Healthy Home Foods Blog
Learn more about eating naturally for your health
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Dec 12
Here’s a riddle:
Share on FacebookIn liquid I expand up to twelve times my size
I was a staple of Mayan and Aztec diets.
They often used me as currency, due to my many health gains-
Not to mention I’m made up of 20% protein.
I have heaps of omegas for an anytime health boost,
You can find me on the menu at Healthy Home Foods!
Alright, you already know I’m referring to Chia seeds. The worlds most omega-3 dense source of non-marine food, the Chia seed is packed with health benefits ranging from weight loss to hydration and of course, nutrition.
Chia seeds for nutrition-
This little seed (to the naked eye comparable to a poppy seed) is jam packed with essential nutrients. The USDA says that one ounce of Chia seeds include the following:
9 grams of healthy fat,
5 milligrams of sodium,
Anti-oxidants for heart health
A full range of b-vitamins11 grams of dietary fiber (soluble and insoluble)
4 grams of protein
18% of the recommended daily intake of calcium (5x more than milk!)
Boron (to aid in absorbing the Calcium)
27% phosphorus
30% manganese
137 calories

Chia seeds for hydration-
Keep in mind that one ounce of Chia seeds is about 2 tablespoons. When introduced to a liquid, the Chia seed has an amazing ability to absorb up to 12 times it’s weight. After soaking in water or almond milk (my favorite) for a few hours, that one ounce magically expands to a gelatinous pudding the size of a Coca-Cola can.
For this reason Chia is often called a runners food. The liquid it holds in is filling and hydrates the body through the digestive process. The protein in Chia seeds also offers the complete array of essential amino acids needed to rebuild muscle tissue that is strained or damaged from an intense work out.
Chia seeds for weight loss-
This is an easy one.
1oz of chia seeds = 137 calories
12oz of water = 0 calories
So….
1oz of chia seeds + 12oz of water = 12 oz of 137 calorie pudding and a very full stomach.
Personally, I prefer to mix my chia seeds with almond or coconut milk which still keeps it under 200 calories. The seeds expand similarly to tapioca and when mixed with fruit make a filling yet low calorie breakfast or anytime snack.
With 11grams of fiber per ounce, one serving of Chia seeds provide about 30% of one’s daily fiber needs. High fiber diets have been associated with lower cholesterol, regulated blood sugar levels, digestive health and an increased ability to maintain a healthy weight.
Cooking with Chia Seeds-
Sometimes people receive a 4 pound bag of chia seeds and forget any and all of the exciting recipes they planned to make with them. There are no recipes on the bag- don’t panic. Here are 4 easy ways we encourage you to incorporate chia seeds into your daily routine.
- Breakfast pudding.
As mentioned previously, simply soak the chia seeds in liquid over night or for a few hours (I prefer to use sweetened almond or coconut milk). In the winter I’ll often heat the pudding in the microwave for a minute, however, cold chia pudding is remnant of delicious, refreshing tapioca. Next, add some fresh fruits, honey and cinnamon (optional) and enjoy!
- Smoothies
For those of you smoothie fans- try adding some chia seeds to the mix. I have done this in two ways: pre-soaked in coconut milk (yum!) and plain, in their raw form. This is a low calorie way of adding protein and omegas to your smoothies without adding a weird aftertaste.
- Sprinkle it on.
Chia seeds are a great addition to, well, anything. From oatmeal to salads, they add nutrients and expand during the digestive process making you feel fuller, faster. I would recommend, however, limiting the amount of raw chia seeds added to your meal to a “sprinkle”. Due to the seed’s extreme ability to absorb any liquid it comes in contact with, too many dry chia seeds can take you from full to uncomfortably full in no time.
- Baking
Baking with Chia seeds can eliminate the need for eggs when used as a binding agent. When in their “gel” form, they can also be used in place of butter to maintain that delicious ooey, gooey texture in baked goods. For example, if a recipe calls for 8 cups of butter and you are looking to cut back on fat, try 4 cups of butter and 4 cups of a water/chia mixture. Lastly, chia seeds are a great filler for just about anything baked. In their raw form, or gel form, chia seeds boost up the nutritional value without sacrificing taste.
Healthy Home Foods carries 100% organic Chia seeds in 16oz packages. Don’t forget to add them to your next order!
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Nov 28
What is Bee Pollen and Why is it Good For Me?
Bee Pollen, also known as “bee bread”, is literally the food of bees. It is made from the very same pollen that all flowers make and that fills the air during the spring giving us those delightful allergies. When a bee hovers inside of a flower it is collecting small specks of pollen with its mouth. The bee mixes this pollen with a touch of honey so that it forms a more dense mass. Using its comb-like legs, it then pushes the honey/pollen combination into a built-in basket, further condensing and solidifying the contents into a solid granule. Once the basket is full the bee will fly back to the hive to provide food for the entire colony (2).
One teaspoon of bee pollen takes a single bee four, sixty hour, work weeks to make.
One of the most interesting facts about bee pollen is how natural of a supplement it actually is. Not only is it made in nature, by nature, but it cannot be synthesized in a lab. Despite including all of the essential minerals and nutrients- lab pollen seems to always lack an unidentifiable element. A bee cannot survive on man-made pollen.
