hand.

• Oatmeal Banana Pancakes (here @ R&H)
• Maple Shredded Coconut Granola (here @ R&H)
• Baked Oatmeal Cups (via Live Simply)
• 15 Breakfast Hacks for Busy School Mornings (via The Humbled Homemaker)
• How to Make Greek Yogurt (via Don’t Waste the Crumbs)
• Sourdough Einkorn Cinnamon Rolls (via Traditional Cooking School)
• 16 Breakfasts You Actually Have Time For (here @ R&H)

Need More Quick Healthy Meals Inspiration for Breakfast?

This is one of my all-time favorite topics, and I wrote an entire eCookbook about it! Grab your copy of The Breakfast Revolution: Recipes from Outside the Cereal Box right here for just $10.

? Strategy #8: Quick Healthy Meal Ideas That Don’t Require Cooking

Becoming an expert at serving up quick healthy meals whenever necessary means thinking about it from different angles. With that in mind – some of these recipes may have been mentioned above, but sometimes when you don’t feel like cooking, you REALLY don’t feel like cooking… ya know?

Here are some awesome and quick healthy meal ideas that don’t require any cooking or baking at all. I mostly use these as easy healthy lunch recipes and ideas, but they’ll do dinner in a pinch, too.

• Waldorf Tuna Salad with Apples & Pecans, especially delish with fresh herbs (here @ R&H) – pictured below
• Smoothies – if I’m making smoothies as a meal, I always add avocado, coconut oil, collagen, hemp hearts, chia seeds (or flax), and yogurt to ensure there’s plenty of healthy fat, fiber, and protein to satiate us. (Another great option is peanut butter, which pairs well with banana and cocoa, along with the above-mentioned add-ins.)
• Charcuterie Board – aka fancy-speak for snack plates, aka all the food groups covered in snacky foods – like carrot sticks, red peppers, cucumbers, crackers & cheese, nuts, deli meat, etc. My Healthy Homemade Granola Bars would make a great addition here.
• Sandwiches – the possibilities are endless
• Salads – you can add chopped deli meat, sliced cooked chicken from your freezer, boiled eggs (technically these are cooked but you can batch cook ahead!), or canned white beans for protein. Top with various healthy nuts and seeds like chia, hemp hearts, and sesame seeds.
• Crunchy Maple Granola with milk

Quick Healthy Meals Cheatsheets: FREE PRINTABLES ⬇️

Always forgetting all of these great ideas when that last-minute healthy weeknight dinner panic hits? Simple solution: write them down! Use my free printable cheatsheets to jot down all of your family’s easy healthy recipes favorites. Pin it on a bulletin board or inside of a kitchen cupboard for quick healthy dinner ideas at a glance any time. (You’ll thank yourself later.)

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A healthy cookie that tastes like pure decadence? One that doesn’t even require baking? Oh, and made with all nourishing and healthy ingredients. Well, hallelujah and glory be – it’s a good day.

These small mounds of chocolatey goodness may not look like much, but they are totally amazing.

They have lots of cocoa and honey. Really, how can you go wrong with that combo? I’ve heard some people call them chocolate frogs, but I grew up with my mom making a different version of these and she called them macaroons. Chocolate coconut macaroons are a staple at my house. If I need to satisfy a sweet craving ASAP I’ll make a few of these stuffed dessert dates.  Otherwise, if I have just a few extra minutes, I’ll make a batch of these no-bake chocolate cookies. (Tripling it, as always, for my favorite freezer cooking method.)

Benefits of No-Bake Chocolate Coconut Macaroons

• quick & easy
• totally grain-free
• dairy-free
• refined sugar-free
• no-bake
• contain healthy fats from coconut oil- which is an excellent addition to your regular diet.
• contain fiber, protein, & carbohydrates- all essential in a nourishing sweet treat.
• totally amazing, the only drawback is that you might have to share them with your kids.

They are one of our favorite cookies and a perfect treat when you want something sweet but good for you too! If for some reason your local store doesn’t have all of these ingredients you can find all of these recipe ingredients online from places like Amazon. 

Since hubby and I are currently avoiding refined sugar altogether, I made up a batch of these macaroon cookies this afternoon to satisfy my sweet craving. I only had to eat one and my craving was finished. They are great for satisfying any chocolate craving too. I’ve taken them to potlucks several times and no one has any clue they’re actually healthy. They’re that yummy.

How to Make Chocolate Macaroons

If you have been looking for the perfect coconut macaroons that don’t require baking like traditional macaroon recipes, look no further than this tasty treat. 

They are packed with wholesome ingredients, so you won’t find sweetened condensed milk, sweetened dried coconut, or other refined sugars. They are even dairy-free! There is not much liquid in this coconut macaroon recipe, the raw honey and coconut oil are all you need. You don’t even have to swap coconut milk for the condensed milk.

These aren’t super chewy coconut macaroons since they aren’t baked or loaded with sugar from the condensed milk and white sugar, but they are still pure decadence, and just the right density in your mouth. I might be biased, but I’m pretty sure that they may be the best macaroons out there. 

Ingredient Checklist

• Raw honey
• Unsweetened coconut flakes
• Almond Meal (can sub extra coconut flakes instead)
• Coconut oil
• Cocoa powder
• Salt
• Vanilla Extract

Basic instructions for making these delicious coconut cookies.

I love how simple they are! The full recipe for the chocolate coconut macaroons is at the end bottom of this post. 

1. Melt honey on low heat in a medium sauce pot, no double boiler required. Add coconut oil, salt, and vanilla, and melt all together. (If the room temperature of your house is below 75 F, then your oil will be solid.)
2. Add the flaked coconut and cocoa powder, and stir to combine. Add the almond meal and stir to combine. (I do all of this in the same pot I used to melt the honey and oil. You could use a large bowl but why dirty extra dishes?)

When all of the ingredients are nice and cozy, then drop it by the spoonful onto a cookie sheet (love my stoneware!). I lined mine with parchment paper ( because I didn’t want to have to get out my chisel again in order to get them off the pan.

Place them in your freezer for at least 20 minutes, or until they are firm. Store in an air-tight container in the fridge, or in the freezer for up to 3 months in a sealed container.

Fun variations for this recipe?

I love these chocolate coconut macaroons exactly how they are, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t change things up a bit. You can use the recipe as a base and add all sorts of mix-ins! A bit of recipe testing will help you figure out your favorite way to make them. It is such an easy macaroon recipe, even with fun additions. 

Here are a few ideas to get you going:

• Chocolate chips. All the kinds- semisweet chocolate, white chocolate, bittersweet chocolate, or milk chocolate.
• Chopped Nuts. Almonds, walnuts, etc.
• Chopped Dried Fruit. Cherries, blueberry, or apricots would be great.
• Dipped in melted chocolate. Dark chocolate or semi-sweet chocolate of course. This a sure way to let the chocolate flavor shine through.

Homemade Chocolate Coconut Macaroons: Expert Tips & Tricks

Can I freeze chocolate macaroons?

For sure! Beyond the initial brief stint in the freezer to get these to the right firmness/texture, these gluten-free coconut macaroons can be stored longer-term in the freezer if desired. I’ve only ever had them last a month or two before they get eaten, so I haven’t tested them longer than that, but I’m guessing they’d be great up to 3-4 months.

How do I store these macaroons? 

Store in an airtight container in the fridge for about a week or in the freezer for up to 4 months, if you can manage to not eat them all before then.

Can I substitute…?

There are always those times when you start making a recipe only to realize you are missing an ingredient. Bummer right? Or maybe you need to avoid (or don’t like) an ingredient. Here some swaps to help you out.

Please note that these are personally untried. If you try one or come up with one of your own please let me know in the comments! 

• Almond meal– You can substitute more coconut flakes. This would be an awesome swap for a coconut lover! Some readers have substituted whole oats or oat flour.
• Vanilla Extract– For extra almond flavor you could try almond extract.
• Coconut Oil– You could try peanut butter, another nut butter, or coconut butter. You may need to add a bit more since it is not a liquid.
• Honey– It’s not suggested to substitute the honey for another sweetener like maple syrup. This recipe depends on the stickiness from the honey as a key ingredient to bind the coconut macaroons together. For best results stick to honey. You can mix of the type of honey you use. I’ve made this with creamed honey and raw honey. In a pinch, regular heated honey would work as well. There are so many varieties out there- there is the standard clover honey, orange blossom, wildflower, and so many more!
• Flaked Coconut– Shredded coconut. There is little difference between the two. 

Are these chocolate coconut macaroons healthy? 

Raw honey is still a form of natural sugar but it is much better for you than refined white sugar. These refined sugar-free macaroons should still be consumed in moderation, guilt-free of course! I love that delicious dessert can actually be good for you. 

These no bake chocolate cookies are sneaky little things, so no one is probably going to pick up on the fact that you are giving them a superfood. So bring them to your next potluck, super bowl party, or play date and take delight in the fact that you are getting people to eat something healthy.

Good times are to be had when people gather around a table with a love of community and love of food, and that’s an important part of healthy eating too.

If you really wanted, you could probably swap a bit of the coconut for some other super healthy add-ins, like chia seeds, hemp hearts, or ground flax, but I don’t. Not everything in life has to be healthified to within an inch of its life, right? You do your thing – just make sure you actually enjoy the end result.

One extra super ingredient that I would fully endorse adding is collagen powder, which adds protein and will be undetectable in these chocolate macaroons thanks to dissolving easily and being practically tasteless. Here’s my favorite source for high-quality, glyphosate-free, grass-fed collagen.

Super Star Ingredients in these No-bake Chocolate Coconut Macaroons

• Raw Honey. Research from the Mayo Clinic, shows that raw honey contains amino acids, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. It has anti-inflammatory and has antibacterial properties.
• Coconut Oil. It can improve blood lipid levels compared to unhealthy fat choices. It is high in lauric acid, an essential fatty acid that naturally has anti-microbial properties to fight off illness. 
• Flaked Coconut. Rich in fiber and MCTs, it has the benefits of coconut oil with the added bonus of protein. 
• Unrefined Salt. Unlike table salt unrefined salts like Real Salt and Himalayan, are actually good for you! It is full of minerals like calcium, potassium, and magnesium. 

Thanks to the coconut oil and chewy coconut flakes the coconut flavor really gets a chance to shine through in these delicious treats. 

What’s the Difference Between a Macaroon and a Macaron?

The macaron is a French creation that involves two beautifully round wafer-like cookies sandwiched around a layer of jam or creme filling. The round cookies are light and airy, made with egg whites and sugar.

On the other hand, the macaroon is more of an American creation. It’s a drop cookie that usually involves coconut, and is much denser in texture. This no-bake chocolate cookie recipe is a macaroon, not a macaron.

Both are delightful in their own right, but macaroons (especially this recipe) are generally way faster and easier to make, and this one doesn’t even need to be baked! I’d love to experiment with macarons someday (especially since they are typically gluten-free by nature, using almond meal and egg whites) but for now – quick and easy chocolate coconut macaroons are my jam!

If you want a few more delicious desserts, I’ve got you covered:

More no-bake desserts:

• Chocolate Chia Seed Pudding
• Homemade Peanut Butter Cups
• Strawberry Coconut Chia Popsicles
• Chocolate Covered Ice Cream Bon Bons

Other cookie recipes you may enjoy:

• Raspberry White Chocolate Cookies (grain-free)
• Oatmeal Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies (flourless)

Useful Equipment:

• Parchment Paper – highly recommended! (And I normally love my silicone baking mats to cut down my usage of parchment paper… but this recipe does tend to stick to the silicone during the freezer stage, so I use parchment.)

• Cookie Scoop – I love having different sized scoops, like in the set I linked here. I use the smaller scoop to make treats like this so that I can magnanimously allow my children to have seconds and thirds – without consuming any more than they would have if the cookies were “regular sized”. File that under Mom Life Hacks.

Print

No-Bake Chocolate Coconut Macaroons (Honey-Sweetened)

Rich and dense chocolate coconut macaroons are deliciously easy no-bake cookies you'll want to make again and again – and they're made with healthy, whole ingredients!

Course Dessert, Snack

Cuisine American

Prep Time 45 minutes

Total Time 45 minutes

Servings 25 pieces

Calories 153kcal

Author Beth Ricci

Ingredients

• 3/4 cup honey
• 1/3 cup coconut oil
• 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
• 1 tablespoon real vanilla extract
• 2/3 cup cocoa
• 3.5 cups unsweetened coconut flakes
• 1/2 cup almond meal

Instructions

• Melt honey on low heat in a medium sauce pot. (No double boiler required.) Add coconut oil, and melt all together, then add salt, vanilla, and cocoa powder and stir until combined.
• Add the flaked coconut and almond flour/meal, and stir to combine. Mixture will be sticky, and should hold together fairly well.
• Use a small scoop or spoon to form the macaroons into small balls (size can be adjusted according to your preference) and place on a parchment paper-covered baking sheet, then freeze for at least 20 minutes, or until firm.

Notes

• Lined baking sheets make clean up much easier for this recipe. The chocolate coconut macaroons are a bit hard to remove when they are frozen solid without it.
• Store the macaroons in an airtight container in the refrigerator. 
• Almond meal/flour can both be used, or you can also sub more coconut flakes instead. Some commenters have successfully used oats as a substitute as well.

Nutrition

Serving: 0g | Calories: 153kcal | Carbohydrates: 13g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Cholesterol: 0mg | Sodium: 51mg | Potassium: 104mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin C: 0.2mg | Calcium: 11mg | Iron: 0.8mg

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This post was originally written by guest writer Kelly Oribine in 2012, & was updated & expanded in 2021 by Beth Ricci.

When I got married, I honestly didn’t care about having non-toxic cleaning products. We lived in an old apartment full of character and cobwebs, and I considered bleach my new best friend.

After kids, I thought twice about our household cleaners. Surely the things we breathe and come into contact with on a daily basis would affect our health, right? I bought things with words like “organic” and “natural” and “pure” on the labels, but I was fairly certain I was being sold a lie. And, at least some of the time, I was.

When my son was born he was sensitive to just about anything unnatural. We began to ditch toxic chemicals full force and I’m so glad we did.

Conventional cleaners are usually toxic and aren’t something I want to use around my family. My new rule of thumb?

Cleaning products shouldn’t be more dangerous than the problem I’m trying to solve.

Making your own cleaners is a simple and inexpensive way to clean your home naturally, without toxic chemicals. It doesn’t have to be fancy or complicated. I like that these cleaners are safe for my kids to be around. And I don’t need to totally freak out if they accidentally get into it.

This post is going to give you a solid overview of how non-toxic cleaning (with a little know-how and certain multi-use ingredients) really can effectively tackle the whole house. Here’s what we’ll cover:

Why Non-Toxic Cleaning?

I think most people know by now that there are plenty of pretty nasty ingredients lurking on the store shelves – especially in the household supplies aisle. Toxic ingredients can have tongue twister names and are linked with issues like asthma, allergies, skin reactions, eye damage, lung damage, and many more.

The best part is that natural cleaners are generally less expensive and definitely way safer. Bonus points: they won’t burn your lungs either!

Tools you Need to Clean Your Whole House

In addition to the ingredients, there are a few supplies I like to keep on hand.

• Microfiber and glass cleaning cloths (Norwex is my favorite – I can’t live without the Enviro Cloth for general cleaning, and the Window Cloth for perfectly streak-free glass and stainless steel.)
• Glass spray bottles
• Jars with lids
• Bucket and mop
• Scouring pads and/or scrub brush

Multi-Tasking in Your Chemical Free Cleaning

It’s so easy to get caught up in all of the beautifully packaged natural cleaners at the store. We don’t need a different cleaner for every surface in our house though! Just a few simple ingredients come together to tackle a wide variety of messes.

Basically – we need items that will perform a few essential functions, like lifting dirt and degreasing. Here are some cleaning staples I keep on hand to use for DIY non-toxic cleaning recipes.

Ingredients/Supplies to Clean Your Home Naturally

• White vinegar – shines, removes hard water stains, and degreases
• Dish soap – lifts dirt, degreases, and disinfects
• Baking soda – mild abrasive to scrub away stuck-on messes
• Washing soda – scrubs away messes and degreases
• Hydrogen peroxide – disinfects and lifts away dirt
• Essential oils – have antimicrobial properties and make your home smell amazing
• Olive oil – (or other vegetable oil) shines and protects wood
• Castile soap – lifts dirt, degreases, and disinfects

Mixing Cleaners Ingredients?

Some ingredients don’t play together nicely and should NOT be mixed together. For example, dish soap (which is technically a detergent), and vinegar can be used together. The soap helps remove soap scum and degrease, while the vinegar doubles the degreasing and mineral busting power. However castile soap and vinegar don’t mix.

Here’s a quick guide on what natural cleaners to avoid mixing in the same container (or at all):

• Vinegar and hydrogen peroxide (creates peracetic acid)
• Vinegar and castile soap – the vinegar unsaponifies the soap so instead of the best of both worlds we get a goopy mess.
• Baking soda and vinegar (1st-grade volcano experiment anyone??). This is ok to do on a surface (like the oven), but don’t try to mix them in a container to store.

Non-Toxic Cleaning Products You Can Make

Here’s how to clean your whole house with non-toxic cleaning products! With just a few simple recipes we can clean the entire house.

1. Homemade Soft Scrub

This is a heavy duty cleaner for tough messes, but gentle enough for kids to be around. Mix some baking soda in a small bowl with enough hydrogen peroxide to make a paste.  Use a scrubby sponge to scrub the mess away. If you have sensitive skin you may want to wear rubber gloves. Try this on rust stains, soap scum, and dirty grout lines.

2. Disinfectant Spray

 If you’re wondering how to sanitize without toxic chemicals, a natural disinfectant is your answer. Many essential oils have antimicrobial properties and are a great addition to natural cleaners. Tea tree (aka melaleuca) is one of my favorite essential oil to disinfect with. I place some in a spray bottle filled with water when I feel the need to disinfect something. Other people like the “thieves” blend, which is several antimicrobial essential oils together.

Other disinfecting ingredients you could use instead as a spray:

• vinegar (disinfectant, acidic to break down dirt)
• rubbing alcohol (disinfectant, effective solvent, evaporates quickly)

Note: these ingredients (essential oils with disinfectant properties, vinegar, rubbing alcohol) all have disinfectant ability, but none are 100% effective in lab tests. However – most homes aren’t aiming for a sterile environment, so this is not necessarily a bad thing. Most sources agree that these natural ingredients are effective enough to handle typical household germs in regular day-to-day needs.

If you want a grab and go option, try some of these DIY disinfectant cloth wipes.

Keep in mind that essential oils are potent and should be kept away from little hands. I suppose that goes for all home cleaning supplies, natural or not! Other good essential oils for cleaning include:

• lemon
• clove
• orange
• grapefruit
• eucalyptus
• lime
• pine or fir needle

3. All-Purpose Cleaner

Most things can be cleaned with a bucket full of warm water with either a squirt of a non-toxic dish soap or a splash of vinegar. Either of these solutions are great for cleaning cabinets and walls, the inside of your refrigerator, and nearly any hard household surface that needs a gentle cleaning.

If you don’t want to haul a bucket of soapy water around then spray is another option. I use this simple all-purpose cleaning spray.

4. All Natural Window Cleaner

I use a spray bottle full of vinegar as a glass and mirror cleaner, along with my Norwex Window Cloth. This combo is my fave, and super effective for anything made of glass or stainless steel. It leaves zero streaks behind, unlike any other cloth I’ve ever tried.

How to Clean Everything Without Toxic Chemicals

Tackle the Toilets

What I like about commercial toilet cleaners is the special bottle design that allowed me to get the cleaner under the toilet bowl rim. A great way I’ve found to copy this is by putting my toilet bowl cleaner in a spray bottle with the nozzle set to stream. Straight vinegar works just fine, but you can also add some essential oils for scent.

Mini Blinds

Clean vinyl mini-blinds with natural dish soap, some vinegar, and hot water. If you don’t like tediously cleaning each individual blind, then do it in the bathtub. Remove the blinds, clean them in the tub, then rinse off with the showerhead. Lay on some towels to dry before rehanging.

For the wider, wooden blinds, a Norwex cloth with a little water works great.

Cleaning Floors

 I mop my tile and laminate floors by adding a big splash of vinegar and a few drops of a favorite essential oil to a bucket of warm water. The vinegar smell will disappear as your floors dry. I promise your house won’t smell vinegary when you’re done! For extra dirty floors (i.e. at my house, lol) you can add some soap (I use a squirt of dish soap) to the bucket.

Freshen Carpet and Knock Out Stains

Hydrogen peroxide works wonders on tough stains. Just be sure to do a patch test first on an out of sight piece of carpet! To freshen carpets, heavily sprinkle baking soda over them. Let the baking soda sit for a few hours to overnight before vacuuming.

Mattresses and Furniture

Here’s a simple recipe to freshen your mattress or sofa.

• Put some baking soda into a shaker jar or a mason jar with holes nailed into the lid.
• Add a few drops of your favorite essential oil. Lavender, tea tree, lemon, or any from the essential oil list above are good options. Shake well to combine.
• Sprinkle the mixture onto your mattress, upholstered furniture, or carpet, and leave it for an hour or so before vacuuming the solution up.

Wood and Leather

Sealed wood can be polished with a soft cloth with a tiny bit of diluted vinegar and olive oil on it. If you’re looking for non-toxic cleaning products for your leather, you don’t have to resort to expensive (and nasty) cleaning kits. This wood and leather balm adds a nourishing layer of wax and oil and helps condition leather fabric.

Non-Toxic Cleaners for the Kitchen

Stainless Steel

Put some undiluted vinegar in a spray bottle and use it to wipe down stainless steel surfaces. You can also put a little bit of vodka or rubbing alcohol in the bottle to help the mixture dry faster and avoid streaks.

Sinks and Drains

You can easily shine your kitchen sink with basic ingredients. Use a little baking soda and water, plus elbow grease to scrub the dirt and grime away. A little bit of dish soap can also be added to the mix if needed. Then spray vinegar and scrub all residue away. Finish by drying with a microfiber cloth until it shines! (As mentioned above – the Norwex Window cloth is awesome for this.)

To remove stinky drain smells, pour a couple cups of warm vinegar down and let sit for half an hour. Run hot water to rinse afterward. You can also run some citrus peels through the garbage disposal if you have one.

Non-Toxic Cleaning for the Microwave

This is so easy and it works really well. The vinegar does smell up the kitchen for a bit, but you can use lemon juice if preferred.

•  Put ½ cup of vinegar and ½ cup of water in a glass microwaveable bowl. Or use a few tablespoons of lemon juice in water.
• Microwave on high until it’s boiling and has covered the walls of the microwave in condensation This takes about 5 minutes.
• Let sit for 3 minutes before carefully removing the bowl. Wipe the surface clean with a cleaning cloth or dishcloth.

Put the Kettle On

To descale your kettle, put enough vinegar in it to cover the limescale and mineral deposits. Boil the vinegar in the kettle, and then rinse the kettle well.

Natural Oven Cleaner

Oven cleaner was the last cleaner I eliminated and the one I was most uncomfortable using in my home. I kept trying homemade solutions, discovering they didn’t work, and then going out and buying the can of spray-on oven cleaner. Yes, it works wonders, but leaves me nervous to let my children breathe the air in our home!

The best natural oven cleaner I’ve found is Shaklee’s Scour Off. It works noticeably better than any of the homemade solutions I’ve tried. If you’d prefer a homemade cleaner, the homemade soft scrub listed above works pretty well with a generous dose of elbow grease.

Clean Up Your Laundry

While laundry doesn’t usually get lumped in with cleaning, it’s still something that calls for cleaning products. Conventional laundry detergents and fabric softener use synthetic fragrances and harsh chemicals that can cause skin irritation. What goes in our washing machine goes on our clothing and then gets on our skin.

If you want non-toxic cleaning products in the laundry room, then give these a try:

• Instead of dryer sheets, try some reusable wool dryer balls. They work great and are way more environmentally-friendly because you reuse them for years.
• For laundry detergent, ECOS and Seventh Generation both use natural ingredients and are free of harmful chemicals.
• Conventional stain removers are also chemical-laden products I avoid, but hydrogen peroxide works for most stains.

You can read more about how I do laundry without toxic chemicals here.

Where to Buy Natural Cleaners

If you’re too busy to DIY or that’s not your thing, then there are other options. Some of these natural products you can find next to the conventional cleaning products at your local grocery store. My top criteria for choosing natural cleaners includes non-toxic cleaning ingredients and high values. While many cleaners don’t make the list, there are plenty that do.

Keep in mind that a good all-purpose spray will cover most bases, and we don’t need a gazillion different cleaners. That said, here are some recommended non-toxic cleaning companies to buy from.

• Norwex
• Nature Clean (Canadian brand)
• Aunt Fannies
• ECOS
• Whoa Nelli
• Branch Basics
• Bronner’s castile soap and Sal Suds

Avoid Greenwashing

Unfortunately, there are a lot of companies out there that boast “naturally derived” ingredients “simple ingredients” or just use natural colors like green in their packaging. This doesn’t automatically make them safe and non-toxic though!

Always look at the ingredient list to find the best natural cleaning products. Even some green cleaning products contain ingredients that can cause unwanted health effects in humans. It’s best to look for safer products that work for both the environment and people!