So what vitamins and minerals are we talking about specifically? Bee pollen is known as a “complete food”. Amazingly, pound for pound bee pollen contains more protein than beef. In fact, it consists of 40% protein, half of which is made from over 22 free amino acids essential to our bodies and that it uses readily and completely. It contains at least 18 vitamins and 25 minerals including the following (2):
Vitamins: Provitamin A (carotenes), B-1 Thiamin, B-2 Riboflavin, B-3 Nancin, B-5, B-6 Pyridoxine, B-12 (cyanocobalamine), Pantothenic acid, Vitamin C, F, Vitamin D, Vitamin E, Vitamin H, Vitamin K, Vitamin PP, Folic Acid, Choline, Inositol, Rutin.
Minerals: Calcium, Phosphorus, Potassium, Iron, Copper, Iodine, Zinc, Sulfur, Sodium, Chlorine, Magnesium, Manganese
Click here for a full chemical analysis of the components of bee pollen.
Bee pollen is, in essence, the most perfect multivitamin known to man yet not made by man. The nutrients this supplement offers are in their most fresh and raw state- best suited for our bodies.
At Healthy Home Foods we offer bee pollen hailing from Cottageville’s own BeeCity. Far from city pollutants these bees are raised in a clean, non-toxic environment giving you pure, all natural South Carolina bee pollen.
(1, 2, 3, 4(pic), 5(pic), 6(pic), 7(pic))
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Nov 10
Every year parents spend hundreds if not thousands of dollars on toys and activities for their kids to keep them entertained during the holidays. While some things are great for keeping young minds and bodies active, many of them are unnecessary. Sure kids need structured play, but they also need “free” time to use their imaginations, enjoy fresh air and experience the joy of the holiday season. This is easy to do when the world’s largest playground is right outside your back door. Why not let them play outside?
Every toy, book, and TV show that comes out nowadays has been designed and redesigned several times in order to make them more educational and entertaining for children. The great thing about nature is that, while being entertaining and stimulating to the imagination, it’s also educational. Nature can teach children the basics of science, economics, and creativity. Here’s why you should let Mother Nature entertan the kids this holiday season.
It’s cheap. Depending on where you live, exploring nature is usually pretty inexpensive, if not free. It may mean going out in your backyard, local park, or perhaps going to the local nature center or state park (which usually have low cost fees or memberships). This way, you don’t have to pay for expensive toys, jungle gyms, or memberships to expensive entertainment centers, but you still get the benefit of stimulating and educational play.
It makes them think. Lately there’s been a trend in education towards inquiry based learning. Researchers have found that if students explore and experiment to figure out answers on their own, they’re going to learn better, and retain more information. It also helps them develop skills to be able to learn things on their own later. What better environment to learn things than out in nature. There are lessons for kids of all ages to discover about the world around them.
It may help the world. Everyone these days is trying to be more green and more environmentally conscious. What better way to help do your part than to get your children interested in their own planet than right now when they’re young and impressionable? What might be a fun time for them now, might be a future hobby, career, or world saving invention.
It’s fun. While it’s easy to forget, childhood isn’t just for learning about how to be an adult, it’s also about having fun. Nature gives kids a chance to use their imagination and be free to just be kids.
While unstructured play outside is great for kids, you can also find many places offering structured classes and learning sessions for kids that focus on the natural world. Check your local park, zoo, or museum. There’s a good chance they have classes you can sign up for, and since many of these places are not for profit, they’re usually affordable as well as informative.
Across the world, there are millions of dollars being spent to help promote sending your kids outside to learn from nature. That’s because spending time in the outside world is so important for developing minds. It can also be a great escape for you as well.
To learn more about having a healthier lifestyle for your family, contact Healthy Home Foods for information about home delivery organic groceries.
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Oct 30
People often have different ideas when hearing the word “organic” in front of food labels. Healthy Home Foods defines organic food as being grown or raised without chemical pesticides or chemical fertilizers which makes them completely “organic.”
As a society, we’ve become so accustomed to getting by with foods that have been grown with fertilizers and that contain harmful toxins, that we’ve forgotten what it’s like to feel truly “well.” We don’t know how good we can really feel by eating healthy organic foods offered by healthy grocers and distributors like Healthy Home Foods.
Why would you choose to eat organic food? We pay a lot in terms of flavor and nutrition to eat perfect-looking food. Yes, organic food might have an occasional bruise on its flesh – but so does food that’s been sprayed with harmful chemicals. Organic foods are generally fresher and more flavorful. Many times, they’re grown locally, so they haven’t been stored or refrigerated. Consider the difference in flavor between a vine-ripened tomato and a regular tomato. There’s just no comparison.
The body has to process everything you put into it and eliminate what it cannot digest. If your food contains toxins in the form of chemical pesticides and fertilizers, your body has to figure out a way to get rid of the toxins. When the body cannot get rid of toxins fast enough, it stores them until it has time to eliminate them. This can lead to many health problems.
Many of the pesticides used in farming have been found to be carcinogenic. Reducing your exposure to these toxins can improve your health. True, some people eliminate toxins well. Still, the body needs to expend energy to eliminate toxins when it could be doing other things such as healing damaged cells, fighting off viruses and bacteria, or patrolling the body for cancer cells.
Even people who can tolerate or eliminate toxins can feel substantially better without putting these poisons into their bodies. And if your system is sensitive to toxins, you’ll be much better off eliminating them from your diet as much as possible. Fortunately, it’s easier to do this because there’s a greater selection and variety of organic produce available through the grocery delivery service at Healthy Home Foods.
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