The Environmental Working Group is a great resource for finding safe cleaning products. The EWG looks at the product ingredients and rates them by how safe they are for both people and planet. While I may not agree 100%  of the time with their analysis, they’re a great starting point, and can be very eye-opening!

Non-Toxic Cleaning Made Simple

Making your own non-toxic cleaners is a simple way to avoid the toxins in many common cleaning products. It doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive. And if you’re just not in the mood to DIY, you’ve still got natural cleaning options easily accessible!

Don’t miss my Spring Cleaning Checklist: The Ultimate Guide for Busy Families!

With a little awareness and know-how, you can clean your whole house with natural, non-toxic cleaning supplies. Happy scrubbing!

***

Kelly lives in rural Ontario Canada with her husband, their six kids, and a small brood of far-too-friendly backyard chickens.

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Have you ever gone to the farmer’s market and walked away with a big plastic bag brimming to the top with sticky sweet kettle corn? The aroma of caramelized sugar and the signature pop of corn merrily bursting out of its shell in large cast iron kettles practically calls to you.

There is something so delicious and addictive about that sweet treat. It’s hard not to buy a big bag of it and polish it off before I even get back to the house. I mean, I’m there for farm-fresh vegetables… yeah.

Sadly it’s not the greatest thing I could buy at the farmer’s market since it’s made with refined sugar and poor quality oils. Do you want to know a secret? Thanks to this stovetop kettle corn recipe you can make your own with quality ingredients in just about 15 minutes. I love easy and better-for-you snacks! (Like these healthy homemade granola bars.)

This recipe calls pretty awesome ingredients- coconut oil is one of the healthiest fats out there, and maple syrup is an excellent choice of sweetener. Real sea salt is totally good for you as well, as long as your diet is not over-saturated with processed junk containing refined sodium.

Make this kettle corn after the kids are in bed and enjoy! It might become one of your favorite snacks.

Maybe the next time you make it you can share the kids, or not. They won’t know what they’re missing out on right? If you do decide to share your kettle corn with the entire family be sure to plan a family movie night to make it all the more special.

A stovetop kettle corn recipe that your whole family will love

A bit of fun history…

Would you have guessed that guess that kettle corn is an old recipe?

Dutch settlers living in Pennsylvania during the mid to late 1700s were the first to mention enjoying kettle corn in colonial time. Before that people were making it in Europe with lard and sugar. I love good old-fashioned healthy fats!

It was sold at fairs and enjoyed on other special occasions. How cool is it that kettle corn is still enjoyed at state fairs today? Thanks to this homemade kettle corn recipe you can enjoy a taste of the fair in the comfort of your own home – no matter the time of year!

Homemade Kettle Corn Recipe: The Ultimate Guide

If you are looking for an easy kettle corn recipe this is it. From start to finish it should only take you about 15 minutes to make. That is my kind of recipe! This may be the best homemade kettle corn you have ever eaten.

What gives kettle corn its flavor?

Kettle corn gets its signature flavor from the caramelized sugar that lightly coats each kernel. Typically most kettle corn is made with white sugar or brown sugar but maple syrup is a great alternative to refined sugar and it works beautifully in this recipe.

How do you make kettle corn from scratch?

This such a simple recipe. It may be the best homemade kettle corn out there. (Not that I am biased or anything.) Kettle corn cooks quickly, so if you decide you need a second batch, it’s no problem.

Ingredient Checklist

Thanks to healthier food options being in higher demand you can probably find all four ingredients for the best kettle corn at your local grocery store.

• 1/2 cup Popcorn Kernels
• Coconut Oil
• 1/8 cup Maple Syrup
• Sea Salt (if you don’t have it kosher salt will work)

Don’t you love simple ingredient lists?

The Basic Recipe

• Heat enough coconut oil to cover the bottom of the pan on medium. Add a couple of kernels of popcorn to know if the oil is the right temperature. When the kernels pop, add the remaining kernels.
• Keep the pot moving, vigorously shaking back on forth over the burner to prevent burning. Don’t leave it sitting on the heat source. Popcorn pops quickly!
• As soon as you hear popping kernels, add the maple syrup and continue to shake pot.
• When the kernels are popped, use a wooden spoon to remove the unpopped kernels. Pour the popcorn out into a bowl, add a little salt, and give it a good shake.

Don’t be worried if there are some unpopped kernels at the bottom of the pan, it’s rare that you will have a pot of kettle corn where all the kernels pop. It’s better to have a few kernels left than to have the maple syrup burn.

What is the difference between kettle corn and popcorn?

Popcorn is the perfect canvas for all sorts of flavors. Normally popcorn is simply popcorn kernels that have been popped with a bit of fat or in an air-popper. Then you top it with salt and some melted butter or whatever else you like to sprinkle on.

When you make kettle corn the sweetener is added to the pot along with the kernels and fat. As each kernel pops the maple syrup or sugar melts coating each kernel making it a sweet popcorn instead of a salty treat.

What kind of popcorn is used for kettle corn?

Frequently people use yellow or white popcorn kernels. They are often the easiest to find in the store. If you can snag a bag of mushroom popcorn you are in for a treat! Unlike most other popcorns that have more of a butterfly shape, mushroom popcorn is more rounded and lighter, making it perfect for coating with the maple syrup.

If it’s labeled popcorn kernels, then it will work. Each type of kernel has a slightly different flavor so you can experiment to see which one your family likes. The type of popcorn is not going to dramatically change how your kettle corn turns out. It’s all going to be delicious!

Is kettle corn healthier than popcorn?

Air-popped popcorn (or stovetop popcorn) is a healthy snack in moderation. It’s a pretty starchy grain, but when drenched in butter and real sea salt it can be made a little healthier, and it can help satisfy those munchy cravings that so many of us get. It’s not your average microwave popcorn, that’s for sure.

At our house, we love our salty popcorn with melted butter. We don’t have lots of popcorn recipes but this recipe kicks it up a notch with the sweet and salty combo, and really seems indulgent.

Sweet kettle corn is that happy medium between plain popcorn and caramel corn. It has a little bit of sugar (or maple syrup in this case) instead of a heavy sugar coating like store-bought caramel corn. So is kettle corn a healthy snack? Sometimes. Maple syrup is still a form of sugar, so you might not want to eat it every day (but then it wouldn’t be a special treat if you did that anyway).

What kind of oil should I use for kettle corn?

Typically, when you come across a kettle corn recipe, it is going to call for canola oil or some other type of less than stellar cooking oil. I prefer to avoid highly processed and refined oils even if it is just a 1/4 cup of vegetable oil.

Coconut oil works amazingly for this kettle corn recipe! If you use haven’t used it before, once you try it you won’t want to switch back to your old oils.

There are two basic options for coconut oil. The main difference is in how they are processed, both methods create healthy oils.

• Expeller-Pressed Coconut Oil. This oil has a strong coconut flavor. If you are a fan of coconut it tastes amazing in this homemade kettle corn recipe!
• Cold-Pressed Coconut Oil. This method produces a mild oil that is more flavorless (but not 100%). If you aren’t a coconut fan or simple want the flavor of the maple syrup of shine through, this is your oil.

Coconut oil melts when when the room temperature is 76 F or 24 C. When it is cooler in the house coconut oil turns solid.

What if I don’t want to use coconut oil?

Coconut oil has a high smoke point which is one reason it works well in the recipe. Olive oil, while it is a healthy oil, doesn’t have a high smoke point, and you probably don’t want your sweet corn to taste like olives…

Another option would be to use ghee (clarified butter). All of the milk solids have been removed, giving it a higher smoke point. Animal fats could work as well (such as tallow or lard) but the flavor may not be ideal in this recipe.

What is the best type of pot to make kettle corn?

You might wonder if you have to have a special popcorn popper or other special equipment to make kettle corn. The easy answer is no! This mama loves a good multi-purpose kitchen tool, and a cooking pot works fine here.

There are things that make it easier though. If you are wanting to be traditional a cast iron Dutch oven would work. Of course – the downside is that they are heavy and cumbersome when shaking during the cooking.

When you are making popcorn (especially kettle corn), you want to be able to move the pot around to prevent the kernels and sugar from burning. So you might want to go with something lighter.

Some people swear by their Whirley Pop. If you are making stovetop popcorn all the time, this special popcorn pot might be a good fit for your kitchen. They even make a stainless steel version! (We were gifted the aluminum one a few years ago and LOVE how it makes the popcorn, but we’re planning to upgrade to the stainless steel version soon as it’s a safer cookware material.)

If you only make popcorn and kettle corn occasionally, your basic large stock pot or cast iron pot are a good way to go. As long as it’s a big pot with a lid and you can move it around, it will do the job. If you have a pan with a glass lid that lets you see the corn popping then it’s even easier to know when it’s done. (Plus, it’s just fun!)

Best ways to serve kettle corn

To keep it simple you can just give each person a small bowl of this sweet treat. Or you can fill a small paper bag for each person with kettle corn. That would definitely be a fun way to enjoy it for a family movie night.

This kettle corn would be an awesome treat at a birthday party or fall party. You can make a large pot of it and fill indidivual paper lunch sack for each kid as a treat to take home. (Or you could get fancy and fold your own out of parchment paper, if you’re the crafty type.)

If you want to get fancy you could drizzle some peanut butter or melted dark chocolate over the top. Or both. (You wouldn’t regret it, I’m pretty sure.)

How long does kettle corn last?

If you somehow have leftover kettle corn (which… I really don’t know how that is possible) you can store it in an airtight container for about two weeks. Some people freeze popcorn in a freezer-safe container, so you could try that if you want. I don’t have personal experience trying this method out.

Want more easy snack ideas?

It’s alway a good ideas to have a great recipe or two, or three on hand when you want an easy snack. Here are some ideas.

• 100 Healthy Snack Ideas
• Honey Almond Poppyseed Yogurt Recipe
• 5 Real-Food Cracker Topping Ideas

Make sure to sneak a few handfuls before serving, ‘cuz this stuff doesn’t last long!

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Stovetop Kettle Corn Recipe (With Maple Syrup & Coconut Oil)

This stovetop kettle corn with maple syrup and coconut oil is sweet & salty perfection, but minus the junky ingredients for the perfect indulgence!

Course Snack

Cuisine American

Cook Time 15 minutes

Total Time 15 minutes

Servings 4

Calories 104kcal

Author Beth Ricci

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup popcorn kernels
• coconut oil enough to cover the bottom of the pot
• 1/8 cup maple syrup
• 1/2 tsp real sea salt

Instructions

• Heat enough coconut oil to cover the bottom of the pan on medium-high heat. Add a couple of kernels of popcorn.
• When they start to pop, add the add the remaining kernels.
• Keep the pot moving, vigorously shaking back on forth over the burner, still on medium high, to prevent burning. Don't leave it sitting on the heat source.
• As soon as you hear popping kernels, add the maple syrup and continue to shake the pot.
• When the kernels are popped, use a wooden spoon to remove the unpopped kernels. Pour the popcorn out into a bowl, add salt, and give it a good shake.

Nutrition

Calories: 104kcal | Carbohydrates: 21g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 0g | Saturated Fat: 0g | Cholesterol: 0mg | Sodium: 2mg | Potassium: 78mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 6g | Calcium: 11mg | Iron: 0.6mg

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These coconut flour muffins are super sneaky. They’re a banana-chocolate mashup, which is actually a delightful combination, but the script is flipped, and the chocolate takes the leading role, while the banana provides the support. They’re also totally healthy, which I’ll get to in a sec. They are sure to please any sweet tooth!

There are a few dream-team combos in the food world, many involving chocolate. I’ll tell you right now that chocolate and peanut butter are soulmates (try my homemade chocolate peanut butter cups and you’ll see), but I’ll tell you what: chocolate and banana are kindred spirits. The hint of sweet banana compliments the chocolate motif perfectly.

But seriously: don’t tell my kids these are healthy.

If they find out, I won’t be able to use them as the ultimate bribe. “If you finish your chores we call have cupcakes as a snack!” *wink*

It’s not just my kids, is it? Bribes (or, the more politically correct term these days: rewards) are the key to good parenting. I say that with a wink and a smile but guys – we all know it’s true. Our pre-kid parenting knowledge is eating some serious humble pie, amiright?!

Okay, okay, serious sidebar here. I joke, but for real – I do believe in being transparent and factual with your kids 97% of the time about what they’re eating. Otherwise, how will they realize that healthy food can actually taste amazing?! In the toddler and preschooler stage we use “creative framing” of foods (aka: calling them cupcakes) way more often, but when they get older we start to get more and more transparent and it’s really fun to watch them start to take agency over the types of foods they want to use to fuel their bodies.

Double Chocolate Coconut Flour Muffins FAQ

Are muffins with coconut flour healthy?

Yes! Even if you include grains in your diet, we can all benefit from some snack recipes that aren’t wheat-based. Also, more eggs = more protein. Also, these muffins are lightly sweetened with banana and a bit of honey. There are 12 grams of sugar per serving, but 6 grams of fiber which helps to mitigate the glucose response.

In contrast – most store-bought bakery muffins typically contain as much as 50-70g of sugar (processed), and they are mostly empty carbs that will give a huge glucose spike.

Following a dietary style? These sweet treats aren’t keto chocolate muffins because of the sugar from the bananas but they are paleo chocolate muffins. They are, of course, gluten-free, and also dairy-free.

Bottom line? They’re legit healthy! Check out some of the star ingredients in these healthy chocolate muffins.

Coconut flour. It is made from dried coconut meat. The coconut milk is removed, leaving the meat that once dried is ground into flour. It is loaded with protein and is a high fiber food. Some people with nut allergies can’t tolerate coconut, so please keep that in mind.
Eggs. They are an awesome protein and great food to always have on hand for quick meals.
Coconut oil. It is a superfood and full of healthy fats.
No refined sugar. Except for the dark chocolate chips, which are at a minimum and could technically be skipped, but life is short, guys. (If you want to use sugar-free chocolate chips, there a few great brands out there.)
Unsweetened cocoa powder. It is full of antioxidants and is naturally low carb, with only 3g net carbs per tablespoon.

These coconut flour healthy muffins with chocolate and bananas are some of our favorites as you can now see why. Everyone needs a sweet treat in their life that is good for them.

How to make muffins with coconut flour?

Baking with coconut flour has a bit of a learning curve but it’s really easy. One of the first things you need to remember is that one cup of coconut flour does not equal one cup of regular flour or gluten-free flour blend. It’s more of a 1:4 ratio.

Coconut flour is a very “thirsty” flour that requires a lot of moisture, normally from a high amount of eggs. The nice thing is that they are not very crumbly like almond flour chocolate muffins might be.

One of the nice things is that the taste of coconut is not in your face. It’s subtle. The chocolate flavor shines in these tasty muffins. Also, some people (me!) aren’t always a fan of baked goods with coconut flour since they can sometimes taste a bit eggy or spongy. The banana in this recipe interrupts that and provides a more “normal” texture, and I love them!

These coconut flour chocolate muffins are full of wholesome and simple ingredients. Here are the basic steps to make this muffin recipe. The recipe card further down has the exact measurements. Some coconut flour muffin recipes have you mix the wet ingredients and the dry ingredients separately. These are not those muffins. Yay for fewer steps!

1. Prepare your muffin tin by filling it with cupcake liners or greasing each hole.
2. Add the eggs, cocoa powder, coconut flour, coconut oil, baking soda, vanilla extract, sea salt, and honey to a medium bowl (or a large bowl if you are making a double batch). Mix using an immersion blender. You could use a food processor but less mess is always best in my book.
3. Add the bananas to a small mixing bowl or large measuring cup. Smash until smooth using a potato masher or large fork.
4. Add chocolate chips and mashed bananas to the batter. Stir gently to combine.
5. Divide the batter evenly in the prepared muffin tin.
6. Bake muffins and enjoy!

Chocolate Coconut Flour Muffin Tips & Tricks

Use large eggs that are room temperature. Baked goods have better and more consistent results when you do so. If you have your own chickens you may have to increase the eggs by one or two if your hens lay eggs that are on the smaller side.

Unlike some recipes that use baking soda as the leavening agent, this recipe calls for baking powder. It has a milder taste that can sometimes come through when using baking soda.

You also might be thinking: “you said that coconut flour is “thirsty” why isn’t there much liquid in this recipe?” The great thing is that between the eggs, coconut oil, and bananas it already has all the liquid it needs! Some coconut flour recipes use eggs and liquid, this just isn’t one of them.

Coconut flour is more expensive than regular flour. So if you are new to baking with it there might be a bit of an extra cost upfront to buy your first bag. You can buy it in bulk and save a lot of money! Plus a little coconut flour goes a long way since you are using about 1/4 of what you would use in a standard recipe.

How do I store coconut flour muffins?

You can store these double chocolate muffins in an airtight container for three days. After that, you will want to transfer them to the refrigerator. Good luck having them last that long though, in my house they get gobbled up!

To freeze these muffins, place them on a cookie sheet and freeze until they are solid. Then transfer them to a freezer-proof container or resealable freezer bag. They will remain fresh for 3-5 months.

For trips I like to pack individual lunch bags with reusable containers of snacks, and the minimal mess is contained.

Can I substitute the coconut flour for another flour?

There are a lot of great flours out there, I even have recipes that use some of them but these are coconut flour muffins. Coconut flour is unique in the world of healthy flours, so there is not a one-to-one substitution that works well.

That’s why you won’t find whole wheat flour, all purpose flour, almond flour, or tapioca flour in these chocolate coconut flour muffins.

Can these be made with an egg replacer?

Eggs are such an important part of this recipe that I don’t use an egg replacer. I’ve never tested this recipe with any of them. For best results, use eggs.

If you do try a swap like flax egg or something else please let me know in the comments! It’s awesome when we can learn from each other.

What can I use instead of honey?

Maple syrup is a great one-to-one ratio for honey. They are both liquids and full of amazing nutrients. It would be a more equal substitution than using a granulated sweetener like coconut sugar.

What can I use instead of coconut oil?

Melted coconut oil works well in this recipe since coconut since the recipe already calls for coconut flour. If you’re concerned about a coconut flavor, you can use refined coconut oil, which works great.

Possible subsitutions would be:

• Melted butter. Butter is always delicious, right?
• Olive oil. Look for lighter flavored olive oil. The flavor of the chocolate and banana will mask any flavor that might come through from the olive oil.

Fun twists on these coconut flour muffins

The first time you make this recipe try making it the way it is written. That way you will know how it is supposed to turn out before you start making variations, then the next time you can play around with it a bit.

Here are a few simple and fun twists that you could try. Just remember that they are untested:

• Mini muffins. Bite-sized muffins would be fun to try. Perfect for the little people in your life. This recipe would yield about 30 miniature muffins. Start checking on them after 10 minutes since the smaller size will make them bake more quickly.
• Coconut flour banana bread. If you want to have a few minutes of prep time you could pour the batter into a small greased bread pan. The trade-off will be a longer cooking time. You would want to start checking for doneness after 30 minutes.
• Try stirring in a spoonful or two of almond butter, peanut butter, or nut butter of your choice.

What is the best way to enjoy these chocolatey muffins?

Really, these coconut flour chocolate chip muffins are the perfect grab-and-go snack or meal. That’s how we enjoy them most of the time but here are some ways to serve them.

• Pair with Greek yogurt for a wonderful healthy breakfast.
• Serve with a cold glass of milk or a substitute like almond milk.
• Use heavy cream to make homemade whipped cream and serve each “cupcake” with a large dollop of whipped cream.

They’re the perfect snack to go alongside some fruits and veggies, and maybe some crackers and hummus. Since they’re grain-free, you can include another convenient grain-based snack without worrying about overdoing it on the heavy carbs.This isn’t a true low carb chocolate muffin recipe but there are significantly less than a traditional recipe.

Looking for more healthy snack ideas?

• Pumpkin Spice Coconut Flour Muffins
• 15 Clean-Eating Snacks
• Feeling adventurous? Try these bright green muffins that will sure to delight the kids. (Can be adapted to gluten-free with gluten-free flour instead of wheat.)
• Homemade Kettle Corn
• Instant Pot Hummus
• And check out this huge list of healthy snack ideas inspiration with this post: 100 Healthy Snack Ideas.

Equipment to make these Coconut Flour Chocolate Muffins

If you already have a large mixing bowl then the only tools you need are an immersion blender and a muffin tin.

I also HIGHLY recommend these silicone muffin cups – I use them with all of my muffin or cupcake baking!

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Coconut Flour Chocolate Muffins (Gluten-Free)

These gluten-free coconut flour chocolate muffins are divine (but healthy!), and are made with coconut flour, coconut oil, and a hint of sweet bananas. Enjoy!

Course Snack

Cuisine American

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 18 minutes

Total Time 28 minutes

Servings 12

Calories 209kcal

Author Beth Ricci

Ingredients

• 5 eggs
• 1/3 cup cocoa powder
• 1/4 cup coconut oil
• 1/3 cup coconut flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
• 2 tablespoon honey
• 2 very ripe bananas
• 1/3 cup mini chocolate chips

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 400 F.
• Add the eggs, cocoa powder, coconut flour, coconut oil, baking soda, vanilla extract, sea salt, and honey to a medium bowl. Mix until smooth. (I using a stand mixer).
• Mash bananas in a large measuring cup or small bowl (I use a potato masher).
• Add the mashed bananas and chocolate chips to the chocolate batter, and stir to combine.
• Divide batter evenly in a lined muffin tin (I use and recommend silicone muffin cups), fill each about 2/3 of the way full.
• Bake at 400 F for 15-18 minutes. Set on the counter to rest. Wait 10 minutes before removing them from the tin and placing on a cooling rack.

Video

Notes

Makes about 10-12 muffins, depending on how full you fill each cup.

For a lovelier presentation, add 4-5 chocolate chips on top of each muffin before baking.

My top recommendation for muffin cup liners is reusable silicone muffin cups. I love them! (I have used muffin papers, but muffins with banana in them tend to stick to paper liners in my experience. You can also liberally grease a muffin tin with butter or coconut oil, and dust with a bit of flour or starch. Wait 10 minutes before trying to remove them.)

Nutrition

Serving: 0g | Calories: 209kcal | Carbohydrates: 23g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Cholesterol: 83mg | Sodium: 172mg | Potassium: 284mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 12g | Vitamin A: 150IU | Vitamin C: 2.1mg | Calcium: 54mg | Iron: 1.9mg

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Are you ready to throw open the doors and give your house a deep cleaning? Read on for our ultimate spring cleaning checklist to get those deeply satisfying clean house vibes flowing!

After a cold winter isn’t it nice to soak up the warm days of spring? A new season is always a good time for a reset.

At this time of year all the fresh air and sunshine nudges me out of cozy hygge and hibernation mode, and into spring cleaning checklist mode! A clean home is so incredibly good for our mental and emotional health, and spring is the perfect time to make it happen.

As much as we all love to complain about the actual cleaning part, you have to admit – there’s nothing quite like flinging the windows wide open to let that deliciously fresh air flow into a sparkling clean area of the house, while relaxing on the couch with your feet up and a big iced chai latte in hand as a reward.

So! *insert Mary Poppins clap* Let’s earn that chai latte, shall we? Time to pull those dust bunnies from their hiding places and take part in what people have been doing for generations: spring cleaning.

Spring Cleaning is Rooted in Cultural and Religious History

As it turns out – a spring cleaning checklist isn’t something your mom made up to coerce you into scrubbing the baseboards as a chore. It actually has a long cultural and religious history that’s kind of fascinating.

One of the earliest known traditions of spring cleaning is the preparation for the Jewish Passover in the spring. Houses are cleaned to remove any leaven before Passover to remember the exodus from Egypt in the Old Testament.

In Iran, the the Persian New Year is celebrated in the spring. The tradition “khooneh takouni” means “shaking the house”. Houses are given a deep cleaning to welcome the new year, and it’s a time of celebration. In addition – the Catholic church cleans the church alter the Thursday before Good Friday (during Holy Week), which usually roughly coincides with the arrival of spring.

According to the Washington Post, during the 1800’s, houses were lit with candles and oil lamps. Coal and wood fires were essential for cooking and heating, which meant that after a long winter houses were inevitably covered with a layer of soot and grime. The warmer days of spring allowed people to open up the entire home and give it a much-needed deep cleaning.

Considering all of that – if you feel the urge to clean all areas of your home from top to bottom in the spring, you aren’t alone!

Regardless of whether you relate to these religious or historical roots – spring is a good opportunity for a season of renewal and refreshing. You can even embrace the longer days by seeking to spring clean other areas of your life, too, like your online & digital presence, your goals and resolutions, your habits, and more.

Okay – ready to get going? Let’s dive in!

Tips to Set Yourself Up for Successful Spring Cleaning (Especially With a Busy Family Life)

First of all – get organized! Below is a room-by-room spring cleaning checklist to follow so that you don’t miss a thing. It’s broken up room-by-room with an extra list for all the general touch points throughout the whole home.

Secondly, remember that spring cleaning doesn’t have to happen all in one day – especially for those of us with precious little free time. Busy family life often doesn’t afford us an entire weekend to clean uninterrupted, so choose a pace that works for you.

1. Sketch Out a Timeline Plan

Unless you live in a tiny house, most of us can’t get all of these areas of the home tackled in 24 hours, or even an entire weekend. So, the best way to make your spring cleaning efforts successful is to remember to be realistic with your time and energy. Consider mapping out your plan before you begin.

• Be realistic with your goals and time
• Pick one or two areas to clean a day, or perhaps a few areas to tackle on a recurring weekly basis
• Get the whole house involved by dividing tasks among family members
• Pace yourself (don’t forget to eat and sleep)
• Plan on fun rewards for a job well done

Roll up your sleeves, gather the family, put on some fun music, and start. I don’t know if I can promise you’ll have a great time (ha!), but you will definitely be ultra satisfied with the end result!

2. Tidy Up and Declutter

• Pick up basic clutter
• Declutter & get rid of unused items (have a yard sale or donate)
• Empty and clean the vacuum 
• Refill or make your favourite cleaning products
• Gather your cleaning supplies

3. Include Safety-Related Tasks

Life can get so busy that it can be a challenge to remember to do these basic safety tasks. Use your spring cleaning efforts as the perfect opportunity to remember these things:

• Clean air vents and registers 
• Check lightbulbs
• Change batteries in smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors
• Check fire-extinguisher 
• Inspect first aid kits & replenish

4. Plan Easy Meals

I’m a huge proponent of meal planning in the best of times, but this is one of those times where meal planning is practically essential to success! While you’re planning out your big spring cleaning checklist goals to take place over the course of a week or two (or whatever time frame suits your situation), do yourself a huge favor and plan your meals carefully!

Here are some ways meal planning can make your spring cleaning efforts 10x easier:

• Plan your favorite quick and easy meals
• Make freezer meals ahead of time (precooked or not – either way, use your slow cooker or instant pot)
• Plan some convenience foods into the rotation that you might not normally use (maybe not your nutritional ideal, but still cheaper and healthier than takeout! We do things like gluten free chicken nuggets or nitrate-free hotdogs for occasions like this.)
• Use meal prep tactics like washing and chopping produce and storing for easy grab access, or cooking up some basic protein like taco spiced ground beef or shredded chicken to use alongside whatever non-fancy sides you like.

Spring Cleaning Supplies List

• microfiber cloth (ideally several of them)
• warm water with all-purpose cleaner or dish detergent (for any large areas, like walls)
• an all-purpose cleaning spray bottle (ideally several)
• a disinfectant spray and/or wipes (I like using white vinegar)
• stainless steel & glass cleaner (I love my Norwex glass cloth for this… it’s crazy effective.)
• vacuum and broom
• paper towel, if desired, for the yuckiest jobs, but old rags work perfectly well and are the more eco-friendly alternative
• plastic bag for trash
• optional: essential oil* to diffuse or use in DIY cleaners (*not all oils are safe to use around kids and pets.)

Here are some cleaning posts here at Red & Honey that you might want to check out:

• DIY Wood & Leather Balm
• Easy DIY Disinfectant “Clorox” Cloth Wipes
• DIY All-Purpose Cleaning Spray
• An Honest Norwex Review (Spoiler alert: I *love* their microfiber cloths with a burning passion. And nope, I’m not a rep, and I’m not paid to say that!)
• 3 Ways to Spring Clean Your New Year’s Resolutions

Ultimate Spring Cleaning Checklist

>> General Household 

These are the basic touch points that you want to tackle through out the house.

• Vacuum, sweep, mop floors
• Polish woodwork 
• Dust bookshelves
• Dust lamps and shades
• Deep clean carpets 
• Clean area rugs (spot clean, or machine wash)
• Scrub walls
• Clean baseboards and chair rails 
• Dust ceiling fan blades and light fixtures
• Dust blinds
• Remove cobwebs from corners and hard to reach places
• Dust wall hangings and decorations
• Wipe down doors 
• Sanitize high-touch spots like switch plates (light switches)

>> Windows

• Wash windows
• Clean window screens 
• Dust window seals 
• Clean window tracks 
• Clean blinds (tip: mini blinds can be easily cleaned in the bathtub!)
• Wash or vacuum window treatments like curtains, valances, etc. 

Area Specific Spring Cleaning Checklist:

Entryway/Mud Room

• Organize Shoes 
• Organize Coats
• Clean Rugs 
• Rotate seasonal items
• Sweep & mop floor

Kitchen 

• Wipes down cabinet doors and backsplash
• Wipes down and organize kitchen cabinets and drawers
• Clean counter tops and sanitize
• Dust decorations 
• Clean out and wipe down fridge and freezer (check the expiration date of anything you put back)
• Defrost freezer if needed
• Dust behind fridge and coils
• Thaw and organize deep freeze
• Wipe & shine stainless steel small appliances (including any gross drip pans)
• Clean toaster or toaster oven
• Clean coffee maker
• Wipe down microwave
• Organize pantry, dispose of expired food 
• Clean oven and stove top
• Degrease grates and hood
• Wash indoor trash and recycling bins 
• Refresh garbage disposal 
• Wash kitchen mat
• Clean dishwasher (run a cycle on hot with just vinegar)
• Organize junk drawer 
• Clean and shine your kitchen sink (baking soda + lemon juice work great!)

Bedrooms and Guest Room

• Wash mattress pad or toppers and blankets and duvet covers
• Rotate mattresses
• Organize closets and drawers, donate or giveaway old cloths
• Vacuum behind dressers and under beds
• Clean pillows 
• Remove clean clothes from dresser and vacuum out drawers

Bathrooms 

• Strip bath towels 
• Descale shower and bath heads 
• Clean drains 
• Wash shower curtains and liners
• Schub tub and shower
• Organize under sink cabinets 
• Reseal grout
• Wash toothbrush holder
• Dispose of expired medications 
• Wash bath mats
• Dispose of old makeup, beauty, and bath products 

Living Room and/or Family Room

• Move sofas and chairs to clean behind
• Vacuum sofa 
• Wipe down TV and remotes 
• Wash throw pillow covers and fluff throw pillows
• Launder and fold blankets
• Wash slipcovers
• Vacuum upholstered furniture (sprinkle baking soda first to help freshen)

Home Office 

• Dust bookcase and desk
• Wipe down computer and device screens 
• Clean keyboards with bottle of compressed air
• Recycle and shred unneeded paperwork
• Declutter and organize office supplies

Laundry Room

• Clean washing machine 
• Clean lint trap
• Clear out dryer vent
• Organize laundry supplies
• Wipe out cabinets or drawers

Linen Closet

• Wash and freshen linens if necessary
• Fold and reorganize
• Declutter old linens that don’t get used
• Implement storage baskets if appropriate

Garage 

• Organize tools
• Organize toys and sports equipment
• Wash and vacuum car
• Sweep with a stiff bristle broom
• Remove cobwebs
• Wash garage door exterior
• Get outdoor furniture out (if it was away for winter)

Playroom 

• Wash toys as appropriate
• Donate or giveaway unwanted toys
• Wipe down shelves and toy bin
• Sort through craft supplies

What did this list miss? Every home is unique. When you plan, be sure to jot down any extra tasks that are unique to your space.

Pro tip: keep your plan handy (I like using a clipboard I can carry around easily) as you clean, and take notes on any little “do later” tasks that grab your attention. Doing so will allow you to continue working on your spring cleaning goals without getting sidetracked.

Free Printable Spring Cleaning Checklist

Want a printable simplified version of this spring cleaning checklist? This 1-page checklist has the major items that most often get pushed to the bottom of the priority list in regular home cleaning throughout the year.

R&H email subscribers can download this checklist for free. Get it here:

Remember, you can do as much (or as little) as you want from this list. There are no spring cleaning police (phew), so you can do what works for you! Scrub every square inch of your house with an old toothbrush… or just hit the major spots that are bugging you personally.

Bottom line? Don’t overthink it! Grab your list, a cleaning cloth, some DIY spray, and get scrubbing. You’ll be SO glad you did!

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If you’re looking for easy instant pot recipes, this instant pot chicken curry fits the bill. I grew up in a corner of the world that isn’t exactly known for its ethnic diversity (east coast Canada), but fortunately for my tastebuds, my mom served this recipe to our family on a regular basis, and I’ve been hooked ever since! (In fact – this recipe deserves much of the credit for my love affair with strong and diverse flavors in my food!)

My Chicken Curry Story

While living in one of the most multicultural cities in the world (Toronto) for fifteen years, I was often asked about my ethnic background. Nearly everyone I knew was first, second, or maybe third-generation Canadian. (I was literally the only white girl in my high school graduating class.)

I’d answer, “Canadian,” and they’d say, “pfft, nobody is just Canadian. Where are your grandparents from?”

I then explained that I was honestly probably the whitest white girl they knew (in so many ways, my white-girl dancing not the least of them). My ancestors settled in the east coast of Canada in the eighteenth century, and my heritage includes a smattering of European countries such as Ireland, Scotland, Wales, England, Germany, and so on. My best answer is I’m 1/8th Irish, and a hodgepodge of randomness after that.

All that to say: if you’re wondering why the whitest white girl you know is posting an instant pot chicken curry recipe, you can rest easy. I didn’t make it up myself.

I grew up adoring this authentic flavors chicken recipe that my mom made often. She originally got it from a friend who grew up in India. (<– Finally a higher level of authenticity. Phew!) I’ve tweaked it a bit over the years and finally settled on this version.

It was wonderfully different from our usual simple meat & potatoes fare, and yet totally mild enough that we could handle it. And yeah, we’re not breaking any stereotypes here, I know. Just roll with it. Not much heat in this one (you could add it, of course), but it’s bursting with amazing flavor.

This mild chicken curry remains one of my favorite dishes to this day. My whole family, kids included, love it too.

Instant Pot Chicken Curry

For years I’ve typically baked this dish in the oven, which is fairly straightforward. However, since I’m all about the Instant Pot recipes these days, I decided to adapt it.

And guys – it works like magic. It may be even better in the Instant Pot because the chicken really takes in the rich flavors of the sauce without drying out. Try it ASAP. It’s your new favorite. (Seriously.)  I love this Instant Pot chicken curry recipe for many reasons, but here are a few:

• It’s adapted from an authentic chicken curry recipe so it tastes uhMazing
• This recipe is perfect for weeknight dinners when I need to get supper on the table fast
• It’s easy AND healthy
• You can adjust the spice level to meet your preference
• It’s dairy-free and if you skip the rice or bread on the side it’s grain-free too

Own It (This Recipe is Flexible)

The spices are what really make this meal. The blend of sweet, warming spices like cinnamon and ginger pair perfectly with the bitter turmeric, tangy chili powder, and fragrant pepper. Tomatoes give it body, while coconut milk makes for a creamy, mouthwatering sauce.

If you’re wondering how to make chicken curry in the Instant Pot, let me assure you it’s super easy!

Feel free to tweak the spices slightly according to what you have on hand, and it’ll probably still be delicious as long as you have most of them (especially the main ones). Madras curry powder is a good, basic curry blend that’s not too spicy. If your family likes more spice, then add a few pinches (or more!) of cayenne pepper to the dish.

This is a flexible recipe. For example: if you want it creamier, go ahead and dump in the whole can of coconut milk instead of just 3/4 cup. Another way to get to the next level of creaminess is to stir in a spoonful of cashew butter.

 You could try strained tomatoes or tomato sauce instead of diced if you have a kid who’s picky about cooked tomato texture (like mine!). This Instant Pot recipe is a great way to get dinner on the table on busy weeknights. Simple ingredients come together for lots of flavor without much time and the end result is packed with a lot of flavor.

Leftover Mild Chicken Curry

Instant Pot chicken curry tastes even better the next day. Warm some up and serve with your favorite side. Leftovers will store for about five days in a sealed container in the fridge.

Since this recipe doesn’t use the entire can of coconut milk, here are a few ideas to use it up.

• Customizable coconut milk smoothie
• Bulletproof milk recipe
• Strawberry coconut chia popsicles
• Pumpkin spice coconut flour muffins

Instant Pot Chicken Curry FAQ

Can I Make This in the Oven?

No Instant Pot? If you want to use the oven, follow the recipe instructions but sauté on the stovetop instead of the Instant Pot.  Then, add all of the other ingredients (except the chicken) stir to combine, and pour over the chicken in a casserole dish. Bake in a 400F oven for as long as appropriate for your cut of chicken.

Can I Make This on the Stovetop?

Yes, you can! Simply saute the ingredients in a large skillet or dutch oven. Next, add the other ingredients (except chicken) and stir to combine. Add the chicken and cook until it’s completely cooked through. 

Is This Chicken Curry Mild or Spicy?

This Instant Pot chicken curry recipe is NOT spicy but it’s bursting with flavor. My family prefers a mild chicken curry that’s still flavorful. Feel free to add some cayenne or red pepper flakes though if that’s your thing. 

Can I Freeze Chicken Curry?

The short answer is yes, you can freeze Instant Pot chicken curry. This will keep in the freezer for about four months if stored in an airtight container. Defrost it in the fridge (preferably overnight) before reheating and serving.

What to Serve with Easy Chicken Curry

There are a lot of options when it comes to Indian food. Our family likes this coconut chicken curry over rice with a few veggies on the side. You can also serve it over potatoes, sweet potatoes, or even broccoli or cauliflower rice for a lower-carb version. Naan bread is a classic, or you could do brown rice, white rice, or jasmine rice.

Why is My Instant Pot Chicken Tough?

If the chicken is rubbery, it needs a longer cook time. Bone-in pieces take longer to cook than chicken breast meat. Most people prefer the taste of a natural release after cooking meat because it holds in the flavor and moisture better. This chicken is cooked in a thick, luscious sauce, so it’s not going to be dry if you overdo it a little on the time.

Does Coconut Milk Curdle In a Pressure Cooker?

Making Instant Pot chicken curry with coconut milk doesn’t require adding the milk after cooking. It may look like the coconut milk has separated when you open up the lid. Give it a good stir though and all is well with the world again. The Instant Pot chicken curry world that is.

Can I Use Frozen Chicken Thighs in Instant Pot Curry?

 If you’re using frozen chicken thighs for the Instant Pot curry, then cook for 18-19 minutes total. Fresh, bone-in chicken in this recipe needs a 14 minute cook time.

Can I Use Other Cuts of Chicken Instead?

I use bone-in chicken thighs here, but you could also use boneless skinless chicken breasts or legs. Whatever your family prefers or what you have on hand will work.  In general, fresh chicken breasts need less time in the Instant Pot, more like 8 minutes.

Be sure to check the internal chicken temp with a meat thermometer when you’re done to be on the safe side.

More Like This Coconut Curry Chicken in the Instant Pot

Need some more dinner inspiration? Here are a few more healthy recipes for you.

• Chili cheese lentils (30 minute meal)
• Instant Pot shredded BBQ chicken
• Instant Pot Maple Pork Stew
• Best ever Instant Pot chili recipe
• Authentic Instant Pot Chana Masala (Spiced Chickpeas)
• Chicken and Cabbage “Noodle” Skillet (GF, DF)

Equipment to Make Instant Pot Chicken Curry

This is a fairly simple, straightforward recipe. To make it in the Instant Pot though, you’ll of course need an Instant Pot like this one. A slow cooker like this one is another option if you don’t have an Instant Pot. 

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Instant Pot Chicken Curry (Quick & Easy)

This mild, Instant Pot chicken curry comes together in a flash, but tastes like it simmered all day. Plus, it's just so dang delicious, it'll quickly become a regular repeat. You can also cook it in a crockpot, oven, or stovetop!

Course Main Course

Cuisine Indian, American

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 20 minutes

Total Time 1 hour

Servings 6 people

Calories 661kcal

Author Beth Ricci

Ingredients

• 1 large onion diced
• 6 cloves of garlic crushed or finely diced
• 1/4 c. coconut oil
• 1/2 t. black pepper
• 1/2 t. turmeric
• 1/2 t. paprika
• 1/4 t. cinnamon
• 1/4 t. cloves
• 1/4 t. cumin
• 1/4 t. ginger
• 1/2 t. salt
• 2 t. curry powder
• 1/2 t. chili powder
• 1 large can of diced tomatoes 28oz
• 3/4 cup full fat coconut milk
• 12 boneless chicken thighs

Instructions

• With the Instant Pot on the sauté mode, add oil and onions to the bottom of the pot. Let them soften for a couple of minutes, then add garlic. (Note: I find that the sauté setting on my IP gets a bit hotter than when I sauté on the stovetop, so if you find that your onions are browning too quickly and not softening nicely, you can add half a cup of water. Bone broth or chicken broth works too.)
  
• Combine the rest of the ingredients, except the chicken, and stir.
• Add chicken pieces and stir to coat with the sauce.
• Set to manual mode and cook on high pressure for 14 minutes.
• Let pressure release naturally. If you're crunched for time, you can do a quick release for the remaining pressure. (Natural pressure release is considered optimal for best texture of instant pot meat dishes.)
• Serve with your favorite sides, and enjoy!
  

Notes

If you’re new to Instant Pot cooking, be aware the 14 minutes cook time doesn’t include the time it takes the Instant Pot to come to pressure. This depends on the recipe, how full the pot is, etc. That 14 minutes also doesn’t include the time it takes the release the pressure afterwards.

This recipe takes about 10 minutes to come to pressure, and about 15 to release.

Nutrition

Serving: 0g | Calories: 661kcal | Carbohydrates: 7g | Protein: 38g | Fat: 53g | Saturated Fat: 24g | Cholesterol: 221mg | Sodium: 311mg | Potassium: 693mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 320IU | Vitamin C: 8.9mg | Calcium: 54mg | Iron: 3.3mg

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Tuna. It’s one of those things most people either love or hate.

For most of my life, I landed solidly in the “meh” camp. It was smelly, bland, and uninteresting, but edible. All I knew to do with it was mix it with Miracle Whip and put it between slices of bread for a really cheap and boring sandwich. Maybe add some pickles if you really wanted to put off your lunch-mates at school or work.

So for most of my life, I simply avoided it.

Which is a shame, because canned tuna is a wonderfully economical and convenient source of protein. Sometimes, when you’re tired of cooking everything from scratch, it can be nice to pull something inexpensive out of the pantry that’s pretty much ready-made, right? I use it in my 15-minute salmon patties as well. Tuna to the rescue!

And if it’s nutritious, too? Bonus! In addition to protein (and all the essential amino acids), tuna contains a healthy dose of iron, potassium, omega-3 fatty acids, niacin, and vitamin B12. Not bad for something so easy and cheap! (It also contains trace amounts of mercury, though, so you don’t want to overdo it — no more than once or twice a week.) If you are going to use oil-packed tuna, try to find a brand that uses olive oil instead of soybean oil. There are lots of options to pick from, so go with your personal preference that fits your budget.

Tuna Salad with Apples and Pecans

I recently came across a recipe for tuna Waldorf salad, and my whole outlook on this fish-in-a-can thing has changed. Turns out, with a couple of fresh herbs, some sweetness from crunchy apples, and some chopped nuts for textural intrigue, tuna can be quite delightful! It’s a fun twist on the traditional tuna salad.

If you’ve been in the chicken salad only camp, you might just change your mind…

This tuna salad with apples is the opposite of boring. I can easily polish off this entire recipe in one sitting if I’m not careful (though it is intended for two). If you need quick lunches for the week you can make a big batch to have a great protein option on hand.

Perfect for a Healthy Lunch on a Busy Day

The best thing about this easy recipe is that if you have all the ingredients on hand, you can put it together in about five minutes. A tasty, refreshing, protein-packed lunch whipped up in the span of time it takes to microwave a TV dinner? Yes, please!

Looking for more ways to eat healthy on a busy day? Check out Quick Healthy Meals Ultimate Guide (101 Tips, Recipes, and Strategies)

How to make Tuna Salad

It’s so simple that you could practically do it in your sleep. That’s what makes it such a great last minute option for lunch! Here is how you make it.

• Chop your apples, nuts, green onions, and parsley into small pieces. Add then to a medium-sized bowl, or large bowl one if you are making a double batch.
• Drain the tuna. Combine tuna in the bowl using a fork to flake and break up the large pieces as you mix.
• Add the mayo, mustard, sea salt, and black pepper. Gently stir to mix.
• The total time should only take about 5 minutes. Eat it out of the bowl or serve it one of the ways suggested below.

Tuna Salad with Apples: Expert Tips & Tricks

What to put in tuna salad?

I prefer to keep things simple, so I stick with apples, nuts, parsley, and green onions. It’s my favorite way to make it. There are so many options, so don’t let that limit you! This simple recipe is the perfect template for whatever you want to mix in.

Do you like sweet apples or tangy apples? If you like sweet apples you might want to with Fuji apples for a little sweetness without added sugar. For a more tart flavor, Granny Smiths are a great option. Both are crisp apples which add great texture contrast to the soft tuna fish.

Great add-ins with lots of crunch are a must. Here are a few options. You can try it one way the first time and another way the next time you make it. Cranberry tuna salad would be a fun flavor to try.

• red onion
• bell peppers
• chopped apple
• crunchy celery
• green onions
• pecans or walnuts
• dried cranberries

Here are some seasonings and herbs for tuna salad that are full of lots of flavor. Any of these ingredients are great additions!

• apple cider vinegar
• sweet pickle relish
• fresh lemon juice
• curry powder
• chopped sour pickles

How should you serve tuna salad?

If you need an easy meal on the go, you could just eat this delicious tuna salad dressing out of a small bowl. Or if you have a few more minutes here are some tasty ways to serve this simple tuna salad for light lunch.

• Mason jar salads (great for taking on the go! Add tuna salad to the jar, followed by greens, then shake to combine before eating.)
• On top of your favorite salad
• Tuna sandwich on whole grain bread (healthy upgrade: make it sourdough)
• Bed of lettuce (butter lettuce would be amazing!)
• Inside half of a red bell pepper

Best things to put on tuna salad sandwiches

With so many options to mix into this tuna salad with apples, you almost don’t need to put anything on the sandwich except for the bread. If you do want to add a bit of something else let these ideas lead your inspiration and add a bit of extra crunch or flavor.

• Slices of apples
• Lettuce
• Sliced pickles
• Sprouts
• Avocado
• Red onion

You might ask, is tuna salad good for you?

It totally is. If you do adhere to a specific eating style, this is a paleo and Whole30-compliant tuna salad. It is packed with protein, fresh fruit, and healthy fats. Plus you can add any of the vegetables you want! This healthy tuna salad is a great way to sneak more veggies into your day. It’s the perfect healthy lunch. This delicious salad is even better for you when you use homemade mayo.

What can you mix with tuna instead of mayo?

Oh! But I absolutely must mention: DO try making your own mayonnaise — for this recipe, and for all your mayo needs. It is so, so easy. And you can avoid all the gross and troubling ingredients commonly found in conventional mayonnaise. (Here’s my simple and scrumptious recipe. Seriously, if you haven’t tried it, you must. You will never go back. All my friends are now converts. Even the ones who never make stuff from scratch.)

Yet if you are sure you don’t want to use it or maybe you just don’t have time to whip up a batch, Greek yogurt or sour cream could work. I always use my own mayo, so I haven’t tested them. If you try them out please let me know in the comments!

Tuna Salad with Apples – Storage Options

Tuna should never be left out at room temperature for more than 2 hours to prevent bacteria from growing. Your best bet is to stick in the fridge as soon as you make it if you are not going to eat it right away. Tuna salad will stay fresh in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.

Can tuna salad be frozen?

You can, but if you are particular about texture, you may not want to. Mayonnaise separates when frozen. The texture of the apples and herbs will be different as the dish defrosts. If you are going to freeze this tuna salad recipe, chose an air-tight, freezer-proof container. Use within 1 to 2 months.

It can totally be done if you are okay with the texture not being quite the same.

Other quick and easy sides and salad

It’s always a nice to have a collection of great recipes and easy sides to serve with your tuna salad with apples.

• Lentil & Chickpea Flatbread
• Baked sweet potato fries or Homemade French Fries
• Cucumber slices & other raw fruits and veggies
• Apple walnut kale salad (You are already chopping up apples and walnuts so this is a perfect option!)
• Or one of these healthy snacks

Other weekday lunch recipes

Quick meals are a must for a weekday lunch. You can never have too many in your arsenal. Here are some favourites, that aren’t just pasta salads and tuna recipes that are easy wins. (P.S. These time-saving tips for healthy meals are a lifesaver in my house.)

• Instant Pot Hummus with raw veggies
• Instant Pot Shredded BBQ Chicken
• Easy Homemade Burger Patties
• Instant Pot Herb Chicken Lunchmeat

Please: if you’re a fellow tuna-hater, give this recipe a try. It just might change your mind and have a new favorite.

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Tuna Salad with Apples & Pecans (Waldorf Tuna)

Tuna Salad with Apples is a must-try! A couple of fresh herbs, some sweetness from apples, and some chopped nuts for crunch make this tuna salad a delightfully simple meal.

Course Salad, Lunch

Cuisine American

Prep Time 5 minutes

Total Time 5 minutes

Servings 2

Calories 527kcal

Author Beth Ricci

Ingredients

• 2 cans tuna, drained
• 2 small apples, diced
• 3 green onions, tops only (sliced)
• ¼ cup chopped walnuts or pecans
• ¼ cup fresh parsley leaves, finely chopped
• ½ teaspoon dry mustard powder
• ¼ cup mayo, preferably homemade
• sea salt and black pepper to taste

Instructions

• Add the apples, green onions, nuts, and parsley to a medium-sized bowl. Gently stir to mix.
  
• Add drained tuna, and stir with a fork, flaking the fish and breaking up large clumps as you mix.
  
• Add mustard and mayo and continue stirring until blended. Taste, and adjust seasoning with sea salt and black pepper.
  
• Use as a filling for sandwiches or wraps with lettuce, or enjoy the salad on it's own.
  

Nutrition

Calories: 527kcal | Carbohydrates: 28g | Protein: 35g | Fat: 32g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 72mg | Sodium: 606mg | Potassium: 641mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 20g | Vitamin A: 1005IU | Vitamin C: 21.7mg | Calcium: 72mg | Iron: 4mg

Original post & recipe by Kathleen Quiring, published in 2014. Post updated and expanded in 2021 by Beth, Red & Honey.

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This Instant Pot shredded beef melts in your mouth with that Mexican beef flavor, take practically no time to prep, and is a total crowd-pleaser.

This instant pot shredded beef tacos recipe is so basic.

Wait, what? “Basic” is an insult these days among the young folks? Say what now?

I’m a busy work-from-home mama whose best friends include the instant pot, a well-functioning washing machine, and the dishwasher. (Love you, friends. Smooch.)

Basic is my middle name. When basic time requirements and basic ingredients combine to form an amazing, mouth-watering dinner that I hardly had to work for at all, it’s called MAGIC. Pure, unsexy, uncool, wonderful, basic magic.

Listen up, young people: this is called successful adulting. Learn it now and practice it proudly because when you’re in your thirties with multiple little children running around your house as cute little tsunamis of chaos, you’ll embrace and kiss on the lips anything that makes your life easier.

What I’m saying is: basic is a gift. So you’re welcome.

2-Ingredient Instant Pot Shredded Beef 

Super Easy & Simple Recipe

There are plenty of shredded beef recipes that try and get all fancy with weird ingredients and complicated multiple steps. You can do it in a slow cooker or a wood-fired oven, or who knows what else. You can add hydroponic tomato paste from your fall preserves, or artisanal chilis that you marinated for a week, or organic dates for a touch of sweetness, or you could close your eyes and point to something random in your fridge to throw in just so you can claim it has a “secret ingredient” for Pinterest’s sake.

I didn’t, though.

I had this recipe on my menu plan the other day. Of course, I procrastinated on getting up from the couch that afternoon when I was in the inbox-clearing zone – I was crushing it. (Don’t mess with the inbox-clearing zone – it’s the rare unicorn of the work-at-home mom world.)

Then I discovered that I had approximately eight minutes to get my roast from the freezer into the Instant Pot, locked and loaded with all spices and whatnots before I had to step out the door to walk down to the bus stop to collect my aforementioned darling tsunamis.

Eight minutes. No time for fancy shenanigans. (This is my life, and this is why I make basic recipes that get rave reviews anyway.)

I abandoned my inbox heroics and walked into the kitchen. First, I took the roast from the freezer, got it out of the packaging (it was frozen solid, so this was somewhat of a challenge), stuck it into my instant pot, grabbed my spices, and went to town. I use my homemade taco seasoning for this recipe, which turns out fantastic, but my jar was empty, so I had to measure out the individual spices again.

Mexican Shredded Beef is a Great Staple

My homemade taco seasoning uses spices like chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, and black pepper plus a secret ingredient that actually rocks. It’s legit. Make a jar of it to keep on hand to get this Mexican beef in the pressure cooker in just a few minutes. 

Got them all in, added water, put the lid on, set the timer, and BAM. Walked out the door knowing that dinner was cooking itself while I strolled down the street looking fabulous. (Okay, I may be embellishing that last part. I had rainy-day hair.)

But seriously: I came home, sat down, and relaxed for a while because dinner was MAKING ITSELF. (Hashtag hallelujah.)

When my honey got home, he made cassava tortillas (he uses this cassava flour, and the super-easy tortilla recipe on the back of the bag).

Throw some warm shredded beef on a tortilla, and top it off with our faves: avocado, diced tomato, fresh salsa, and shredded lettuce. And cheese and sour cream (if we’re currently doing the dairy thing). If you feel the urge to be fancy, squeeze fresh lime juice overtop of your beef. (Do it.)

Perfect for Busy Households to Cook Once, Eat Twice (or more!)

Let’s review: shredded beef tacos from scratch, and it honestly didn’t feel like much more work than a box of mac n’ cheese and frozen chicken nuggets. Not that I’d know. *cough cough*.

Plus, the whole family member raved – unprompted – about how amazing dinner was. That’s what I call winning at Taco Tuesday.

Instant Pot Shredded Beef: Expert Tips & Tricks

Do I have to have an Instant Pot to make this Mexican shredded beef? 

No, you could make this same shredded beef in a crock pot or on the stove top but, pressure cooking takes a fraction of the time. 

To use make this shredded beef following another method, you will have to adjust the cooking time according to your tool of choice.

Can I freeze it?

Yes! This shredded beef does great in the freezer. Thankfully it reheats well and still tastes amazing. Once it has cooled off fill your bag or container. Label it because try as you might you will probably forget what it is. Having extra meat in the freezer is a great way to meal prep! 

It will stay fresh in the freezer for up to six months. Then, when you are ready to use it, simply pull it out and let it thaw in the fridge. You can reheat it with a bit of fat in a cast-iron skillet. (Add a lid and a bit of water, and heat on low if it’s still partly frozen.)

Ways to freeze

• Resealable Bag
• Stasher Bag (reusable silicone bags)
• Freezer proof container

Can I use different seasonings?

Yes, just keep the ratio of water, and make sure to add salt if you leave out the taco seasoning. 

• BBQ Sauce. This recipe would make great shredded BBQ beef sandwiches.
• Salt and pepper. If you want multi-purpose beef that can be used for a variety of recipes salt and pepper might be the way to go.
• Other herbs like an Italian blend, or some garlic and salt.

How do you shred meat quickly?

If the beef roast is cooked long enough in the instant pot, it should fall apart easily with a fork but if you want to shred it faster, a Kitchenaid stand mixer with paddle attachment works well.

I don’t recommend a blender or food processor.

Note: if it’s not shredding easily with a fork, that means you need to cook it longer. You can do another 10 minutes on high pressure in the instant pot on manual, and it should help!

What cut of meat should I use? 

Really any cut will work. I tend to buy the cheapest cut I can find. Meat with a lot of fat marbling will lend to a more tender dish. It makes it easier to shred too! For a starting point, here are a few cuts that will work well.

• Chuck roast
• Round roast 
• Brisket roast
• Rump roast

The Instant Pot tenderizes the meat so well that this recipe a great way to use up tougher cuts with lots of connective tissue that might be hanging out in your freezer.

Consequently, even if your meat doesn’t have lots of pretty fat running through it, the Instant Pot will make the beef practically melt in your mouth. The end result is delicious! 

Recommended Kitchen Tools for This Recipe

If you don’t have an Instant Pot already, what are you waiting for? It’s going to change your life, seriously. 

In addition – while you are at it, these cute jars would be perfect for storing the homemade taco seasoning that you are always going to have on hand. 

Ways to enjoy this Mexican shredded beef

This beef recipe makes a big batch and can be used in a variety of dishes. There are endless ways to enjoy it. If you are lucky you will have leftover beef, it is amazing the next day too. By itself or with some non-starchy veg, this meat is the perfect foundation for a low carb meal, if that’s your jam.

• Tacos. Make them with tortillas or hard shells. This chickpea flatbread would be an amazing grain-free and protein-rich alternative to your typical corn or wheat flour tortillas. 
• Beef enchiladas
• Taco salad
• Burrito bowls
• Burritos 
• Over rice 
• On nachos 
• In soup 
• In eggs for breakfast 
• On baked potatoes 

What should I serve with my Instant Pot shredded beef?

Suggested Favorite Toppings 

• Fresh salsa
• Shredded lettuce 
• Dice avocado 
• Guacamole 
• Lime juice 
• Diced onions 
• Cilantro 
• Diced tomatoes 
• Cheese
• Sour Cream 

Suggested Sides for Shredded Beef

• Mexican rice (you could make it in a rice cooker for another hands-off recipe)
• Cucumber salad 
• Whole black beans 
• Refried beans 
• Cauliflower rice 
• Warm tortillas 
• Tortilla Chips
• Seven-layer taco dip
• Kale salad with a citrus vinaigrette

I hope that this easy Instant Pot shredded beef becomes a family favourite, just like it is for mine!

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Instant Pot Shredded Beef (2 Ingredients!)

This instant pot shredded beef is max flavor for minimum effort, plus it's a deliciously versatile thing to cook and use in various dishes!

Course Meat, main dish

Cuisine Tex-Mex

Prep Time 5 minutes

Cook Time 2 hours

Total Time 2 hours 5 minutes

Servings 10

Calories 202kcal

Author Beth Ricci

Ingredients

• One beef roast approx. 3 lbs
• 2/3 cup water
• 1/4 cup of homemade taco seasoning

Instructions

• Place roast into the Instant Pot.
• Add the water and sprinkle roast with taco seasoning.
• Place the lid on, making sure that the pressure valve is closed. Set to manual mode (high pressure) for 120 minutes if frozen, or 90 minutes if not.
• Once the meat is done cooking, let it sit for about 15 minutes for natural pressure release.

Notes

My frozen-solid roast was done perfectly in 120 minutes of cook time. Note that it also took about 15 minutes to get up to pressure and start the countdown, plus it took about 15 or 20 minutes for the pressure to release naturally. 

If you have excess liquid at the bottom of the pot when you open the lid, just hit the sauté button and let it simmer off, stirring every couple of minutes. It won’t take long.

Serve on your favourite tortillas with your favourite toppings, and enjoy your super-easy shredded beef tacos from scratch. Feel like a boss – you deserve it.

Nutrition

Serving: 0g | Calories: 202kcal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 30g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 84mg | Sodium: 147mg | Potassium: 464mg | Sugar: 0g | Calcium: 26mg | Iron: 2.8mg

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Green grass! Warm rain! Sunshine!

After a winter which seemed endless, there is sweet relief in the mild beauty of spring time.

With the sunshine and backyard compost and gardens, however, come the dreaded and maddeningly tenacious dandelions! Popping up as fast as one can dig them, these quickly-germinating seeds spread as fast as a toddler’s puckered wish. The sunny-headed flowers have become the bane of urban sod.

What’s a grass-dweller to do when confronted with such a hardy adversary? How can one cultivate nourishing and vitamin-rich home greens when there are vermin in the soil?

Well…if you can’t beat ‘em….

Make deliciously golden, warm, fried dandelion fritters to munch on! Yup, that’s right – dandelions are edible, and they’re good for you!

Can You Fry and Eat Dandelions? (Are They Toxic?)

Yes! You can definitely fry and eat dandelions. Not only can you turn the blossoms into delicious dandelion fritters, the entire plant is edible and provides a ton of nourishing benefit! The root, leaves, and flower all boast variable helpful benefits. (Most people avoid the stem due to its slight potential laxative effect.)

North American culture commonly views dandelions as an annoying weed, and nothing more. However – the dandelion (taraxacum officinale) didn’t begin in North America as a weed at all!

Many years ago, it was lovingly brought across the sea as a valued medicinal plant to be cultivated and administered for liver and kidney care, while enjoyed on the table as an early-spring salad green.

While you’re harvesting dandelions already for this dandelion fritter recipe, remember that the iron-rich leaves are a zippy addition to salads and stir-frys. Additionally, the roots can be harvested (dug, dried, ground, roasted) as a nourishing substitute to coffee. Perfect!

Are Fried Dandelion Fritters Good for You?

Dandelion Blossoms

They sure are! With as much iron as spinach, the highest levels of vitamin A out of all the cultivated greens, and high levels of Vitamin C, early gardeners actually weeded out their grass to make room for the dandelions!

The flowers used in this dandelion fritters recipe are brimming with choline and lecithin for liver and kidney health. (Source)

This Fried Dandelion Fritter Recipe

As for the other fritter ingredients used, the recipe is easily adaptable to your preferences. The flour can be a basic all-purpose wheat flour, or a gluten-free combination (suggestions below in the recipe card notes). Egg, milk of choice, etc. are all nourishing ingredients.

Many people automatically think of fried food as being unhealthy, but it largely depends on your oil choice. This recipe recommends using coconut oil (either virgin or refined) as it’s a great choice for frying at higher temps safely.

What Do Fried Dandelion Flowers Taste Like in These Fritters?

The yellow flower part itself tastes sweet – some say it has a slight honey flavor. More often, however, people describe the taste of the flowers as slightly bitter.

The bitter taste comes from the green base part of the blossom. These tendril-like parts are called bracts. There are two sections – the inner bracts that hold the petals together (if you take these off the flower will all fall into pieces), and the outer bracts that curl downward toward the stem.

You can remove these outer bracts to greatly reduce the bitterness in your finished dish.

More Reasons to Love Dandelions

The dandelion itself is beneficial to our bodies, which is kind of amazing to learn for those of us who grew up viewing them as mere annoyances, but there are even more reasons to appreciate these little yellow spots of sunshine in our lawns!

Hardiness & Tenacity

Sometimes the benefit is less tangible but when you learn to appreciate nature’s gifts with an open mind, you’ll start drawing inspiration in unexpected ways.

I love that dandelions are hardy and tenacious enough to withstand being established here in the new world, as well as finding ways to thrive in all sorts of modern conditions – even the urban landscape!

Good for the Soil

They are a a plant which supports the soil through aeration, prevents erosion, and draws up calcium from deep within the earth for use by the rest of the garden.

Outstanding Support for our Pollinators

Dandelions are a flower which provides exceptional support to bees. As one of the earliest flowers in the spring and late blooming into the fall, the bees of the nation rely on (spray free!) dandelions to create your honey and to support your community crops.

How to Make Fried Dandelion Fritters

With this inspiring knowledge and with a spring yard simply brimming with cheery yellow flowers, I gathered my younglings and a bowl and set to work. Firstly, we started with dandelion smoothies, played with dandelion frittatas, and soon had our minds set on fried dandelion fritters.They’re fun, healthy, and tasty!

When the day finally arrived, gathering the flower heads kept little hands (and mamas!) busy while chatting in the sun. Next, the big boys were invited to mix the batter and to dip the heads. I made two simple and easy batters – one savory and one sweet.

Once the batter was ready and the flowers were picked, I tackled pan-frying the battered balls in the waiting coconut oil. Crispy and hot, we loaded the morsels onto a tray with tiny jars of kombucha and feasted under the apple tree. How lovely to say, “Sure sweetie, you can have some more!”

The dandelion fritters were a huge hit and my boys have been asking for them every day! I highly recommend trying them out. They’re not only tasty and nutritious but there is just something fun about dining on dandies!

Make it an event with friends and enjoy the summer sun while you’re at it!

Tips for Picking & Using Dandelions for Your Fritters

When foraging for your dandelions, there are two important things to remember:

1. Be sure you know that you’re picking in a spray-free area (pesticides and/or pet urine)
2. Additionally, be sure that they are indeed true dandelions: one flower per stalk, no coarse hair on the leaves, and a hollow, tubular stem.

Before cooking the fried dandelion fritters:

When cooking this fried dandelion fritter recipe, be sure to use dandelion flowers that have been freshly picked because the blossoms will close up fairly quickly after being picked, so it’s best to make the fritters immediately after picking.

Optional steps:

1. You may choose to remove the outer bract (the green bottom pieces that curl downward toward the stem) to reduce potential bitterness.
2. Also, you may also choose to soak your flowers in lightly salted water for 10-15 minutes before proceeding to ensure they are free from any little bugs or other dirt.

Related posts:

Consider making a batch of dandelion-infused oil with some of your harvest. Conveniently, herbal infused oil makes the perfect base for homemade salves and balms, or you could infuse a cooking oil (such as olive) and use it in salad dressings and other cooking.

How to Make Herbal Infused Oil – Cold Method

I like herbal infused oils because they are a great base for making salves, lotions and lip balms. It’s nice having them on hand because the different herbs offer many options to amp up the power of homemade body products.

Check out this recipe

Additionally, when you’re done making fried dandelion fritters, be sure to save your oil – we keep our frying oil in a covered container in the fridge. and reuse it multiple times. These french fries are a family favorite for home frying.

Homemade French Fries Recipe

This homemade fries recipe is simple but packs a major comfort-food punch! Crispy, perfectly greasy, and salty – everything you want in a french fry, plus made with all healthy ingredients!

Check out this recipe

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Fried Dandelion Flower Fritters

This simple and delicious fried dandelion flower fritter recipe makes a tasty snack out of a backyard nuisance, packed with iron, plus vitamin A and C. You'll appreciate dandelions in a whole new way!

Course Snack

Cuisine American

Prep Time 5 minutes

Cook Time 20 minutes

Total Time 25 minutes

Servings 1 cup

Calories 675kcal

Author Beth Ricci

Ingredients

• 1 cup flour (see notes below for gluten-free substitution)
• 1 cup milk
• 1 large egg
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• heat-tolerant oil for frying (see notes)
• 1 cup freshly picked dandelion flower heads – they must be used immediately after picking, or the flower heads will close up.

Instructions

• Whisk all ingredients together, except for the dandelion heads, including flavour option add-in (see below)
• Dip the dandelions in the batter
• Fry in hot oil, flower side down
• Flip and fry some more
• Drain on a towel and serve hot and crispy

Notes

Gluten-free dandelion fritters:

You can make these gluten-free with several different flour types. You can use a gluten-free all-purpose blend, or you can mix your own. I highly recommend ensuring there is rice flour included in your blend as it gives the best crisp finish in a fried GF batter. 

My favorite: 1/2 cup sorghum, 1/4 cup tapioca starch, 1/4 cup rice flour.

Oil:

Our favourite is cold-pressed coconut oil. You want about 3/4 to 1 inch of oil in your pan, so your oil amount will depend on the size of pan you use.

Flavour add-ins:

Savory: (1 tsp. salt + 1 tsp herb blend such as Italian, rosemary, or a masala mix. Dipping sauce if you like such as sweet chili or guacamole)

Sweet: (2 tbsp sugar/honey, 1 tsp vanilla, ½ tsp cinnamon. Granulated sugar to roll hot fritters in).

I’d LOVE to hear if you try these out! What other flavor combinations could you try? What about serving them with a side salad of fresh baby dandelion leaves? Finish the meal with dandelion tea or wine? The opportunities are endless!

Nutrition

Calories: 675kcal | Carbohydrates: 110g | Protein: 26g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 188mg | Sodium: 175mg | Potassium: 977mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 12g | Vitamin A: 1275IU | Vitamin C: 9.2mg | Calcium: 505mg | Iron: 7.1mg

Original article was written by Dea Daniels of @i_am_village, and published in 2013. It was last revised and expanded by Beth Ricci in 2021.

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Meals that are delicious PLUS frugal and easy to prepare are always a win in my book. When your family gives it their stamp of approval, you know it’s a keeper!

I started out with making up a lentil recipe inspired by my taco soup recipe, and it ended up tasting like an awesome vegetarian* version of my crazy-popular chili recipe!

Unexpected, but hey – I’m not complaining. Honey said these cheesy chili lentils are his favourite lentil recipe to date, and that’s saying something! If your house loves tex-mex flavors, then these cheesy Mexican lentils are sure to win your family over too!

Why cook with lentils?

Lentils are totally my favourite legume. They don’t require soaking ahead of time, they cook up in a flash, and they are so versatile. I’ve tried them many ways, and enjoyed almost all of them.

Oh, and of course, they are uber-frugal! I respect the Paleo movement but my grocery budget just will not let me live without legumes, and honestly – I’m ok with that.

• so frugal
• packed with protein
• fast cooking
• rich in folate and iron
• loaded with fiber
• full of calcium
• plus they are a tasty addition to any diet, there so many ways to cook with them!

Can you add lentils to chili?

Yes! This recipe is made with just lentils, no meat. My popular chili recipe uses ground beef, but you could easily add lentils to that one along with the kidney beans. I often do that when I want to stretch my ground beef to save some money.

How to Make Chili Lentils

1. Add the chicken broth. Bring the broth to a boil, then add the lentils, and reduce to a gentle simmer.
2. While the lentils are simmering, saute the onions in butter.
3. When the liquid has reduced below the lentils, add the spices, tomatoes, green chilies, sauteed onions, and any extra butter drippings. (This would be a good point to steam some rice and prep your veggie sides.)
4. Simmer together to meld the flavours. Once they are completely cooked, stir in one cup of shredded cheese. Use the rest of the cheese for garnish at the table.

Chili Cheese Lentils: Expert Tips & Tricks

Can I soak the lentils before cooking?

Yes, you can. I don’t find it necessary, but if you have a more sensitive gut you can soak the lentils for a few hours or overnight before cooking them. You may want to reduce the broth by about 1 cup and keep an eye on them as the cook because soaked lentils have a shorter cooking time.

I haven’t personally tried this, but know from experience that it is possible. If you do try soaking them before you make this recipe let me know about your experience in the comments!

How long to store chili cheese lentils

Any leftovers can be safely stored for 4-5 days in a tightly covered container in the fridge.

Can I freeze this chili lentil recipe?

Yes! Freezing this recipe works great! Freeze the entire recipe except the shredded cheese for topping.

You can freeze these cheesy lentils in a couple of mason quart jars, just be sure to leave a one-inch space at the top because liquids expand as they freeze. No one wants to find a cracked jar when they open up the freezer.

You can also freeze these chili lentils in freezer-proof containers – just like with the jars, leaving about an inch for the food to expand.

Another way to freeze this recipe would be to put pour the lentils into a resealable bag and freeze flat.

Suggested Substitutions

Can I make this lentil chili recipe dairy-free?

For sure! Simply skip the step where it tells you to stir in one cup of cheese. If you have people in your house that have to avoid dairy and others that eat it just use the cheese as a garnish that everyone adds on their own at the table.

Can I use other types of lentils?

In short, yes, but the differences might be significant. This lentil chili recipe specifically uses small green lentils. Brown lentils would probably work great. Red lentils, however, tend to cook up really differently, so I wouldn’t recommend them.

The cooking time and flavor for other types of lentils vary vastly, so I can’t guarantee the outcome of the swap.

Recommended Kitchen Tools for This Recipe

Every kitchen needs a good cast iron skillet. It is the best for sautéing those onions to perfection.

Check out my post on Benefits of Cast Iron Cookware

Any large pot will work for simmering your chili lentils but an enameled cast iron dutch oven will make sure your dish stays hot from start to finish while maintaining a consistent heat. A regular stainless steel saucepan works too!

What can I serve with Cheesy Chili Lentils?

I often serve these chili lentils over steamed rice and add a vegetable on the side. You can fix both while your lentils are simmering away. A salad would be great on the side as well, like this Zesty Italian Cucumber Salad, or this Apple Kale Salad with Citrus Vinaigrette.

Want another super quick Mexican-inspired meal you can whip up in 20 minutes? Try my Creamy Green Chili Beef Recipe. It’s a personal favorite! Also, check out my recipe for Sweet & Sour Lentils!

I hope you enjoy them as much as we do!

Check out: Quick Healthy Meals Ultimate Guide (101 Tips, Recipes, and Strategies) for recipes like this one and tips for eating well when you’re short on time! 

* They would be vegetarian if you used veggie broth instead of chicken.

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Chili Cheese Lentils

This Cheesy Chili Lentils recipe is in our monthly favorites rotation! It's quick, easy, and bursting with satisfying tex-mex flavor and gooey cheese.

Course Main Course

Cuisine American

Prep Time 5 minutes

Cook Time 20 minutes

Total Time 25 minutes

Servings 6

Calories 541kcal

Author Beth Ricci

Ingredients

• 5 cups Chicken stock
• 2 cups Small green lentils
• 2 Medium-sized onions
• ¼ cup Butter
• 2 teaspoons Salt
• 3 teaspoons Cumin
• 4 teaspoons Chili powder
• 2 teaspoons Oregano
• 1 can Diced tomatoes
• 1 can Green chilies, about 1/2 cup
• 2 cups Shredded extra-old cheese

Instructions

• Bring chicken stock to a boil in a large pot, add lentils, and reduce heat to a gentle simmer.
• While lentils are cooking, dice two onions. Add the butter and onions to a skillet, saute over medium heat until transluecnt. Stir the onions occationally to prevent burning.
• When the liquid has reduced to bellow the level of the lentils, add the salt, cumin, chili powder, oregano, tomatoes, and green chilies. Then add the sauteed onions, and any drippings remainng in the skillet. (This would be a good point to steam rice and prep your veggie sides.)
• Simmer together to meld the flavours. Once the are compeltely cooked, stir in one cup of shredded cheese. Use the remaining the cheese for garnish at the table.

Notes

These lentils are great served over rice, but would also be delicious with just veggies and maybe a squash side. You can also omit the cheese altogether for frugality’s sake – it’s tasty either way!

Extra-old cheese is also known as extra-sharp cheese depending on where you live. 

Nutrition

Calories: 541kcal | Carbohydrates: 51g | Protein: 31g | Fat: 23g | Saturated Fat: 13g | Cholesterol: 65mg | Sodium: 1514mg | Potassium: 1054mg | Fiber: 20g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 1135IU | Vitamin C: 13mg | Calcium: 367mg | Iron: 7.1mg

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